200 km/h in the Wrong Lane is the debut studio album by Russian duo t.A.T.u.. It was released by Interscope and Electropublic on 10 December 2002. It was preceded by its lead single "All The Things She Said" released worldwide in November 2002.

Work started on the album when the band split from Neposedi, their former children band formed in Moscow, Russia. The band were still with their producer Ivan Shapolavov. The band took on the name of "Tatu". However, an Australian rock band already had rights to the name, so the girls later used upper case letters on the second "A" and "T", which refers to a shortened version of the Russian "Та любит Ту (Ta lyubit Tu)", meaning "She loves her"http After the release of their single, the band released the album on the following month.

Additionally, the album had received mixed reviews. 200 KM/H in the Wrong Lane was nominated for several awards, it won Best International Album on the Polish Internet Music Awards and Best Rock Album by Japan Gold Disc Awards. It topped the charts worldwide, peaking at number one in several countries.

Background

When there was no t.A.T.u., Yulia and Lena had auditioned for a part for Neposedi, produced by their former producers Ivan Shapolavov and his business partner/ex partner Alexander Voitinskyi. It was said by Shapolavov that the band, individually, had stood out from the rest of the girls that audition, however, the decided to start with then 14-year old Katina. She sang "It Must Have Been Love" by Swedish pop duo Roxette. Katina later recorded demo releases of "Yugoslavia" for the "1999 NATO bombing of Yugoslavia".http

When the band were done recording demos, they had to decide on a name for their band.

The band later chose "Tatu" as their current name, however, an Australian rock band had the same name, so the band later used the name, but used upper cased letters on the "A" and the second "T". The band released their first Russian album under the name "Тату", which is short phrase for Та любит Ту (Ta lyubit Tu)", meaning "She loves her".

Over time when with their producers continuing singles and songs, their producer Alexander Voitinskyi left the production, leaving the album unreleased, however, Shapolavov later signed Elena Kiper as the new co-producer and co-writer for the album.

However, although recording and releasing a sophomore debut album, the band completed their first ever single for release "Ya Soshla S Uma" (Translated: I've Lost My Mind). It was released at the start of 2000.

The single had two versions, one was for their album 200 Po Vstrechnoy, their Russian studio album and the album version released on their debut English album.

After the album was released, the band released three official worldwide singles, and two promotional singles.

Composition

200 km/h in the Wrong Lane explores a lot of different genres. Pop music has been one major music to the bands debut album. Subgenres of pop music also contains the amount of electronic dance music, electronica and electropop beats. Guitars are also found throughout the album. Europop and Eurodance styles of music have been also chosen for the album. Its image has been described as more "sexual and sophisticated" pop music.

Pop Rock music, is probably the main source of the band music, and Teenpop has been an influence.

All The Things She Said contains electropop, R&B and pop rock styles of music. Not Gonna Get Us has a more teenage pop, with a breakbeat sound with a industrial sounding. Most of the album contains a "heavy europop sound".

Certifications, Peaks & Sales

Although 200 km/h in the Wrong Lane had received mixed reviews, it had charting success. It charted in Russia at number 1 receiving Diamond and selling over 1 million copies. It later was released in Australia where it charted for 11 weeks and peaked at number 19. It later charted in New Zealand for 12 weeks, peaking at 9.

It charted in Chile at number 5 and spent a total of 35 weeks in the charts. In Austria it charted for 27 weeks and peaked at number 1. It charted in France at number 8. It charted in The Netherlands for 16 weeks, peaking at number 32. It charted in Belgum for 25 weeks peaking at number 16. It charted in also Sweden for 21 weeks, peaking at number 14, and was certified Gold for shipping over 30,000 copies there. It charted in Finland for 27 weeks peaking at number 2, and was certified Platinum there, selling almost 50,000 copies.

In Denmark, it charted for 10 weeks peaking at number 13. It also charted at in Italy for 7 weeks, peaking at 5. In Portugal, it charted for 8 weeks peaking at number 20.

Reception

200 km/h in the Wrong Lane received mixed reviews from critics. Many critics gave applause of their music and some lyrics, however, some criticized their image and words they produced calling it "tacky". Allmusic gave it a mixed review saying it "doesn't make sense to describe the album and band", but did manage to give it best tracks giving it to "Not Gonna Get Us", "All The Things She Said" and "Malchik Gey".

Singles

* "All the Things She Said" was the lead single from the album, and also their debut English single, was released on October 2002 in Europe and US, in 2003 in UK, Australia and New Zealand. The single was t.A.T.u.'s biggest hit ever topping many charts worldwide. It peaked at number 1 in Australia, Austria, Denmark, Germany, India (English countdown), Ireland, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, United Kingdom and the European Singles Chart, number 2 in France, Norway and Sweden, number 3 in Canada and Finland. It was the only t.A.T.u.single to enter US Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 20. Billboard Pop 100 - number 18, Bilboard Hot Dance Music/ Club Play - number 5 and Billboard Top 40 Mainstream where it peaked at number 8. The song featured different instrumentals than the original Russian counterpart, "Ya Soshla S Uma"

* "Not Gonna Get Us" was released on May 5, 2003 as the second single. It peaked number 2 in Russia, 7 in UK, also top 25 in countries like Australia, Austria, France, Germany, New Zealand, Sweden and Switzerland. It peaked number 1 in US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play.

* "How Soon Is Now?" was released on July 7, 2003 as the fourth single. It was not released in the US and UK, the single peaked number 10 in Sweden, 20 in Netherlands, 33 in Germany, 37 in Australia and Austria.

Promotional Singles

*"Show Me Love" was released on November, 2002. It was not an official releasing single and was only released in Poland only. The music is still available but is very hard to order or buy. It peaked at number 18 in Poland and it did not chart in another countries. Released on July 22, 2006.

* "30 Minutes" was released in June 2003, as the third single. It was only released as a promo single in Europe, and failed to peak any important chart.

Promotion

After the success of their debut album, the band appeared on Top Of The Pops four times to sing their song All The Things She Said, but the moment in the song where they kissed was censored by the TV show by switching to shots of the audience. The band announced their upcoming tour in Japan and Russia called the Show Me Love Tour, where they kissed. Myspace.com Most of the pictures were from Japan instead of Russia, but they traveled there also.

The girls also appeared on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel, performing "All The Things She Said". The kiss was censored only on The Tonight Show when the cameras filmed the band and audience instead.

Charts, Sales and Certifications

Charts

Certifications

Personnel / Credits

* t.A.T.u. — vocals

* Martin Kierszenbaum — arranger, producer, A&R

* Cindy Cooper — production coordination

* Sheryl Nields — photography

* Trevor Horn — arranger, producer

* Robert Orton — arranger, mixing, engineer, producer

* Chris Dalston — booking

* Andrea Ruffalo — A&R

* Robert Hayes — management

* Bob Ludwig — mastering

* Sergio Galoyan — producer, composer

References

Category:T.A.T.u. albums

Category:2002 albums

Category:Debut albums

Category:Albums produced by Trevor Horn

Category:Albums certified million by the Recording Industry Association of Japan

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