kartalizmaster
11-02-08, 00:01
Veggiechiliqueen (Texas)
Several of my friends from Turkey gave me "Come Closer" as a gift after I proclaimed my love for Tarkan. I've been following Tarkan's career since 2002, after "Simarik" (Kiss Kiss) made international waves and his CD "Tarkan" was widely available in the US. Having cut my teeth on Tarkan's earlier works, I honestly wasn't expecting such a polished English-language debut.
The beauty of "Come Closer" is in the blend of East meets West. At first glance, songs that appear to be clones of Justin Timberlake or Darren Hayes slip in moments of Turkish exoticness: bellydance beats, traditional Turkish instruments and melodies, and traditional Turkish singing (Tarkan was classically trained in Istanbul in traditional Turkish song). One of the highlights is an English version of the earlier Sikidim, complete with Turkish chorus and addictive Middle Eastern beats.
As with many albums, "Come Closer" follows the tried-and-true formula of roughly half ballads, half up-tempo dance tracks. The album kicks off with R&B jam "Just Like That," which features a killer bhangra hook on some sort of traditional Turkish strings. "In Your Eyes" continues the melding of Turkish traditional with strong R&B. "Why Don't We" features Wyclef Jean, traditional Turkish modulation, and reggae rhythms. The album continues its reinvention of R&B / dance with each track featuring some Turkish touch to remind you that this is Tarkan and not Justin Timberlake. One or two of the songs seemed more like Timberlake clones, but one listen to Sikidim brings you back to Tarkan's Turkish heritage.
This CD has restored my faith in the future direction of modern R&B / pop. I was convinced based on Justin Timberlake that all R&B-influenced pop was bland, stale, and forgettable. Tarkan has taken an American style and uniquely melded it with Turkish classical influences to reinvent an ailing genre. "Come Closer" is honestly the best CD I've picked up in the last five years (along with Darren Hayes' "The Tension and the Spark").
"Come Closer" has the potential to catapult Tarkan to star status in the US: it's that fresh, exotic blend that's been so sorely absent in American pop / R&B music of the last several years. To add to his crossover potential, Tarkan's English is excellent (he attended university in the US), and is positively photogenic to say the least. Best wishes, Tarkan: may you top the Billboard charts someday soon!
Nick W. Mischel (Albuquerque, NM USA)
It really makes me mad that I am STILL waiting for mine. It's been released -- obviously, for a while now and I have had my "pre-order" here for awhile. There's this great artist named Tarkan. If you've not heard him, you soon will... but no thanks to Amazon. How can the guy chart anything upon release if they can't release things when they should?
As a HUGE Tarkan fan, I am eagerly awaiting my copy of "Come Closer." I am sure it's the best damned album I've ever heard... Or at least by the time I get mine, it will be!
Ozgur Ozluk "ozgurden" (San Francisco)
After almost a decade of waiting, Tarkan fans have gotten their wish: Tarkan's English debut... Was it worth the wait? Yes, indeed! Is the album all it could be? I am sad to say no!
What makes Tarkan is his amazing vocal range, the sexy color of his voice... He is a master at mixing Turkish classical music influence with the pop beats and rhythms. In this album, he shies away from showing off his range. He does not belt it out as he could - and in my humble opinion should :)
Having said that the album is catchy and fun... It willl definitely be a hit with the European audience. American listeners may be a bit harder to reach.
Now song by song:
1. Just Like That: Explosive start. Tarkan wants to proclaim his arrival. Good to hear the ud (Turkish for lute)!
2. In Your Eyes: Ud touch is great.
3. Why Don't We (Aman Aman) (featuring Wyclef Jean): This is a song that had leaked to the internet. The leaked version had a bit more of Wyclef. I think this is one of the locomotive songs of the album.
4. Mine: beats+voice cf. George Michael
5. Over: Great sampling at the beginning. Is it "Avara" - a Bollywood souvenir? Come on Tarkan, you can sing much prettier and louder.
6. Start The Fire: Did we really need another "Faith"? At least, he does one of his cries on the way to the second verse.
7. Shhh (I Wanna Hear Love Speak): Classic Tarkan. Catchy, sexy, breathy... He is the master of one syllabyl groans and moans...
8. Bounce: I was hoping that the whole album would have the instrumental composition of this song. Baglamas, great belly dancing rythm... The song with the most Turkish touch.
9. Come Closer: When Tarkan sing slow songs, you cannot move, you just sit down and cry (e.g. Ikimizin Yerine, Verme, Don Bebegim) But this? More of a Mustafa Sandal song :(
10. Don't Leave Me Alone: Fun, catchy... The part when he sings "I want your skin on my skin
Won't you let me in"
Gosh! Why would not anyone let him in?
