Tarkan DeLuxe

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2010-12-01T22:21:00.021Z

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Surrender What You Carry

2010-11-07T04:44:00.015Z

It is time to celebrate, for it is a joyous occasion. I am closing my Tarkan Deluxe blog. This post will be its last.

We will keep all our archived pages online as long as our host Blogger allows us to, accessible to anyone who wishes to come along and read them. In about a month, we shall change to a static frontpage (UPDATE: here it is), providing links to our main pages for Tarkan fans across the world.

I have personally emailed all our closest friends of our decision, which has been a few years in coming I must admit, and they all agree it's the right time to go. I thank our guest writers for their contributions made to my blog. Each input has been an invaluable education, an individual colour, and a great opportunity to learn something new and grow.

But there are so many projects, so many horizons to set off to, that this closure is going to be the start of a wonderful new adventure. This was fun, but the future will be even better.

A Celebration of Endings

I call our closure a time of celebration, because that is how I see endings of any kind - as a chance to look back and celebrate what has gone, and look toward the future in anticipation of what will be. The loss of a good friend taught me that sadness is selfish, and no goodbye is a sad occasion unless we choose it to be. As death is a chance to celebrate life, so, too, is every ending a chance to celebrate a new beginning.

I hope that in some way this blog has been a valuable tool for its readers. When I first opened Tarkan Deluxe, we were the first blog of its kind, now there are many insightful Tarkan blogs out there, and Tarkan's official channel themselves are active, too. The standard of English translations to Turkish lyrics was bordering on unintelligible, now they are at least being translated with tips we have provided over the years, and fans sharing these works have started to actually credit names with translations - because many are now clued up that translations are intelligent property, too.

When I look back to the situation as it was, and to the situation as it is now - where a Tarkan fan can get their daily fix of all things Tarkan from a multitude of sources - it is indeed a time to celebrate. With Tarkan Deluxe gone, it is a rewarding opportunity to take a look around at what else is out there, and it will be fun just reading for a change and letting others do all the hard work for Tarkan fans!

And for the record, I never wanted to attain any degree of popularity or notoriety in the blogosphere where Tarkan fans were concerned. Those that know me, I mean really know me (not think they do after three e-mails of pie-in-the-sky and then starting a campaign of idiocy from their feverish brains) know I don't shoot for things like that.

I can leave with a clear conscience. I have done what I can. The baton is passed with the best of intentions.

New Projects, New Horizons

The prospect of having new outlets for my writing and exciting new projects on the horizon has doubtless had an impact on my decision to stop this blog, as well. It seems unfair to carry something that I feel I'm dragging behind me - both to me and the wonderful people that have been holding the blog up between my, ever-widening, absences.

I feel it has been especially unfair to Adelind, the wonderful lady who kept up the Tarkan News Index and who nevertheless has been saying let's not stop just yet ... let's stop at such-and-such a time. I have literally had to pry her fingers away from the keyboard. But closure in real life is not so neat. It isn't deliberate or planned, or for show, or to cause some kind of reaction. The end comes when it comes. Our friends are right, it's the right time.

I love you so much Adelind; I love so much your never-ending energy that still wanted to go on! It is with full cringe worthy cliché that I say one of the things I will miss about Tarkan Deluxe will be our constant contact, but I will most certainly be popping in for Christmas breakfast at your home with your loving family! And that is another thing closure brings - new opportunities - I now have time to visit all those doors this blog has opened for me across the world.

No matter what anyone says about the future, the real world will always be the one out there - not the one in here.

For my departure from the blogosphere is not that I have less to say; just less time in which to say it. Indeed I have more, so much more that I wish I could share with all of you. The new things I have seen, the new projects I am working on. My new poetry is intense, and more personal than it has ever been, but as the readership grew and grew (we were having daily hits in the thousands at one point) I became more and more reluctant to share what I wrote.

It felt like I wasn't sharing any more, but shouting.

Surrender What You Carry

But I will surely look back on my many posts and the comments I've received years from now and have a wonderful (and sometimes bitter-sweet) snapshot of my life during a time of great transition for me. The boy who began this blog, is not the man who closes it today. It is the end of an era for me; a spirit-led journey over six years during which I lost a great and good friend, and found many more - in the most unlikeliest of places. I lived on the streets of Cyprus, where refugees opened their humble homes and hearts to me. It's a public record of a very private time for me.

However, because a vast majority of the posts were not about my personal life, I will keep the archives online to serve as a record for fans of Tarkan, should they wish to use it. Or at the very least, as a potent testimony to the Iraq War, which I hope will be long over by the time anyone looks back on this blog from the distant future.

I know it might seem highly doubtful, but it can be done. Some of the last poetry I had written for the blog was about Iraq, and my brief visit there, and where I witnessed a few bloody endings (like in so many hangouts in the Bible, Torah and Koran). Yet, if we remember that there are no endings, only changes, and only change has the last say - then we must also trust that change, too, knows that where we hope and keep positive in the midst of its coming and use it for a greater good, death and terror will not have the final word.

Hopelessness, like sadness, becomes burdensome to the spirit if we use them as rocks tied around our necks to keep us from moving on. And that is of no benefit to anyone - not to those we have lost, or to those we must help to keep on living despite all they have suffered.

We need to surrender the heavy rocks we each carry with a light heart, and not be afraid to say goodbye. For in this beautiful life we only really carry with us our own shadow.

And we surrender that in the light.

Read more: The War In Iraq | About this Blog | My Life | My Say >>

Is It a Wrap for Tarkan?

2010-11-04T01:06:00.015Z

Editorial by Mark Mayhey reporting from London, UK

As Turkish music station Kral lists in its "Nation's Top 10" last week that Tarkan has topped all the major charts in Turkey - including both airplay and sales - it seems that Tarkan has wrapped up the mouths of his critics tightly shut once and for all with his 2010 album.

How can you criticise someone who is making money - when so many other artists are struggling with album sales? It's not about the music is it?

Of interest is music critic, musicologist and Turkish pop archivist Naim Dilmener's recently re-published list of his 100 best Turkish songs and albums, with Tarkan making the grade in both lists.

Dilmener is noted for not having gotten over his pet hate, Tarkan's 2007 double award-winning Metamorfoz, and can't help but take a dig at an album that went platinum in its first and diamond in its second year of sales, with four top ten hits.

Holding a rock heavy slant in what purports to be a pop list, Dilmener has listed Tarkan's "Kır Zincirlerini" (Ölürüm Sana, 1997) - known as "Bu Gece" in Europe - at 57th of his 100 best songs, while putting the album Ölürüm Sana at 22nd place, and Karma (2001) at 56th position of best records.

A recent tweet from Dilmener is even more interesting, with the critic responding to a follower who agreed with him when he described Tarkan's rise from now on as temporary.

"I also said that if Tarkan doesn't change his sound and intentions, his journey will lead him straight to Serdar Ortaç's door; just like Ajda Pekkan has done," he notes.

Therefore, it's a little more than ironic that Ortaç decided to release as his second video single from his own 2010 release the track titled "İşim Olmaz".

It happens to share the exact same name with the Tarkan-Yıldız Tilbe track from Tarkan's 2010 album, which has been growing in popularity amongst listeners if a past poll by music station Kral is anything to go by. It's already been reported in the Turkish media that the similarity of track title did not go unnoticed by Ortaç.

Was Ortaç's second video decision from his 17-track album to choose the same title as Tarkan's so as to jump-step the singer? Take from it what you will.

Meanwhile, 70s music icon Erol Büyükburç has been quoted as saying in an article published by Haberturk (pictured left) that Tarkan hasn't been able to go past his "Şıkıdım" era (A-acayipsin, 1994).

"They locked him there," Büyükburç is quoted as saying.

Now, for those in the know (or many of us who don't), Büyükburç is a crazy egomaniac at best, who started with high school pop, then tried to crossover to folk music dragging his pop-ego behind him. Most of his material is kitschy taverna-like music. His music had its moments, far less than Tarkan's music has, but does the man make a valid point here?

It seems to me that public perception was subconsciously "built up" to be disappointed by Metamorfoz (the Turkish public were never going to really warm to anything he released as a follow up to the Come Closer fiasco - releasing on the back of his English language failure looked like Tarkan was treating the Turkish music industry as second choice in rebound), and they have been just as "built up" to like whatever he published after it looked like that had pushed him over the edge (a.k.a Tarkan turning to drugs).

And of course none of that is really true, either. Tarkan was neither pushed off the edge or otherwise, and his 2010 album has yet to reach the sales of Metamorfoz - and yet perception is everything.

The only thing that is possibly true is that Tarkan has for the first time made music for the masses, not for himself. He made it to silence the only critics he couldn't face to let down - the ones he thought he ran the risk of losing after the drug arrest - his staunch fans. With his 2010 album, fans have been screaming that "Tarkan is back", wholeheartedly applauding songs that - if truth be told - would be mediocre, kitschy taverna-like music at the hands of any other Turkish artist.

And Tarkan fans should be proud of the singer's 2010 album. It truly is their album, not Tarkan's - because it is full of the rehashed same-o, same-o that he knows they want to hear. Does the album have its moments? Of course it does.

But maybe this is what music critic Dilmener meant (although in this, his hands are just as dirty). In giving up the fight, Tarkan has handed Ortaç the legacy of Turkish pop music, because for years Ortaç has been constantly filling up the eardrums of the Turkish public with the same humdrum, dum-dum. If Tarkan is now following Ortaç by example, then we should all say goodbye to the longevity of Turkish pop. It's a bubble that will ultimately burst.

I haven't seen the likes anywhere in the western music industry where the fans dictate the music their favourite artist creates. Surely, we should follow the artist on his or her journey - we shouldn't drag them onto our path, or worse still force them to never grow up but stay forever in one moment in time, even if that was their greatest moment in time.

So, when Büyükburç says that Tarkan has been "locked in", maybe he isn't all wrong after all. Tarkan's 2010 album is musically fine to Turkish standards I guess, but somehow when I hear it I can't help feeling the album may come to symbolise Tarkan's arrested development in music. First arrested by the cops for drugs, then by his fans for music. In different senses of course, but the limitations are the same.

Look at Tarkan now: any other artist would have immediately released a music video to launch his new album (not that Tarkan needed to). But it took him until September, nearly three months later, to provide his first video single from his 2010 album. And it was to a track that polls did not show as a favourite. A little rebellion from the child, maybe?

And Tarkan seems more happier concentrating on his social projects, voicing National Geographic documentaries and visiting Africa, then he is on pushing his latest album. Of course he doesn't need to push it, but ten years ago Tarkan would have been living and breathing his new songs - he wouldn't have been taking pictures in Kenya.

But isn't it cruel not to let a child grow up? Not to let them free to be what they want to be and to follow their dreams? Sometimes, with all the best intentions, this cruelty comes from a love that believes it knows what's best - when in reality it's the farthest thing from that.

Tarkan voices National Geographic doco for Turkey

Yes, an artist should give fans what they want in regards to performance, concerts, official sources online, etc., - but he shouldn't give them what they want so much that he has to compromise his music to do it.

Check out what it means to be a 21st century pop star with Lady Gaga who's doing it through 24 hours a day of fierce work (it's almost as obscene as not letting a child grow up) and compare that with Justin Timberlake, who hasn't released anything since 2007 and is concentrating on acting instead.

The showbiz sites tells us:

Uncertain when he will make a chart return, "Does a painter make a painting because he has to make it by December 21st? No, he doesn't," Timberlake said when asked if he plans to release another record.

"It happens when it pours out of him. That's how music is for me.. I never stop making music. I don't know what else to tell you, except that I just don't know in what capacity I want to be involved any more... All I'm saying is, in very simple terms, I'll know when I know. And until I know, I don't know when I'll put another album out."

If only Tarkan had that freedom. But, Tarkan's making money. The fans are happy. So, who cares about the music?

History will. Time - that little devil fans want to press the pause button on for Tarkan - will actually show whether this 2010 album was simply a flash in the pan, or whether it really is a work that will endure over time as Tarkan's Karma record has for example.

But for now, it's a wrap for Tarkan. And the here and now is all that matters in pop.

The views in this article are those of the author alone.
Read more Mark Mayhey articles on Tarkan >>

<< Tarkan Nature Doc? | Tarkan News Index >>

Not Just a Hot Flick: The Emperor of Mandopop

2010-11-03T02:24:00.001Z

"Cultural Mosaics" by Timi, writing from Budapest, Hungary

I was watching Jet Li's breathtakingly beautiful farewell movie, Fearless on DVD when at the end of the film I came across a very unusually structured song with really strange rap-Chinese opera mixed vocals. I raised an eyebrow, but as the music was very much to my liking, I looked it up on YouTube. That's how I came to know an artist named Jay Chou.

It turns out, Jay Chou is not just simply a singer. As I'm looking up information on him I basically drop my jaws in an aw. He is the third most downloaded artist in the world (!) after Lady Gaga and Michael Jackson, and the only Asian musician in the top 20. He started learning the piano at the age of three and majored in cello and piano at a prestigious Taiwanese music high school. He went on to accompany a friend on the piano at a TV talent show, where the lady was basically thrown out of the show, the jury saying she had no voice. The show host though happened to take a look at Chou's complex score and immediately hired him to be a songwriter for prominent Chinese singers. Most of them though, refused to sing Chou's songs in the beginning, claiming they were musically too difficult to perform. Now that's when I stopped reading for a moment and decided to take a closer look at his music, my interest rocketing high. I always considered mandopop as something to despise, linking it to anime films and something to do with lack of quality - at least that's what I have read about mandopop before. See, our usual prejudices... After I listened to Jay Chou, I decided to put my pre-configured European musical mindset away for a moment and just let music take me. Was it worth the trouble? Well, you can guess. Would I be writing this essay now?

Jay Chou has given the name Zhongguo feng (Chinese wind) to his music. It's a very attractive combination of Chinese traditions, traditional musical instruments like the erhu, and everything "Western" from rap, hip hop, electronica, rock, pop... he even mixes styles like flamenco, bossa nova, French chanson or American Indian melodies, not to mention classical music. He's a Chopin freak, stuffing his 2007, self-directed movie "Secret" with Chopin waltzes, showing off his pianist's skills. He eventually ended up winning the Outstanding Taiwanese Film award at the Golden Horse Film Festival with it. He is named the emperor of mandopop by the Asian media, and his fans call him "Little Heavenly King". Fitting? Let's see.

The 31 year old music prodigy doesn't smoke, doesn't drink alcohol, doesn't go clubbing, considers filial piety the highest value in life, his lyrics are taught at schools both in China and Taiwan and he has been awarded several times by authorities for showing correct behaviour to young people. Cheesy? Maybe. The man is controversial. He might not be clubbing but he reportedly likes gambling, a maniac car collector (his latest addition is the Batmobile. Yes, you read that right. Reportedly this was the most expensive car import to Taiwan in history) and he likes going commando because he doesn't like doing the laundry. He's a control freak, and not only in the studio, where he produces his own albums. He tells even his own friends what to wear when they go out together, so their clothing would match his. Despite all this, all who know him claim he is shy and quiet off stage, just a normal guy. He has to fight though, a hereditary bone disease in his back gives him much trouble from time to time, having him to rely on painkillers so that he can perform on stage and in his movies.

I browsed through his music on YouTube, and I have to tell I am amazed at the variety of styles he mastered. He's a professional rapper (media calls him Asia's own Eminem) and has a nice singing voice. His voice is not outstanding, but is very pleasant, especially when he sings high notes. Most surely, his strongest skill is composing, whatever the genre might be, he is amazingly skilled a composer. He plays over fifteen instruments, the piano, the cello, various types of guitars, the violin, keyboards, turntable, the flute and a selection of traditional Chinese instruments. He plays them on stage as well. And can he dance! I wonder how much trouble break-dancing might give him considering his illness. (Rumour has it, if he goes on stressing his body like that, his illness might turn into bone cancer. His manager denied such rumours, though.) I can't comment on the lyrics as he sings in Mandarin Chinese (hence the name Mandopop), but according to what I read he has meaningful, imaginative, rich lyrics, mainly written by a friend, Vincent Fang, but he does occasionally write the lyrics himself. He has been criticised that for over 10 years now his musical style did not change. Chou says this is the kind of music he likes and does not wish to alter it. As far as I could see, his style might be unchanging but his songs are absolutely of a great variety. Themes might reappear from time to time and his singing (not the rapping) is repetitive, especially in his slow romantic songs, but his style and music is so unique you won't notice unless you really want to find something to complain about.

Last but not least, Jay Chou is also an actor and film director (he directed two movies and a TV series, along with all of his music videos lately). As an actor, he is nothing special, I have to say. I saw a couple of his movies and he's below average, with very poor mimics. His smile is cute, that's all I can comment on, as this is basically the only movement he does with his facial muscles. His performance was something of a better quality in The Curse of the Golden Flower, where he co-starred Chow Yun-fat and Gong Li, playing the second born son of the Emperor of China. His performance was praised by Western critics. Next he will star in The Green Hornet, alongside Cameron Diaz and Christoph Waltz, playing Kato, the quiet sidekick of the title hero, a role once made famous by none other than Bruce Lee, one of Chou's personal icons. Let's just clarify: Jay Chou never learnt martial arts, but he always dreamt about becoming a martial arts hero as a kid, hence his obsession with such movies (he made a quasi-martial arts, quasi-basketball movie called Kung Fu Dunk and as I mentioned, he wrote the theme song for Jet Li's Fearless, whom Chou also admires). For The Green Hornet he started learning English, which he found impossible before and said he would never attempt to sing in English as his language skills were "poor". Now that the The Green Hornet, being a huge budget Hollywood movie, is giving him the opportunity to expose himself to Western audiences, he seems to be changing his mind, saying he already sent a few demos to American publishing companies, but is afraid the studios would exercise too much control over his creative work, to which he is not used to.

Even if he never gets to sing in English, I am glad I discovered him. Just like with Tarkan before, the music of a very talented artist made me discover a new world, a new culture, opening up new horizons in my personal development. Jay Chou is not simply a musician, not simply a hot topic pop sensation. He is a true music prodigy playing musical strings that touch the soul. Take a listen and decide for yourself.

Top 5 Jay Chou songs to look up at YouTube:

#1. The Curse of the Golden Flower (alternative title: Golden Armor)
#2. The Herbalist's Manual
#3. Cliff of Love
#4. Huo Yuan Jia (alternative title: Fearless)
#5. The Era

+1 bonus: Jay Chou & Yu Hao's live piano duet

One of Chou's self directed music videos: The Era (2010):

The theme song for The Curse of the Golden Flower (2006)

Other guest contributions >>

Tarkan to Voice Nature Documentary?

2010-08-26T12:36:00.008+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Online reports from various sources are writing that Tarkan is currently working on a National Geographic documentary.

