Completely Depraved...Yet Kinda Catchy...

I'm kind of late to this party, but Russian scandalmonger has Ivan Shapovalov has topped himself this time around.  Not content to titillate audiences with simulated Russian lesbian schoolgirls, he's got a new act, and this one really pushes the envelope.  Really.

The Tinkov Brewery is usually just your average Moscow nightclub, but tonight something's gone haywire. A screen behind the stage is showing CNN Live, and the latest news flashes by, full of pictures of destruction from Iraq to Banda Aceh. Two Russia Spetsnaz commandos are stationed on either side of the stage in full camo-gear, body armor and face masks, their Kalashnikovs at the ready. Has there been a bomb threat? Is a Mafia war raging out in the streets? Are the Chechens just outside the city?

Actually, none of the above: tonight is the debut performance of Russia's newest, trashiest music sensation, Nato.

[...]

The CNN commentary fades slowly into a steady techno beat, soon joined by live drums and a heavy guitar riff opens up. As Nato lifts the microphone to her lips and starts to sing, the audience strains to hear her voice over the noise. But no matter how they crane their necks, they can see nothing of her face, hidden behind a black veil that shows only her eyes. The lyrics, too, are a bit of a mystery, as Nato doesn't sing in Russian, but in Chechen and Georgian [I think also in Tajik - Justin]. One thing is clear: Nato's outfitted to look like one of the infamous "Black Widows," the female Chechen suicide bombers.

It gets worse...

The singer's first concert, billed as "a musical terror attack against all effectation" was supposed to happen last year, and was actually planned for Sept. 11. Just before the show was supposed to happen, real terror broke out in Beslan, and the show was cancelled by Moscow authorities. Instead, Nato circulated a music video over the Internet, complete with scene in which the singer blows herself up.

But they managed to reschedule the show for January, which went off at Tinkov.  (Instructions for accessing the pictures from the show are here.)  The hit single, "Chor Javon," which I'm guessing is some derivation of "Black Widow," can be heard here.

Shit, I don't even know what I have for commentary on this.  Maybe I'd do best to leave things to the attendees:

As a finale, Nato performs "Chor Javon," a catchy song with clear hit potential that's going to be released as her first single. As soon as she puts down the microphone, the guards jump on stage and fire paintballs into the crowd with their fake Kalashnikovs. Alexy, a 24 year-old concert-goer, gives the whole thing a tired smile. "I'd imagined this would be way more radical," he says. "Machine guns, the whole silent guard routine -- you're really not going to shock anyone with that kind of thing these days."

Comments

[Shuja Gharib]

Actually NATO's song "CHor Jawon" is a very famous Tajiki song. I was the hit of a very famous Tajik Pop singer Muboraksho, who passed away two years ago. The song is in Tajik langauge and set against the background of Badakhshand tajik scene. It talks about the trip of four young guys, who are about to depart. their mother and father warn them against the trip, but they go anyway and are killed on their way by a snowfall (a common cause of death in the high mountains of Badakhshan). It is a sad song and the way it is sang by Muboraksho can make any Tajik cry. I have to complement her langauge skills. she makes only two phonetic mistakes. Unfortuanely, one of them is an important one, because it is the main line: well, she has to say Mawlo, not Mawlon. Mawlo is a Tajik curruption way of pronouncing Arabic mawla and in Tajik and also someteimes in Arabic gives the meaning of GOD, Lord, or the Present Imam of the time.

[David]

well i have got 9 n.a.t.o songs an "chor jowan" does stand out compared to the rest, although she has got a rather shocking way of presenting herself, the music itself is quite good, its ashame i cant find a n.a.t.o website.

[emrah]

perfect song words are not enough to decsribe this song.it s really distinctive the melody the rhtym so fantastic

[güzide]

I find myself in this song. It is fantastic,marvelous and perfect.It is a lot.I cannot describe but feel it.

[vikartindur]

It's an important matter to contribute political stand and ideas by means of music. One could sincerely hope that this act is not 'another marketing supreme' at a time when it's not an easy task telling the real from the fake.

Musically thinking, the tunes are really 'catchy'. following the success (the un-controversial side) of t.a.t.u., their producer has put out yet another good job. not able to point out the brains behind the music (i don't have the cd credits) all i can say is the musicality easily stands for itself.

Let's hope this act would go on without being 'manipulated' and beaten under the mighty gross music industry.!!!

[vikartindur]

by the way, did i mention that "sea wind" sounds very very similar to "all the things she said" :o)

[irena]

the song is great,i love it

[irena]

the song is great,i love it

[irena]

the song is great,i love it

[erdi]

dudes she tells who the real terrorist is!
BUSH!(united states of america)

[George]

I want to find their webside,and I still can't!Help!

[Jack Cooprey]

Nato is awesome. I loved the song the first time I heard it. The video is even better.

[david]

anyone know where i can get some translations from?

[Asya]

Hey guyes! Do you have any idea where is Nato from? And is there any translation of the song?
Thanks:)

[Baader M]

for more nato
http://www.natomusic.de

[david]

i think the website has shut down, an erm i think shes from the former soviet state of gorgia although im not sure.