Tarkan “Touches” His Audience
Tarkan’s fifth concert at Harbiye Theatre took place yesterday, coinciding with the Turkish National Day of Independence. The
open-air theatre was packed with people despite the fact that Tarkan had previously given four concerts at the same venue in less than a month.
Yesterday’s concert was amazing as usual. Tarkan’s vocal strength, his persona on the stage, the way he ‘touched’ his audience, his energy, his aura and his songs all made August 30, 2010 a special day for Tarkan fans. It was amazing to see how everybody, young and old alike, knew the lyrics by heart; everybody sang along; everybody danced along and joined the flow. The audience was clearly impressed by Tarkan. And so was Tarkan by his audience, bowing and thanking them many times.
Tarkan also sang many songs from his past albums. While he was singing “Unutmamalı”, thousands of people accompanied him, an unforgettable moment both for the artist himself and the audience.
At the end of the concert, it was no surprise that the audience would not leave the theatre, asking for more Tarkan songs. Then he suddenly called behind the stage curtains asking “Do you want me to come back? OK I am… “ And …. the second time teasing his audience, “Wait, wait, where are you going? Is it bedtime for you already? Not for me.” He appeared again on the stage and conquered the hearts of his fans yet again!
If you missed his previous concerts, enjoy Tarkan on stage tonight or on September 4th for an additional concert at the same venue.
Tarkan on NTVMSNBC
NTVMSNBC gives a link to a collection of “nature” photos Tarkan has taken over the years. Click here.
Tarkan the Trendsetter
For the Turkish daily Akşam, Nurbanu Güney Elbir and Sayit Durmaz interviewed some celebrities and famous fashion designers about Tarkan’s comeback concert at Harbiye Theatre. While Metin Arolat, the artist and director who shot Tarkan’s beautiful video “Kuzu Kuzu” years and years ago, is quoted saying, “I like Tarkan’s new songs. There is no Tarkan song which I don’t like anyway. It’s a pleasure listening to him. Tarkan can transform the songs he sings in his own way”, Nilgün Belgün, a popular Turkish actress also famous for her lively disposition, comments on Tarkan’s songs and outfits, “These songs are the songs of a mature artist. The lyrics are all rich in meaning. I gave Tarkan an en evil eye bead right before the concert. His outfits were fabulous. If I were younger, I would get dressed just like Tarkan”
Neslihan Yargici and Dilek Hanif, famous Turkish designers, both agree that Tarkan has made the right decision in his choice of outfits. Yargıcı is quoted saying “I did not like Tarkan’s persona for “Metamorphosis” but now he looks more dynamic and much younger. This is the Tarkan we have always wanted him to be” and Hanif says “Tarkan’s outfits and the concept of his new album have a good match. It is obvious that he worked on his new look a lot.”
In the same report, Lara Sayılgan, photographer and image-maker, calls Tarkan’s comeback a good one: “This is the Tarkan persona we have missed. It’s just like him… I cannot agree with those who still criticize him.”
Tarkan’s Harbiye Concert
Tarkan’s first concert at Harbiye Theatre is covered extensively in the Turkish media. According to a report by Hurriyet, 6500 tickets were sold for last night’s concert although the theatre could hold only 5000 people. Tarkan fans, the report says, carried a big banner reading “your name is carved forever in our hearts; we have never loved anybody else like you” – here you can, of course, identify references to the lyrics in Tarkan’s new songs.
Like Hurriyet, Vatan has also covered Tarkan’s Harbiye performance. Vatan’s Zehra Çengil reports that there was a long queue of almost 1 km at the entrance of the theatre before the start of the concert. Çengil’s report shows that Tarkan could not help referring to the latest controversy about “arabesk” music ignited by Turkey’s worldwide acclaimed pianist Fazıl Say. Tarkan is quoted saying, “We all love arabesk; it cannot be denied.”
Both newspaper reports also quote Tarkan thanking his audience, “You have not left me alone on such an important day. I am in love with you all.”