11. Shikidim: A perennial favorite. This is one of the songs of Tarkan's original European "coming-out". I was worried about the dangers of translating such a successful song, that it might alienate the fans of the original. But it is a great cover!
12. I'm Gonna Make U Feel Good: Lyrics are hot. The music? I can take it or leave it.
13. Mass Confusion: Mmmm... Delicious. Captures you immediately, pulls and pushes you. One of my favorites.
14. Touch: Along with #3, I think this is the song has the potential to bring Tarkan to American audience - one loungy remix and one dance mix should do it.
15. If Only You Knew: Once again, Tarkan does slow songs so much better in Turkish.
After all these comments, I have to say that I genuinely wish him good luck! I really really want him to succeed and become a world artist.
Finally, I want to remind you that I am just a fan, of Tarkan, of Turkish music, of MUSIC in general. So take my words with a grain of salt ;)
PS: Possible drinking game: drink a shot of RAKI, each time you hear the word "tonight" or "skin" :)
Karla M. Maravilla "karlla" (el salvador......)
i been tarkans fun since 1999 too like other people and i was waitig for this album for so long, if you are planning to buy it , buy it dont mis the chance to learn a/b turkish music and culture and dont miss those sounds that transport you to turkey...my song is ORORUM SANNA i love it, come closer its just a masterpiece , HE IS AMAZING.....KARLLA
Micho "micho48" (San Diego, CA United States)
My opinions might be subjective since I like Tarkan a lot and I am Turkish. I believe Tarkan is the best Turkish singer in Turkey [...] and he is one of the best in the world, yes world! I honestly think he is better than Ricky Martin,Enrique Iglesias, etc. Tarkan's voice and the way he sings are totally better/different. This album is his first English album and I think he did it right but could be better. In fact for the first English album, he did a GREAT job. He deserves to be in a better place in the world music industry and I know he will be. He has just started his journey! There will be a time when he will be shaking USA like Ricky Martin and others. Maybe this review focused more on Tarkan than the album but I really like all the songs. Subjective? Yeah maybe a little :) Buy the album and enjoy! I know you will love it!
James (USA)
I agree with the bilahn's review of this cd. This is a great cd, but the review about it from bilahn was truthful, and no one thought the review was helpful..
Like was said, Tarkan is a GREAT singer. I don't know a word of Turkish, yet I bought almost all of Tarkan's cds! And, now this one.... and to the US buyers, it says 3-6 weeks, but I got mine in about 1.5 weeks, so don't fret that it will not come, mine did!
These songs are GOOD, don't get me wrong, but it is like Tarkan's voice sounds not as cool in English. Turkish and English are SO different and Tarkan sounds not as "ethnic" I guess on this cd. He almost sounds like an American singer who has tracks with Middle Eastern beats behind him.
BUT, like was said, Tarkan's stuff is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of arrangements and just general format of the songs!
The cd really GROWS on you. One problem though is that Tarkan's voice seems a bit muffled. I don't know why this is, because his voice is usually front and center. Maybe because this is his first English language album, he wasn't quite as confident or something? I don't know, but I am a native English speaker, and can't understand the lyrics because they are muffled, not because of Tarkan's English!!
Some song highlights are
1. Just Like That
3. Why Don't We (Aman Aman) (featuring Wyclef Jean)
4. Mine
5. Over
6. Start The Fire
7. Shhh (I Wanna Hear Love Speak)
8. Bounce
12. I'm Gonna Make U Feel Good (my personal favorite, a little bit saucy though!)
So in the end, should you buy this? YES. No doubt, it is a good cd...but it is obvious that Tarkan wrote with other people and.. well it almost seems like he is just warbling off English words without knowing the meaning in some spots! Like for example in "I'm Gonna Make U Feel Good" he says " I wrote a script with you in mind" and it makes me wonder if he actually knows what he is saying!!
chan°ge urself into a sea bird (russia, moscow)
It goes without saying that the album is a masterpiece. If you feel unsure about the album's victorious not too distant future, try it yourself and you'll see what I mean!
In case you are familiar with Turkish pop culture and admire it, you will be pleasantly surprised. The album succeeds in combining different musical traditions to an outstanding unity. The West meets East and backwards! Tarkan and his team break down barriers.
If you are unfamiliar with Tarkan's music (or Turkish music in general), I am sure this album will capture your attention by the haunting oriental groove. You cannot escape once you're into it! And believe me you won't have a single impulse to skip a song while listening to the album.
