Tarkan – Ahde Vefa - Tarkan The Golden Uvula par Excellence

Album Review: Tarkan – Ahde Vefa (2016) | A Homage to Turkish Art Music

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“Ahde Vefa” marks a special chapter in Tarkan’s discography: it’s the Megastar’s ninth studio album and his first work entirely dedicated to Turkish art music. Launched on March 11, 2016, under the Hitt Müzik label and distributed by Doğan Music Company (DMC), this project quickly captivated both the public and critics, winning the prestigious “Best Project” award at the 43rd Golden Butterfly Awards.Thank you for reading this post, don’t forget to subscribe!

The album is a collection of 13 songs that draw from the rich heritage of Turkish art music, with lyrics and compositions penned by illustrious names such as Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, Münir Nurettin Selçuk, Namık Kemal, Hacı Arif Bey, Erol Sayan, Orhan Seyfi Orhon, Yusuf Nalkesen, Ümit Yaşar Oğuzcan, Rüştü Şardağ, and Semahat Özdenses. With this work, Tarkan not only paid homage to these masters but also showcased his exceptional artistic versatility.

Tarkan expressed great enthusiasm for “Ahde Vefa,” emphasizing the privileged place that art music holds in his heart and the importance of exploring and developing his musical abilities. “I’m eagerly and excitedly looking forward to sharing my Turkish art music album, which everyone has been waiting for many years,” he declared. “I want to thank and extend my endless gratitude to all Turkish art music artists who introduced me to Turkish art music with their unique voices and interpretations. I hope ‘Ahde Vefa’ dispels the dark clouds within you and fills all hearts with love, even if it’s a somewhat difficult time.”

The success of “Ahde Vefa” transcended Turkish borders, reaching a vast international audience. The album was released on iTunes in 35 countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, Austria, Russia, India, Egypt, Latin America, and the Middle East. It clinched first place on iTunes’ “World Music Top Charts” in countries like the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, America, and Germany. In Azerbaijan, it dominated the “Best Albums” section on iTunes’ homepage. This achievement made Tarkan the first Turkish artist to be featured in global album promotions on iTunes.

Commercial success was immediate in Turkey as well: 170,000 copies were sold in the first week alone. By April, total sales had reached 240,000 copies, demonstrating the immense impact of this project. “Ahde Vefa” further solidified Tarkan’s position as one of the most influential and beloved figures in Turkish music.