"All About Us" is a song by Russian musical duo t.A.T.u., taken as a single from the group's second English language studio album, Dangerous and Moving (2005). The song was also featured on the group's second Russian studio album Lyudi Invalidy. The song was written by Josh Alexander, Billy Steinberg, and twin sisters Jessica Origliasso and Lisa Origliasso of the Veronicas. The song was produced by Martin Kierszenbaum and Robert Orton. The song was released as the album's lead single in September 2005 by Universal Music Russia and Interscope. The song was greeted with positive reviews from music critics, who many praised the ambition and was specified as a highlight on the album. Commercially, the song performed very well on the charts, charting in many European charts and managed to have success in North America and Oceania. An accompanying music video was issued for the single, which featured the group running away from each other. The video was considered controversial by critics and fans, featuring disturbing content.

Reception

Critical response

"All About Us" received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Roger Holland from Popmatters said "it’s “All The Things She Said - Part Dva (two)”. [...] It packs more amateur operatics, more rock and more intelligent pop into a little under three minutes than Queen could shoehorn into the entirety of “Bohemian Rhapsody”." The Pitt News compared it "in vein" to the group's previous singles "All The Things She Said" and "Not Gonna Get Us" saying "The song tries to silence the media hype and rumors concerning their sexuality, relationships, disputes and drug use that followed the girls after their emergence, letting the world know that they are still together and as strong as ever." Michael Freedburg from The Boston Phoenix said along with "Friend or Foe", "Perfect Enemy" and "Dangerous and Moving", it "shoots straight to the gut — and to the heart." Betty Clarke from The Guardian said that the song "is good, glossy pop, any empathy lurking in these tales of teenage persecution is lost in translation." Dom Passantino from Stylus Magazine said that the song "runs along on animalistic lust, high-off-your-own-supply paranoia, mental anguish, and the ever-present threat of sudden, bloody violence." Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic said the song sounded similar to "Not Gonna Get Us".

Commercial performance

"All About Us" experienced chart success all around the world. In Oceania, the song only managed to peak inside the top forty, peaking at thirty-nine on the Australian Singles Chart. It was very successful in European markets, peaking inside the top ten in most countries including Switzerland (#9), Austria (#3), France (#7), Belgium (#4), Sweden (#6), and the United Kingdom (#8). The song became the group's last charting single in the United States, peaking at number thirteen on the U.S. Hot Dance Club Songs.

Music video

The shooting of the music video took place in Los Angeles, produced by film director James Cox. There are two versions of the video, one censored and the other uncut (also known as the explicit version). The censored video was released on the official website on 18 August. The uncut version was released later. The video was popular in Europe and was retired on Poland's TRL after spending 50 days on the countdown. The video had much airplay on American television, but was actually played more on Spanish-speaking networks than others.

Synopsis

The uncensored version of the music video starts off with Lena and Julia pulling up in a car, with the chorus to "All the Things She Said" playing on the radio. They enter a Korean restaurant as fake headlines are shown on the screen - rumors of their relationship. They sit at a table, take shots and begin arguing with each other, and Julia storms off. The headlines continue as Julia walks down the side of the restaurant, and Lena drives off after her. While walking down the road, Julia gets picked up by a man (played by actor Charlie Koznik). Lena attempts to call Julia on a cell phone, but it seems she is already on her phone with another person. Julia and the man eventually go to his home, where they start to have sex. However, it quickly turns into attempted rape, when the man begins to force himself on Julia. She shoves him off of her, flips the man off and calls Lena. However, he then physically assaults Julia, first punching her in the back of her head before pushing her through the glass top of a coffee table. Her phone is dropped, and Lena drives off in search of her. The man attempts to strangle Julia, but she is able to break free, and gain enough time to locate bullets and a gun in a case. When he turns around to attack her again, Julia shoots him in the mouth at point-blank range, splattering his brains on the wall. She then climbs out a window and down the fire escape, just in time to meet up with Lena, who drives up to her in a getaway car, and the two smile at each other.

Censored edits

The censored version of the music video was heavily edited for viewing on television. Omitted are Julia giving the finger to the man, her being thrown into the glass, the finding of the gun, the blood splatter and Julia kicking her assailant's corpse. VEVO censors out the flipping scene and replaces it with Julia giving the man the fist.

Track listings

Japan CD single UK CD single UK Maxi-CD single Europe Maxi-CD single The Remixes CD single DVD promo single

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Decade-end charts

Sales

Release history