Thread by @kenan_sharpe

So everyone is rightly discussing megastar Tarkan's grand return.

According to some Geççek is an anthem of the opposition. According to others, it's not political enough.

But what if we analyze the song/video on its own merits? 🧵

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#TarkanYalnızDeğildir

The music video presents Tarkan as a hacker or even a hacktivist, something like the group Anonymous. Using multiple computer screens and some (probably nonsense) code he manages to hack into everyone's phone, tablet, computer. Not to mention digital billboards across the city.

The effect is that life as we know it is disrupted. Before Tarkan presses "Enter" and everything changes, we have our normal woes: remote work, traffic, schoolwork, boredom.

Then everything transforms.

But what exactly is this transformation that brings joy to everyone and disrupts the boredom of everyday life?

Well, on the most literal level, it's Tarkan's return. And not via hacking at all but rather what is likely a multi-million-lira deal with YouTube.

Sometimes known as "the sweetheart of every young girl," with this video Tarkan makes himself the sweetheart of all Turkey. As shown by everyone's joyous reaction to his musical return. A common refrain is to lament why he hasn't released anything substantial since 2001's Karma.

So again on the surface level, the lyrics also refer to Tarkan's return.

"We will dance with bells on at that time
Those days of flowers are close, believe me."

For that is the reaction of everyone in the video to Tarkan's unexpected appearance.

But, of course, no artwork can be reduced to its literal meaning. And in situations of political repression or semi-authoritarianism, people are quite adept at reading into the 2nd, 3rd, etc. layers of interpretation.

This is where discussions of Geççek as an anthem come in.

When Tarkan says, "He (or she or it) will go like he came / Everything ends and this suffering too will end" everyone has one particular politician that comes to mind.

Same with when he sings, "Get off our backs, daddy,"

Or, "The victory of your patience is near."

But because the song doesn't use any proper nouns, because it doesn't mention any particular politician, party, or upcoming election, it also gives Tarkan plausible deniability. The song could be an opposition anthem. It could also be about the pandemic or anything else.

In this sense, Geççek perfectly shows Tarkan's political sensibility and his extreme caution. In recent years, he's spoken up about environmental issues, protests of villagers, femicide, youth suicides and enforced conservatism. But he always does this in a very careful tone.

He's put forward a much stronger stand against many social issues than most of his counterparts in the pop world. That deserves real credit while so many stars refuse to say anything at all. But Tarkan is also very careful to strike an in-between tone and not offend anyone.

So being the sweetheart of all of Turkey requires an immense PR machine and knowing how to strike a balance between outspokenness and plausible deniability. And the same goes for this song.

Of course, that doesn't stop people from interpreting it one way.

🧵continuing...

The pro-gov spin machine has already accused Tarkan of slavishly imitating the west, of being paid by the CHP, and much worse.

But they can't do much than slander in the face of this massive influence. In less than 24 hours, the song has more than 3 million views.

And so whether we take these discussions of the power of "protest pop" seriously or not, the question of Tarkan's influence is undeniable.

In terms of how "effective" the song is, I think it's best to look at it as morale-building. If it makes me feel good, don't yuck my yum.

But as with "Susamam," the song gains in accessibility what it loses in specificity. If it was a militant song railing against particular politicians and the 5 companies constantly getting government tenders, it would likely land Tarkan in jail and reach less people.

But because it doesn't name names and remains satisfied with generalities "Everything is going to be great," the song is inevitably vague in terms of its political effect.

I think that's fine. When so many pop singers aren't even doing that much, the Tarkan difference is real.

For he's such a beloved figure in Turkey that when he finally gets off his computer chair at the end of the video to dance, all of Turkey also gets up to dance. Even shaking our shoulders and hips for 4 minutes has a political meaning when everyday life is such shit.

Anyways, there's much more to think about here. But for question of pop culture and politics, I always wait to see what @LiselHintz will say.

https://twitter.com/LiselHintz/status/1494404128323211276?s=20&t=BOaKTz1-cs-sceomvjWXkg

Why bother with a Twitter thread when you listen to a talking head?

I went on the @Medyascopetv program This Week in Turkey to discuss Tarkan's new song Geççek and its political meanings.



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