Known for his interest in nature and environmental issues, the Turkish pop star is currently filming a voice-over for a documentary on mass migrations, the reports state.

UPDATE: Tarkan voices National Geographic documentary >>

In an account run by a celebrity portal quoting media portal Haberturk as its source - and popping up at music station Kral's news section, too - it claims that after Tarkan shared his wish to voice a documentary with Imaj studios, an offer was quick in coming.

"After Imaj learnt that National Geographic was looking for a striking voice, it became a bridge between both parties. Without even feeling the need to discuss money, Tarkan accepted immediately. The documentary describes the migrations of various animals," it says.

Tarkan, worked with Imaj studios for a voice-over to the official Turkish version of Disney's Hercules animation in 1998.

<< Concert Date Updates | Tarkan News Index | Is It a Wrap for Tarkan? >>

Tarkan Concert Calendar Updates

2010-08-24T11:19:00.017+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan's official site has added extra concert dates via its "concert countdown" widget placed on Tarkan.com's front page, showing another extra date at the Harbiye and a concert in the Turkish territories of Cyprus.

Although not published on the concert agenda provided at the singer's official Facebook page Tarkan Online at time of writing, the two dates show that Tarkan will be at the Harbiye for four extra dates between 27-31 August with tickets on sale at Biletix, while the singer will be making his way to Kyrenia in Cyprus for a hotel show.

Tarkan last appeared in Cyprus at a concert held in the divided capital of Nicosia in October last year, and had given a concert in Kyrenia in July 2008.

Tarkan's current concert agenda is as follows:

Dates & Venues (Dates may be subject to change)

2010
August
27.08.2010 : Istanbul, Turkey, Harbiye
28.08.2010 : Istanbul, Turkey, Harbiye
30.08.2010 : Istanbul, Turkey, Harbiye
31.08.2010 : Istanbul, Turkey, Harbiye

September
11.09.2010 : Kyrenia, Cyprus, Cratos Hotel
18.09.2010 : Bursa, Turkey, Anatolium Mall

<< Pop Sensation Rocks 6 Thousand | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Nature Doc? >>

Pop Sensation Rocks Six Thousand

2010-08-23T02:37:00.017+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Pop sensation Tarkan rocked thousands at his 21 August Çeşme appearance, with CNN Turk writing that the singer "blew through Çeşme" while local paper Yeni Asır says that the artist "sang to six thousand people".

One of Turkish pop music's greatest names, Tarkan met with his fans for a show that counted paper Yeni Asır amongst the concert's sponsors.

As previously reported, the account confirms an attendance of well over 5,000 and says that despite a strong wind that evening, Tarkan rocked the crowd - with thousands singing in unison to the artist's songs.

Elsewhere, major music station Kral reported on the show on its official site to add that due to heavy winds the concert only lasted one hour and twenty minutes, while noting that local celebrities attended Tarkan's beach club outing, too.

On stage for a live performance in the Aegean resort town of Çeşme, near İzmir, the pop megastar released his latest studio album in late July, which was included in a repertoire of past and latest hits sang for the beach club event.

<< Tarkan Rocks at the Seaside | Tarkan News Index | Concert Date Updates >>

Tarkan Rocks at the Seaside

2010-08-22T01:01:00.036+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

On Saturday Tarkan performed at the Seaside Beach Club in Alaçatı, Çeşme.

The first notes from the eagerly awaited 21 August performance, at one of Turkey's first and finest beach clubs, has come from micro-blogging site Twitter.

A look through the most recent tweets reveals at initial posting that the Turkish megastar has rocked another Turkish town's inhabitants with his musical prescence.

Çeşme Empties for Tarkan Show, Tarkan Wins Critics

A variety of tweeters on Twitter have been writing Tarkan's show is "unmissable" and that Çeşme has seemingly emptied as almost everyone is at the beach club to watch Tarkan perform - whilst other tweets reveal the frustration of those unable to attend the mega event.

That frustration wasn't limited to those not attending, it seems, with one lady tweeter complaining that if Tarkan didn't get on stage soon, she wouldn't be held responsible for her actions, writing that she had been forced to come for Tarkan.

Meanwhile in other tweets, another person attending the show "by force" - for different reasons this time - a male micro-blogger showing his obvious dislike for Tarkan reveals in his following posts that Tarkan wins him over by the end of the show.

"This Tarkan is good on stage, dude," he writes.

Moreover in another tweet, those not able to get a ticket for the Tarkan show, were able to enjoy the live music from a distance, as in the example of one tweeter writing about the joy of listening to Tarkan during a stressful ferry journey home.

Local Businesswoman Tweets Tarkan

However, the most comprehensive details about Tarkan's Seaside show on Twitter to date has come from the account of Selma Semiz, who tweeted throughout the concert to her followers.

The businesswoman from Bodrum confirmed an anticipated wait for Tarkan to get on to the stage yesterday evening - which she noted for being windy. She also tweeted the head count to have exceeded 5,000, but that she was unsure exactly how many had filled the club to watch Tarkan.

And a read through her tweets reveal that, once Tarkan started singing, all the frustration of the wait was forgotten and forgiven, with Semiz tweeting that Tarkan's songbook for the evening was a mix of past and latest hits.

Semiz shares pictures of the show via her Twitter account, 21 August 2010 (© Selma Semiz)

Plus, adding that contrary to the sea traffic caused by Tarkan's Bodrum show, she counted only 3 boats and 2 small fishing boats across the shore, she finally tweeted that Tarkan ended his repertoire with the 2010 Tarkan-Yıldız Tilbe track "İşim Olmaz" - which in other reports seems to suggest is fast becoming a fan favourite.

"But this audience won't let Tarkan go so easily!!! And Tarkan won't go so quickly :)))" Semiz declares.

<< Kral TV on Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Pop Sensation Rocks 6 Thousand >>

Sponsor Music Station on Tarkan

2010-08-21T13:57:00.053+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Major Turkish music station Kral is running a poll on the frontpage of its official site asking its listeners to vote for their favourite track from Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz.

Participants are asked to provide their details alongside their vote to be entered in a draw to win one of thirty autographed 2010 Tarkan albums.

As of writing, the results show that track "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" - which lends its name to the album - is first, while in second place is the Tarkan-Yıldız Tilbe track "İşim Olmaz", which was one of the two songs Tarkan had decided to put back into the album at the last moment.

More noticeable is that dance tracks "Acımayacak" and "Öp", touted to be the next big hits for the singer, are currently trailing at bottom positions in the Kral poll.

Tarkan Number 1 for Album Sales and on National Radio

According to figures published by Kral's top ten of the nation for week beginning 20 August, Tarkan is still holding the top position for album sales across Turkey.

Kral's national top ten marks the ten most listened to artists in Turkey for that week according to airplay popularity by national and local radio stations overall, including hard copy and digital sale figures.

Meanwhile, the singer's chart positions across the board for his song "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") sees Tarkan jump up from a number four position last week back to the top spot for most airplay on national radio stations, while sticking at number two for local Turkish radio stations.

However, it has dropped down to fourth place from second position last week on the national digital sales chart.

Tarkan on Sponsor Station's Chart

And after securing both number one spots in Kral's radio and video charts with his track "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu", Tarkan keeps hold of the top spot from last week with the song "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" on the station's radio chart.

Reflecting the current results of the poll on the music station's frontpage, Tarkan's track "Acımayacak" has dropped out after an entry at number nine last week, with Tarkan's "İşim Olmaz" entering in at number twelve of Kral radio's chart this week.

Tarkan's music company HITT had organised its 6th annual summer open air concerts at the Harbiye in Istanbul under the sponsorship of Kral this year, which was kick-started with a performance by Tarkan on 31 July.

Tarkan on Kral's TV Report: Tarkan Conquers Turkey

Elsewhere at the station, Kral has aired a variety report on Tarkan's current concerts, including footage from the singer's successful shows.

Kral Magazin segment on Tarkan's early August shows

The show Kral Magazin says that as megastar Tarkan stamps his mark on the music world with songs from his latest album played all across the nation, interest is growing in the singer evidenced by his recent sell-out shows in the first half of August.

Airing footage from Tarkan's smash hit two date show on 31 July and 1 August for HITT's 6th annual open air summer gig under Kral's sponsorship this year, and from his concerts at Taşköprü, Bodrum and his father's village of İkizdere, Tarkan is running from performance to performance, the Kral TV report says.

Tarkan's Harbiye Success, Tarkan Honoured by Fans

With Kral Magazin's behind-the-scenes footage of preparations for the Harbiye shows - which the report says began two days prior to the first show - the celebrity report also documents the long queue of fans gathering to wait hours before Tarkan was set to take the stage and Istanbul by storm.

And before showing a sea of people at the open air arena all dancing along to the singer's new songs, the Kral Magazin report aired footage of Tarkan's meeting with his long supporting fans from the Tarkan community, too, as they presented their idol with gifts at the Harbiye.

Organised by Tarkan International members Tarkanclub - the first international internet fan club ever set up for the pop star - and Tarkancoll, the report shows a Turkish fan displaying her arm tattoo of Tarkan's face to the singer, while other fans had come from all across the globe - including Latin America - to see Tarkan.

"Mexico, Brazil, France, Poland, and Spain ... of course," Tarkan counted, while proudly showing the camera a book of photographs with Tarkanclub members and himself, presented to the singer by his fans.

With Tarkanclub founder Marleen van Woensal standing beside Tarkan, the artist said of his fans, "It's an amazing honour. They come to all my concerts and meet up with each other."

Thousands See Tarkan Live

Kral's TV report also covers video footage from Tarkan's 6 August appearance at a garlic festival in Taşköprü, Kastamonu, where it says that around 30,000 people gathered to watch Tarkan sing, with female fans displaying large banners and causing a stampede to get to the star at the end of his show.

It follows on to his 7 August Bodrum concert, including his visit to the doyenne of Turkish classical music, Müzeyyen Senar, before the beach show. The report details that 3,500 people attended the top beach club where the concert was staged, while the show caused sea traffic as boats stopped to listen to Tarkan sing.

The report on the singer's series of concerts is rounded off with his appearance at a festival held at his father's village of İkizdere in Rize. With the report saying that close to 25,000 people attended the show, the singer was introduced on to the stage during daylight hours as "Turkey's megstar".

It also shows the moment where Tarkan stops singing to ask a girl fan not to cry at the Rize show.

"I'm here now, don't cry anymore," he says, to which the young girl is filmed hoarsely screaming, "I love you very much!"

Down Memory Lane with Tarkan

And finally, the Kral Magazin report, in a separate segment on pop nostalgia, sees a little unknown piece of Tarkan trivia pop up.

Still at the start of his career, Tarkan appears in a 1993 pop video to one of Turkish singer Fatih Erkoç's earliest tracks. Edited from scenes of a show where Erkoç made an appearance with various other artists, Tarkan can be seen in an unbuttoned shirt dancing with Nazan Öncel on stage.

Nearly a decade later Öncel and Tarkan were to collaborate together to such hits as "Hüp" (Karma, 2001) and "Dudu" (Dudu, 2003), after a dispute over the ownership of the hit track "Şımarık" (Ölürüm Sana, 1997) with Sezen Aksu led to a split between Tarkan and Aksu.

Fatih Erkoç - Elveda Tatlım (Farewell My Sweet)

<< Tarkan Gives Life | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Rocks at the Seaside >>

Tarkan Gives Life to Music Industry

2010-08-21T11:50:00.021+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Turkish newspaper Hürriyet's financial pages published a report today about the economic success of Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz, headlining that it has generated £4.5 million TL in sales, with its sales target upped to 500,000 copies.

The financial report quotes Tarkan and Turkish music label DMC rep Samsun Demir, as it outlines the new hope that Tarkan's record breaking success has brought to the Turkish music industry in terms of physical sales.

Tarkan Writes Name Across Music Industry's Heart

Correspondent Ceyhun Kuburlu's 21 August dated report for Hürriyet Ekonomi writes that Tarkan's 2010 album is currently breaking records by managing to make 307,500 sales in 20 days.

Hitting the music shelves under a joint release with Tarkan's music label HITT and a DMC ticket, CD sales have generated £4.5 million TL in revenue the report writes, while quoting Tarkan as saying he believes the album will surpass sales of half a million.

"Released in the final days of July, "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" is breaking sale records ... Pointing out that the sales have brought hope to the sector, "I believe this album will surpass 500 thousand [copies]. These sale figures bring hope to the sector," Tarkan said."

Sector in Bad Way, but Pirates Slow to React

The report goes on to quote Tarkan about the music sector being in a bad way, with the number of physical sales dropping rapidly in Turkey and the world.

"The sector is going through a tough period, and reaching such sale figures made me happy, but at the same time surprised me. Despite internet downloads and [music] pirates, the sale figures for "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" promises hope for the Turkish music sector. Maybe it's proof that an album produced with care, filled with good songs can sell again. I believe this album will reach 500,000 and even surpass it."

Meanwhile, in a country where on average 150 albums are released yearly, DMC head rep Demir is quoted as saying that there is no other artist in previous years that has managed to generate such sales in Turkey.

Demir also added that, working in collaboration with the police, precautionary measures were taken against music pirates.

"Before the pirates could react to Tarkan's album the sales records had already been broken. The music sector will get back on its feet again because we've made lots of inroads on this issue. However, the internet is way in front of physical pirated copies. We've been promised that new laws will be passed in regards to this."

And whilst detailing the financial ups and downs of the global music sector, with advertising and concert sales making up a larger share of the revenue, the article adds if there is not a uniformed approach with other countries in regard to piracy, that expert bodies have forecast a loss of 1.2 million jobs in the sector.

Fasting Season Not an Issue, a Few Faulty CDs

In the final part of Kuburlu's Hürriyet Ekonomi report, it quotes Demir as saying that the interest for Tarkan's album is an "important development" for the music industry.

"Tarkan's album shows that our interest in music continues. I feel that this album is a ray of hope and a standard for all producers. If we can stop the stealing of work on the internet then the music sector can return to its golden era. The point we've arrived at today is very important. It's the first time an artist's fans have waited so long for an album. There was a great amount of excitement before its release, too.

"Tarkan's album might be a turning point for some very important developments. Traditionally during the month of Ramadan album sales would be low. However, from the level of demand this year it seems that month of Ramadan is having no effect whatsoever."

The article touches upon the matter of some of the Tarkan album CDs being faulty, with Demir explaining that a few complaints were made due to CDs not playing in car players because of a text display software burned into the album.

"These complaints were only a few. However, for customer satisfaction we replaced the CDs," Demir said.

<< Tarkan's Extra Harbiye Shows | Tarkan News Index | Kral TV on Tarkan >>

Tarkan's Extra Harbiye Shows

2010-08-20T11:18:00.012+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

After Tarkan's smash hit two date show on 31 July and 1 August, Tarkan's music company HITT has published a press release confirming that the Turkish megastar will be back at the Harbiye for three extra dates by public demand.

UPDATE: More dates and venues added >>

With Tarkan's scheduled 27 and 28 August return already being promoted, due to tickets being sold out for the two dates a fifth date has been added for 30 August, HITT's press release writes.

It also says that Tarkan's 2010 album has notched up 300,000 sales in two weeks, and collected over 12,500 people to his first two Harbiye shows this year.

Tarkan had appeared at the Istanbul open air arena for HITT's 6th annual open air summer gig.

Meanwhile, Tarkan's official Facebook page, Tarkan Online, has updated Tarkan's latest concert details to add the scheduled 30 August Harbiye outing.

<< Tarkan in Nielsen's Top Three | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Gives Life >>

Tarkan in Nielsen's Top Three

2010-08-20T11:08:00.005+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Moving up two places from last week, Turkish pop artist Tarkan's latest track "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" from the same titled 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz is the third most played track on radios in Turkey, according to Nielsen Music Control - which monitors music broadcast on over 700 radio and television stations across 18 countries worldwide.

Tarkan released his 2010 album last month to an eagerly waiting Turkish public. The album is said to have broken sales records within its first week of release.

<< Tarkan's Album Still #1 | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan's Extra Harbiye Shows >>

Tarkan Still Number 1 for Album Sales

2010-08-16T09:41:00.001+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

According to figures published by Kral's top ten of the nation for week beginning 14 August, Tarkan is still holding the top position for album sales across Turkey.

Meanwhile, the singer's chart positions across the board continue unchanged from last week for his song "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike"), with a number four position across national radio stations and a number two slot on local Turkish radio stations for most airplay. It still holds the second highest position on the national digital sales chart, too.

Tarkan on Sponsor TV Station

And after securing both number one spots in major Turkish music station Kral's radio and video charts with his track "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu", Tarkan has reached the top spot from number two last week with "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" from the same titled 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz on the station's radio chart.

Tarkan's track "Acımayacak" has also entered Kral radio's top ten chart at number nine.

<< Through a Glass Darkly | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan in Nielsen's Top Three >>

Tarkan, Through a Glass Darkly

2010-08-16T09:15:00.006+01:00

By Kaya Turan reporting from Rochester, UK

A pop star is nothing more than a dim image in a mirror that fans want to see more clearly.

The reasons for wanting an active, official Tarkan domain on the net is numerous and differs from individual to individual, but unarguably one of the main objectives will be to HD-up that image.

For those non-Turkish speaking fans bombarded with the dizzying, glaring, contradicting reports from the Turkish gutter press it must be something like suffering through a verbal epileptic fit.

What to believe?

How many hard CDs has Tarkan's latest release really shifted? Did Tarkan rock at his Bodrum show or not?

Is it better to be talked about than not all? On the internet it was all about the buzz generated, now you need to be trending.

Now thanks to relatively new technologies, the only source of information is no longer traditional media channels. A quick flick through Twitter pulls up stories not at first evident in the physical papers or their online incarnations.

From everyday people in Turkey tweeting that Tarkan is playing from almost every beach, disco and house where they live, to a rumour from a person in the music industry claiming the lyrics to Tarkan's hit "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010) were sent to singer Kenan Doğulu first, who rejected them.

Even more interesting are some of the responses received by music label DMC rep Samsun Demir on his Twitter account.

It seems that due to the hasty printing of CDs for Tarkan's 2010 album to quickly meet the (which I guess was unexpected from their side) high demand, Demir is getting complaints from Turkish celebrities and the public that the CDs being purchased are faulty.

Some won't play, some play Tarkan's old tracks.

Alongside that music label rep Demir is playing mouthpiece for confirmations of album sales, posting that as of 14 August 275,000 CDs (including faulty ones) had been sold, with Demir claiming that this will reach half a million copies once the video singles are released.

Demir also claims that the 275,000 figure is a 16 day sales record for the last five years, although he seems to have forgotten that Tarkan's 2007 album Metamorfoz (also released by DMC) sold over 300,000 just after two weeks of release.

