Thanks To 'Heated Rivalry' This Near-Perfect Rock Song Has Skyrocketed Back into Popularity

It’s no secret that all anyone is talking about is Heated Rivalry. The Canadian sports romance television series, adapted from Rachel Reid's novel, explores a secret queer romance between two rival professional hockey players. But while it’s causing a stir of conversation for a plethora of reasons, one of them has to do with one particular song that found new life thanks to the series.

“All the Things She Said" by Russian duo t.A.T.u is a classic queer anthem that journeys through the intricacies of two girls developing feelings for each other. A massive hit in the early 2000s, it ruffled feathers and garnered as much controversy as it did praise, earning t.A.T.u accolade as the first Russian act to have a top 40 single and the highest placing for a Russian act to date. However, the single went dormant after some time, until it found itself as the pulse of HBO and Crave’s hit series. Refurbished as the soundtrack behind yet another queer love story, it’s been brought back to the masses in a major way, as Heated Rivalry show-runner Jacob Tierney affirms that the Russian duo's controversial hit was the only choice for this critical needle drop.

The History Behind t.A.T.u 's "All the Things She Said"

“All the Things She Said” serves as the English version of “Ya Soshla s Uma,” originally released by t.A.T.u. in 2000. The song was reworked into English and released in September 2002 as the lead single from their first English-language album, helping it break new ground overseas. As a global smash, the single skyrocketed to number one in over 20 countries beyond Russia, including the UK, Australia, Ireland, and parts of Europe, crowning t.A.T.u. as the highest-charting Russian act to date.

The song was wildly ahead of its time, as queer love hadn’t yet garnered much celebration in a mainstream format. This ultimately led to some resistance from the public. The video confirmed the underlying lyrical truth, as the duo dressed in school uniforms kissed passionately in the rain behind a chain-link fence. Protests broke out in multiple countries while many broadcasters refused to air it, deeming the video “unsuitable for children.” It told a story many love songs did, though through a same-sex lens, which many weren’t ready to get comfortable with yet.

Others, however, felt liberated by the song’s bravery, finding the shame they'd been told to feel about their sexuality annihilated by t.A.T.u.’s lack of inhibition. The lyrics were brash and honest, giving power to the many women who also felt trapped in their attraction to women.

I'm in serious sh-t, I feel totally lost

If I'm asking for help it's only because

Being with you has opened my eyes

Could I ever believe such a perfect surprise?

I keep asking myself, wondering how

I keep closing my eyes but I can't block you out

Want to fly to a place where it's just you and me

Nobody else, so we can be free

Nobody else, so we can be free

'Heated Rivalry' Pushed This Song Back Into the Spotlight

The track meets synth-pop and rock with emotional intensity, lyrically journeying through a love that feels both intoxicating and overwhelming. It only makes sense that it would eventually find new life through Heated Rivalry, a paralleled story of longing, confusion, and forbidden desire. While t.A.T.u. were accused of queer-baiting, as neither member of the duo identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community, the song itself still held a significant amount of power in its lyrical bravery.

Thanks to its critically-timed episode four needle-drop, the song got a major streaming boost after being featured in the HBO series, introducing it to a new generation and reigniting conversations around its emotional resonance and queer subtext. Show runner Jacob Tierney shared with PEOPLE that the song’s selection was most certainly intentional, stating: “I was just trying to find Russian pop songs to use, and I knew how important that song was, especially for queer people of a certain age. That song meant a lot to them,” he says.

“All the Things She Said” sold millions worldwide and earned multiple platinum and gold certification, solidifying t.A.T.u. as the most internationally successful Russian musical export ever. As Heated Rivalry breathes new life into the song, it’s a reminder of its cultural significance, continuing to inspire the new ears it lands on.