Friends and family were surprised when I announced that I had tickets for the Erol Evgin concert at the Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre in Harbiye last week. I am not a pop person. You might see me at a performance of an opera star, or a piano prodigy … but I usually scorn pop music and arrogantly declare it to be “too simple.” There are exceptions: pop musicians who capture my interest, attention and loyalty. And Erol Evgin certainly tops the list.
For any local Turk or expat who has been in Turkey some time, the name Erol Evgin will be self-explanatory. But here is a brief background for those “yabangees” who may have somehow missed the memo: Evgin has been a household name in every single Turkish home since the mid-1970s. You will not be able to find a Turk who is not familiar with him. He is known all over and his hits have become classics, ones that look like they will well continue to charm listeners in any setting for many decades to come. He has left a permanent imprint on Turkish music, the way Frank Sinatra or Billy Joel have in the West.
Evgin has a soothing but vibrant voice. It is soft, gentle, pure, but also clear, precise and forceful. And his hits from the early 1980s, and even from the late 1970s, have stood the test of time. Songs such as “İşte Öyle Bir Şey,” (Something of the Like) are just as much liked today as they were back then. I remember being 5 or 6 and the song’s music video coming on TRT — the only TV station in Turkey back then — and standing next to the TV box, listening to it. It is a song that continues to strike a chord to this day. Not just in me, but in tens of millions of others, of all ages.
His songs are simple. But they are not “easy” or lacking in quality; I’m not implying that kind of simplicity. They are “simple” by being complex but easy to listen to, as in they are universal and able to reach and touch the hearts/souls/ and spirits of many.
“İşte Öyle Bir Şey,” “Söyle Canım” (Tell Me Dear) and “Bir de Bana Sor” (Ask Me That) have become hits the way “Billie Jean,” “Like a Prayer” or “Unforgettable” have – always popular, and considered to be so by everyone, always making you stop and listen, always bringing a smile to your face.
They are universally appealing songs transcending age and genres. And they show no signs of losing popularity.
So, with this in mind, I got myself two seats at the Harbiye Open Air Theater for my third visit this month to the venue, including Emma Shaplin and Monica Mollina the week before.
I certainly hoped that Evgin would sing everyone’s favorite oldies, and not just focus on his new material.
He didn’t disappoint. The evening started off with “Söyle Canım,” the song of an infatuated lover, with lyrics saying something like: “Tell me dear, whatever is your heart’s desire.” This is one of people’s all-time Evgin favorites. By the song’s end, there was a cheering, clapping audience who had a great level of enthusiasm. What a great way to start off a performance. He felt no need to warm us up, starting right at the core of his work. He created a frenzy and enthusiasm that would normally herald a grand encore right from the beginning.
All the songs that I – and everyone else – wanted to hear followed. “Bir de Bana Sor,” “İşte Öyle Birşey,” “Fırtına” (Storm)… Each was a hit, each was a number one. Songs of universally appealing tunes, many immortalized due to the lyrics from the late Çiğdem Talu. If you were a hardcore Evgin fan, you could also take delight in the big screen in the background of the show, which played old clips from his music videos, movies he was featured in and poses he had struck over the decades with hot shots from all over Turkey’s movie and music scene – from Ajda Pekkan to Türkan Şoray to Emel Sayın. If you are of Turkish descent or a “yabangee” in Istanbul, you would have discovered that the man was not just about music; had had done his share of acting.
Many of you may not know that Evgin actually was a professional architect. He is a graduate of the Mimar Sinan University of Fine Arts, which in the 1970s was known simply as “The Academy.” It was the first and only school in the country to be dedicated solely to the arts. Evgin brought his “fine arts” background into his performances.
At the show, there was a mini orchestra in the background on stage. The “pop music” he sang featured not only the expected drum set, electric guitars and keyboard. There were also violins, violas, and cellos. There was a percussion set in addition to the drum set. The three background vocalists each joined him, once with individual duets, and sang in impressive voices of conservatory quality. And, during several of his songs, he featured solo or duo modern dance and ballet performers, adding a touch of art and visual elegance to the performance.
The evening started at 9:25 and finished just before midnight. Each moment was a greatest hit, bringing together generations, genders and different tastes in music. We all gave him a loud cheer and a standing ovation, and we all left with a smile on our faces, having just been treated to two-and-a-half hours of our all-time favorite songs, the tender but strong voice of Evgin and the spiritual fulfillment of music.