But none of these are from Tarkan's virtual mouth himself. Although he has promised fans first-hand news from official sources, Tarkan's official networks churn out automaton messages, as though a robot version of the singer is pushing buttons somewhere.

The press section at Tarkan.com shouldn't be confused with its news section, either. The press snippets provided by the official site are just a cross section of media buzz about the singer, their selection doesn't make the reports any more true.

For example, it has a press snippet which claims Tarkan's album has sold 300,000 in a week, while it has only selected reports about the Bodrum show that reported favourably on the event.

Press snippets at Tarkan.com

The press section can't be said to be overtly biased, however, as it also holds reports from Tarkan's drug scandal, but the section is lacking because it fails in a basic - but very fundamental - way. If fails to cite the news sources, and worse cuts off the names of the papers from the screencap clips it provides.

Whichever way we look, we only manage to see Tarkan through a glass darkly.

The only time he shines is on stage, and no where more brighter than the open air arena at Istanbul's the Harbiye.

Maybe as fans we should just stick to buying tickets to watch Tarkan perform live. Besides, how else do you get to know someone really well but hanging out at their home?

<< Tarkan's Nature in the Press | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan's Album Still #1 >>

Tarkan's Nature in the Press

2010-08-16T09:01:00.003+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan Works His Way Into the Soul

Cenk Erdem's piece for paper Milliyet's arts and culture section praises Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz, which he says he listened to on the day of its release whilst journeying by car to a weekend getaway.

Headlined as "He wrote across our hearts long ago, he works his way into our soul, too!", Erdem confesses Tarkan's arrival on the musical scene was a very welcome one.

"Tarkan's voice flows like a river and is so healing. After the release of the album I complied of international voices with "healing songs", when I've been asked in interviews about domestic healing voices, as a psychologist and DJ I make no hesitation in my response. Is there a more beautiful male voice than Tarkan's?"

Erdem goes on to sing the praises of such tracks as "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") - adding poetry to our lives - and "Acımayacak", which he says heralds the welcome return of Tarkan's flirtatiousness. He also writes that Tarkan has helped remind listeners what a talented lyricist, female singer-songwriter Yıldız Tilbe is with the song "İşim Olmaz".

He describes "Sen Çoktan Gitmişsin" as a "chill-out piece ... it goes down like a bitter Turkish coffee after the end of a beautiful meal," while the "Usta Çırak" song he finds the most entertaining track, before adding that Tarkan "has saved the summer" by providing remixes for the clubs.

And although he confesses to not liking the song "Öp", which he skips when listening to the album, he says that when it comes to the song "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" he envisages an evening of rakı where "he burns with his troubles thrown into the fire.

"Even the backing vocals are enchanting ... What a beautiful song and how beautifully allaturca suits Tarkan's voice ... Tarkan saves us all once again, he heals us with his beautiful voice.

"Tarkan wrote his name across our hearts a long time ago, but his voice and he, too, knows and senses our souls so well..." Erdem ends his article.

Tarkan's Nature in the Press

The nature photographs from Tarkan's own lens and published exclusively in the T-zone section at Tarkan.com for his fans has made the Turkish press and celebrity portal headlines.

Described by some as "another Tarkan talent discovered", the reports write that the photographs have been met with praise, while talking about Tarkan's "meaningful call" to his fans from his official site to unite for the protection of the environment and its animals.

Tarkan's photographs hosted at Tarkan.com's new T-zone

Finally elsewhere, as paper Cumhuriyet lists Tarkan in an article about animal rights group PETA and "the brave defenders of animals", a report writes that the head of a local group in the Turkish province of Rize has publicly thanked Tarkan for his messages of support for the protection of the region's environment against the proposed building of a hydro-powered dam.

Tarkan had made the comments during an appearance at a festival on 8 August, held in his father's homestead of İkizdere, a Black Sea town in the Rize Province of Turkey.

<< Rep on Video, Harbiye Date | Tarkan News Index | Through a Glass Darkly >>

Rep on Tarkan Video, Another Harbiye Date

2010-08-15T09:33:00.006+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Music Label Rep Tweets Tarkan Video

Turkish music label DMC rep Samsun Demir seems to have confirmed on his Twitter account one of the two video singles Tarkan is set to release soon from his latest album Adımı Kalbine Yaz.

In response to a follower tweeting that Tarkan's latest track "Öp" from the 2010 album was her favourite, Demir tweets that one of the videos will be to that song.

UPDATE: Tarkan releases video to "Öp" >>

Another Harbiye Date Due to Demand

After Tarkan's smash hit two date show on 31 July and 1 August for his music company HITT's 6th annual open air summer gig at the Harbiye in Istanbul, online ticket company Biletix has confirmed a third live performance date to follow Tarkan's scheduled 27 and 28 August return to the venue due to high demand for tickets.

Now tickets are set to go on sale for fans to see the artist at the Harbiye on 30 August, too.

UPDATE: Fourth extra Harbiye date added >>

<< Videos Coming Soon | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan's Nature in the Press >>

Tarkan Tweets: Video Singles Coming Soon

2010-08-13T16:07:00.014+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Turkish megastar Tarkan has left a tweet on his official Twitter account, Tarkan Online, and a note on his Facebook wall notifying fans that two video singles will "be coming soon".

"Preparations for the video [singles] from the new album (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010) are complete... Two videos coming soon :)" the tweet and message on Facebook write.

UPDATES: One of the videos to track "Öp"? >>
Tarkan releases video to "Öp" >>

Tarkan fans on social networks need to sign up to Tarkan Online to get all the necessary updates and follow the movements of their favourite music idol, and let other fans know that the artist is finally active on the net.

It is hoped that the singer's Tarkan Online accounts will start to send out all their messages in English and Spanish for non-Turkish speaking members, too.

<< Number 1 for Album Sales | Tarkan News Index | Rep on Video, Harbiye Date >>

Tarkan Number 1 for Album Sales

2010-08-13T05:27:00.013+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

According to figures published by Kral's top ten of the nation for week beginning 7 August, Tarkan has hit the top position for album sales across Turkey.

Meanwhile, the singer continues to hold a number 4 position across national radio stations for most airplay for his song "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike"), and is the second most listened to track by local Turkish radio stations.

The track is also the second most downloaded song in the national digital sales chart.

Tarkan on Sponsor TV Station

And after securing the two number one spots in major Turkish music station Kral's radio and video charts with his track "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu", Tarkan continues to hold the second highest position with "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" from the same titled 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz on the station's radio chart.

<< Tarkan Concert Agenda Update | Tarkan News Index | Videos Coming Soon >>

Tarkan Updates Concert Agenda

2010-08-13T02:55:00.012+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan's official Facebook page, Tarkan Online, has updated Tarkan's latest concert details.

Alongside the previously reported two extra dates at the Harbiye venue in Istanbul on 27 and 28 August, Tarkan Onine at Facebook confirms that the singer is scheduled to appear in Çeşme on 21 August while adding a new date for September.

Tarkan Online's newly published concert agenda says that the artist will be appearing at Bursa shopping mall Anatolium on 18 September.

Tarkan had last given a shopping mall show in 2008.

Elsewhere, the artist's official site also holds an extra date - not on the Tarkan Online published concert agenda - via its "concert countdown" widget placed on Tarkan.com's front page.

It writes that Tarkan is scheduled to appear outside of Turkish borders in Batumi, which is a seaside city on the Black Sea coast and capital of Adjara, an autonomous republic in southwest Georgia.

UPDATE: The Batumi venue was removed from Tarkan.com on 13 August. No reason has been given.

<< Nielsen: Tarkan is Top 5th | Tarkan News Index | Number 1 for Album Sales >>

Nielsen Rates Tarkan Top Fifth

2010-08-13T02:21:00.006+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Turkish pop artist Tarkan's latest track "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" from the same titled 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz is the top fifth most played track on radios in Turkey, according to Nielsen Music Control, which monitors music broadcast on over 700 radio and television stations across 18 countries worldwide.

Tarkan released his 2010 album last month to an eagerly waiting Turkish public. The album is said to have broken sales records within its first week of release.

<< Bad Show in Bodrum? | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Concert Agenda Update >>

What Happened in Bodrum?

2010-08-09T09:53:00.020+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Conflicting reports have started to come out of Turkish press reports on Tarkan's Bodrum show at Bianca Beach Club on 7 August.

Megastar Gets a Standing Ovation

Paper Hürriyet has reported on the DHA news wire that thousands had a great time at the event, awarding Tarkan with a standing ovation at the end of the concert, while also publishing photographs from the evening.

It has been headlined as Tarkan causing a storm in Bodrum, with thousands turned away at the door, and the singer telling the crowd that they had helped make it a night he "would never forget".

Despite video footage and photographs of the evening evidencing the news wire, other reports have given a completely different version of events, however.

Tarkan Complains About Bodrum

There are now reports circulating in the Turkish press - and slowly accumulating in number - that have run with an initial report from Milliyet's variety section Cadde about the Bodrum show where Tarkan had reportedly said on stage that if he didn't see the crowd having more fun, he wouldn't come to Bodrum again.

Reports have now grown so that media portal Haberturk's variety pages HTMagazin has prepared a report describing the artist's performance as "disappointing".

Meanwhile, other reports have written about the "free-loaders" that watched the concert for free from the sea, while those in the concert arena paid high amounts of money for their tickets to watch Tarkan perform.

A news portal has even published an opinion piece on Tarkan's so-called "anger" at the Bodrum crowd, saying that Tarkan shouldn't blame the crowd, but blame the organisers instead for what they claim was a poorly prepared event.

<< A Megastar in the Columns | Tarkan News Index | Nielsen: Tarkan is Top 5th >>

A Megastar in the Columns

2010-08-09T04:41:00.054+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

The Turkish Public's True Megastar

A columnist going by the nick of the "Last Reporter" has written about Tarkan in a recent column, published by celebrity portal Sacit Aslan. Headlined as "The Public's True Mega Star", the article praises Tarkan's longevity in the Turkish public's conciousness.

"In the last year he has struggled with the most difficult problems of his life.

"Once you trip up, it's all downhill from there. And there are always those ready to kick a man when he's down. They kick without mercy. When you're fine, everyone is fine with you. But when they see you slip, in that instant those fine people put on their real dress and smear war paint on their faces and start to attack. This community is generally so two-faced that it is very difficult to separate friend from foe. But his enemies weren't strong enough to keep him down.

"My article today is about the public's true mega star TARKAN.

"Yes, anyone who can be objective will agree with what I've written above. During that difficult time when Tarkan had slipped I had written that "Tarkan knows how to get up from these difficult times with his head held high". These days I'm proud to have been proven right once again. I'm happy to see the war paint drip off some of those evil naysayers.

"It's not easy to be able to come through nightmarish days and stay standing. Tarkan has succeeded in doing that.

"It has to be said some of our artists did support Tarkan and stand by him. But for the majority, seeing someone so successful slip up must have ignited their petty jealousies to see how they could benefit from it. But they failed again.

"TARKAN released the album he's been preparing for a long time and which kept getting postponed. He filled up the Harbiye open air concert arena to the brim for two days running. To be precise, he rocked the Harbiye for two days.

"As an artist Tarkan is an important name and an asset to Turkey, we all know this. He is just as great a person as he is an artist, I know this because I know him well. Compassionate, helpful, but most of all his humility as a great artist is what I most admire about him.

"He's modest, but because of his situation you'd think his feet didn't touch the ground, he is very humble, vulnerable, sensitive, just like you and me. And it's because he is this way that the Turkish public have taken him to their hearts.

"If Tarkan hadn't been loved and trusted so much by the people of this country, then the things he has gone through would have finished him. If you're sincere, if you don't play games, then your common sense and your admirers remain. It's because of this that Tarkan is still standing. This public has cast down the false and the insincere from their thrones many times. But they have always supported sincere, decent people like Tarkan.

"Finally, I just want to say welcome to Tarkan, and that I'm glad there's someone like you in the world. To Tarkan who knows how to always rise from the ashes come what may, I say Godspeed," the columnist concludes.

Tarkan is Worth the Wait

Writing for Milliyet's variety section Cadde, columnist Asu Maro has touched upon Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz in a 4 August dated column.

"The album due out since the start of the summer has finally been released. It looks like it was worth the wait for Tarkan fans," Maro's byline reads.

"We really did wait too long for Tarkan's album. Especially when the Aysel Gürel - Tarkan - Ozan Çolakoğlu product "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") had so raised expectations.

"The song was an indicator that Tarkan, having been thrown into an assortment of areas throughout the years, had completed his "metamorphosis" and reached a formula that mixed those known "Tarkan hits" with a more mature sound and lyrics. And finally the album Adımı Kalbine Yaz, which was numerously scrapped, tested, changed, finally reached us.

"At the beginning of July, when [music label] DMC had let it be known that Tarkan's album was going to be released, because we had learned from Mehmet Tez's column that they were still trying to record two new songs, frankly it was a surprise.

"Made up of eight new songs (including "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" of course), and five remixes, it is a concoction that will delight Tarkan fans and please admirers. There are romantic Tarkan tracks, and allaturca motifs, and quite rhythmic pop songs, too...

"If I am to talk about my own preferences, I don't like remixes, so I generally play the eight songs back back to back. "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" is truly one of the most important hits of the album and his complete body of work. In the context of "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" there is no better song."

Maro continues in her article to criticise the other songs, under a subheading that calls Tarkan Turkish pop music's best performer where she ultimately admits that Tarkan is in a league of his own.

Maro describes her dislike of the song "Acımayacak", and that she finds it distasteful for a man nearing his forties to be singing lyrics about a man raving for a woman. "Tarkan has sung a lot of these songs in the past," she says.

"So apologising to Ozan Çolakoğlu's production, I skip that to the next track "İşim Olmaz". It's a charming Yıldız Tilbe - Tarkan piece. Tilbe, who wrote what is still one of Tarkan's most beautiful songs "Kış Güneşi" (A-acayipsin, 1994), has written enchanting lyrics this time, too.

"I'm guessing the song "Kayıp" will be a favourite amongst those that like to listen to sad, romantic, sweet songs. And to top it all Günay Çoban's lyrics are really beautiful.

"Then comes "Öp" a Sezen Aksu - Tarkan collaboration ... a very polished production, for me it's the album's most distinct and special track...

"And then comes a song for those that think Tarkan suits allaturca best, Tarkan's own song "Adımı Kalbine Yaz". Don't be surprised if now and then it sounds like a lot of old Tarkan songs," she writes.

And while Maro doesn't say anything about the final track "Usta - Çırak" apart from it was added at the last minute to the album, of the track "Sen Çoktan Gitmişsin" she says its isn't ever going to be one of the album's biggest hits, but it's one of those that will be loved "in secret".

Tarkan is Playing Everywhere

Writing for the regional Aegean sections of paper Milliyet, female columnist Sezin Sivri in her 7 August dated column heralds the return of Turkey's megastar, while informing her readers of his next show.

Headlined "Çeşme is Waiting for Tarkan", Sivri writes: "This is what I call rising from the ashes ... He lived in America for a while, tried new things but it didn't work out ... The Turkish public expected songs like [his old hits] from him. Finally it's happened. Tarkan has captured his old performance, and he released [his 2010 album] Adımı Kalbine Yaz. Turkey has once again been reunited with its Megastar.

"Now everywhere Tarkan is playing... Not just in the clubs and on the beaches, but Tarkan's songs can be heard rising out from cars, shops, homes. Lovers are sending messages to each other with Tarkan's songs. Tracks "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" and "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" are hand-made for this.." she says, before going on to write about Tarkan's scheduled appearance at Çeşme Seaside on 21 August.

"It is certain that it will be jam-packed ... If you want to go to the concert, it's a good idea to start out early."

Tickets for the event can be purchased from online ticket company Biletix.

In Other Columns

Tarkan has also made a quick appearance in the columns of gay correspondent Oray Eğin and female Radikal correspondent Nur Çintay A.

In Eğin's account titled "A Bodrum Sitcom", he recounts his failed attempt to get to Tarkan's Bodrum show with Tarkan's ex-girlfriend Elif Dağdeviren.

"On an impulse we decide to go to Tarkan's concert. It's close to one o'clock in the morning, we have no idea of the time, and we take our time to make our way over there thinking Tarkan will stay on stage for hours. We finally reach Tarkan's concert, but, because of the traffic and large crowds, by the time we get to the stage the concert's been over for ages. My first ever full Tarkan concert experience has ended before it began. But Elif Dağdeviren missed a more important opportunity: my losing our way stopped her from going to her ex-husband's place to hear her ex-boyfriend sing!"

And finally, in left-wing paper Radikal, the column "The Remains of the Week" has the female columnist letting out a guilty secret.

Listing Tarkan as the "best companion", correspondent Çintay A. confessed to listening to Tarkan's latest album on her long car journey down to the Agean as a guilty pleasure.

"I have to add that I specially like "Acımayacak" and "Öp"," she says.

<< Tarkan's 5 Tracks with Adidas | Tarkan News Index | Bad Show in Bodrum? >>

Tarkan's 5 Tracks with Adidas

2010-08-09T03:11:00.012+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Website brand-m, which brings the latest news about those involved in marketing music, has contacted Tarkan Deluxe to tell its readers about an article published involving Turkish pop megastar Tarkan.

The article says Adidas has joined forces with audio outfit Sennheiser to launch a new musical and athletic website which goes by the name of 5 For Sports, and features Tarkan amongst other world celebrities.

Along with their biographies, the 5 For Sports site lists celebrities and their top five tracks they listen to whilst training.

Over the next five months sports fans around the globe can nominate their five favourite songs to train to alongside their favourite idols.

Tarkan at 5 For Sports

Tarkan fans can check out Tarkan's top 5 songs while he trains - which includes artists like Michael Jackson and the Black Eyed Peas - at the site 5 For Sports.

Included is a catchy write-up of the artist's life, which includes translation help from the founder of Tarkan Deluxe, Ali Yildirim.

"Tarkan will be throwing kisses into big audiences for quite some time," it writes.

<< Notes on a Megastar | Tarkan News Index | A Megastar in the Columns >>

Press Snippets: Notes on a Megastar

2010-08-09T01:50:00.002+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

In the Columns

Celebrity correspondent for Haberturk, Oben Budak has written a short passage on Tarkan's latest album Adımı Kalbine Yaz in his 7 August dated column, indicating that the album's success could be riding a wave of 90s nostalgia.

Suggesting that everything 90s might be making a comeback, Budak writes: "I have to be honest, all the songs on Tarkan's album are great, we've consumed them all already. But if you say is there anything new in them, there isn't! It's just the known format from the 90s with a little bit of added technology. And of course when Tarkan's amazing vocals are added into the mix we listen in rapture.

