t.A.T.u perform at Sochi opening ceremony
By Nick Levine
Faux-lesbian duo t.A.T.u performed at the opening ceremony of the Sochi Winter Olympics this afternoon (February 7).
The pair, Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova, held hands during their performance of hit singles All The Things She Said and Not Gonna Get Us. They were accompanied by backing dancers dressed in rainbow-coloured outfits, and their set featured rainbow-coloured lights.
Upon its release in 2003, All The Things She Said caused controversy for its lesbian-themed video – and went on to make number on the UK’s Official Singles Chart.
Earlier today (February 7), the opening ceremony’s creative director Konstantin Ernst had confirmed t.A.T.u’s performance – which came as a something of a surprise, considering Russia’s efforts to halt the “promotion” of “non-traditional” LGBT lifestyles to children.
” t.A.T.u are performing at the pre-show, where various popular artists will be on show,” said the director beforehand. “t.A.T.u is one of the few groups that is world famous, although most of the ceremony is built upon classical and symphonic music.”
The Sochi Olympics are now officially underway and will run until February 23. In the run-up to the games, over 50 current and former Olympians have urged Russian authorities to repeal the anti-gay laws.
More on Sochi:
> Russian Deputy Prime Minister: Gays should ‘leave kids alone’
> Olympics advert: ‘The games have always been a little bit gay’
> UN secretary-general condemns Russia over anti-gay laws