Charlie Salutes t.A.T.u.

This picture brought a smile to my face when I found it earlier in the week. Russian rockers meet British Royalty shock! Actually, Yulia Volkova and Lena Katina, better known as pop duo t.A.T.u., look really chuffed at meeting HRH the Prince of Wales. What I want to know though is how long does it take to get your handkerchief looking so perfectly poised?!! Charles seems to be enjoying himself, however, getting down with the kids, as a certain Doctor Tennant once put it. Usually dark-haired but here blonde, Yulia is drinking white while Lena is also drinking wine to match the colour of her hair.

The occasion is to celebrate the work of pop producer Trevor Horn. He was the man behind Buggles, giving us the immortal “Video Killed the Radio Star”, but is perhaps best known for producing Frankie Goes to Hollywood and their notorious number one hit single “Relax”. As is usually the case with me, I prefer some of his lesser known output. In particular, Propaganda’s “A Secret Wish” is one of my three favourite pop albums of all-time (the others being Siouxsie and the Banshee’s “The Scream” and Magazine’s “Real Life”). This LP spawned the hit single “Duel” and before that the equally excellent “Dr. Mabuse”. Trevor also produced a single by a little known French singer called Anne Pigalle, “Hey Stranger”, which is also worth a listen. And, bringing us into the 21st Century, he has applied his skill to bringing the Russian duo to a British audience. Including Prince Charles it would seem!