"But this situation has got me thinking, [after the focus on the 80s] could it be that our new nostalgic era is the 90s?"

And as Hürriyet female columnist Ömür Gedik pens a sentence in her 5 August column over her sadness of not being able to make it to Tarkan's first two Harbiye shows, she reveals the "good news" that Tarkan will be back at the venue on 27 and 28 August.

Elsewhere, celebrity portal Gecce female columnist Dilara Pekel has mentioned Tarkan's latest album in her column.

After writing out the lyrics to one of Tarkan's latest tracks "Sen Çoktan Gitmişsin", she says: "The whole album rocks, but this song just punched a hole in my heart... No words can be said after it... Amazing," she writes.

"Welcome Tarkan... It was so good that you came... I had so missed the way you make me feel..."

Singing With Tarkan

Female correspondent Çağdaş Ertuna for Milliyet's variety section Cadde writes about music producer Ozan Doğulu's Kuruçeşme Arena show, where the artists he gathered together on his 2010 album came together on stage to sing their songs.

While Turkish divas Sezen Aksu and Ajda Pekkan were there, Ertuna writes that Tarkan was absent as he couldn't make it, but they played his two tracks featured on Doğulu's album.

One of the other featuring artists at the Kuruçeşme Arena that evening was female singer Ziynet Sali, who praised Tarkan to reporters after Doğulu's show, gossip portal Ayaklı Gazete writes.

The account says that Sali went to watch Tarkan at the Harbiye, and hinted of a possible duet with the Turkish megastar in 2011.

Another female popstress Gülşen has also mentioned Tarkan, whilst on stage at a festival. Telling the crowd that "My Tarkan has arrived" she proceeded to sing Tarkan songs during her performance, local paper Yeni Asır writes.

In Other Reports

Readers can also take a look at press snippets about Tarkan archived at Tarkan.com

Moving on, citing paper Milliyet's original report, media portal Haberturk has published an article on the new look Tarkan.com.

The reports write along with the new changes, of notable interest is that amongst the press snippets archived at the artist's official site Tarkan hasn't censored reports over his drug case. The news accounts cite 13 articles about the matter in Tarkan.com's press section.

<< Read about Tarkan's four day detainment by Turkish authorities here

In other reports, a news portal has shared a mixed play lists of Tarkan's old and new hits online for those that like his old style and his latest contemporary look, but not failing to add the note that readers should buy the original CD.

"If you like to listen to Tarkan's songs, if you want 100% music enjoyment and for Tarkan to provide you with 24/7 music play, then don't forget to buy the artist's original albums. For no online airplay can take the place of an original Tarkan album," it notes.

And Tarkan appears in the columns of two Cadde writers, as they take a dig at the artist.

One Cadde correspondent lists the summer routine as "Go into the sea-consume beer and crisps-back in the sea-sunbathe for 15 minutes-in the evening go to a bar that plays Tarkan songs at least five times...", another Cadde correspondent, who works on TV host Okan Bayülgen's show, jokes about Tarkan's mouth on the sleeve of his latest album looking something drawn from a caricaturist's pen.

Finally, celebrity reports on Turkish singer-songwriter Serdar Ortaç continue to involve Tarkan at some point, whether it's in connection over love rumours with a Tarkan ex or about songs on Tarkan's 2010 album.

<< Notes on Shows | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan's 5 Tracks with Adidas >>

Press Snippets: Notes on a Megastar's Shows

2010-08-09T01:01:00.033+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan@Taşköprü's 24th Garlic Festival

As papers continue to print about the "accident" Tarkan faced on his way to the town of Taşköprü's 24th annual festival this year, Milliyet writes that while Tarkan was crowned king of the festival, singer Bengü was crowned queen.

Paper Akşam writes that forty thousand people watched Tarkan's show on 6 August, and Hürriyet carries a story about a horse racing fatality in the arena where Tarkan had given his show the day before.

Tarkan@Bianca Beach in Bodrum

Before Tarkan's Bodrum show last week on 7 August, while celebrity portals and newspapers alike were printing that Tarkan would be in or had flown to Bodrum for his recent show, Milliyet's variety section Cadde published reports that say there were tussles between celebrities trying to get VIP box seating arrangements for the concert.

Meanwhile, as local paper Yeni Asır reports that Tarkan shook off the shock of the Taşköprü accident by entertaining 3,000 people in Bodrum at a show that caused heavy traffic at sea, Cadde has printed a report that claims 3,200 people came to see the show, for which Tarkan was paid $250,000 to perform.

The report also says the singer reportedly complained to the crowd about their lack of energy. "None of you are having fun, and you're not singing along to the songs. There's no applause, no moving in time with the beat. What is this, I'll get upset and won't come to Bodrum again."

A report by paper Sabah on the show also prints that 3,200 people came to the event, but says that Tarkan earned money and also generated money for Bodrum, too.

"Those wishing to see Tarkan from boxed seats paid £1,000 TL per person ... while watching Tarkan in the standing stalls was £90 TL. When hundreds of Tarkan fans couldn't find tickets, they grabbed the opportunity to watch on boats and yachts from the sea.

"A first was seen at this concert where boats organised concert tours for £20 TL. The boat tours sailed to right to the edge of Bianca Beach and let customers listen to Tarkan," Sabah writes.

The account adds that Albanian President Bamir Topi was also at the show, and that Tarkan stayed at Bodrum's Grand Yazıcı Hotel, where he dined on hamburgers and pizza-like bread. He was shuttled to the show by boat, and took a private plane out to the Turkish province of Rize at eleven the next morning for a concert there.

Tarkan@15th Ovit Mountain Pastures Festival in Rize

And after Tarkan gave a show for the 15th Ovit Mountain Pastures festivities on 8 August in Rize, paper Bugün has published an article listing singers that are "earning from high", writing that in the last two years artists have mountain pasture festivities as an extra income.

Claiming that it has now become tradition for famous singers to make appearances at these mountain pasture festivities to catch a cool breeze in the summer, it's an addition to their schedule of shows on beaches and in towns, the article writes.

Tarkan is amongst those most sought after for these festivities, and the article lists him at the top of the earners, claiming that he gets £350,000 TL for an appearance.

<< Activist Tarkan at Home | Tarkan News Index | Notes on a Megastar >>

Activist Tarkan in Father's Land

2010-08-08T19:45:00.025+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Reports are coming in about Tarkan's appearance at a festival held in his father's homestead of İkizdere, a town and district of the Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey today.

Thought to be the first to be held in the daylight hours at such an early time, reports say that in an area with a population of over 2.5 thousand people, an attendance of 25,000 festival goers was attained, with people coming from neighbouring regions for the event.

UPDATE: Watch Kral TV concert footage >>

Celebrity reports had claimed that nearly half a million people were expected to turn up in attendance, at what has been described as the largest festival of its kind in Turkey.

The 15th Ovit Yaylası Şenlikleri (Mountain Pastures Festivities) has reportedly seen crowds as large as 250,000 in past years, previous reports claim.

Tarkan Happy to be in Rize

The reports write that due to technical difficulties with the sound system, Tarkan started his show later than scheduled. Greeted by the applause of thousands, Tarkan appeared in stage in local dress and told the crowd he was happy to back in his father's homeland.

At one point during the concert, Tarkan noticed a fan crying and stopped singing to ask them not to cry, the reports say.

It was believed that a local TV station in the region might air scenes from the festival live, and while it did broadcast some parts of the festival, Tarkan's show was not aired.

Activist Tarkan

Meanwhile, paper Vatan has published a DHA news wire that gives a figure of 15,000 attending people, and prefers to focus on messages Tarkan gave from the stage, instead.

It's reported that Tarkan asked the crowd how the campaign against the proposed building of a hydro-powered dam in the region was going, before he went on to show his support for the campaigners.

Tarkan is quoted as saying, "From what I hear they won't be built. Don't stop the struggle. I'm with you. These lands were left to us by our grandfathers. We will not let them go. Yes to tourism. No to HES [hydro-powered dams]. They say the water is flowing for nothing. Is that possible? So does the sun and the wind then."

Appearing at the festival's finale, Tarkan spoke to the crowd in-between his songs to express his joy at being back "home".

"It's real good to be back home. The scenery is something out of a painting. Everything is so beautiful. I love you very much and have missed you."

Tightened Security for Tarkan

Vatan's report also writes that Tarkan came to Rize with 6 lorries and a 64-manned team. A special security force was in place, with no one allowed to approach the singer at all.

<< Bodrum Thousands See Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Notes on Shows >>

Bodrum Thousands See Tarkan

2010-08-08T17:10:00.040+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

A DHA news wire, distributed by news portal Haberler.com, writes that thousands of people gathered at sea and on the shore to watch Tarkan perform, while traffic was blocked.

UPDATE: Conflicting reports on show >>

Performing at Bianca Beach Club, the wire writes that five thousand people viewed Tarkan on shore, while another thousand watched on boats and sea transportation.

Two thousand people were turned away at the door when they failed to find tickets, while traffic came to a complete standstill in the town, the report writes.


Posters for Bianca Beach Show in Bodrum, 7 August 2010 (© Bianca Beach)

Holidaying in Turkey, President Topi of Albania and his family were amongst the well-known faces at the concert. The Albanian president's two daughters were seen photographing the singer and dancing the night away to the singer's songs. Tarkan sent the president and his family autographed copies of his 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz, Haberler.com says.

View concert photographs at Tarkan Visual >>
Watch Kral TV concert footage >>

Tarkan remained on stage for close to two hours, and there was a mad rush to take pictures with the singer. Some people in the crowd fell and were in danger of being crushed by the stampede.

Tarkan Says He Will Rock Bodrum, Singer Keeps His Promise

Three hours before the concert, Tarkan went to visit the doyenne of Turkish classical music, Müzeyyen Senar, who celebrated her 92nd birthday on 16 July.

Speaking to reporters there he had said that he had come to "rock Bodrum", and the singer kept his promise, the report writes.

"On the last Saturday before we go into the month of Ramadan [a religious month of fasting] you've given me a night to remember in Bodrum, a place I love so much. And as long as I'm on stage I'm going to make this a night to remember. I can't keep still. Don't you, either," he is quoted as saying to the crowd.

At the end of the show, Tarkan was given a minutes-long standing ovation by the thousands in attendance.

Tarkan Visits Aged Singer Before Show

There are also DHA news wires, distributed by news portal Haberler.com, on Tarkan's visit to doyenne Senar and her children in Bodrum.

Senar is still suffering from the after-effects of a debilitating stroke, and Tarkan has not failed to keep up his visits to the singer.

The reports write that Senar's son and daughter greeted Tarkan at the door, while neighbours applauded Tarkan on his arrival.

During the hour-long visit Tarkan took photographs with Senar's daughter, whom he praised highly. "She is one of the world's most respectful daughters. It's rare to find someone that has taken on the sole responsibility of their mother's care. I love you and my fans so much," he is quoted as saying.

On leaving, Tarkan answered reporters' questions and explained that he always visited Senar on his visits to Bodrum. "We sang "Adını Kalbime Yazdım" together. It made her very happy. And I'm real happy to see her condition is getting better. I'll always come to visit this legend of Turkish classical music and kiss her hand," he said.

Other news wires add that Tarkan said, "I sang really, she just smiled. I wrote her name across my heart a long time ago."

Meanwhile, media portal Haberturk's variety section HTMagazin has also run with the story of Tarkan's visit to Senar, where he went with flowers and presents to check up on the singer's health.

In response to Tarkan's praise of Senar's daughter, she in response said, "He is the real respectful son. When my mother saw him she was so happy. He made her so happy with his thoughtfulness," HTMagazine writes.

Tarkan sang a duet with Senar in 1998, the video single to which can be viewed at MÜ-YAP's YouTube channel. Just use the search facility on its page to find Tarkan's videos.

No Accident on Way to Festival

And in the DHA news wire about the visit, in reply to reporters asking about the reported accident on the way to the Taşköprü festival, Tarkan said that there was no accident, just a vehicle malfunction concerning the brake pads.

"We got into another vehicle and continued on our way," he explained.

News wires had sensationalised the incident with headlines such as "Tarkan Gets Shock of Life" and "Tarkan Returns From Brink of Death".

<< On Tarkan's Harbiye Shows | Tarkan News Index | Activist Tarkan at Home >>

On Tarkan's Harbiye Shows

2010-08-08T03:23:00.022+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Haberturk correspondent Esin Övet - who had come to Tarkan's 1 August Harbiye show - published her notes in an article dated 4 August.

Headlined as "When Tarkan went home he must have cried", Övet begins her account by stating that Tarkan's comeback has really been amazing.

"It was only about a week since the album was released, and in two days a total of 14 thousand people sang "Acımayacak", "İşim Olmaz", "Kayıp", "Öp" and "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" in unison at the Harbiye. I watched him on the second day. It took me exactly half an hour to get to my seat. So you work out how crowded it was. Ajda Pekkan was sitting in front of me. That evening the superstar shone bright. She had fun, danced and sang along with the songs all evening. When Tarkan appeared for an encore twice she applauded him on foot and didn't leave her seat until he left the stage. This is it. It's impossible not to admire the woman. Well, you don't become a superstar easily. And of course a megastar, too.

"When the entire Harbiye was shouting "Go green with envy" [as a chant to Tarkan's critics], Tarkan signalled for quiet and pacified his admirers by asking them to "send out flowers of love to everyone" and didn't hesitate to explain that such things weren't necessary because "we reap what we sow".

Readers can also take a look at press snippets about Tarkan archived at Tarkan.com

"I am sure if it was someone else in his place, they would have taken digs at their competitors from the stage and made the headlines. Instead Tarkan was trying to hold back his tears as the whole of the Harbiye was shaking with the chant "Turkey is proud of you". I'm sure when he went home he cried.

"And the barrage of emotions Tarkan must have felt that evening was summarised best by Ajda Pekkan. The superstar said, I can understand how Tarkan is feeling at this precise moment so well. It's impossible for anyone else to understand. We all sat down like a jury. This is just something else.

"And Tarkan sang and danced non-stop for 2.5 hours. He sent kisses to everyone. And the costumes designed by Ceyda Balaban stamped their mark on the evening," Övet ends her account.

Scenes from Harbiye on TV Show

Meanwhile a contestant on a Turkish reality TV show Evcilik Oyunu (The Marriage Game) on Show TV, where men and women are brought together to see who can make the most successful couple, took his contestant partner to the Tarkan Harbiye show on 31 July.

Aired 3 August, the evening's episode showed scenes prior to the concert with the man surprising his partner with the news outside a restaurant that they would be going to the Harbiye after listening to Tarkan's new album in the car.

The show also showed scenes from the concert, and a photograph taken with the singer backstage.

<< Tarkan Tweets Online | Tarkan News Index | Bodrum Thousands See Tarkan >>

Tarkan Tweets Online

2010-08-08T03:00:00.006+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Turkish megastar Tarkan has left tweets on his official Twitter account, Tarkan Online, and a note on his Facebook wall yesterday, notifying fans of his official site's new look.

Tarkan Tweets New Site, New Concert Agenda

In both messages he quotes a line from one of his latest tracks "Öp" (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010) to allude to the fact he has kept his fans waiting.

"Hellooooooooooooo... Today Tarkan.com went online! My official website has been made public with its new look... Mwah," the tweet writes.

On Tarkan's Facebook profile, the message reads: "Today Tarkan.com went online with its new look... From now on the most accurate information and news about me will reach you direct from the source. I so happy to be connected with you ... I'm waiting for your comments about my new website..."

Meanwhile, Tarkan's official Facebook page, Tarkan Online, has updated Tarkan's latest concert details.

As previously reported, Tarkan Onine at Facebook confirms that the singer will be appearing at two extra dates at the Harbiye venue in Istanbul on 27 and 28 August.

Elsewhere, the artist's official site also holds an extra date before the Harbiye shows on its "concert countdown" widget placed on Tarkan.com's front page.

It writes that Tarkan is scheduled to appear at club Çeşme Seaside in Izmir on 21 August. Tickets can be purchased from online ticket company Biletix.

<< Album Sales World Class | Tarkan News Index | On Tarkan's Harbiye Shows >>

Tarkan's Album Sales Record World Class

2010-08-08T01:48:00.002+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

In his column for paper Milliyet, music critic Mehmet Tez has talked about Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz selling over 200,000 copies in its first week of release.

In the article Tez seems to applaud Tarkan's money-making acumen more than his musical talent, and doesn't fail to take a dig at the artist's halted English language projects.

Headlined as "Has it Sold 200,000?", Tez begins his article by putting the sales figures to Tarkan's latest album into context.

"Ozzy Osbourne's Scream album sold worldwide copies of 65,000 in its first week, Christina Aguilera's Bionic sold 110,000, Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite sold 20,000 copies. If Tarkan has surpassed 200,000 albums in ten days then this means it's a record.

"One of the most unscientific but accurate ways to work out whether a CD is selling or not is to check the petrol stations. This is because people from every walk of life come to a petrol station, and the albums sold there are a map to the general taste of these people.

"On my holiday I asked about Tarkan's Adımı Kalbine Yaz at every petrol station I visited. They were sold out. "We've ordered more, we're waiting," they said.

"This means the album is selling well," I thought to myself. What I learnt on my return to Istanbul, seemed to prove my theory correct.

"Tarkan's latest album hit the shelves on 29 July. The information I received was that: "the [amount of copies] first pressed was 100,000, which immediately ran out. The second print of 50,000 CDs took 1-2 days to go. The market was given another 50,000 more copies. Currently this has now run out, too." So, using a broad approximation this means that since its first ten days of release Tarkan's album must have sold over 200,000 copies. It's being said that there are orders amounting to equal those sold.

"These are very good figures if the information is correct. It is a large number on a global scale. For example, when looking at albums released in the same period, Ozzy Osbourne's Scream album sold worldwide copies of 65,000 in its first week, Christina Aguilera's Bionic sold 110,000. Kylie Minogue's Aphrodite sold around 20,000 copies in its first week. If Tarkan has surpassed 200,000 albums in ten days then this means it's a record. These are worldwide sales. These albums entered the Billboard charts with these figures.

"A few years ago the Arctic Monkeys' first album sold 330,000 in its first week. This was the highest figure for sales in a week in England, and it even beat the Beatles."

Columnist Tez then goes on to say that Tarkan will definitely reach the half a million mark of CDs sold.

"If this figure of 200,000 is true, than Tarkan has proven how successful he is business-wise. This album will definitely force the 500,000 mark.

"The album still hasn't been distributed to digital music platforms for sale. This was a strategic selling ploy. And it seems to have worked. This is because at first instance CD sales were the objective. When sales have been fulfilled, then Adımı Kalbine Yaz will take its place on digital platforms.

