t.A.T.u.

by itemvn  |  August 20, 2010 [Edit]

t.A.T.u. (Russian: Тату́ pronounced [tɐˈtu] transliterated as "tattoo") is a pop duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consists of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova. Known worldwide, they are the most successful Russian band to date.

Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma", Russian version of "All The Things She Said", was released in December 2000.[5] It became a huge hit in Russia and Eastern Europe. In early 2001, Shapovalov signed a recording contract with Universal Music to release t.A.T.u.'s debut album 200 Po Vstrechnoy. The album was released in May of that year and became platinum in Europe and multi-platinum in Russia.

In late 2002, they released 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane, the English version of 200 Po Vstrechnoy. It achieved worldwide success and has been certified platinum in Europe, diamond in Japan, gold in the United Kingdom and the United States. The album's lead single "All The Things She Said" spent four consecutive weeks at the number 1 spot in the UK Singles Chart, and topped the charts internationally.

In May 2003, they represented Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest in Riga, Latvia with "Ne Ver', Ne Boysia", where they placed third. In 2004, the group took a hiatus after they split from their producer, Ivan Shapovalov, during the Podnebesnaya show.

In October 2005, they released Dangerous and Moving and its Russian counterpart Lyudi Invalidy, which became platinum in Russia. In late 2006, girls released their Best Of, and then ventured on their own after negotiating out of their contract with Universal Music.

The third Russian studio album, Vesyolye Ulybki, was released in October 2008 in Russia, and its English counterpart, Waste Management, in December 2009 digitally around the world. Currently the band is on a hiatus again while Yulia and Lena pursue their solo careers.