Customer Reviews

200 Km/H In The Wrong Lane

5 star:		(388)
4 star:		(101)
3 star:		(34)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(30)

 

 

...they chose the WRONG Smiths song to cover. Everybody and their grandma covers "How Soon is Now?" It's become the "Stairway to Heaven" of its generation. What they SHOULD have covered was "Sheila Take a Bow," a sweet li'l ol' courtship song for androgynes of uncertain sexual persuasion. For a bonus, Yulia Volkova (The Noisy One) could cover "Bigmouth Strikes Again!" ;-)

It's a shame the act is self-destructing. Under better management, and more jovial songs to balance out the "I'd DIE without you!" theme off the album, they could have been a cooler version of the Village People. They'd have been the toast of the club circuit! Unfortunately, their manager was an eejit.

Now if I was managing that act, I'd have them do a disco-opera about Original Gangsta Lesbian Poetess Sappho! (Bulb lights up! Me Am Hulk starts writing the libretto...)

The music of Tatu is great ... but be warned that the CD they are selling is not actually a music CD at all. The CD I received is labelled as [ENHANCED], and apparently that means no music. All my CD contained was a Music Video and some Behind the Scenes content.

This is fresh and will knock you down. I love the whole album and this is what I have been waiting for. The girls are great and the music is excellent. I saw the duo on Fox and since then I have been an avid fan. If you buy one CD make this it!

Back in the early 80's, Trevor Horn produced an album of songs that were intended to primarily appeal to the masochist sub-genre of the gay community. But the songs contained enough hooks, and the adverse publicity that the videos aroused turned out to be spectacularly more successful than anyone could have hoped. Becasue just when the song was hitting its stride, it was banned on the BBC. Naturally, sales went thru the roof.

The band was Frankie Goes To Hollywood, and the banned song was "Relax". Since then, FGTH imploded (after really only one album) but the song (and in the UK the follow-up tracks "Two Tribes" and "The Power Of Love") are still anthems.

Twenty years on, Trevor Horn, who has also produced Yes, Band-Aid, and Seal, is at it again. But now, to appeal to the larger, and hence more profitable US audience, he has taken a different path.

Now instead of gay men, he is producing an album by gay women. Not real lesbians, of course, but the idealized male-fantasy thereof. Young, gorgeous, and uninhibited. "Penthouse"-lesbian, without the closeups. And just to add to the appeal, teenagers just barely in the realm of legality.

It's a brilliant marketing strategy. You can guaranteed there'll be free news-making protesters, public CD burnings, speechs by fundamentalists, all playing right into the hands of the record company.

Because the protesters aren't the ones who buy this type of music anyhow.

This album will appeal to three groups: 1) Teenage boys, who are erotically enthralled, 2) Left-leaning politically correct people of all ages and sexes as a way to protest the protesters (and who may well be a little erotically enthralled too), and 3) People who actually like the songs.

Put yourself in the third category, if it helps. But consider: Just how many other albums have you bought where half the tracks are in a language you can't speak a single word of?

Marketing & media manipulation: 5 stars.
Music: 3 stars.

Who can be more controversial than Eminem? If u anwersed t.A.T.u. then your answer is correct. What makes them controversial? If you saw thier music video for "Ya Shola S Uma (All The Things She Said)" it was a pretty racy video. The song talks about a relationship between two teenage lesbian girls. With their holding hands and kissing each other it may turn out to be that t.A.T.u. are lesbian pop tarts to become a breath of fresh air. Even though I'm not gay or bysexual I still love thier music. When I first got thier debut album "200 Km/H In The Wrong Lane" for Christmas I was blown away with thier harmonies and voices. Thier lyrics were pretty racy but made the songs perfectly sense. The beats to every song feels like u are in a club dancing to them. One of my personal favorite tracks has to be "Clowns (Can You See Me Now)" with thier creepy lyrics and danceable beats this song kind of sounds like something that Bjork would wanna sing (but I think t.A.T.u. does an even better job with the song than Bjork would do). Another song that I like is "Stars" which is a very personal song with some serious lyrics but throughout the song they are rapping in Russian which I can't understand but that's ok with me. After hearing the album I immediately couldn't stop playing it. I love this album so much and I would definetly reccomend this album to anyone that likes Europop or likes controversial artists. This album is a must-have. From Russia with love, t.A.T.u. are definetly a breath of fresh air with thier lesbian image that they have to offer for the pop music world!