"When you see the album on the net, know that CD sales have done their bit. America doesn't use this strategy. Sometimes albums are put out on digital platforms before the release of the CD. But in Tarkan's situation it looks like this was the right choice.

"I had written that this album would make money and be Tarkan's comeback album. But I have to say that Tarkan and his albums could be better. He doesn't have anyone to equal him in Turkey anyway. For him it was thought that real success lay in his music taking its place in the world. But I guess there's no such expectations for that any more. In truth there's no need for it. Everyone seems to have learnt their lesson from the American expedition. It means that Tarkan is better this way."

Music Label Confirms Album Sales

Turkish music label DMC rep Samsun Demir - who already tweeted that Tarkan's album had sold 100,000 in its first 24 hours - has confirmed that the Turkish megastar's latest album has sold 200,000 copies so far.

In response to questions over figures for Tarkan's album sales, Demir tweets that true net sales of Tarkan's CD has amassed 200,000 hard copies already.

<< Tarkan Show Hails 30,000 | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Tweets Online >>

Thirty Thousand at Tarkan Show

2010-08-08T00:09:00.027+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

A DHA news wire, distributed by news portal Haberler.com, writes that over thirty thousand people are believed to have gathered in the region of Kastamonu to watch Tarkan perform last Friday.

Famous for its garlic production, the town of Taşköprü in the region held its 24th annual festival this year, with local news wires publishing the great success of the local municipality in adding a Tarkan gig to their festival schedule for 6 August. The festival had began a day before, on Thursday 5 August.

The DHA news wire also provided video footage of the "unforgettable event".

King Tarkan Crowned at Garlic Festival

Tarkan gave a spectacular performance in Kastamonu last Friday, a northern Turkish province in the Black Sea region, for a garlic festival, variety section Kelebek for paper Hürriyet writes.

Tarkan performed on 6 August, where the Taşköprü mayor, Hüseyin Arslan, came on to the stage to hand over a "crown of garlic" to the artist, and to warmly welcome him to the region.

View concert photographs at Tarkan Visual >>
Watch Kral TV concert footage >>

Talking about the benefits of garlic, and how he consumed it daily and contrary to popular belief loved the smell of it, Tarkan also took the opportunity to ask locals to say no to the proposed building of a hydro-powered dam in the region (similar to his father's homestead), the Hürriyet variety says, publishing excerpts from the DHA news wire.

After the concert a mad rush ensued as young girls crammed to hug and kiss Tarkan. On leaving the arena, Tarkan spoke about his latest album, saying that "it was worth all my hard work," the news wire reports.

Traffic Accident on the Way to Show

Alongside reports from local channels that there was a bomb scare before the show, the Hürriyet account also published the story that Tarkan suffered a road accident on the way to the festival.

UPDATE: Tarkan says "no accident" >>

After flying into the region, Tarkan was provided jeep transport by the organisers, the breaks of which were discovered to be faulty whilst driving on the narrow and winding roads. The jeep was pulled to a stop with great difficulty causing panic amongst the artist and other passengers.

Tarkan managed to reach the festival by another vehicle escorting the first, the report writes.

<< In Wait for Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Album Sales World Class >>

Press Snippets: In Wait for Tarkan

2010-08-07T02:10:00.038+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Thousands Wait for Tarkan Concerts

Celebrity paper Güneş has reported on the Turkish singer's scheduled appearance for a festival at his father's homestead of İkizdere, a town and district of the Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

The Güneş report writes that nearly half a million people are expected to turn up in attendance at what is touted as the largest festival of its kind in Turkey.

The 15th Ovit Yaylası Şenlikleri (Mountain Pastures Festivities) is set to be held between the dates of 6-8 August, and has seen crowds as large as 250,000 in past years, previous reports claim.

UPDATE: Tarkan at Ovit festival >>

Meanwhile, a local TV station in the region Kral Karadeniz is airing scenes from the Ovit festival live. Those interested can watch its live broadcast online at its website.

UPDATE: No live broadcast of Tarkan show >>

Readers can also take a look at press snippets about Tarkan archived at Tarkan.com

And in the column of variety reporter Bülent Cankurt, published by celebrity portal Gecce, there is information on the previously reported news that Tarkan will be performing at Bianca Beach in Bodrum on 7 August.

On the subject of Tarkan's Bodrum show this evening, Cankurt writes the organisers are working hard to prepare a 3,000 capacity arena for holiday-makers to meet Tarkan.

"It's said that Tarkan fans are climbing over themselves to find tickets," the variety columnist writes.

UPDATE: Bodrum Thousands See Tarkan >>

Elsewhere, other reports on Tarkan's Bodrum show write about "King Tarkan" making a grand appearance on the beaches of Bodrum.

Writing that "the undisputed King of Turkish pop music Tarkan" is gearing up for a huge concert for this week's "The Real One" concert series in Bodrum, the reports also state that Tarkan has been spending days in preparation for his spectacular show by the sea.

"With many well-known celebrities expected for this week's event, it looks like "The Real One" concert will be spoken about for some time to come."

Fans of Tarkan

Tarkan has made an appearance on a Dutch radio chart with his track "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike").

Tarkan is currently at sixth position and rising in its second week in FunX radio's XTips chart.

Dutch urban radio station FunX listeners have supported Tarkan throughout the years, after Tarkan appeared on the station for a radio interview in 2007.

Moving on, paper Sabah writes that popular belly dancer Amelia Zidane, who uses Tarkan's "Şıkıdım" (A-acayipsin, 1994) in her shows, is a self-confessed fan of the Turkish megastar, while Milliyet prints that DJ Tiësto closely follows Tarkan's career, too.

Back once more in Turkey with his new shows, Tiësto has told reporters that he doesn't know much about Turkish music aside from Tarkan, and that he knew of Turkish megastar Tarkan's 2010 album.

Tarkan and Tiësto shared the stage together to promote the world number one DJ's appearance in the world number one Turkish pop star's 2008 reissue of Metamorfoz.

<< A Message from Tarkan! | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Show Hails 30,000 >>

A Message from Tarkan!

2010-08-07T01:35:00.006+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan welcomes his fans to his official site (© Tarkan.com)

Turkish pop megastar Tarkan has unveiled his official site's new look after the release of his 2010 album - with special welcome messages in Turkish and English for his fans.

As with the 2010 official site design for Tarkan's music company HITT, the new version of Tarkan's official site has been designed by Ping and is no longer being managed by Sertaç Pişkin, the creator of the previous unpopular official website at Tarkan.com with the Metamorfoz design.

To Enter Tarkan.com

After the flash intro promoting Tarkan's 2010 album, fans can enter the artist's newly designed site by clicking on the writing in the right hand corner of their screen, which is in Turkish and means "click here to continue".

Once in, fan and visitor alike will find Tarkan's stunning catalogue of images and music.

Best Site Ever for Fans

The new - and much improved - Tarkan.com finally meets fan expectation with a large archive of photos, videos and information, and surprises for die-hard fanatics.

The best incarnation of Tarkan's official page since the beginning of the last decade during his Karma period, the new site holds Turkish and English sections, with an archived gallery of the singer's video singles, high quality studio and concert photographs from the lens of long-term Tarkan photographer Sedat Mehder, and a large biography and discography section.

View screencaps of new look site at Tarkan Visual >>

There is also a special fan area called T-Zone, where fans can sign up and enjoy exclusive content, such as English tracks Tarkan never released for his English language projects - including a previously unheard track with Grammy Award winning violin virtuoso Miri Ben-Ari - and view photographs taken by the artist himself as he follows his hobby of photography.

The best news of all is that Tarkan has kept his promise of 2007, and incorporated the websites of fans into the official pages of Tarkan.com - finally granting them officialdom status.

Made up of the diligent Tarkan community that have stuck by the singer through the years, it was the brain-child of Tarkan International, the one-stop site to catch up with Tarkan's fans from across the globe getting recognition from the megastar himself.

<< Record Breaking Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | In Wait for Tarkan >>

Tarkan a Record Breaker Again

2010-08-07T01:33:00.004+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Turkish media portal Haberturk's variety section HTMagazin reports that megastar Tarkan has "debunked the thesis" in one week that the Turkish public are no longer buying albums.

The report writes that at first 100,000 copies were printed of Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz, but after high demand for the record another three extra issues of 50,000 copies each were made.

HITT music said that stores have run out of copies in many places and that in some regions the supply isn't meeting the demand for the album, HTMagazin writes.

Marking it up as the highest selling album in recent years capturing figures in a week what other artists manage in a year, it has succeeded to top the highest selling album lists in just seven days of release.

It's expected that the album will pass the 300,000 mark soon, while HITT has said that the latest songs have been clicked on the net nearly a million times in total.

<< Playing Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | A Message from Tarkan! >>

Press Snippets: Playing Tarkan

2010-08-05T07:29:00.029+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan Brings Life to the Industry

Media portal Haberturk's variety section HTMagazin has run an article about the rejuvenation in sales the Turkish music industry is enjoying thanks to Tarkan's latest album release Adımı Kalbine Yaz.

Although the article is headlined with the previously reported news that Tarkan and his ex-girlfriend, businesswoman and lawyer Bilge Öztürk, spent time together backstage at the Harbiye, the article in the main is about the general rush on albums the music market is currently experiencing because of Tarkan's record release.

"In close to 200 stores not one Tarkan album remains on the shelves ... the owner of Mert Müzik, Halit Nart said, "Stores on average ordered a thousand copies, but they were sold immediately. We're waiting for new CDs from the factory. In 10 years there hasn't been such demand," while co-owner of Esen Elektronik, Tuncay Bakırcıoğlu said, "It's been a long time since there was an album that sold this quickly. There are only [a few] artists like Tarkan left in Turkey. We have to support them"," the article writes.

Paper Uses Mother Tarkan's Name

Tarkan has appeared in newspaper Akşam's financial sections about a previously reported campaign against the Turkish government by the country's main nature society in Tarkan's paternal homestead of İkizdere in Rize.

The Doğa Derneği has been campaigning against the proposed building of hydro-powered dams, because of the significant threat to the ecosystems of rivers and streams.

Headlined as "They're going to use Tarkan's mother to get the dams accepted", the latest reports are saying that the companies building the dams have changed tactics and will try and persuade the local residents - which include Tarkan's family (albeit in his father's side and not his mother's) - to agree to back the energy plans for the region via their own promotional lobby.

Playing Snap with Songs

After the news that Turkish singer-songwriter Serdar Ortaç and Tarkan both have a track titled "İşim Olmaz" on their 2010 releases, Sabah has written a report about how the latest trend of summer albums in Turkish share similarities in lyrics and song titles.

Music producer Ozan Doğulu - whose album interviews are still being published in the press - has a song called "Öp" on his release like Tarkan, Sabah writes.

Tarkan on the Black Market

And after reports that over 700 tickets were given away free for Demet Akalın's Harbiye show organised by HITT, an article in paper Sabah writes that Akalın managed to "pass the grade" by filling the Harbiye open air arena for her show in the Kral summer series kick-started with Tarkan.

The article writes that while tickets to Akalın's show didn't see much demand on the black market - going for £20 TL - in comparison Tarkan's Harbiye show tickets were going for £150-200 TL on the black market.

<< Still Pleasing Some, Not All | Tarkan News Index | Record Breaking Tarkan >>

Press Snippets: Still Pleasing Some, Not All

2010-08-05T04:37:00.032+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Looking at the current Turkish press coverage, Tarkan and his 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz continue to garner criticism from a growing minority.

"My Album is Better Than Tarkan"

In an interview for regional site Alanya Online, Turkish male singer Gökhan Türkmen is reported to have said that he didn't like Tarkan's 2010 album, and that his album will be the album of the year.

In response to a question about music piracy on the net affecting CD sales, Türkmen said that this naturally affected sales, and that he made a concious effort to buy the albums of the artists he liked.

"I bought Tarkan's album most recently ... I got it with high expectations. I was waiting for it to be better than his previous albums. I thought after such a long break he'd come back stronger than ever. But it didn't meet my expectations. I can't say it's a great album, but it's a good one."

And in reply to a question about which artist's song he had listened to most this year, Türkmen had this to say: "I listened to Tarkan's "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") a lot. I don't listen to a lot of Turkish music ... If someone else had released my album, I would have said that is the album of the year."

"Where's the Old Tarkan?"

Female correspondent Oncel Öziçer writing in her Sabah column has stood firmly on the side of those that haven't seen much to like about Tarkan's 2010 musical offering.

"So let me touch on the most important current event in the country. I mean Tarkan's latest album... Thanks to [the marriage of] columnists and celebrities in their residency of Istanbul the pampering is like you wouldn't believe. Though this adulation is a little forced. Some are pushing themselves to praise the album. And on top of this when jam-packed concerts are added into the fray, anyone getting a rush heads for the keyboard.

"But this is Tarkan, even if he didn't release another album, his concerts will still be filled, people will still go mad. We're in love with the man, we support him like he's a football team. It's like win or lose, we're for him. Even for me, this man whose connections with Turkish music have drifted further apart in recent years, Tarkan will always have a special place for me, I love him.

"For one, whatever he sings suits him. But we have ears for goodness sake, is this where Tarkan should be musically? What is there in the lyrics or music of [these new songs] to grab a person's soul for god's sake? So, if it grabs you I've got nothing to say. But you've all become parrots, saying the same thing. These empty works are not what Tarkan should be doing. He's not my kith or kin... but I really want to tell him the painful truth so that he'll come to his senses.

"Where's [the good old days] and the good old Tarkan? Where is he, where?"

"Tarkan's a Joke"

In his column published in celebrity portal Gecce, Olcayto A. Tuğsuz has given up a large space in a recent article for Tarkan.

He starts his article by explaining that he doesn't write such critical pieces to get attention, but to enlighten people, and before moving on to criticise Tarkan he adds the proviso that he believes the singer to be one of the most important artists Turkey has produced.

"He has a beautiful voice. I tell everyone, so I'll write it here, too. If anyone else sang Tarkan's songs, they'd be no more than ordinary. They each became "hits" and got the admiration of the huge majority because of Tarkan's voice and his captivating face/eyes/looks. Everything is fine up to the point of Tarkan's stage performance and dance, and I ask myself every time "is this a joke?"

"Showing he feels the heavy pull of the stage with every movement, running like crazy from one end to the other, Tarkan is definitely in need of lessons in stage and dance. No one can say that Tarkan's face and body proportions are perfect. With his actions on stage, he makes it look even worse. What I don't understand is, doesn't any one, at least those he trusts the most, tell him?

"OK, so fanatic Tarkan fans might not be clued up to this, they might be blind, but there is an international side to this. For sure anyone that understands anything about stage or dance, and this just about sums up everyone abroad, will think like me when they see Tarkan.

"OK, crazy looks, acting crazy will always grab attention, but if the subject matter is someone as talented as Tarkan then I'd advise him to grab attention with more aesthetic and refined movements.

"I don't believe he is incapable. It just means that when he choose his advisers or dance instructors or when his advisers choose his dance instructors for him they are oblivious to what they're doing, and are making Tarkan look like a joke in front of me and those that think like me.

"There's a lot of people [in Turkey] that believe Tarkan is a world star. To those of us who follow what goes on in the world, this is an urban legend. Of course some of Tarkan's songs are known and played in many countries throughout the world, but this is a genre known as "World Music" and there are many names from places like Tunisia, Algeria, India and many other countries in the world where it's possible to get into this list.

"What I mean is that Tarkan still hasn't made his mark in international music charts. If he wants to do that, Tarkan has to definitely raise his quality of music and dance. In my opinion he has that potential, but for whatever reason, he is continuing with the same song and stage performance at the point he started at.

"What I understand from this is that success in Turkey and the money he makes off that carries more weight than international success, or that he doesn't want it or doesn't believe it is possible. If his vision is this narrow, then there's nothing else to say.

"But if this isn't his goal, and he is still going around in circles, then he needs to inject some new blood into his team. Otherwise I fear, with the years speeding by, will force him towards becoming a Turkish classical music or arabesque singer.

"Conclusion: If you take on my recommendations you'll win, if you say "what is this man blabbering about" you'll lose. Either way, it means nothing to me. I don't win or lose anything. And as I don't have anything to gain by what I write, I don't have anything against Tarkan, either.

"All I'm trying to do is shine a light within my rights to do so. And I only do that for those I think deserve it," he writes.

<< About Tarkan Again | Tarkan News Index | Playing Tarkan >>

Press Snippets: Relating to Tarkan Again

2010-08-05T02:57:00.031+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

In current news stories relating to Tarkan in the Turkish press, paper Hürriyet's variety section Kelebek has reported on the news that Tarkan's ex-girlfriend, businesswoman and lawyer Bilge Öztürk spent several hours with the singer backstage at the Harbiye, but that they have not resumed their relationship.

Meanwhile, the Turkish press have been publishing stories about Turkish singer-songwriter Serdar Ortaç and Tarkan.

While a celebrity portal writes that Ortaç has been spotted in "overly friendly poses" with Tarkan's ex, female singer Nil Özalp, paper Posta prints Ortaç has listened to a few tracks from Tarkan's 2010 album and that he really likes them.

"There's only 3-4 of us left, we should be appreciated," he is quoted as saying.

Elsewhere in the variety sections of media portal Haberturk is a report about a rock festival where a senior Turkish rocker mentioned Tarkan on stage.

Cahit Berkay, guitarist from rock group Moğollar, one of the pioneer bands in Turkish rock music for about 40 years, mentioned how Tarkan was the inspiration for a song to the audience.

"I love Tarkan, [but not] Serdar Ortaç!" he is quoted to have said on stage, causing laughter from the crowd.

Next up, are reports about the Turkish singer's scheduled appearance for a festival at his father's homestead of İkizdere, a town and district of the Rize Province in the Black Sea region of Turkey.

Described as the biggest festival of its kind, the three day festival is gearing up to welcome the singer back "home", the reports write.

The 15th Ovit Yaylası Şenlikleri (Mountain Pastures Festivities) is set to be held between the dates of 6-8 August, and has seen crowds as large as 250,000 in past years, previous reports claim.

UPDATE: Tarkan at Ovit festival >>

And in a column headlined "Oh, Knock on Wood!" published by Beyaz Gazete about how people are tied by superstitions and makes fun of such beliefs.

"A black cat just crossed Tarkan's path, his album sales after two days has fallen!" the columnist jokes - giving a nod to recent reports of the singer's "record-breaking" 2010 album.

Finally, a report about a young man named Ahmet living with cerebral palsy has said that his favourite artist is Tarkan, and that his wish is to one day meet him.

The talented twenty-year-old youth who is an inspiration for the way he lovingly holds on to life, has said that if he were well, he would do everything in his power to be the best musician he could.

