Tarkan’s Album Dünyayı sesiyle resmeden sanatçı. Her not, bir başyapıtThe artist who painted the world with his voice. Each note,
The Olympia, a name evoking the sacred mountain of ancient Greek mythology, dwelling place of the gods, has always been considered the temple of music in France. Performing on that legendary stage means receiving a true artistic blessing, the ultimate proof in a singer’s career. If an artist conquers the Olympia, it is said that the whole world opens up to them; if they fail, the gates of the “world” remain closed. On March 31, 1999, Tarkan, the Megastar of Turkish pop music, not only crossed those gates but literally “sent the Olympia into ecstasy,” following in the footsteps of giants like Maurice Chevalier, Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour, and Johnny Hallyday.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!An Unprecedented Triumph
Tarkan’s feat at the Olympia was of historical proportions. To accommodate his 2,500 French and Turkish fans, an unprecedented event, the entire ground floor seating area was cleared. Thus, 2,300 young people stood for two hours in the auditorium, applauding enthusiastically and singing along with their idol. The small but iconic music hall was packed to the brim. On the second floor, 200 people, including distinguished VIP guests, attended the show.
As the French say on such occasions, “All of Paris was there.” Among the celebrity audience were names like fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier, TV presenter Bernard Montier, prominent figures from the French music world, Polygram executives, and numerous French models. The Turkish presence was equally illustrious, featuring luminaries such as Ahmet Ertegün, Warner Brothers representative, who flew specially from New York, Erol Aksoy, owner of Show TV, and Gökşin Sipahioğlu, owner of SIPA Press, accompanied by their respective wives. Many French diplomats were in the audience, and the Turkish ambassador to Paris, Sönmez Köksal, was present at Tarkan’s historic concert.
A Giant on Stage, a Vibrant Heart
Tarkan, visibly emotional, proved to be a giant on stage. The entire venue buzzed with energy as he performed his global hit “Şımarık”, which at the time had already sold a remarkable 500,000 copies in France and had entered the top twenty singles just 15 days after its release, as reported by the newspaper Libération.
For two hours, Tarkan delivered a masterful performance, including not only his pop hits but also a tribute to Turkish classical music with his rendition of “Rüya” (Dream). He ignited great enthusiasm with songs like “Years Flying Like a Thousand Years,” “Now You Are Far Away,” and the captivating “Çile Bülbülüm Çile” (My Passion, My Nightingale, My Passion), which made the entire Franco-Turkish audience exclaim “Allah!”.
The most touching moment of the evening, however, came during his performance of “Sabret.” Tarkan called his recently deceased mother, who was in the packed audience. With a voice broken by emotion, he said: “Where are you, mom? I miss you!” Tarkan’s mother stood up, visibly moved. After the concert, mother and son reunited backstage for the VIP welcome cocktail, seeing each other for the first time in months.
The Celebration of a Historic Victory
The celebrations for his Olympia victory continued backstage until dawn, with French champagne and a sumptuous buffet. The echo of his triumph was so strong that, three hours after the concert ended, ten or fifteen tenacious and stubborn French spectators, including an elderly violinist, were still waiting outside in the cold for Tarkan to emerge and sign their autographs.
Yes, for Tarkan, the world opened up that day. The concert at the Olympia marked a global opening.
The prestigious French newspaper “Libération” featured Tarkan, one of the stars of Turkish pop music, to the French public in a lengthy article, dubbing the young artist the “Prince of the Bosphorus.” The French newspaper highlighted that Tarkan’s records were among the best-selling of 1998 in France, that his song “Şımarık” had reached third place on the best-selling singles chart, and that “Aacayipsin” was another major hit. It described Tarkan as “the singer who introduced Nazım Hikmet’s mother tongue into French homes,” and also depicted the young Turkish artist as having an “angelic face.” The newspaper further noted that Tarkan received his initial musical training at the Üsküdar Music Society and announced that Sezen Aksu had launched the artist into the world of Turkish pop music.
Tarkan and Paris: A Renewed Connection
The triumph at the Olympia in 1999 was just the beginning of a lasting bond between Tarkan and the French audience. More than a decade later, the Megastar returned to thrill the French capital.
Return to Paris: Le Zénith (2011)
Tarkan held the second concert of his European tour, which began in Stuttgart on April 3, 2011, right in Paris. After 10 years since his last performance in France, the artist met his fans in another prestigious venue, Le Zénith, a stage that had already hosted numerous world-renowned artists. During the evening, Tarkan delighted the audience with a total of 21 songs and, by intense and warm request, gave two encores, confirming his indomitable energy and the deep affection of his Parisian fans.