Columnist: Pop's New Prince

Posted by Steffan Matrak from Moscow, Russia

Is pop newcomer Edis the Tarkan of his generation?

Hürriyet columnist Onur Baştürk has said that newcomer to Turkish pop, Edis Görgülü is a lot like Tarkan. London-born Edis has just released his first album after a series of successful singles, having signed with the megastar's current label DMC, and Baştürk believes Edis is very much Tarkan's "new version".

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Baştürk writes: "Edis has finally released his 12 track first album: Ân (Moment). Taking a look inside the self-produced album, one can safely say: He is Tarkan's new version. He is this decade's Tarkan."

The Hürriyet columnist goes on to detail the reasons, comparing Edis' debut to Tarkan's mould-breaking 2001 album Karma. Namely, the album has progressive pop, contemporary pop and dance tracks - whilst not forgetting an updated and fresh version of Tarkan-like eroticism, Baştürk says.

However, Baştürk stresses that Edis is a lot different from Tarkan and his world, too. Edis is "cool" and modern in his lyrics. He has something new to say, and there is none of the king of pop's Tarkanisms of "burning" or "yearning" for an object of desire to return their affections.

"Edis is saying something new. For example, he tells his loved one to be free. You don't hear that a lot in Turkish pop when the love ends. There is no desire to cause distress. Edis sets his love free with tenderness," Baştürk explains.

According to the columnist, Edis' cover of an old Turkish rock track subtly indicates his life motto of "tomorrow is another day", and that when Edis dances or sings, he isn't trying to be sexy. He is just being himself.

In conclusion, Baştürk says Tarkan's ex-backing singer Murat Boz has "missed his opportunity" to fill the gap Tarkan left after "turning to make classic Turkish songs and wedding music". Turkish pop was in need of a new star, and Edis has filled it.

Elsewhere from Turkey's answer to Tarkan, the press wires have said Russia's answer to Tarkan, singer Avraam Russo visited the Alanya stand at the 25th Moscow International Travel & Tourism Exhibition this month. Russo is a Syrian-born Russian pop singer of Armenian origin.

Held annually, MITT is one of the top five travel exhibitions in the world and is highly valued by the international tourism community. The event brings together the industry’s most influential travel and tourism professionals.

Turkey’s 1,254-square-meter stall at the fair features seven different sections reflecting the nation’s rich cultural heritage.

The country has been continuously represented in the fair since it began in 1994, and at last year’s fair it won the “Best Destination Presentation” award.

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