<< Album Week Sales 225,000 | Tarkan News Index | Still Pleasing Some, Not All >>

Tarkan Album Sells 225,000 in a Week

2010-08-05T01:23:00.008+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Paper Vatan and media portal Haberturk have run a story from their variety sections that writes Tarkan's latest album Adımı Kalbine Yaz has sold nearly a quarter of a million copies in its first week of release.

The news articles say that it is a "record breaking" event, while injecting a much needed shot into the arm of the music industry.

"I'm glad I waited so long, I'm really happy with the album," the reports quote Tarkan as saying.

<< Let This Be a Lesson to Tarkan! | Tarkan News Index | About Tarkan Again >>

Let This Be a Lesson to You Tarkan!

2010-08-04T04:23:00.017+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Paper Bugün correspondent Bilal Özcan has focused on Tarkan's 2010 album in a recent article.

In his 4 August dated column, Özcan headlines his narrative as "Let this be a lesson to you Tarkan!" before giving his opinion on the artist's latest musical offering.

"While I was on holiday Tarkan's album had come from [music label] DMC... I listened to it and liked it... And I am very happy for Tarkan's sake. So, Tarkan, here's to your rebirth... You know as well just how close you were to the edge... This comeback was secured by you letting go of your stubbornness and releasing an album like the Turkish public wanted you to.

"Don't ever forget this... If you lose your footing again and try and get into the air of becoming a George Michael or the such, you'll be extinguished forever, so watch out...

"Because I don't know if you can return from there."

Tarkan Finally Returns to Form

Columnist Özcan goes on to say: "Yes, Tarkan has finally returned to his true self with his new album Adımı Kalbine Yaz... He's left being adventurous, looking for new sounds, trying to be like others... He's like his self, making the style of music that suits him.

"Songs underlined with a lot of Turkish motifs, sometimes arabesque-like, emotional and dance songs suit him. It's been so long since I liked a Tarkan album... In my opinion, he released his last good album in 2003... It was after his Dudu album that he started experimenting and lost himself.

"Especially that Metamorfoz he released three years ago was a complete disaster... Anyway, better late than never he has come to his senses and brought out a good bit of work by working hard."

Songs from the Album

The columnist then goes on to list some of the songs in the 2010 and his notes about them.

"When the album's first song "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") began to play on the radio two months ago, it was like a signal of the beautiful album to come...

"I'm hoping that Sezen Aksu's son Mithan Can Özer's "Acımayacak" will be loved by the young. And the "İşim Olmaz" track, with its lyrics by Yıldız Tilbe and music by Tarkan is very special, too..."

After quoting an excerpt of Tilbe's "beautiful" lyrics, Özcan says that the Aksu-Tarkan song "Öp" is great, and he can see it being used in chants at football matches, before going on to the album-titled track "Adımı Kalbine Yaz".

"[The song] is a Tarkan track that you will not be able to get enough of. I really like to talk about songs, but I won't for this one, because you'll be hearing it in the streets in a few days anyway.

"There are other songs in the album, and remixes to some of the songs, too... Buy this album and listen to it."

<< Tarkan in the Public Eye | Tarkan News Index | Album Week Sales 225,000 >>

Tarkan in the Eye of the Public

2010-08-04T01:40:00.050+01:00

By Kaya Turan reporting from Rochester, UK

To be in the public eye is rather like being in the eye of the storm. You can't control it. You can't stop it. You just watch from your silent vortex the chaos going on around you.

Sometimes the chaos can make you laugh. "This youth has already overshadowed Tarkan!" screams one regional news site picking up a news wire that is proclaiming the umpteenth "next best thing" since Turkey began its love-hate relationship with its megastar.

They pull him down, then build him back up again - like a Lego set.

Here's another singer with an album out latching himself on to Tarkan to complain that the megastar is over-exaggerated - but this one is no youth. He's a UFO-believin' ol' honest-to-goodness folk singer. "What's six thousand people?" he screams from a celebrity report about Tarkan's recent Harbiye outing. "Show me any place, if I don't fill it up with 60,000 people I'll burn myself!"

I kid you not.

A Sociological Event

Pseudo-intellectual articles with socio-slants are being written about Tarkan again, riding the euphoric media wave pulled in by the tide of his latest album.

Forget his campaigns for nature, then. Or his dressing down for PETA. Tarkan's back to using Turkish motifs in his songs. All's right with the world. It's enough to turn the "fallen star" into a "comet". He's become a sociological event again.

And what about the common Turkish public?

Taking a look at the Milliyet bloggers, a site hosted by the daily paper for its readers to vent their daily frustrations out on any one who is willing to read them, shows a range from the down-right hardened Tarkan fan to the completely dismissive Turkish joe.

A quick cross-section: From one guy complaining Tarkan songs from a nearby club was drowning out their enjoyment of choral music in Mamaris, to a lady that writes about her idolisation of Tarkan with such feeling that it is a near tear-jerker.

It's a long, long profiterole of a piece, in a sugary language that works only in Turkish, which is summed up best in its final sentences about her seventeen year love affair with Tarkan:

"I wish you [were lucky enough to] see yourself as I see you. My closest friend Tarkan, I've always loved you but you never knew. I wish so much that you could love someone like this, too."

Or how about the blogger that had dropped Tarkan since 2003 only to pick him up again now that he had gathered his old team of songwriters around him once more?

Or the post from probably the only blogger in Istanbul not to have gone to Tarkan's Harbiye shows - or does it just feel like the whole city went from the press reports?

The blogger is quick to point out, however, that it was a close call: he is a Tarkan fan, but there was a concert of another singer he just couldn't miss.

So, what's the common thread between all these posts? The sense you get from reading all the posts - even Tarkan's "closest" lady friend - is that Tarkan is back.

But where had he gone? In my opinion, Tarkan's downfall is just an urban legend. You can't have a double award-winning 2007 album and four top five hits from it and be a failure.

Sadly, however, it just shows how many people in Turkey believe in it. And believing in something - however untrue - is sometimes all that matters in the eye of the public.

Seeing is believing, but it all depends on what we want to see.

<< Relating to Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Let This Be a Lesson to Tarkan! >>

Press Snippets: Relating to Tarkan

2010-08-03T22:19:00.007+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Paper Bugün has printed a fresh Tarkan rumour from the celebrity gossip mill that Tarkan has started seeing his ex-girlfriend, businesswoman and lawyer Bilge Öztürk.

The report claims that Tarkan spent several hours with Öztürk backstage at the Harbiye, and that she watched his performance from behind the scenes, and that they have resumed their relationship.

While celebrity gossip portal Ayaklı Gazete - from where the rumour originated - has published an update to the story.

Printing what they say is a press statement sent over by Tarkan's team in response to the story, the report writes the statement confirms that Öztürk and Tarkan did spend time backstage at the Harbiye together, but that this did not mean they had resumed their relationship.

"There is no question at all of a resume in relations ... Tarkan at this time is fully concentrated on his latest album and his concerts," the statement reads.

Moving on, a news portal writes that in response to whether he had listened to Tarkan's latest album, Turkish singer-songwriter Serdar Ortaç responded that they both have a track titled "İşim Olmaz" on their 2010 releases, an article by media portal Haberturk's variety section HTMagazin writes that Tarkan is this summer's favourite.

The article covers what there is to do in the coastal town of Çeşme, with the writer's observation of the place saying that it sounds like Tarkan's "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") is this year's summer hit in the town.

Elsewhere, celebrity portal Magazinci has two reports in relation to Tarkan.

While one report is about Demet Akalın's Harbiye show organised by HITT and the story that over 700 tickets were given away free, another report writes about Tarkan's upcoming show in Bodrum.

As previously reported, Tarkan will be giving a concert at the Gümbet Bianca Beach Club on 7 August. Tickets are £89 TL and the show is set to start at eleven at night, local Turkish time.

UPDATE: Bodrum Thousands See Tarkan >>

Having broken sales records with his latest album, the artist is gearing up for a spectacular show in Bodrum, the article says.

"In the beautiful atmosphere where dreams mix with reality ... provided by Bianca Beach ... Tarkan is going to put on a real big party in terms of music and performance. A lot of celebrities are expected to attend what will be a much talked about event."

Meanwhile, the reports of a celebrity libel case where Tarkan's name has been mentioned has made it out of the celebrity portal gossip columns into the press arena - notably the variety pages of Haberturk and Posta.

In a case where singer Özcan Deniz is suing ex-girlfriend Şebnem Schaeffer in court for publicly suggesting he was bisexual on Turkish TV, Schaeffer's defence lawyer has submitted as evidence to the court ten years of newspaper gossip of an alleged relationship Deniz had with Tarkan, the Haberturk report says - including one that claims there are pictures of Deniz and Tarkan together.

Posta has picked up on this in its report, questioning whether there is such photographic evidence of a close relationship between the two men.

The hearing will continue in December, both articles write.

And finally, Nilgün Çolak in her column for Ayaklı Gazete has headlined it as "Tarkan Has Done it Again".

"It doesn't matter what any one says, to me he is a real star. To those who said he was finished, he has stubbornly shown he isn't over. Go on Tarkan, who can stop you now?" she writes.

<< 7,000+ See Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan in the Public Eye >>

Over Seven Thousand Gather to See Tarkan

2010-08-03T03:30:00.030+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Paper Sabah reports on the second of Tarkan's Harbiye shows on 1 August, saying that this time 7,500 flocked to cram into the 5,000 capacity open air arena to watch Tarkan perform live - a thousand more than was reported for his first show the day before.

Sabah reports that Tarkan was overwhelmed by the crowd, and when the audience started chanting "Turkey is proud of you", the artist reportedly couldn't contain his tears.

Celebrity paper Güneş ran a similar report, describing it as Tarkan's emotional moments during the show.

And while a news portal and a celebrity portal write that pickpockets were at work at the concert - but they were caught by the police - paper Posta also ran its own article about the Harbiye concert, saying that the open air arena "was filled to the brim".

The Posta report writes that Tarkan was called back for an encore three times, and that he spoke to celebrity guests Turkish diva Ajda Pekkan and classical female singer Emel Sayın from the stage.

While welcoming Sayın to the concert, to Pekkan he reportedly said, "We have only one superstar. I'm very happy to see you here."

A Star Event

A celebrity portal's reports on the 1 August show have labelled it as "Tarkan's second strike" - alluding to the singer's summer hit track "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike").

Writing that Tarkan conquered the Harbiye for a second night in a row, it says that the show turned out to be a star studded evening with Turkish celebrities coming out in support of Tarkan.

Amongst the Istanbul jet-set, and notable artists Pekkan and Sayın, female pop singer Gülşen with Tarkan's pop protégé Emir, and female singer Funda Arar.

The article prints quotes from the attending artists, quoting Gülşen - who confesses to be a die-hard fan and calls Tarkan a world star - as saying, "The album is amazing, it's Tarkan quality. Summer has now officially arrived with Tarkan."

And always ready to speak up and be proud of his resemblance to his boss explaining it "made him feel special", Emir was cited as saying, "Everyone was waiting for this day. It's like a special holiday... I'm very happy because Tarkan is happy."

Meanwhile, classicist Sayın, who said she had bought Tarkan's album the day it was released, is said to have pointed to the jam-packed crowd at the Harbiye. "This scene is amazing."

Singer Arar said, "The audience is great. I hope Tarkan sells real well. It's an amazing concert."

And diva Pekkan - known as the definitive Turkish superstar - is quoted as saying that the megastar will always be number one, before adding, "I'm just as excited as Tarkan. We really missed him, I wish him every success."

Tarkan's 1 August Harbiye Show on Yekta Kopan's Gece Gündüz show on NTV

The celebrity portal ran a second article quoting diva Pekkan after the Harbiye concert, headlined as "The Superstar's Megastar Love" - where it writes that the female singer heaped praise upon praise on Tarkan.

Explaining that she went backstage to congratulate Tarkan in person, "I feel like it was I that just got off the stage. I shared the same excitement as Tarkan. It was an amazing concert."


Tarkan at the Harbiye, 1 August 2010 (© TarkanOnline)

Album Sells Nearly Quarter of a Million in 5 Days

Elsewhere, paper Hürriyet's variety section Kelebek reports on the 1 August Harbiye show, but runs with the headline that Tarkan's album has now sold 200,000 copies after just five days of release. A similar story has also been run by news portal National Turk.

The Kelebek article writes that amongst the celebrities, Pekkan and Sayın were there, too, before reminding its readers that at his first show Tarkan had mistook Pekkan's sister for Sayın.

Watching Tarkan perform at his Sunday show, Pekkan said, "My favourite track is "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" from the new album. Tarkan touches you in an amazing way with his allaturca vocals in this song," the article quotes her as saying.

<< Turkey Goes Mad for Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Relating to Tarkan >>

Turkey Goes Mad for Tarkan

2010-08-03T01:04:00.019+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

A Twitter account from Turkey reveals the mad rush music store D&R is experiencing for Tarkan's album.

As news comes that Tarkan's album has sold over 150,000 copies in its first 48 hours of release, Olgu Can tweeting from the Turkish capital of Ankara has blogged about the mad dash he witnessed for Tarkan's 2010 album at the D&R store in Bilkent.

Musical Punch: Tarkan Does the One-Two

Tarkan's "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") hits the number one spot at Powerturk's charts, while Tarkan's "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" from the same titled 2010 album has entered straight in at number two on major music station Kral's radio chart.

Harbiye Demand for More Tarkan

And after Tarkan's smash hit two date show on 31 July and 1 August for his music company HITT's 6th annual open air summer gig at the Harbiye in Istanbul, online ticket company Biletix has confirmed more live performance dates for Tarkan at the venue due to high demand for tickets.

The site informs that in response to public demand, Tarkan is scheduled to appear at the Harbiye on 27-28 August.

UPDATE: Third extra date added for Harbiye >>

<< Harbiye Tweet & Bodrum Show | Tarkan News Index | 7,000+ See Tarkan >>

Tarkan's Harbiye Tweet, Bodrum Show On

2010-08-03T00:20:00.015+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan Tweets After the Shows

After Tarkan's smash hit two date show on 31 July and 1 August for his music company HITT's 6th annual open air summer gig at the Harbiye in Istanbul, the Turkish megastar has left a tweet on his official Twitter account, Tarkan Online.

"It was two super concerts. You made me lose myself. It was great meeting you with my latest songs. I love you," the tweet writes.

Tarkan also left a message on his official Facebook about the shows, saying that, "The two shows were unbelievable. Having you all memorising my new songs so quickly and singing them along with me really surprised me and made me very happy, I'm just so lucky to have you all. I love you."

The official Twitter account has also posted links to its Facebook counterpart for pictures of the 31 July show. His official Flickr account has posted up the same photographs from the evening's musical extravaganza.

Ticket Company Starts Selling Bodrum Tickets

Online ticket company Biletix has started selling tickets to Tarkan's Bodrum beach party this month.

As previously reported, Tarkan will be giving a concert at the Gümbet Bianca Beach Club on 7 August. Tickets are £89 TL and the show is set to start at eleven at night, local Turkish time.

UPDATE: Bodrum Thousands See Tarkan >>

<< Learning from Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Turkey Goes Mad for Tarkan >>

Press Snippets: Learning From Tarkan

2010-08-02T09:53:00.027+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Continuing on from an article he had written in May, paper Akşam correspondent Ali Saydam has touched upon Tarkan's latest release Adımı Kalbine Yaz to say that politicians could learn a thing or two from Tarkan.

"I don't expect anyone outside of the reader to accept that the things I had written, during the days the media had thrown Tarkan into a witches' cauldron and boiled him to the bone, are slowly all coming true. But if I don't say it myself I'll regret it..."

And as Saydam reminds his readers he had written that all Tarkan needed to do was catch a strong musical hit to sort his problems out, he now writes Tarkan has captured at least four songs which can be defined as pop classics.

With songs that "grow steadily in the heart with each listen", and his horde of followers and their positive response to his latest songs, Saydam notes that Tarkan is firmly back on track despite the opinion of his harshest critics and evidences this by re-printing the recent accounts of Tarkan's smash hit shows at the Harbiye.

"I have criticised Tarkan from time to time for being unable to manage his brand name very well. I still can't understand why he never appeared at the press release to launch his own perfume range. However, as one of Turkey's three biggest stars, it doesn't change the fact that they should be treated well by the media. On the other hand, how many people successful in managing their fame in Turkey have managed to create a brand name... And Tarkan is still the best of these...

"If I were in the place of the politicians I'd follow Tarkan. Because like the politicians, he is in the horse race of popularity... He can fall into crisis like they can... He does a job that needs public awareness... Isn't this why politicians use the support of popular stars in their campaigns?

"So, it could be beneficial to look at the popular stars... And the notable points to be made are this: 1. Constant renewal (new songs, new dress, hair style, new current event, social responsibility, etc.) 2. Managing the media and the need for space (to be near yet far; to form a relationship that is open but not overly familiar) 3. International benchmarking (to see things how things are done differently abroad; taking a look at Tarkan's concerts outside of Turkey might be beneficial...)

"And then to get this accepted by the majority of the public... For example, this is what they've been trying to do with [US President Barack] Obama," Saydam ends.

In Other Reports

Meanwhile, a northern Cyprus paper reports that campy bar singer Fatih Ürek mentioned Tarkan during a concert on the island.

After singing his live rendition of Tarkan's "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") Ürek said, "Long live Tarkan," the paper writes.

And finally, in an interview with female singer Betül Demir published by paper Sabah, she mentions Tarkan in response to a question about whether artists could retire.

"Never ... not for me. I want to die on stage like [popular Turkish classicist] Zeki Müren. From his clothes to his way of talking and to his songs, he was a phenomenon. Tarkan is, too," she is quoted as saying.

<< A Magnificent Return | Tarkan News Index | Harbiye Tweet & Bodrum Show >>

Tarkan's Magnificent Return

2010-08-02T08:42:00.016+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Paper Hürriyet, alongside media portal Haberturk's variety section HTMagazin, has published another article on Tarkan's 31 July Harbiye show calling a "magnificent comeback".

The singer was so moved by the crowd singing his latest songs in unison, that he spoke out to fans to say, "If you could see yourselves from here you'd fall in love," the report writes.

Elsewhere, Pressturk writes of the open air arena filled to overflowing, and that many fans couldn't get tickets to see the show.

The article writes, however, that Tarkan mistook Turkish diva Ajda Pekkan's sister watching from the VIP seats for Ajda Pekkan herself and not classical female singer Emel Sayın as most reports have mentioned.

In a report by Sabah the same thing is mentioned, while describing the show as a "show of strength" by Tarkan.

The article also writes that Tarkan let the Turkish press know through his manager that he would not be giving any interviews, and added that Tarkan had broken a record for selling 150,000 copies of his latest album in 48 hours.

Tarkan Gets Top Marks

Meanwhile, a report by paper Akşam declares "the latest Tarkan to be the right Tarkan".