Tastes differ of course... One can hardly enjoy each and every song of an album, but I am sure there is something for everybody on this one! Personally I liked `Why Don't We (Aman Aman)' best.
`Music should have no borders and we should all try to come closer' (Tarkan).
Susan Bolton "Susan" (USA)
The album asks the world to come closer, to unite as one, with humanity as much in harmony as Tarkan's songs are diverse.
I have the album on loop. I think I've listened to each song over hundred times, and to my favourites at least thirty forty times a day. And with each listening, the songs work deeper into you. The album has 15 tracks, but they go so quickly - you just end up wanting more. The day after I brought this album, I woke up suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I was addicted to the sound. The first thing I did was put the CD on...and now I go to sleep with the tracks playing on my iPod.
It is a must have for everyone, because this is a new genre. For never before have I heard the East meet the West in such perfect synergy. This is what world music should be.
Will anyone of Middle-Eastern or of Western descent have ever imagined that the musical instrument oud could fit perfectly with urban beats as it does in his opening track - "Just Like That"? You wonder why no one had thought of it before...but you can imagine that most black artists in the USA will be searching collections of oriental and Turkish musical instruments to start using in THEIR tracks. And rightly so if music sounds like this. This is the fresh injection that RnB and hiphop needs in America right now.
His fourth track "Mine" melds the darbuka with a catchy pop beat that is amazing - WHAT A SONG FOR BELLYDANCERS - and his voice raw and passionate just eats away at your hearing. You won't even realise it IS a darbuka pounding away - it has found a home so well in the arrangements of Ozan ?olakoglu - the much sought after musician that orchestrated Sertab Erener's 2003 hit win "Everyway That I Can" for the Eurovision song contest.
But most importantly, the finale track just raises you to the highest high, soft and slow, and the ending with the dreamy violins and Tarkan singing, "love is the sweetest pain inside/the answer to it all is right there in your eyes", makes you feel the loss of an album coming to an end as his sad soulful voice dies away - and you just can't wait to begin the whole journey again from track 1.
Tarkan in his 5th track 'Over' sings, "If you're heart's not open/you can't see what you've got'. I ask you to open your heart and give this album a chance. You'll be blown away.
Several of my friends from Turkey gave me "Come Closer" as a gift after I proclaimed my love for Tarkan. I've been following Tarkan's career since 2002, after "Simarik" (Kiss Kiss) made international waves and his CD "Tarkan" was widely available in the US. Having cut my teeth on Tarkan's earlier works, I honestly wasn't expecting such a polished English-language debut.
The beauty of "Come Closer" is in the blend of East meets West. At first glance, songs that appear to be clones of Justin Timberlake or Darren Hayes slip in moments of Turkish exoticness: bellydance beats, traditional Turkish instruments and melodies, and traditional Turkish singing (Tarkan was classically trained in Istanbul in traditional Turkish song). One of the highlights is an English version of the earlier Sikidim, complete with Turkish chorus and addictive Middle Eastern beats.
As with many albums, "Come Closer" follows the tried-and-true formula of roughly half ballads, half up-tempo dance tracks. The album kicks off with R&B jam "Just Like That," which features a killer bhangra hook on some sort of traditional Turkish strings. "In Your Eyes" continues the melding of Turkish traditional with strong R&B. "Why Don't We" features Wyclef Jean, traditional Turkish modulation, and reggae rhythms. The album continues its reinvention of R&B / dance with each track featuring some Turkish touch to remind you that this is Tarkan and not Justin Timberlake. One or two of the songs seemed more like Timberlake clones, but one listen to Sikidim brings you back to Tarkan's Turkish heritage.
This CD has restored my faith in the future direction of modern R&B / pop. I was convinced based on Justin Timberlake that all R&B-influenced pop was bland, stale, and forgettable. Tarkan has taken an American style and uniquely melded it with Turkish classical influences to reinvent an ailing genre. "Come Closer" is honestly the best CD I've picked up in the last five years (along with Darren Hayes' "The Tension and the Spark").
"Come Closer" has the potential to catapult Tarkan to star status in the US: it's that fresh, exotic blend that's been so sorely absent in American pop / R&B music of the last several years. To add to his crossover potential, Tarkan's English is excellent (he attended university in the US), and is positively photogenic to say the least. Best wishes, Tarkan: may you top the Billboard charts someday soon!
