Tarkan
Come Closer

THE REVIEW

If I had to describe "Come Closer" in a few adjectives, I would say it's a blend of rhythm, sensuality, warmth, and exotic sounds.

Released in 2006 by Universal Records (no longer by Istanbul Plak, which had managed the publication of all the artist's previous albums), it is the first work of the Turkish star in the English language. After fifteen years of a career filled with great successes in Turkey and Europe (especially in Germany), Tarkan has finally managed to realize his project: an album aimed at the global market.

Born in Germany to Turkish parents and returning to his homeland as a youngster, Tarkan Tavetoglu is, alongside Sertab Erener and Sibel Tüzün, one of the leading figures of the Turkish music scene. Beauty, sensuality, ambiguity, and, of course, undisputed artistic abilities are the ingredients that make him a true "süper star," to put it in his language. The album expresses exactly these characteristics. A link between R&B and oriental music, "Come Closer" is a set of sensual and rhythmic tracks. Standing out among all is "Start The Fire [Amman Amman]", in collaboration with Wyclef Jean (who already collaborated with Shakira in "Hips Don't Lie"), full of rhythm with a perfect mix of oriental vocalizations, sensual whispers, and New York rap. Let's not forget "Bounce", one of the most sensual tracks of the year, with sinuous and captivating rhythms. "Just Like That" is perhaps one of the most lively tracks along with "In Your Eyes" and "Start The Fire". We also find an old, great success of Tarkan: the only song with a title in Turkish: "Sikidim" (spoiled), in a revised and corrected version, totally in English, except for the title and the phrase 'a-acayipsin'. "Touch", still sensual but with electronic rhythms vaguely reminiscent of Kylie Minogue's style from "Can't Get You Out Of My Head", followed by the ballad "Only If You Knew" close the work.

An album that has achieved great success in Europe, North America, and Japan but, as always when it comes to stars who are neither American nor English, did not have much impact in Italy. Perhaps, to make this great singer's songs famous, it will be necessary for a second Holly Valance to end up before a judge for plagiarizing one of his songs, just like what happened in 1997 with "Simarik", renamed by the starlet "Kiss Kiss"? Let's hope not!