While causing a stir with his latest image and album Adımı Kalbine Yaz, Tarkan has shook the Harbiye two nights in a row, the article says.

Giving Tarkan top marks for his Harbiye shows, the paper writes that Tarkan captivated his fans, with people coming from Brazil, Belgium, Holland and the USA to show the singer their support.

"With tickets ranging between £40-£175 TL having sold out days before a concert where the 'Megastar' was giving a standing ovation, [stylist] Ceyda Balaban's grey waistcoat and black studded trousers caught the eye."

The Akşam piece then goes on to quote people in the industry, from singers to stylists, for their views on Tarkan's latest incarnation and album.

Tarkan's Magnificent Return in Quotes

Actress Nilgün Belgün: "His songs show he has matured. All the words are full of meaning... before the concert I gave him a lucky charm to ward off the evil eye. His clothes were amazing. If I were younger I'd dress like him."

Singer and director Metin Arolat: I absolutely love his new songs. But there isn't any Tarkan song I don't like. I enjoy the way he sings. He even makes the worse song beautiful."

Female pop singer Demet Akalın: "In a word, perfect."

Photographer, image maker Lara Sayılgan: "He's returned to his old form where he is himself again. His body and his style is very good. Sorry to the critics, but this is a great comeback."

Fashion designer Neslihan Yargıcı: "His new image is much more successful than his suit look. I didn't like his image for the Metamorfoz album. Now he looks younger and more dynamic. Tarkan is the old Tarkan again."

Fashion designer Dilek Hanif: "There's a much younger and dynamic Tarkan in front of us. It's a successful and perfect combination. He has used clothes suited to the album. It's very obvious they've worked hard on his image."

Manager and image maker Özgür Aras: "The old Tarkan has returned as a trendsetter. His hair, belt, trousers... He has shown is he is a real trendsetter with it all."

<< Album Sells 100,000 in 24 Hours | Tarkan News Index | Learning from Tarkan >>

Tarkan Album Sells 100,000 in 24 Hours

2010-08-02T07:39:00.020+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Turkish music label DMC rep Samsun Demir has been tweeting about the album sale figures for Tarkan's latest album, Adımı Kalbine Yaz, and Tarkan's 1 August Harbiye concert.

While Demir tweets his thanks for all the messages of congratulations and praise over Tarkan's latest album, and notes happily that all the anger due to the album postponements had disappeared, on questions of sale figures he writes that Tarkan's album sold 100,000 in 24 hours.

The tweets reveal that with 45,000 extra orders, the factory is busy printing out more copies, coming close to reaching the 200,000 mark in just a week of sales.

DMC Rep at 1 August Harbiye Show

Meanwhile, the tweets also show the difficulty in purchasing seats for Tarkan's Harbiye concerts - with even Demir unable to call for any more seats - and that the music label rep was at the 1 August show along with Turkish diva Ajda Pekkan and Haberturk correspondent Esin Övet.

UPDATES: Övet's notes on Tarkan's Harbiye show >>
Kral TV reports on Harbiye shows >>

Tarkan's entrance at the Harbiye by Uğurhan@Twivid, 1 August 2010

Of the concert, Demir tweeted about one of Tarkan's songs from the 2010 album, "Acımayacak".

"It got an amazing reaction tonight, it was something I expected, a special thanks to Mithatcan," Demir tweeted to the composer of the track touted to be a Tarkan hit in the coming months.

<< Notes on Tarkan Harbiye Show | Tarkan News Index | A Magnificent Return >>

Notes on Tarkan's Opening Harbiye Show

2010-08-02T01:44:00.032+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan Roars the Harbiye into Life

Celebrity portal Ayaklı Gazete mentions Tarkan's 31 July Harbiye show, by posting exclusive images of the dress rehearsal, expressing that Tarkan took great care and attention over every detail of the show to make sure fans would have the experience of a lifetime.

And in its article about the concert in main, the celebrity portal covers Tarkan's comments made in defence of arabesque music and, amongst the thousands of people that came to see the singer, lists the celebrities that came to the show, including female TV presenter Ece Erken and singer Metin Arolat - whose recent album art has been compared with Tarkan's latest release in the press.

Notes on the Show from Music Site Editor

Meanwhile, the editor of Turkish music site Her Yerde Müzik has posted an account of the concert, detailing the order of play and the incidents that took place during the show.

Praising the concert overall, the article is headlined as "Tarkan wrote his name across our hearts once more at the Open Air Arena".

"After the Harbiye was filled to the brim and Tarkan's spectacular entrance, he opened the show with the song he released before the album and which we haven't tired of listening to - the Aysel Gürel song "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike").

"When immediately following that he sang "Acımayacak" from the new album, it raised questions as to whether he was going to sing all his latest songs back to back, but when he followed it with "Hepsi Senin mi?" (a.k.a Şıkıdım from A-acayipsin, 1994) those thoughts were erased.

"After "Hepsi Senin mi?", when he sang one of his timeless songs "Kır Zincirlerini" (Ölürüm Sana, 1997) the [open air arena] caught the vibe early and had a great time."

The Her Yerde Müzik editor's article reports a slight change in the repertoire posted up at Tarkan's official Facebook, with the megastar's popular 90s song "Kış Güneşi" (A-acayipsin, 1994) sang before one of his latest tracks "Sen Çoktan Gitmişsin". These were followed as per schedule by "Dudu" (Dudu, 2003) and the remixed version to hit track "Hüp" (Hüp, 2001).

The editor writes about Tarkan mistaking Turkish diva Ajda Pekkan's sister in the VIP section for Turkish classical female singer Emel Sayın in the first half of the concert, while humming a song from arabesque progenitor Orhan Gencebay called "Hatasız Kul Olmaz" ("Everyone Makes Mistakes") before singing "İkimizin Yerine" (Ölürüm Sana, 1997).

The article notes just before singing the 1997 track Tarkan defended arabesque music, and that Hürriyet variety reporter Onur Baştürk was in the audience, too.

"Tarkan joked with the journalist to say, "You look so serious, you look like you're looking for mistakes, relax, enjoy yourself," before singing for the first time on stage his "Gün Gibi" track from his Metamorfoz (2007) album. He gave a short break after "Arada Bir" (Metamorfoz, 2007) and [his latest track] "Adımı Kalbine Yaz".

"Opening the second half with "Öp" (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010), he continued with the acoustic version of "Şımarık" (Ölürüm Sana, 1997) he had prepared for last year's Harbiye show.

"After "Gül Döktüm Yollarına" (A-acayipsin, 1994) he followed it with "Kuzu Kuzu" (Karma, 2001) where the concert reached its peak for the third time, and by public request he was forced to do an encore before the end of the show and sing "Kuzu Kuzu" again.

"The artist closed the show with one of the latest album's most ambitious songs "Kayıp" and "İşim Olmaz". But of course the audience didn't let Tarkan go that easily, and he was ready for it. After the applause and the chants, Tarkan came back on stage to sing "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" and "Öp" again and the curtain went down once more. But the audience still had no plans to let Tarkan go and they called him back to the stage one more time, where the artist sang "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" again, but the remixed version this time around, before ending the show.

"The orchestra was placed at either side of the stage, making it appear larger and left solely for Tarkan [to perform in]. The clips and animations playing on the huge screen behind the stage added to the enjoyment of the performances. Tarkan's amazing live performance and the successful blending of a repertoire of old and newest hits made the concert a great success, and the viewer left the arena very happy. It was very intuitive to sing the original version of "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" and leave the remixed version for the encore.

"The only downside to the concert for me was listening to the acoustic version of "Şımarık" and the remixed version of "Hüp". In my opinion the selection of these two obstructed the flow of the show, and were the original versions played an ever better atmosphere could have been engaged. However the back to back performances of "Kuzu Kuzu" more than closed this gap. Moreover, I think "Çat Kapı" would be a better choice if space needs to be given to a song previously unsung from Metamorfoz, "Gün Gibi" was a choice that made no difference whatsoever.

"Tarkan was very happy that the public sang his latest songs by heart and showed almost as much interest in them as they did his classics. He got the most reaction from "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu", "İşim Olmaz", "Kayıp" and "Öp". The only song not sung from Adımı Kalbine Yaz was the "Usta-Çırak" track.

"In short, the mistakes and comments made, the amazing performances of Tarkan and his audience meant that both the journalists, the public and Tarkan left the evening very happy," the editor concludes.

Thousands Gather to Shake Hips with Tarkan

Although seeing fit to squeeze his notes from Tarkan's concert into the bottom section of his 2 August dated column, Hürriyet reporter Baştürk had this to say about the evening:

"For the first time Tarkan has honestly and courageously spoken his mind on an issue with the comments he made about arabesque music just before singing his "İkimizin Yerine" song. Because of this it surprised the audience, and his crew...

"How unforgettable a hit "Kuzu Kuzu" is, was shown once again. The audience requested this song once more with amazing force. From his latest tracks, "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" and "Kayıp" were amongst the most applauded."

However, as Baştürk continues in his article, he writes that Tarkan hummed the Gencebay song "Hatasız Kul Olmaz" ("Everyone Makes Mistakes") to him, rather than at Pekkan's sister for mistaking her for singer Sayın, as all the other Turkish press articles report - and claims that some songs were not played live, again contrary to all other reports and video evidence from the evening.

Tarkan sings "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" live at the Harbiye by Uğurhan@Twivid, 31 July 2010

"At one point Tarkan smiled at me (and saying "come on don't frown, smile") sang to me from the stage "Everyone Makes Mistakes". Right, that's true. I accept that. So I won't criticise a mistake, I have to criticise a choice (I can't help myself!). The choice of singing most of the new songs playback... It looks like the new songs weren't rehearsed with the orchestra. But if they had been played live it would have been better.

"But this is a fact: Live or playback, the audience so desired to go crazy/dance with Tarkan, that if he just spoke they'd have shook their hips through the entire concert, I'm sure of that.

"And it was noticeable how the men were openly shaking their hips just as much as the women they were with. Ten years ago men weren't so comfortable. With the push/courage Tarkan has given all these years, an easy attitude to "shaking hips in public" has arrived," the variety reporter observes.

And finally, paper Cumhuriyet gives an account of Tarkan's 31 July appearance at the Harbiye, but writes that "the scene did not change for the second day at the Harbiye, with thousands gathering" at the arena to listen to Tarkan sing.

The report also notes how Tarkan was applauded for so long between songs, that it overpowered the tracks themselves.

<< Tarkan Comparisons | Tarkan News Index | Album Sells 100,000 in 24 Hours >>

Press Snippets: Tarkan Comparisons

2010-08-02T01:15:00.013+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

"God's Will Tarkan"

Contemporary Turkish author and columnist Tuna Kiremitçi has covered Tarkan in a recent column for paper Hürriyet's variety section Kelebek.

"This time we haven't just missed Tarkan: We've missed admiring, applauding and desiring him, too. Because that's how we are ... we can't stand Tarkan being unsuccessful!

"And that's why he started with a goal advantage with his Adımı Kalbine Yaz. This time we were going to listen to it and like it. And anyway when the album was released we saw that Tarkan had done what was expected of him.

"He didn't try to discover America again. He returned to those Istanbul melodies that had made him Tarkan. I'm happy about this, because I personally believe he's done his best work journeying between Turkish classical music and pop.

"If you notice, in past years Tarkan had been reduced to imitating himself. He even looked like those pop stars you see in American films.

"I don't know if it's a sign of maturity, but he's relaxed for this album, and returned to his original warmth. It's clear to see from his choice of song and the way he sings.

"I agree with the opinion that Tarkan's songs appreciate over time. It generally takes a month for our ears to get used to a Tarkan album.

"But this time the amount of songs that capture the attention first time around are in the majority: "Adını Kalbime Yaz", "Acımayacak", "Öp" or Aysel Gürel's memento "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike").

"Plus yesterday at [book and music store] D&R Arab tourists were asking in amazement what that was they were listening to [playing as muzak]. Don't be surprised if there's a Tarkan outbreak in the Arab countries this summer," Kiremitçi says.

Comparing Tarkan with the Greats

Eray Aytimur in her 1 August dated piece "Two Greats, One Album" for left-wing paper Radikal mentions Tarkan in passing, by comparing him to the American jazz icon and classical pianist and composer, Keith Jarrett.

"We should be careful of comparisons, but whatever it means for the repetitiveness and ongoing barrenness of Turkish pop when Tarkan produces an album, is similar to Keith Jarrett producing an album in a world of jazz which constantly renews itself and is always open to new discoveries.

"It's pure coincidence that for both sides it is exciting times, because both musicians have released albums," Aytimur writes before going on to write about Jarett's album in more detail.

<< Hot Property in Pop | Tarkan News Index | Notes on Tarkan Harbiye Show >>

Press Snippets: Hot Property in Pop Culture

2010-08-01T23:58:00.031+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan in Political Satire

Tarkan has become such a staple diet in popular Turkish culture that he is even making an appearance in political satire.

In the political columns of paper Türkiye, the verbal side-stepping of a politician when asked about the issue of political back-stabbing has become the butt of a reader's joke.

The politician's attempt to politely get out of answering the question caught the imagination of one reader. Reminding the reader of a political cartoon, he lampoons the politician by suggesting the captioned conversation might go something like this:

"They say your songs sound like Tarkan, that you are even imitating him, what do you have to say to that?"
"Oh I'd say I'm a great fan of Tarkan, if I look like him I'm proud."
"They say you're head looks like a dish basin, what do you say to that?"
"I love dish basins, if my head looks like one I'm proud."

German Metal Rockers Pay Homage to Tarkan

Meanwhile, German power metal/heavy metal band formed in 1997 by Ralf Scheepers, Primal Fear, were in Izmir recently for a festival, where they surprised fans by playing a rendition of Tarkan's hit track "Şıkıdım" (A-acayipsin, 1994), Hürriyet variety supplement, Kelebek writes.

"Isn't Oynama Şıkıdım Şıkıdım metal music?" Sheepers is said to have joked with the crowd, before singing some bars of the song.

Tarkan Coming to Bodrum

And elsewhere in Hürriyet's regional pages, there is a report that the Turkish port town of Bodrum will be filled with concerts this month, counting amongst them a performance by the megastar himself.

As previously reported, Tarkan will be giving a concert at the Gümbet Bianca Beach Club on 7 August, under the banner of "The Real One" evening events.

Tarkan will be arriving in the region with 3 lorries and surprises for his fans that evening, Hürriyet writes.

UPDATE: Bodrum Thousands See Tarkan >>

In Other Reports

Moving on, as a property portal counts Tarkan as among the Turkish wealthy to be purchasing houses in America, an article by Takvim writes that now Tarkan has sold his home in New York, the singer is looking to purchase property in Turkey.

Takvim writes that Tarkan has his eye on properties in the Turkish region of Kazdağı or Mount Ida to give its ancient name. It is a mountain in northwestern Turkey, southeast of the ruins of Troy, along the north coast of the Gulf of Edremit, and is currently hot property amongst the wealthy.

Tarkan has bought a villa in the region for the amount of 400,000 euros, the paper's report claims.

Continuing on the subject of investments, paper Bugün has added Tarkan in an article which lists singing celebrities and their "investment secret" of opening up their own studio or music company.

Stating that this means artists can produce albums more cheaply, and make money off other artists, too, Bugün's article describes Tarkan as someone who is involved with all stages of music.

"While Tarkan generally records his albums abroad, he runs music company HITT ... and has released a number of artists' albums," the article writes.

And the Turkish Journal has run a piece on high class New York restaurant the Turkish Kitchen, which has seen celebrities of both cultures don its tables it says, from US celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Will Smith, Brad Pitt, Madonna, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks and David Letterman, to Turkish celebrities like Tarkan.

And finally, a celebrity libel case where Tarkan's name has been mentioned in passing is still ongoing, a celebrity portal writes.

<< Tarkan Rocks Harbiye | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Comparisons >>

Tarkan Rocks Harbiye

2010-08-01T20:54:00.021+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Tarkan Rocks Harbiye, Queues Half a Mile Long

The Turkish papers have reported on Tarkan's successful open air show at the Harbiye in Istanbul yesterday, with the Milliyet writing that "Tarkan Shook Istanbul".

The account says that Tarkan held an eight-hour dress rehearsal and went over each item personally, while the queue of ticket holders formed was up to 300 metres long, and that the artist came down an elevator to the stage to greet the 6,500 people anxiously waiting for him to perform.

Opening with the late lyricist Aysel Gürel's words to his hit track "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike"), the report says he was overcome with the crowd singing along word-for-word.

"You didn't leave me alone on my happy day. I'm in love with you all," the singer is quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, a news portal decided to focus on the statements Tarkan in defence of arabesque music that evening - pitting the singer against the renowned classicist Fazıl Say who had made dismissive comments about the genre.

The report also adds that Tarkan's stage costume was prepared by stylist Ceyda Balaban, and that ticket holders formed a queue over a kilometre long as they waited for the doors to open for an evening of a lifetime.

"This Love Won't Die"

Papers Bugün and Takvim have taken a similar slant in their reporting of the 31 July concert, by writing about the show of love between Tarkan and his fans.

While Bugün led with the story of the special banner prepared by fans, Takvim headlined its report as "This Love Won't End".

"With a chorus of [over] five thousand [singing to his songs], Tarkan has proven his success and that he has put the bad days behind him," the report writes.

In Other Reports

Elsewhere, in a celebrity portal's account of the show, the focus included a look at the celebrities that had made an appearance at Tarkan's concert - for which tickets had been sold out days in advance.

Noting that many ticket holders had difficulty entering the arena due to the high volume of people, the report writes that "Tarkan stormed through with an spectacular concert ... leaving many of the celebrities watching in awe" of the Turkish megastar.

The article writes that in the VIP section sat Turkish diva Ajda Pekkan's sister Semiramis and popstress Demet Akalın.

Akalın, who is in the line up for the series of concerts being organised by Tarkan's music company HITT under the sponsorship of major Turkish music station Kral this year, has had comments published in the press where she calls Tarkan "her boss".

Scheduled to appear at the Harbiye on 3 August, Akalın reportedly commented that Tarkan has released a spectacular album and "with Tarkan as her boss she couldn't possibly fail", adding she had accepted the offer to perform for the open air summer series without hesitation.

"It's exciting to sing on the same stage as him two days later," she is quoted to have said.

<< Tarkan's Show Wows Fans | Tarkan News Index | Hot Property in Pop >>

Tarkan Open Air Performance Wows Fans

2010-08-01T17:03:00.038+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

The Turkish press reports that Turkish megastar Tarkan gave a dazzling live performance as he kick-started the 2010 Kral Harbiye Open Air Shows yesterday evening.