Hey y'all... It's time for one of those long revies every either loves or hates.

Not Gonna Get Us: Their voices sound very high pitched here and it's very repetitive, but the messgae is good. It's about forbiddon love and running away. The video is pretty darn funny, if you ask me! 4.5/5

All The Things She Said: Their 1st single. Very ctachy, though the lyrics don't make much sense, as it was translated from the original Russian version. Like Not Gonna Get Us, it's quite repetitive. It's a great song! 5/5

Show Me Love: It starts off with some eerie music and a phone conversation in Russian. Ooh, suspense! Their voices sound very nice. At the beginning, when they start singing, they sound great but then the chorus is very fast and it kind of jumps out at you. Then it's back to being slow. Great lyrics! the chorus always jumps out at me. It freaks me out. 5/5

30 Minutes: Once again with that eerie music and slow beginning that scares me to death. This time the chorus doesn't scare the life out of me, which is good. The piano is nice and there are sounds of laughter at times. 4/5

How Soon Is Now?: Okay, so now it's very upbeat compared to the previous 2 songs. Great lyrics! I love the guitar.

I would write more. But I dun wanna.

I must say that this album kicks butt. Not only am i impressed by the lyrics and beats, which astounded me even more on how fluent these girls are at english and russion, but the fact that these girls dont give a $hit about what other people think. One thing that puzzled me though was why Japans album got bonus tracks, but not europes or the US one.

I got this CD because I liked "All the Things She Said" and it was only 7 dollars. It turned out to be pretty good. The girls may or may not be a novelty act, but if it is all just an act, it's one that works so well. Their voices sound really good together, and most of the songs are pretty good. "All the Things She Said" is good, but I also love "Not Gonna Get Us", "Show Me Love", and "How Soon Is Now". The other songs are good, but those songs really stand out to me.

I first heard tATu in early 2003 or so. I heard their first single, "All The Things She Said" on the radio, and I loved it. Then, about a half a year later, my friend got their CD and literally just raved about how awesome and addictive it was. I really wanted to hear all their other songs, so I went out and bought it. It is utterly amazing! I thought it would be good... but not this good! I kept listening to it over and over again. It is so addicting. The pop/rock sound mixed with techno influences of each song along with the unique vocal flare of Julia Volkova and Lena Katina make it incredibly addictive. Even now, months and months later, I still listen to this album practically everyday. There is much speculation as to whether or not Julia and Lena are actually lovers in their personal lives. In my opinion, it does not matter. Speaking personally as a teenage homosexual male, these lyrics are truly an accurate and honest expression of the angst, loneliness, and depression that you go through as a homosexual person. They are expressed with genuiness and honesty that no other artist has captured before. I love how poetic and respectful the lyrics are. The fact that this is being put out there for people to buy and hear is truly powerful. There are 11 tracks, but 8 of them are original, and they are as follows:

1.Not Ganna Get Us- Truly awesome song with a techno flare. It's about running away from society with the person you love... like a fantasty song. The only bad aspect is that it can get repetative. 4/5

2.All The Things She Said- Great song! It's basically expressing the general angst of being in love and no one understands your love, and it's driving you insane. Great poetic lines, and not as repetative as track 1. 5/5

3.Show Me Love- Has a very cool russian opening where Julia and Lena are talking on the phone. I love how this album incorporates some russian into the english songs. This song is a very upbeat dance track. It's about being lonely and wanting someone to show you love. It contains my favorite lines on the CD. When expressing why you're attracted to someone they sing that it's "like a game of pick-up-sticks, played by f***in' lunatics" Also, the only hardcore cuss word on the CD. Great Song! 5/5

