Sunday’s Zaman, Turkey
July 12 2009
Turkish songs more powerful than diplomacy in Turkic countries
Turkish songs, movies and TV series, responding to demands of the
globalizing world, have long been Turkey’s soft power in Turkic
countries.
Their appeal in Azerbaijan, whose language is close to Turkish, is
very strong. Languages in the Central Asian republics are less
similar, but the appeal of Turkish pop is no less strong.
The music is especially popular in Turkish-built schools and
universities. These educational institutions teach in Turkish, meaning
further exposure to Turkish helps students learn better. And what
better way to learn than to listen to Turkish songs and watch Turkish
movies?
When asked, students from Central Asia and Azerbaijan cite Tarkan as
one of their favorite Turkish singers. Salamat Yeralin, 24, who works
at a university in Oral, Kazakhstan, told Sunday’s Zaman that Turkish
songs make up a considerable part of his playlist. `I listen to
Turkish songs, especially Tarkan,’ said Yeralin. `Mustafa Sandal, Emre
[Aydın] and other singers are also on the list,’ he added.
Speaking about his country’s relationship with Turkish songs, he said:
`Many people here listen to Turkish songs. We also watch Turkish
operas.’ Dovlet Garayev, a university student from Turkmenistan, told
Sunday’s Zaman that he is a fan of Turkish songs. `Turkish songs are
the only ones I listen to besides Russian ones.’ Garayev also said
most Turkmens also listen to Turkish songs.
Dildora Tilakhodja from Uzbekistan said Turkish music is very popular,
especially Tarkan and Sandal, whose music is popular at nightclubs,
wedding receptions and other such venues. She added that sometimes
Uzbek singers, such as Ozoda Nursaidova and Shaxzoda, perform in
Turkish. Tilakhodja said the popularity of Turkish music, its melody,
clips and dances pull Uzbek singers to imitate it. `Sometimes they
take a Turkish song, replace the words with Uzbek ones and sing it
like their own. Russian singer Philipp Kirkorov did just that with
Tarkan’s `Oynama Å?ıkıdım’ for his `Oy mama
shika dam!” She added that it is because the Turkish style has proven
to be successful, and singers who do not want to waste their time
creating an individual image just copy it from Turkish singers and
become popular, for a while, until the next one comes out.
The situation in Azerbaijan is rather different from Central Asia. As
there is little considerable difference between the Azerbaijani and
Turkish languages, songs are quite comprehensible, meaning the
population is even more enthusiastic and rather pro-Turkish songs and
movies. With no Turkish TV channels offered by local Azerbaijani
stations, the demand for Turkish shows is high and is satisfied by
satellite programming beamed in from Turkey.
A discussion over the opening of the Turkish-Armenian boarder, closed
since Armenia occupied Azerbaijani territory in the 1990s, has led to
negative reactions in Azerbaijan. These reactions even spilled into
the Azerbaijani TV and radio sphere. Since Jan. 1, Azerbaijan’s
National TV and Radio Council has enforced a ban on the broadcasting
of international movies, including Turkish ones. According to the ban,
all movies broadcasted on Azerbaijani channels should be dubbed only
in Azerbaijani.
This decision, however, was criticized by a New Azerbaijan Party (YAP)
deputy in a session of Parliament. Likening the translation of Turkish
movies from Turkish into Azerbaijani to the translation of movies from
American English into British English, he said, `If Turkey and
Azerbaijan are one nation in two states, then it is impossible for the
nation to have two languages.’ As a response to this issue, the most
listened to radio station in Azerbaijan, 105.5 Media FM, explicitly
declared a boycott of Turkish songs and Turkish singers, mainly pop
sensation Hadise, Turkey’s representative in the Eurovision Song
Contest 2009. This, however, did not keep Azerbaijanis from listening
to Turkish songs and giving Hadise the highest score in the final
stage of the contest.
Almost all Turkish singers can sell just as many albums in Azerbaijan
as in their native Turkey. İsmayıl İsayev, 23, a
senior at a university in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, told
Sunday’s Zaman that he is inseparable from Turkish songs. "I listen to
Turkish songs all the time, whenever I decide to listen to
something. Tarkan, Gülben Ergen, Hadise and İbrahim
Tatlıses are my favorites. I know many of my friends also
listen to Turkish songs."
The Turkic republics of the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia share a
linguistic, cultural and historic bond with Turkey. These countries
are definitely of heightened importance for Turkey’s ever-expanding
eastward foreign policy and play a special role in Turkey’s presence
in the region. Turkey’s soft power, including Turkish singers and
music, is an asset in this respect.
12 July 2009, Sunday
LAMÄ°YA ADÄ°LGIZI Ä°STANBUL
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