After the release of Tarkan's 2010 album - which has topped the sale charts in less than a week - the 5,000 capacity popular open air arena in Istanbul saw 6,500 ticket buyers cram into its stalls to watch the first public live performance the singer has given since last January.

Singing a mix of old songs with his latest offerings, newspaper Hürriyet writes that it was interesting how the crowd had already memorised Tarkan's new songs.

Tarkan Online at Facebook provided a list of the songs the singer had planned to sing at the event, while the singer posted a message prior to the show to say that he had heard all tickets for the open air meeting had sold out.

"I've got butterflies in my tummy. I'm real excited to be singing all of you my latest songs. Thank you so much for your love and attention. Hope to see you at the concert," Tarkan posted at Tarkan Online.

Tarkan's scheduled repertoire for the evening, as provided by the singer's official Facebook page, was as follows:

1-Sevdanın Son Vuruşu (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010)
2-Acımayacak (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010)
3-Şıkıdım (A-acayipsin, 1994)
4-Kır Zincirlerini (Ölürüm Sana, 1997)
5-Sen Çoktan Gitmişsin (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010)
6- Kış Güneşi (A-acayipsin, 1994)
7-Dudu (Dudu, 2003)
8-Hüp (Karma, 2001)
9-İkimizin Yerine (Ölürüm Sana, 1997)
10- Gün Gibi (Metamorfoz, 2007)
11-Arada Bir (Metamorfoz, 2007)
12-Adımı Kalbine Yaz (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010)
13-Öp (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010)
14-Şımarık (Ölürüm Sana, 1997)
15-Vay Anam Vay (Metamorfoz, 2007)
16-Unutmamalı (A-acayipsin, 1994)
17-Gül Döktüm Yollarına (A-acayipsin, 1994)
18-Kuzu Kuzu (Karma, 2001)
19-Kayıp (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010)
20-İşim Olmaz (Adımı Kalbine Yaz, 2010)

Tarkan Defends Turkish-Arabesque Culture

Paper Hürriyet's account of the evening writes about Tarkan speaking on a recent musical controversy making the papers, when classical pianist and composer Fazıl Say had dismissed Turkish arabesque music as an art form.

"We're a nation that loves arabesque. It's inside all of us. Those who refuse to recognise arabesque should listen to these songs. It is in the very nature of us. Those who are proud of arabesque will be pleased," Tarkan is quoted as saying from the stage in the Hürriyet report.

As an aside from his planned repertoire for the evening, the paper writes that Tarkan sang a song from arabesque progenitor, male singer Orhan Gencebay called "Hatasız Kul Olmaz" ("Everyone Makes Mistakes") - after mistaking Turkish diva Ajda Pekkan's sister in the VIP section for Turkish classical female singer Emel Sayın.

Gencebay had featured in the Tarkan promo track "Uyan" for a nature society in 2008.

He then followed it with his 1997 track "İkimizin Yerine" saying, "This is completely arabesque, let those who refuse to accept the form, listen to it," Hürriyet writes.

The story seems to show that Tarkan has finally accepted his musical history, as last year close sources were saying that the singer wanted to strip his work clean of Turkish musical motifs.

Photos from the Show

And Hürriyet's article - while also writing that tickets for Tarkan's second showing at the Harbiye tonight had all sold out - published photos from the concert revealing that support from the Tarkan fan community made an appearance at the show, too.

Turkish fans hold up banner which reads: We've written
your name across our hearts for ever more,
we've never loved like this before

Although Tarkan Deluxe founder Ali Yildirim couldn't be at the show, he was there in spirit as his translation of Tarkan's album title made it on a fan's banner.

Tarkanclub members - some all the way from Brazil - and founder
Marleen van Woensal pictured holding a banner at the show with
Ali Yildirim's translation of the 2010 album title

View concert photographs at Tarkan Visual >>
Watch Kral TV concert footage >>

Concert Details on Tarkan's Official Facebook

Meanwhile, fans can catch all the latest concert details at Tarkan's official Facebook page, Tarkan Online.

Along with providing Tarkan's song repertoire for his 31 July Harbiye show, Tarkan Onine at Facebook also confirms that the singer will be appearing at three other separate venues across Turkey in August, as previously reported by the Turkish media.

UPDATE: Venues added to concert agenda >>

After his two day at the Harbiye in Istanbul, the singer is set to be in northern Turkey to to perform at Taşköprü on 6 August for its 24th annual festival, while moving on to Bianca Beach in Bodrum on 7 August and then will shuttle off to his father's homestead of Rize in the Black Sea region of Turkey for a festival there on 8 August.

<< Official Site Made for Fans | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Rocks Harbiye >>

Harbiye Open Air Shows 2010

2010-07-31T20:08:00.014+01:00

Kral "Open Air Concert" Reports 2010
(links open in a separate window)

Istanbul, Harbiye, 31 July 1 | 2 | 3 (with video) | 4 | 5 | 6 (with video) | 7 (with video) [Pictures at Tarkan Visual]
Istanbul, Harbiye, 1 August 1 (with video) | 2 | 3 (with video) | 4 | 5 (with video)

<< back to Tarkan's Concert Calendar Archive

Tarkan's Official Site to Satisfy Fans

2010-07-31T02:02:00.012+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

A new look to Tarkan.com

Turkish pop megastar Tarkan is getting ready to unveil his official site's new look after the release of his 2010 album.

UPDATE: Tarkan unveils his 2010 official site >>

Best Ever New Site

The new - and much improved - Tarkan.com is gearing up to finally meet fan expectation with a large archive of photos, videos and information, and surprises for die-hard fanatics.

It is set to become the best incarnation of Tarkan's official page since the beginning of the last decade during his Karma period.

View screencaps of new look site at Tarkan Visual >>

The new site will hold Turkish and English sections, which will include an archived gallery of the singer's video singles, high quality studio and concert photographs from the lens of long-term Tarkan photographer Sedat Mehder, and a large biography and discography section.

Alongside a special section detailing Tarkan's campaigns for nature and animal rights, there will also be a news and press section, countdowns to scheduled concerts, multimedia extras, and a special fan area called T-Zone.

Once signed up to the zone, fans will be able to listen to the English tracks Tarkan never released for his English language projects - including a previously unheard track with Grammy Award winning violin virtuoso Miri Ben-Ari - and view photographs taken by the artist himself as he follows his hobby of photography.

Previously unreleased Tarkan track "Who's Gonna Love You Now" featuring Miri Ben-Ari

Tarkan Finally in Tune with Fans

The Turkish megastar has also opened official social networking channels that are linked from his official site, resurrecting the Tarkan Online tag from 2001, which fans can use to search for the artist at Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and Flickr.

The best news of all is that Tarkan has kept his promise of 2007, and incorporated the websites of fans into the official pages of Tarkan.com - finally granting them officialdom status.

And when Tarkan.com is officially opened to the public, the artist has promised yet more surprises for his fans, to cement the fact that Tarkan is back, bigger and better than ever.

<< Top Album Sales in One Day | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan's Show Wows Fans >>

Tarkan Tops Album Sales in One Day

2010-07-30T19:22:00.012+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Online Turkish shopping sites for music have seen Turkish music megastar Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz top their sale charts just one day after its release.

Although most online stores in Turkey still have to update their lists, after only one day of release - but including one extra day of pre-release sales - Tarkan's 2010 album has already topped three major Turkish shopping sites for music on the net.

UPDATE: Tarkan's album sells 100,000 in 24 hours >>

D&R music and book store and Esen Shop have both marked Tarkan at top position of their album sale charts, while site Hepsi Burada has put up a sign at time of writing that they are currently out of stock.

Hepsi Burada had listed Tarkan as its top third selling album based solely on pre-release orders for Tarkan's 2010 musical outing, while listing it top of its sales chart yesterday.

Readers in America can also purchase the album from New York based store Tulumba, although there could be a long wait, and the item is more expensive.

<< Tarkan Fire Burns Turkey | Tarkan News Index | Official Site Made for Fans >>

Press Snippets: Tarkan's Fire Burns Turkey

2010-07-30T17:42:00.032+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

The Turkish press are reporting very favourably on Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz, in stark contrast to the negative press reaction over the singer's 2007 release, Metamorfoz.

As one report writes that "Tarkan's fire sweeps across Turkey", another article prints that Tarkan has signed his name to a first in Turkey by breaking a distribution record with his latest album.

The article claims that Tarkan's 2010 album has broken a record in Turkey with its pre-release printed copies already depleted from the factories, with a supply of 30 thousand posters exhausted, too.

It writes that Tarkan has exploded back on to the Turkish music scene, with 100,000 copies of his latest album flying out of the door within just days of its release.

Promo poster to Adımı Kalbine Yaz

Adding that Tarkan has broken album and poster sale records in Turkey, the article adds that "it looks like Tarkan is going to make tremendous noise with his new album".

In Other Reports

Meanwhile, Turkish newspaper Akşam writes that Tarkan's track "Acımayacak" from his 2010 summer album Adımı Kalbine Yaz looks like a hit.

Posting an excerpt from the lyrics, the report writes that it is the first time Sezen Aksu's son Mithatcan Özer has given lyrics to an artist, and that the song words are provoking and catchy.

And paper Sabah has published a report about Tarkan's track "Kayıp" from his latest album, claiming that the poem the singer reads out at the end of the song made him cry during one take in the studio.

The article prints out the poem in its entirety, whilst claiming that Günay Çoban's words had made the Turkish megastar cry as he read them.

"The words express me perfectly," the report quotes Tarkan as saying about ode to a lost loved one, before writing that the recording in which the artist cried was not used for the final cut of the track.

"Now everyone is wondering which woman it is," the Sabah article concludes.

And moving on, media portal Haberturk's variety section HTMagazin writes that Tarkan is breaking records on the internet with his latest 2010 songs.

The article quotes Tarkan as saying that he is waiting for everyone to listen to his songs - the teaser samples of which have been breaking viewing figures on the net - and then he will respond accordingly.

The HTMagazin report claims that Tarkan has changed his mind about filming a video to "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike"), and that he is working on a video to his track "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" - but the report writes that depending on public opinion this could change, too.

Elsewhere, paper Cumhuriyet's take on Tarkan's latest release is that the singer "proudly presents" his new record to his fans.

Giving previously reported details about the album, the report also writes that the photographs used on the album were taken by Los Angeles based fashion and celebrity photographer Giuliano Bekor.

Although there were rumours that Tarkan was going to use a new photo shoot for the 2010 record, Bekor was previously credited for the photograph used on the May digital single release "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") from the album.

There has been some criticism of Tarkan's latest image for the album, while a few celebrity reports have claimed similarities with another Turkish singer's album art released a few weeks earlier.

However, Tarkan's photographs for his latest album were taken last year in Los Angeles, with photographs from the shoot used in different promotions as far back as January this year.

The Cumhuriyet report reminds its readers that Tarkan's first meeting with his public since the record's release will be for a scheduled performance at the Harbiye on 31 July, as paper Hürriyet's variety supplement Kelebek writes that "The Show Goes On" - with Tarkan set to sing live for his fans in Istanbul.

<< Pleasing Some, Not All | Tarkan News Index | Top Album Sales in One Day >>

Press Snippets: Pleasing Some, Not All

2010-07-30T08:38:00.026+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Celebrity portal Uçankuş has run a poll asking which 2010 track Tarkan should film a video single to, with the portal reporting that it has captured "great interest" from its readers.

Currently, with over 3.5 thousand votes polled, "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") is first, followed closely by the album title track, "Adımı Kalbine Yaz".

Meanwhile, female columnist Deniz Nurcan, writing for celebrity portal Gecce, has mentioned Tarkan's latest album release on her Hollywood-Istanbul line.

The "MEGASTAR IS BACK!!" Deniz declares from her column, writing that in her opinion the most important and positive development of the week has been Tarkan's 2010 album Adımı Kalbine Yaz.

"It was definitely worth the long wait!! Alongside my summer favourite "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" are hits - no mega hits - "Adımı Kalbine Yaz", "Acımayacak", "Sen Çoktan Gitmişsin" and "Öp"," she writes.

"With Tarkan's songs, this summer will definitely pass by brighter and hotter than ever."

Tarkan Playing to the Public

Moving on, Sabah correspondent Yüksel Aytuğ has been seen less to praise in the album than most.

"I was waiting for Tarkan's latest album with great expectations ... I can't lie, I was expecting much more from him. The thing I ask myself is would this album be listened to if it didn't have Tarkan's face and name on it? Apart from the album's promotion song "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" - having gotten "used" to the song because we've been listening to it for weeks - the arabesque-like "Kayıp" and the album's title track, the Turkish classical-type "Adımı Kalbine Yaz" I couldn't find a song that caught my interest ... It's the first time I playing a Tarkan CD with the hope that I like it as I listen to it more," he writes.

Elsewhere, in his Hürriyet column today, variety reporter Onur Baştürk has taken up his pen to offer up his views on the Turkish megastar's latest musical offering, while adding a postscript on the singer's latest image for the album.

Mentioning the Haberturk article covering the supposed similarity between another singer's album image and Tarkan's, Baştürk writes, "Yes, standing with a crooked leg and the boots do look similar, it's true ... But the real resemblance has been picked up by a blog called Moda ve Sosyete.

"The photograph with Tarkan's hands on his neck and David Beckham's [one] is really to similar to be dismissed."

Moda ve Sosyete, a Turkish blogger of celebrity style and fashion also thanked Baştürk for his mentioning of the blog in his column.

Tarkan's Welcome Return

And in the main bulk of his article, Baştürk writes that "Allaturca Tarkan" has made a welcome return.

"I'm listening to Tarkan's album as we speak. And my first impression is that the cold Tarkan from Metamorfoz has gone, and thankfully that old, Mediterranean, a little hot but with a large helping of melancholia Tarkan has returned.

"And the greatest example of this comeback is Tarkan's own penned track "Adımı Kalbine Yaz". I have this song on constant rotation; it's a perfect pop allaturca concoction, perfect at the end of an evening, great!"

Although Baştürk's continues to praise the song, his initial impressions are not all positive, as he moves on to the other tracks in the 2010 album - which he says is not one of the singer's best, but will please the public.

"There are other more sad songs; "Kayıp" and "Sen Çoktan Gitmişsin". Already, "Kayıp" is on everyone's lips. But I don't like songs with poems read at the end of them. It's too outdated. (And why does the voice fade out towards the last lines of the poem?)

"I had listened to "Acımıycak" months ago. It's a hit that's made up of four parts, moving from melody to melody, which tires the listener a lot. If Mithat Can Özer had taken out one part, the song might have been more dynamic.

"And "Usta-Çırak" is a surprise song. How so? Well the song-writer Gülşah Tütüncü is the writer of the over melodramatic Mustafa Ceceli track "Hastalıkta Sağlıkta" ("In Sickness and in Health"), and the mood between the two songs is completely different ... [The song] is nice, different, provocative, but it also resembles [Kenan Doğulu's] "Çakkıdı" song. Plus the Turkish public like a chorus, and there isn't one in this song.

"Whoops, I forgot the song "Öp"!" Baştürk exclaims finally, commenting that the only thing he could say about the track was that one of the words reminded him of TV joker Okan Bayülgen's female character in a TV commercial.

Bayülgen is long known for his enmity against Tarkan, and usually makes digs at the singer from his late night TV shows.

Female Singer's "TV Gaffe"

And there is recent news on Bayülgen and Tarkan during his current late night show.

When Bayülgen's female guests called Tarkan's latest track "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") their favourite, and they began to recite it, Bayülgen was quick to dismiss it.

When the TV host reminded his guests that the lyrics belonged to the late lyricist Aysel Gürel anyway, one of the guests, Nineties popstress Yonca Evcimik in defence of Tarkan said that they should "deal with the living and not the dead".

The Turkish press has been quick to report this as a slight towards the memory of Gürel - who had incidentally penned Evcimik's first break-out hit song - calling it a gaffe, and quoting Gürel's daughter as being saddened by the remarks made on live TV.

<< Tarkan 2010 Album Out | Tarkan News Index | Tarkan Fire Burns Turkey >>

Tarkan's 2010 Album Out Today

2010-07-29T14:17:00.035+01:00

By Adelind Osmanlı reporting from Munich, Germany

Turkish news reports write that Tarkan's latest album has hit music stores today in Turkey under a joint release with the singer's company HITT and music label DMC.

Turkish pop music's megastar Tarkan has released his eagerly anticipated latest studio album, titled Adımı Kalbine Yaz. The 13-track record holds eight original songs - including the May digital release "Sevdanın Son Vuruşu" ("Love's Last Strike") - and features five remixes.

UPDATES: Tarkan tops album sale charts in just one day >>
Turkish press praises 2010 album >>
Tarkan pleases some, not all >>
Tarkan still pleases some, not all >>
Tarkan's album sells 100,000 in 24 hours >>
Tarkan's album sells 150,000 in 48 hours >>
Tarkan's album sells 200,000 in 5 days >>
Tarkan's album sells 225,000 in a week >>
Music critic appraises Tarkan's album sales record >>
Tarkan is worth the wait >>
Tarkan gives life to music industry >>

Co-produced with long-term producer Ozan Çolakoğlu, the album is the result of a two-year effort, and showcases songs written by such Turkish pop greats as Sezen Aksu and the late lyricist Aysel Gürel, as well as tracks penned by Tarkan.

<< Listen to samples of 2010 tracks
<< View first glimpse of 2010 sleeve art

Official Facebook and Twitter Accounts Opened

The back sleeve to Tarkan's 2010 release reveals that the artist has finally opened up official Facebook and Twitter accounts for his fans.

Fans can connect up with the megastar at the social networking sites facebook.com/tarkanonline and twitter.com/tarkanonline.

UPDATE: The links to Tarkan's Facebook and Twitter accounts changed to http://www.facebook.com/tarkan and https://twitter.com/Tarkan in January 2012.

Tarkan Deluxe correspondent Mark Mayhey has been advocating such a move for years, while publishing Tarkan's inactive Twitter address last year. This account has now been removed, with the opening of the new Twitter account.

Tarkan's 2010 album promo on his official Facebook page

Moreover, the artist has also opened official MySpace and Flickr accounts, with the singer distributing high-res photos used for the 2010 album sleeve art on Flickr. Teasers to the sleeve art had been previously circulated online.

These network sites use the Tarkan Online moniker, where fans can connect up with the star at flickr.com/photos/tarkanonline and myspace.com/tarkanonline respectively.

View Tarkan's Flickr photos at Tarkan Visual >>

The Turkish megastar has used the Tarkan Online tag before. The artist's website team had opened up a Tarkan Online portal for fans in 2001 with the release of his Karma album and its singles "Kuzu Kuzu" and "Hüp".

<< Working with Tarkan | Tarkan News Index | Pleasing Some, Not All >>