The Nutta
The
sizzling hot, Russian dance-techno-pop duo has caused an immediate scandal and
mass destruction ever since they landed on MTV. Interestingly enough though, the
duo hand been recording three years before they ever got a video clip produced
on MTV. They had about eleven albums out in these earlier years, and had no
problems from the press at all. However, ever since they were publicized in
America, these wonderful singers had nothing but brutal harassments and
monstrous debates from the media. This essay is going to argue the actuality
that people should give t.A.T.u a break.
The
band consists of two beautiful Russian girls who are both from Moscow, Russia.
Julia Volkova was born on the 20th of February 1985, and Lena Katina
was born on the 4th of October 1984. The girls had both been in an
earlier kids’ band called Neposedi that involved other members, yet Julia had
to be kicked out, which in turn made the whole band collapse. However, this was
not the end of their musical career since Julia and Lena later on met at an
audition for “t.A.T.u,” and the chemistry between the girls skyrocketed.
That was not the only thing that skyrocketed though, the Journalists started
attacking t.A.T.u like Israel does Palestine.
One thing the press keeps throwing back at t.A.T.u’s face is that the girls’ attitudes are a downright mess. They hate how the girls behave when they are in public, like speaking in Russian sometimes when the interview is in English, laughing at the interviewer who has no idea what they are saying, coyly choosing not to answer questions, and finally being too proud, or arrogant to perform on time, or up to expectations. Well there are two sides to every story, and if the press develops the first side of the argument, then the second one surely is presented by Ivan Shopalov, the girls’ producer. Now Ivan made the girls sign a legal document that mentions that he has complete and utter control over the band. Julia and Lena posted that legal document on their official site.
“Julia
Volkova, and I, Elena Katina, admit, that being under drinking age, we have been
persuaded to take part in the girl-band called Tattoo by band’s future
producer Ivan Shapovalov.
As
far as we know, before this band was made, Ivan Shapovalov never had anything to
do with music business. He used to make TV commercials and do all kinds of
advertising activities.
We
(Elena and Julia) used to sing together in a kids-band called “Neposedi”,
and I, Julia Volkova, was asked to leave the band for “misbehaving and
molesting other band members”.
We
(Elena and Julia) met again during audition at MOSFILM studios, when Ivan
Shapovalov was looking for girls for his new band. He’s chosen us and we were
happy because he promised to make us huge stars.
He made us to sign contracts with him, and according to these contracts we
didn’t have any rights to even speak. We just had to do whatever he was
telling us to. For example, for “Ya Soshla S Uma” video shoot, I, Lena
Katina, had to lose almost 10 kilos, and I, Julia Volkova, had to cut my hair
really short and dye it black. And for the next video shoot Shapovalov made us
both shave our eyebrows!
However,
we admit, that for us to sign a contract with I.Shapovalov was an act of free
will. We always wanted to sing together, and now our dream came true. During a
past year we became so close, then now feel something more than just friendship
towards each other.
Agree
with all said above”
Julia
Volkova
Lena Katina
(1)
Now with Ivan having absolute control over the band, to the extent that he could even order the girls to speak only when he allows it, then the press needs to reconsider who to condemn. If the girls, mess around in interviews it is because they were ‘ordered’ to do so, and by law they have to obey the order.
The second aspect of critics’ worries is that t.A.T.u’s sound, music and lyrics are annoying and trivial. The girls both have a high-pitched vocal cord which may annoy some people; on the other hand, girls with high pitched voices are the most attractive singers in Japan. So people must not regard the girls’ voices as worthless just because they are unique. Mariah Cary, Tony Broxton, and Madonna all have a different type of voice, yet they are all considered as great entertainers. Why should t.A.T.u be any different? Their music may not be popular at the moment, but it is about the same style as Kylie Minoug’s, so it is not like the girls totally butchered music. Also, the things the girls sing about are raising eyebrows as well as verbal attacks, since they are songs about their life. I just fail to understand how it is bad if the girls sing about their relationships while Eminem’s style of song, about his own relationships, got him the best Hip-hop Artist Award on MTV for five years in a row.