Nick W. Mischel (Albuquerque, NM USA)
It really makes me mad that I am STILL waiting for mine. It's been released -- obviously, for a while now and I have had my "pre-order" here for awhile. There's this great artist named Tarkan. If you've not heard him, you soon will... but no thanks to Amazon. How can the guy chart anything upon release if they can't release things when they should?
As a HUGE Tarkan fan, I am eagerly awaiting my copy of "Come Closer." I am sure it's the best damned album I've ever heard... Or at least by the time I get mine, it will be!
Ozgur Ozluk "ozgurden" (San Francisco)
After almost a decade of waiting, Tarkan fans have gotten their wish: Tarkan's English debut... Was it worth the wait? Yes, indeed! Is the album all it could be? I am sad to say no!
What makes Tarkan is his amazing vocal range, the sexy color of his voice... He is a master at mixing Turkish classical music influence with the pop beats and rhythms. In this album, he shies away from showing off his range. He does not belt it out as he could - and in my humble opinion should :)
Having said that the album is catchy and fun... It willl definitely be a hit with the European audience. American listeners may be a bit harder to reach.
Now song by song:
1. Just Like That: Explosive start. Tarkan wants to proclaim his arrival. Good to hear the ud (Turkish for lute)!
2. In Your Eyes: Ud touch is great.
3. Why Don't We (Aman Aman) (featuring Wyclef Jean): This is a song that had leaked to the internet. The leaked version had a bit more of Wyclef. I think this is one of the locomotive songs of the album.
4. Mine: beats+voice cf. George Michael
5. Over: Great sampling at the beginning. Is it "Avara" - a Bollywood souvenir? Come on Tarkan, you can sing much prettier and louder.
6. Start The Fire: Did we really need another "Faith"? At least, he does one of his cries on the way to the second verse.
7. Shhh (I Wanna Hear Love Speak): Classic Tarkan. Catchy, sexy, breathy... He is the master of one syllabyl groans and moans...
8. Bounce: I was hoping that the whole album would have the instrumental composition of this song. Baglamas, great belly dancing rythm... The song with the most Turkish touch.
9. Come Closer: When Tarkan sing slow songs, you cannot move, you just sit down and cry (e.g. Ikimizin Yerine, Verme, Don Bebegim) But this? More of a Mustafa Sandal song :(
10. Don't Leave Me Alone: Fun, catchy... The part when he sings "I want your skin on my skin
Won't you let me in"
Gosh! Why would not anyone let him in?
11. Shikidim: A perennial favorite. This is one of the songs of Tarkan's original European "coming-out". I was worried about the dangers of translating such a successful song, that it might alienate the fans of the original. But it is a great cover!
12. I'm Gonna Make U Feel Good: Lyrics are hot. The music? I can take it or leave it.
13. Mass Confusion: Mmmm... Delicious. Captures you immediately, pulls and pushes you. One of my favorites.
14. Touch: Along with #3, I think this is the song has the potential to bring Tarkan to American audience - one loungy remix and one dance mix should do it.
15. If Only You Knew: Once again, Tarkan does slow songs so much better in Turkish.
After all these comments, I have to say that I genuinely wish him good luck! I really really want him to succeed and become a world artist.
Finally, I want to remind you that I am just a fan, of Tarkan, of Turkish music, of MUSIC in general. So take my words with a grain of salt ;)
PS: Possible drinking game: drink a shot of RAKI, each time you hear the word "tonight" or "skin" :)
Karla M. Maravilla "karlla" (el salvador......)
i been tarkans fun since 1999 too like other people and i was waitig for this album for so long, if you are planning to buy it , buy it dont mis the chance to learn a/b turkish music and culture and dont miss those sounds that transport you to turkey...my song is ORORUM SANNA i love it, come closer its just a masterpiece , HE IS AMAZING.....KARLLA
Micho "micho48" (San Diego, CA United States)
My opinions might be subjective since I like Tarkan a lot and I am Turkish. I believe Tarkan is the best Turkish singer in Turkey [...] and he is one of the best in the world, yes world! I honestly think he is better than Ricky Martin,Enrique Iglesias, etc. Tarkan's voice and the way he sings are totally better/different. This album is his first English album and I think he did it right but could be better. In fact for the first English album, he did a GREAT job. He deserves to be in a better place in the world music industry and I know he will be. He has just started his journey! There will be a time when he will be shaking USA like Ricky Martin and others. Maybe this review focused more on Tarkan than the album but I really like all the songs. Subjective? Yeah maybe a little :) Buy the album and enjoy! I know you will love it!