4.30 Minutes- Very creepy! It's a ballad. There's this creepy laughter in the background that adds a very eerie feeling, especially if you're alone. It's about making decisions. wonderful song! 5/5

5.How Soon Is Now?- a cover of the Smith's song. I've heard both. I know I might get lacerated for this, but this version is significantly better. Probably the most rock influenced track. A truly honest expression of loneliness and needing love. Arguable my favorite. 5/5

6.Clowns(Can You See Me Now?)-Very techno influenced. Probably the most poetic and metaphorical lyrics. It can have 2 interpretations in my opinion. One is how ignorant people shield themselves from what they don't understand. Or, I also interpret it as an expression of wanting the object of your love to see you and that you love them, but they're so consumed with everyone around them that they can't. Can get repetative though. 4/5

7.Malchik Gay- It means "Gay Boy". Probably the most american sounding song. It's about being in love, but the person you love is taken. Incredibly relatable. It might get annoying to some though with the repitition. But, it's arguable one of my favorites just because of the topic and lyrics. 5/5

8.Stars- Truly Captivating! The girls go back and forth from verses in english to verses of russian rap. The russian sounds so awesome. I love songs in different languages, and to also have english in it is very cool. The saxophone in it provides for a very smooth melody. It's a very slow and soothing song. It's basically just about how it shouldn't have to be this hard for homosexual people in society. Great Song! 5/5

9.Ya sashla s uma- original russian version of "All The Things She Said" It's very cool to hear it in russian and go back and forth between this and the english version. Because the girls are singing in their native language, the passion in their vocals really stands out. Very cool to listen to. 5/5

10.Nas Ne Dagonjat- original russian version of "Not Ganna Get Us" Again, very cool to listen to the russian version. It makes you want to learn russian! lol. 5/5

11.Show Me Love(Extended Version)- This is the extended version of Show Me Love. If you like the original, you'll like this. It has a different opening that's more rock oriented. Awesome! 5/5

This album is truly amazing! The lyrics are very genuine and honest, and it truly expresses a soul that is tormented by the angst, depression, and loneliness that encompasses being different. It expresses the shameful shyness that homosexual people experience in their lives. The lyrics are also written in a very illusive way to where not just homosexual people, but that everyone can relate to. Regardless of whether or not Julia and Lena are actually homosexual in their personal lives, the fact that they do express it and put it out for people to hear is awesome. I encourage you to purchase this utterly amazing and expressive album. You will not be dissapointed. It is a must have!

With today's trends leaning more and more towards "lesbian chic" and such, girl on girl action has become just another ordinary, yet still discouraged, occurance; however, two of the forerunners of this trend, Lena and Yulia of t.A.T.u., have found a distinguished way to separate themselves from the typical "I make out with girls for attention" fad-followers: their phenomenal voices, their foreign sex appeal, and some VERY good lyrics.

Overall, this CD has a nice variety of songs on it... from the upbeat and fast paced "Show Me Love" to the angelic and torn "Stars", t.A.T.u. has had my stereo working overtime for a week or so now. They even delve into the world of covers, chosing the song "How Soon is Now" originally by the Smiths. This song works well with the angst which is so openly and obviously expressed in many of their songs.

I don't thing I would rate any song on their album less than a 4 out of 5... actually, that might be "low-balling" them a little, even. Some songs are overtly sexual and in your face, such as the mainstream hit "All the Things She Said" and some sneak up on you like "Clowns", a fast paced song about ignorant people trying to shield themselves from things that they do not understand or agree with: "Don't you hide your eyes from me, Open them and see me now."

After playing "Ya Soshla S Uma" and "Nas Ne Dagoniat" a few times, I am overcome by a strong desire to learn Russian and an even stronger desire to learn more about t.A.T.u.