Next, comes the horrible injustice of wanting to ban the band just because their video clips are a little too spicy for some heterosexual people. The next quote was taken from an article placed on MSN, stating that critics now want to ban the band:
Not
surprisingly, various critics have encouraged boycotts and deplored t.A.T.u. as
peddling borderline child porn. Some members of the Russian Parliament have even
suggested that some kind of legislation might be in order.
(2
t.A.T.u has only four videos out so far in the U.S and U.K. They are not really so bad compared to a lot of what other singers are offering. There is nothing too extreme in “All the things she said,” “Not Gonna get us,” and “thirty minutes.” The only one that might be considered as extreme is “Simple Motion.” However, that song might have been so bad if what was happening in the video clip was obvious, but you have to read the article of what the video meant to actually understand what was going on. It was that vague! So then why ban the band stating that it is all about porn when you have Britney and Madonna kissing in the VMA, Eminem holding his crotch in every single performance, Robie William’s countless times of showing off his behind, and of course, the Spice girls showing off naked on stage to sing their “Naked” song?
The last stab that the
critics love to poke the girls with is their “Fake Lesbian Act.” Now,
“t.A.T.u” was originally tattoo, but they had to change the name because it
was taken in American. So, they decided upon “tatu” which is actually short
for “Ta le ja tu” in Latin, which means “She needs her.”
So you can see where the critics started their assumptions. Now what strengthens
this idea in the media is that the girls often kiss on stage and had said on a
number of occasions that they were in love with each other.
Being in love with one person of the same sex does not make you a
homosexual, especially if you insist that you are not. Even fans are starting to
believe that the girls are lesbians. Jawnee
Bravoh says:
Phony lesbians with decent voices... and
one decent song. Their second CD (if ever created) will bomb
I
think homosexuality should be made private, not publicized all over the world. I
also have a feeling that they aren’t really lesbians...just looking for a good
way to sell records. (3)
And
one critic mentioned in an article
A
straight answer! Even Malcolm McLaren would be impressed at the Great Lesbian
Pop Tart Swindle. (4)
Now
is it not bad enough with all the other harassment they are getting, they have
to say they are lesbians, even though they are not, just to satisfy the crowd?
One lesbian feminist, talks about this facet and clears the clouds stating:
In
recent interviews, the girls have talked about all the sex they have: with each
other, with boys, and even with groups of female fans, saying "after gigs
we like taking a couple of sexy girls to our hotel room." Lena told a
German newspaper, "we were never faithful to each other. We also had lots
of sex with boys."
To
be fair, it is the press who have labeled the T.A.T.U. girls lesbians--they have
never identified as such, even saying "Everyone's so sure we're lesbians,
but maybe we are bisexual. Why not?" (5)
So
if they are not lesbians, how are they faking it? It is true that no one should
be judged by their sexual preference. The girls are artists and they are here to
entertain, but they are not lesbians, so may the whole world just drop it once
and for all!
In conclusion, I would just like to
say that the girls are absolutely fantastic, and I am not the only one that
feels this way. Many people that signed the petition against t.A.Tu being banned
agree with me. (6) Also, the amazing duo won so many awards these last few years
and they are still getting some more. (7) Their brilliance is even going to get
them in to a Japanese cartoon.
Japanese
Distributor IMOVE has officially announced the development of an anime movie
staring Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. "t.A.T.u. Paragate" will be directed
by Kashima Norio (Crusher Joe, Dirty Pair) and Susume Kudoh (Sakura Wars, Silent
Mobius). Cowboy Bebop creator Shinichiro Watanabe will direct the opening
animation. The 100 minute long motion picture will be released in Japan next
November. (8)
They
are young, successful, and happy, so people should just back off and give them a
break.
References:
(1)
http://www.taty.universalmusic.ru/eng/biography.htm
(2)
http://slate.msn.com/id/2078409/#ContinueArticle
(3)
http://pub101.ezboard.com/fantimonyandlacefrm26.showMessage?topicID=369.topic
(4)
http://slate.msn.com/id/2078409/#ContinueArticle
(5)
http://www.afterellen.com/People/tatu.html
The
petition against tATu being banned now has over 22,000 signatures - thanks to
the hard work that users of tatu.us have done in promoting it, and support from
the site admin.
11/30/2003 TATU won the biggest song of the year on VH1's Big in 2003 awards