A t.A.T.u. singer explained why the group doesn't perform the hits "I've Gone Crazy" and "They Won't Catch Us" in Russian (spoiler: yes, it's all because of "LGBT propaganda")

Lena Katina, one of the soloists of the group t.A.T.u., explained why the band's hits, such as "I'm crazy" and "They won't catch up with us"are now performed exclusively in English. According to the artist, the performance with the original Russian repertoire is currently "against the rules of the Russian Federation". She spoke about this in an interview with Alena Blin.

If you sing the original versions, the band can be accused of "propaganda is not what is needed" "And this is fraught with a complete ban on performances. Now "I'm crazy" Sounds only in English. "We can be banned altogether and banned from performing", warns Lena Katina.

In order not to disappear from the stage, the duo chose a compromise - they left the songs, but changed the language. "I'm crazy" and "They won't catch up with us" now they are heard only in English. Lena Katina says that this is better than "singing once in the old way and then saying goodbye to the audience forever."

Some artists circumvent such restrictions by rewriting the lyrics. In t.A.T.u., this option was discussed, but quickly brushed aside. According to Katina, they are not ready to change the iconic lines: "You can't throw words out of a song. Baba Yaga is against it, really".

Hard compromise: English instead of "leaving the stage"

To avoid banning, the duo opted for English versions. The soloist calls it a forced measure: it is better to let fans hear familiar melodies in another language, "than to sing once and leave the stage forever."

Some artists solve the problem by correcting the words even in Russian. But t.A.T.u. rejected this option. "You can't throw words out of a song," the soloist is sure. "Baba Yaga is really against it. We considered, but decided: no, our songs cannot be changed.".

The situation with t.A.T.u. is a classic example of how legendary hits become victims of censorship. The band, once shocking the world with its "lesbian" image, is now balancing authenticity and survival on a stage where even words of love can cost a career.

• In the summer of 2025, the soloists of the group t.A.T.u. Yulia Volkova and Lena Katina announced another reunion of the band.
• The British Phonographic Industry Association (BPI) awarded the single of the Russian band t.A.T.u. "All the Things She Said" (2002) platinum status. In the BPI database, the assignment of "platinum" is dated January 17, 2020. According to BPI, the single sold 600,000 physical and digital copies. t.A.T.u. is the only Russian pop project whose records are sold in the world in such editions.