T.A.T.U: Dangerous and Moving - Review by Joelle

How can anyone forget the infamous schoolgirls in the rain singing "All The Things She Said."? In 2001, Russia set loose t.A.T.u., a duo of girls daring enough to sing things like, "When they stop and stare dont worry me, cause I'm feeling for her what she's feeling for me." 200km/hr in the wrong lane topped the Billboard charts. Things seemed to be going well for the girls for a while, but then they dissapeared. Would t.A.T.u. become another one hit wonder band? All of that changed October 2005. The girls released their sophomore album "Dangerous and Moving". Unlike 200km/hr, this album has more mature lyrics, and a harder sound. The first single "All About Us", has a catchy chorus, and an even better message. "If they hurt you, they hurt me too". t.A.T.u. had to deal with rumors of their love being legit, and rumors of the whole thing being a publicity stunt. The girls proved that wrong by putting out this song. "Loves Me Not" is a song written by Julia, and it's about her questioning the way she feels. "I don't know why I had to try living my life on the other side. Now I'm so confused, I dont know what to do". On "Friend or Foe", the fourth track on the album, the catchy bassline is played by none other than Sting. It has a sort of 80's rock vibe to it. I would have to say that my favorite song on the album is "Gomenasai", which means "I'm sorry" in Japanese. Rumor has it that Julia wrote it as an apology for the girls being so wild while they were in Japan. "Gomenasai for everything. Gomenasai I know I let you down. Gomenasai till the end. I never needed a friend like I do now." Although this album isnt all over TRL and radio airwaves in the US, it is out there being played by clubs all over the world. The girls of t.A.T.u. have done an amazing job on this album.

Bibliography:
http://www.white-man-killer.com/tatu/
http://www.tatugirls.com
http://www.nichya.net/

T.A.T.u. Dangerous and Moving (A New Beginning) – Chrystal Anderson.

t.A.T.u. which means “this girl loves that girl” is made up of two lovely girls. Red head Lena Katina and brunette Yulia Volkova. They released their first album after being chosen from a group of 500 girls auditioning, by then producer and manager Ivan S. The girls had known each other before they became a group, both being in a famous Russian children’s band. Once a group they soon released “Ya Shosla S Uma” which topped the charts in Russian staying #1 for 4 months. Years later they took their hit single and got it translated into English with the help of Trevor Horn. “Ya Shosla S Uma” was now known to the rest of the world as “All the Things She said”. It was shocking, daring and one of the best gimmicks music had seen. With two girls caressing, kissing and hugging in the rain singing with their high pitched voices “And I’m all mixed up feeling cornered and rushed, they say it’s my fault but I want her so much”.

Their first album (200km/h in the Wrong Lane) soon took off reaching #1 all over the world, making it to the top 10 in the United States but where the girls here to stay or was this duo just a one hit wonder? The success of the first album was known world wide but with cancellations of concerts and TV shows things seemed to be looking grim. The girls slowly dropped off the chart and there was no news of something new coming out anytime in the near future. Yulia Volkova had a baby girl which held off any new recording. The girls made a brave decision firing their producer/manager Ivan saying they had ‘creative differences’ and t.A.T.u. called out for the help of Trevor Horn to put them on the right track to doing what the love, music. The girls moved to the United States and spent over 6 months recording and the day finally came ‘October 11th’ the release of their 2nd album “Dangerous and Moving” 12 new fantastic rock/pop songs that no one could ignore.

They Released “All about us” as the first single because when it comes down to it, the girls say “It is all about us”. Staying true to their sound they belted out “They say they don’t trust you me we us so we’ll crawl we must cause it’s you me and its all about us”. Topping the charts all over Europe, the first single is doing really well. With help on this album by famous musicians such as “Dave Stewart, Richard Carpenter, and Sting” the album doesn’t seem to lack in anything. They have high pitch pop/rock songs like “Danergous and Moving, Loves Me Not, All About Us”, Deep, emotional songs such as “Gomenasai and We Shout” and other songs which show how much they’ve grown as artists and singers, “Cosmos (Outer Space), Friend Or Foe, Craving (I Only Want What I Can't Have), Sacrifice, and Perfect Enemy” adding in a touch of Russian with the Russian song “Obezyanka Nol”. This album is not something people should pass up. It’s everything a pop record should be and so much more. If you get a chance pick up the record, I was anything but disappointed.