Fanatism



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Lesbians or not, the girls in t.A.T.u want us to be either shocked or embarassed by their sexual outspokeness.
-There's a fag in us all, Elena says and squeezes her lady friend Yulia's breast. The first Russian popinvasion has begun!

Challenges are fun. Sometimes. To try and do a great job with the girls in t.A.T.u is quite a challenge. They are not focused, too giggly and only one of them, the redhead Elena, speaks with somewhat understandable English. Yulia looks like a questionmark when you say hello. But they like to talk a lot - in Russian, with eachother!

The russians seem to have a lot to learn about how to behave in the business; at least if t.A.T.u's manager is a typical example. She steps into the photosession and starts talking, which draws the attention of the girls from the camera. After a while she asks:
-Are you done yet?
*sigh*. Yeah, if you had kept your mouth shut we would've been finished. Get rid of the lady!

After the session the American representative from the recordcompany gives her a well deserved telling-off.
Elena and Yulia are a phenomenon. Not only because they're behind the biggest Russian hitsong in Europe within living memory; but because theyunashamedly give hints about being lesbians. They gladely squeeze eachothers breasts during the photosession, and Elena caresses Yulia between her legs as if to check if Ulf the photographer will get distracted. They seem to loose intrest in their attempts to shock when he doesn't react. t.A.T.u is all about shocking the outside world. It's not everyday we get to see two 17 year olds swallow eachother whole in videos, or pour water on their t-shirts on stage to show pretty much everything.

This would never work in Sovjet, right?
-No way, says Elena. But we're not an oldfasion country anymore. Russia is quite liberal today.

How far are you willing to go?
The girls look at eachother, converse in Russian, giggle and say:
-Almost as far as possible...
Then Elena tells us about how the entire country were shocked to see the daring video, but that it has calmed down now.
-We don't try to shock people. This is what we're like!

Do you get the same kind of questions in Russia compared to Europe?
-Yes, Elena sighs. Everyone ask if we are lesbians...

And you answer...
-It's none of their fucking business! We're tired to hear people say "but you can't have sex. You're girls." We belive eveyone has one bi- or homosexual side. We show you don't have to be afraid to show that side.

t.A.T.u was created about three years ago. Elena and Yulia have known eachother over eight years, when they sang covers in a childrens group. But they wanted do something on their own. They are now Russia's biggest popband, and are quite cocky about it.

Is there a city outside of Russia you particularly like?
-We like Moscow, Elena says.

Last time I checked Moscow belonged to Russia...
-Yes, but we like Moscow the most. There is no other city like this. It's the best.