Tarkan

The travails of a handsome Turkish man in Marseille

Hey folks,

Welcome to all those who joined over the weekend! I realized we’ve been listening to many English songs of late and I didn’t want to feel like we’ve strayed off the path that What’s Curation? has laid, i.e.,

Genre and language no bar.

A Turkish pop classic

So, today, we’ll be listening to a 90s Turkish pop gem by Tarkan—who, the Washington Post, has compared to Elvis Prestley in terms of charm and stage presence.

The track, in Türkçe, is called Şımarık, and was shot in Marseille, France. Around the world, it’s called the Kiss Kiss song. The video starts with Tarkan wandering the cobbled alleyways of Le Panier¹ minding his own business.

But then, something strange starts to happen. Women start lowering their sunglasses and raising their eyebrows. They follow Tarkan and he starts realizing that he’s being trailed. Like a sexy Turkish James Bond, he starts turning bends and corners hoping to throw his suitors off the trail. But that doesn’t deter them at all; in fact, more join the merry band. Tarkan, feeling the heat, starts picking up his pace, and then outright starts running for his life, all while beaming that million-dollar smile.

The charm is so strong, that a married woman outside a chapel decides to reconsider a lifetime vow she’s just taken 1 minute and 43 seconds ago.
Tarkan is just that hot, I swear.

Finally, he ducks into a corner and gives a gentle kiss on a little girl’s forehead.

Reconsidering the music video

This is a fun track and I listen to it on days when I need a pick-me-up. But part of me wonders if this video would still be as memorable or endearing if the genders were reversed. Imagine a lady being chased through the alleys by a group of men in a music video.

It’s a reminder that our thinking and sensibilities evolve for the better over time.

Kendine iyi bak! (Take care!)

-Nikhil.

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1. Marseille is the French name of the city; Marseilles is its English name.