An Absurd Turkish Arabesk Song: Tosuno
After months of struggle, I am happy to listen to my mom and not write about politics, for some time. It is like writing about the need for shades in hurricane season. This doesn't mean that the things that I am writing are less important, but considering the time and politics in Turkey, it seems irrelevant. But this thing inside my mind is not resting and I better share it.
If Pavarotti is dead, do not worry, we have a quick fix for him. Iborotti is our homegrown musical miracle but intellectual failure. Real name Ibrahim Tatli, but uses the screen name of "Ibrahim Tatlises", meaning Abraham Sweetvoice. He is the singer of the people, emperor to the arabesk lovers, the symbol of low culture for elitists and folk singer to the state.
Looks like Saddam Hussein, sings like Pavarotti, sells like the Michael Jackson of the Middle East. Mp3 sharing or Youtube cannot stop him from selling albums. The man is irresistible.
His voice's quality can be easily distinguished in songs like "Aramam" or "Usta." You can easily access those songs through Youtube. In this comment, however, as the title suggests, I will discuss the song and video clip of "Tosuno[1]" from his latest album "Neden."
Love is a complex thing. It gives you the inspiration to write songs or poems. The marvelous-ness of the loved one deeply affects the lover. He is blinded and the world turns around the woman that prisons his heart. If you are a monogamist like me, these lines should sound familiar to you. But what happens if you love three women, and write a song to complain about each of them and give it a rhythmic tune. This is Tosuno.
It is really hard to understand the logic of the song as it goes as follows:
One says where were you
One says who were you with
One says you should better not come
I am burned downed in the hands of three women
The song is very lively one. But in the song, he has three girlfriends and complaining about each of them. For question one, why is he having a relationship with three women? The second question, why is he complaining, third question what is the aim of this song?
This is not a song that you can sing on Valentine's Day or to show your affection. "Darling, I have written a song for you, and errr and for my two other lovers, I am fed up with all of you so here is the tune." It will not only end your relation, but will also have a chance to test the coverage of your health insurance.
If this is enough, you should better see the video clip. The director is Ibrahim Tatlises. You can easily identify the clips that he directs. The first impression is that there is definitely an inspiration from Charlie Chaplin. Nearly all his video clips have a story. Also, his trademark dance move is included – i.e., swinging while his hands rise around his shoulders and turned towards the camera while he gives a big smile. The tilted head is another one. Not to mention trademark arabesk singer moves such as tilting the head to the left or right. In addition, frequently he gives shots from the profile as the finger points towards cameras.
He has another trademark move this time, as I call it "radio nose". The song starts with the radio effect of "Vay Vay Vay Vay Tosuno." His image for this effect is to squeeze his nostrils with his fingers as he tilts and swings. Really, an innovative move.
So there comes the question of how he solved the three women problem. It is very bohemian. The three women wants to be with him, yet, he cannot choose any of them. They dig a grave for him and rest is in the video clip.
I personally give five stars to the overall tune and music, but couldn't understand the lyrics. But Turkish arabesk is probably the most innovative music school in Turkey. Through absurd mixes or tasteless combinations, arabesk is a dynamic cultural product. From the Orhan Gencebay's multi-instrumental music and heavy arabesks violins at the end of sentences, arabesk is an essential tool to understand half of the Turkish culture. But this song is not one of them…
[1] Tosuno can be viewed from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfDbYYlcB4k
Sema Karaoglu, Founder Meltem Birkegren, Director
www.DofA.org
www.wearetheturks.org
Daughters of Atatürk is proud to promote Turkish Heritage across the globe. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk shaped the legacy we proudly inherited.
His integrity and dynamism and vision constantly inspires us. We are thankful to him for walking the untrodden path, achieving the unimaginable dream, living the eternal vision. We are the Turks, we are the future of Turkey.
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