The girl group t.A.T.u., remembered for their early 2000s hits and Eurovision 2003 appearance, reunite 15 years after their breakup. Will this comeback endure?
After more than a decade of distance and speculation, Russian pop duo t.A.T.u. is back: Elena Katina and Yulia Volkova have officially announced their reunion – 15 years after the group’s split, which made history with their Eurovision 2003 performance of “Ne Ver’, Ne Boisia” (in English: “Don’t Believe, Don’t Be Afraid”), earning third place. The news came via a joint social media post, accompanied by a photo of the two together.
A Nostalgic Comeback – With Economic Implications
The significance of the reunion goes beyond music. It is a carefully planned financial move: a joint performance by the duo now commands around 15 million rubals (approximately 162,000 euros), compared to just 10,000–11,300 euroys for each member solo. Amid Russia’s deep economic crisis and against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine, many artists are turning to nostalgic audiences and producers willing to pay for big names. The renewed partnership is also seen by figures in the Russian market as a way to attract international attention – not just musically.
Behind the Breakup – And What Has Really Changed?
The group, founded in 1999 by producer Ivan Shpoblov, became a global phenomenon with hits like “All The Things She Said” and “All About Us”. They represented Russia at Eurovision 2003, finishing third. However, in 2011, after personal disputes, they parted ways. Katina pursued a solo career – her dance track “Never Forget” even reached the American Billboard charts. Volkova, on the other hand, faced a throat tumor that nearly cost her her voice.
Despite the rift, the two occasionally performed together, including at the opening ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics – a broadcast that drew sharp criticism for the group’s provocative image, alongside warnings about the state of LGBTQ rights in Russia.
A New Expansion? It Depends on the Audience – and the World
On social media, it’s clear that hope for a comeback is not just emotional. Some users believe a group like t.A.T.u. can succeed again in an era where nostalgia, sexual identity, and crossing cultural boundaries are once again central in pop music. Others warn of commercialization and reliance on past fame.
Is this a temporary move or the start of a new era? Ultimately, it may be not just demand, but also how t.A.T.u. navigate a cultural and social reality very different from their peak years that will decide. After all, it’s hard to ignore that this reunion is happening amid a broader identity crisis – both in Russia and worldwide.
Russia at Eurovision
“Russian Woman” is the name of the song performed by Manizha in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2021. Russia reached ninth place in the Grand Final with 204 points. Russia has competed in the Eurovision Song Contest 24 times since joining the competition in 1994. To date, Russia has won only once, in 2008, with the song “Believe” performed by singer Dima Bilan. Russia has reached second place four times and third place four times. So far, Russia has failed only once to qualify for the competition’s final. In 2022, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) decided to suspend Russia’s membership until further notice due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Eurovision 2021: This was Russia’s 24th participation in Eurovision. Russia joined the competition in 1994 and won it once, in Eurovision 2008 with the song “Believe” performed by singer Dima Bilan.