James (USA)
I agree with the bilahn's review of this cd. This is a great cd, but the review about it from bilahn was truthful, and no one thought the review was helpful..
Like was said, Tarkan is a GREAT singer. I don't know a word of Turkish, yet I bought almost all of Tarkan's cds! And, now this one.... and to the US buyers, it says 3-6 weeks, but I got mine in about 1.5 weeks, so don't fret that it will not come, mine did!
These songs are GOOD, don't get me wrong, but it is like Tarkan's voice sounds not as cool in English. Turkish and English are SO different and Tarkan sounds not as "ethnic" I guess on this cd. He almost sounds like an American singer who has tracks with Middle Eastern beats behind him.
BUT, like was said, Tarkan's stuff is head and shoulders above the rest in terms of arrangements and just general format of the songs!
The cd really GROWS on you. One problem though is that Tarkan's voice seems a bit muffled. I don't know why this is, because his voice is usually front and center. Maybe because this is his first English language album, he wasn't quite as confident or something? I don't know, but I am a native English speaker, and can't understand the lyrics because they are muffled, not because of Tarkan's English!!
Some song highlights are
1. Just Like That
3. Why Don't We (Aman Aman) (featuring Wyclef Jean)
4. Mine
5. Over
6. Start The Fire
7. Shhh (I Wanna Hear Love Speak)
8. Bounce
12. I'm Gonna Make U Feel Good (my personal favorite, a little bit saucy though!)
So in the end, should you buy this? YES. No doubt, it is a good cd...but it is obvious that Tarkan wrote with other people and.. well it almost seems like he is just warbling off English words without knowing the meaning in some spots! Like for example in "I'm Gonna Make U Feel Good" he says " I wrote a script with you in mind" and it makes me wonder if he actually knows what he is saying!!
chan°ge urself into a sea bird (russia, moscow)
It goes without saying that the album is a masterpiece. If you feel unsure about the album's victorious not too distant future, try it yourself and you'll see what I mean!
In case you are familiar with Turkish pop culture and admire it, you will be pleasantly surprised. The album succeeds in combining different musical traditions to an outstanding unity. The West meets East and backwards! Tarkan and his team break down barriers.
If you are unfamiliar with Tarkan's music (or Turkish music in general), I am sure this album will capture your attention by the haunting oriental groove. You cannot escape once you're into it! And believe me you won't have a single impulse to skip a song while listening to the album.
Tastes differ of course... One can hardly enjoy each and every song of an album, but I am sure there is something for everybody on this one! Personally I liked `Why Don't We (Aman Aman)' best.
`Music should have no borders and we should all try to come closer' (Tarkan).
Susan Bolton "Susan" (USA)
The album asks the world to come closer, to unite as one, with humanity as much in harmony as Tarkan's songs are diverse.
I have the album on loop. I think I've listened to each song over hundred times, and to my favourites at least thirty forty times a day. And with each listening, the songs work deeper into you. The album has 15 tracks, but they go so quickly - you just end up wanting more. The day after I brought this album, I woke up suffering from withdrawal symptoms. I was addicted to the sound. The first thing I did was put the CD on...and now I go to sleep with the tracks playing on my iPod.
It is a must have for everyone, because this is a new genre. For never before have I heard the East meet the West in such perfect synergy. This is what world music should be.
Will anyone of Middle-Eastern or of Western descent have ever imagined that the musical instrument oud could fit perfectly with urban beats as it does in his opening track - "Just Like That"? You wonder why no one had thought of it before...but you can imagine that most black artists in the USA will be searching collections of oriental and Turkish musical instruments to start using in THEIR tracks. And rightly so if music sounds like this. This is the fresh injection that RnB and hiphop needs in America right now.
His fourth track "Mine" melds the darbuka with a catchy pop beat that is amazing - WHAT A SONG FOR BELLYDANCERS - and his voice raw and passionate just eats away at your hearing. You won't even realise it IS a darbuka pounding away - it has found a home so well in the arrangements of Ozan ?olakoglu - the much sought after musician that orchestrated Sertab Erener's 2003 hit win "Everyway That I Can" for the Eurovision song contest.
But most importantly, the finale track just raises you to the highest high, soft and slow, and the ending with the dreamy violins and Tarkan singing, "love is the sweetest pain inside/the answer to it all is right there in your eyes", makes you feel the loss of an album coming to an end as his sad soulful voice dies away - and you just can't wait to begin the whole journey again from track 1.
Tarkan in his 5th track 'Over' sings, "If you're heart's not open/you can't see what you've got'. I ask you to open your heart and give this album a chance. You'll be blown away.