T.A.T.U. Screaming for More

I'm just thankful that this was released on DVD. It's a must-have for me. I didn't think I'd find anything when I searched t.A.T.u. on seller sites, and was relieved to be able to obtain this. It doesn't include ALL ABOUT US, but there is a very thorough representation of their two other major hits, in original Russian, remixes and concert performances, so the 10 is earned by my appreciation.

(actually, the DVD is haphazardly designed, you'd see what I mean when you play the extras, but me bicker about unimportant stuff like that? Nah. Also be warned that these girls cannot really converse in English, so don't expect informative interviews.)

t.A.T.u. (that's how it should be written) is one of my favorites, the controversial Russian duo. I was desperately in search of three of their music videos, and obtained two of them on this collection. NOT GONNA GET US, the one with the truck in the Siberian snow, is absolutely my kind of thing, with the feel of a Seventies chase movie. But for the review of the music videos themselves, see the Synopsis. This social-commentary essay is about the controversy surrounding the girls.

In particular:

ALL THE THINGS SHE SAID. Tne notorious *scandalous* BAN IT music video that got restricted by every puritanical faction.

Years ago, when the press was hounding Cindy Crawford for *alleged* homosexual relationships, she indirectly taught me a very valuable lesson, which I will now share with you. She didn't deny the "accusations" but likened it to "I wouldn't care if they reported CINDY EATS ORANGES (she doesn't really) but doesn't mind if they reported as such" AND MOREOVER she said that the world needs love SO who could fault love?

Indeed, who could fault love?

If one living being loves another, why fault them for it?

Look at all the violence and slaughtering and yes, there is something to vent your spleen on, BUT two girls kissing IS THAT A REASON FOR STRIFE? Is it ugly and unacceptable? I think NOT.

t.A.T.u. has had the music video and on-stage performances of their song censored from the word go. THIS is what people do not want to see? Do not want their children to see? But it's okay to carve up little animals, sure, and shoot-em-all-up-first-person video games, wow, educational! Must be, 'cause I don't see those getting banned. I don't hear 'bout the FCC complaining 'bout those, no.

People, it's only two girls kissing. Okay, so they're dressed as schoolgirls. It's an age thing, they're pandering to us perverts? Come on, that type will look elsewhere. It's hot, but not 'dirty' so... Obviously, it's the perceived 'lesbian' thing. No kissing of any girl by another girl. So, it's okay for schoolgirls to kiss schoolboys WHO ARE EVEN WORSE RASCALS? Isn't another girl a safer friend?

The whole thing is a storm in a teacup, AND YET here you have something that will make lots and lots of old biddies choke on their wafers and cucumber salads. While their is little more on-screen than two young girls whose white blouses are getting drenched in the rain as they kiss passionately while being stared at by a crowd of disapproving, disgruntled onlookers. There is nothing explicit, nothing distasteful...

...yet your average rapper may glorify the pleasures of gangsta-hood and anal rape WHILE NO RESTRICTIONS COME FORTH!

This music video is plain beautiful, but for a more detailed look at it, see my effort to bring honor to it in the Synopsis.

One last thing, the nastiest comment that can be justifiably said about t.A.T.u. is that they were fakes. The 'lesbian' image was simply a publicity gimmick, so the laugh is on everybody who saw two girls kissing and thought that so much more were involved. Lena and Yulya were just very good friends who thought nothing of getting chummy on-stage, it's not really even pretend, "it's just the way they are" - it is still love, it is just nothing really intimate, they're just totally at ease with each other. The fake 'lesbian' front is, of course, a betrayal of many of their most fervent fans, I suppose. But think about it, what's there to complain about? Surely their behavior helped others to "find inspiration" if they were that way inclined in the first place.

I just like something this pretty that flies into the face of conformity.