Customer Reviews

Dudu

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a man from the Middle East, I truly do appreciate the music from that area. The rhythm is always mystical and very highly personal. You can feel the instruments and the musical tones which the artist wants you to feel. The musician wants to take you on a trip. They want to take you to a world unlike any other. And in this album, Tarkan manages to do just that.

Tarkan's latest offering is very much different than all the others he has managed to put out. Having become widely successful in very much all parts of the world as the premiere Turkish artist with his pop, melodic tunes, he turns his sight on tackling the classical music of the land of Turkey. If you come upon this album expecting to dance to the groove of Simarik or Sikidum, you're badly mistaken. With this album, all you want to do is tap your fingers and frenzily shake your belly.

Dudu, the opening song and perhaps the best on the album, is a song that displays all range of emotions that makes this a classic album to own. To try and top it all off, Tarkan manages to dish out two remixes of the song without compromising the core and the melody of the main song. The remixes do work. In addition, there are four more other new songs that are equally as good, especially, Gulumse Kaderine, which I admit I can't fervently stop dancing on or shaking my head with the intoxicating Middle Eastern rhythm. Tarkan also dishes out two remixes of that song in the 10 song album (5 of which are new, while the other 5 are remixes of some of the songs).

The reason I don't give the album a full five star is that I would rather have preferred that Tarkan get on with more of the new material rather than recycle songs already on that album. A move Michael Jackson seemed to do and not succeed very much with Blood on the Dancefloor: HIStory in the Mix. Apart from that, the songs are great (except one, which I really can't bother listening to), the theme is mystical, the journey is grand, and Tarkan delivers in style. What more is next, you ask? You can only wait and see.

I heard about Tarkan in a rather roundabout way...first a snippet of his trademark kiss-kiss "Simarik" on a world music program about 3 years ago...the snappy rhythms caught my attention,but the announcer failed to mention the artist when the song was finished. I resigned myself to remaining eternally ignorant of the origins of that amazingly catchy song, and had all but forgotten about it until last month, when I purchased, totally at random, a Middle Eastern pop compilation (Indestructible Arabian Beats by Manteca, great CD, buy it too!). And one of the songs..none other than the funky "Simarik", except sung by another artist in Spanish!! Too cool. Anyways, after much cryptic research, I finally traced the song back to Tarkan, and decided I had to get more of his material. It is some of the most intriguing high quality pop on the market (with the added exotic attraction of being Turkish and being sung the by the deliciously hot Tarkan.)
"Dudu" delivers on all counts. It's perfectly arranged, performed, and remixed. The title track, "Dudu", is simply one of the best pop songs I have ever heard. It's original and exotic without being contrived (ie. without trying way too hard to be exotic a la Shakira/Aguilera and all the rest of the bubblegum brigade). It's upbeat and massively infectious without ever becoming monotonous. The melody loops and swirls and glides effortlessly around the distinctively Turkish rhythms without ever obscuring them, and frames Tarkan's smoky rich voice, which I consider to be without equal in the largely puerile world of pop. His vocals are showcased best on the album's non-pop tracks, which have him singing with only a baglama (a Turkish lute) plucking away in the background. This album is a great mix of "Tarkan unplugged" type material which, as I said, features him singing with some very sparse accompaniment (by pop standards, anyways)and leans more towards the Turkish Classical repertoire, and outright pop extravaganzas such as as Dudu and Gueluemse Kaderine. The remixes are great too, adding a third "chillout" dimension to the album, particularly the last track. This recommendation comes from an avowed pop-averse crusader against the insipid pap that rules the airwaves. Have I convinced you yet? If not, go to www.tulumba.com and search for Dudu. There, you can find clips from each song on the album and decide for yourself (since Amazon hasn't uploaded any yet).
What more can I say... this is real Turkish Delight ;)

I absolutely love Tarkan. It is now at the point where I know I can buy his album without hearing a single note first (which is what I did with this one) and it will be good. Dudu is a departure from his earlier work (also fabulous) in that it has a more traditional middle eastern sound, but it is just as danceable. Dudu (and Tarkan's music in general) is achingly beautiful at times but also loads and loads of fun. Great for singing at the top of your lungs(whether you understand the words or not) and dancing your .... off! Truly spirit lifting!

I think this is one of his best cd's. I love listening to it on long trips in the car. My husband (who is Turkish) introduced me to Tarkan. I love Tarkan's music and all Turkish music. Here are some recommendations for other great Turkish singers: Metin Senturk, Mustafa Sandal, Ibrahim Tatlises,Zerryn Ozer, and Sezen Aksu.

I love this album! I couldn't tear myself apart from it since I bought it from Turkey. I just bought Karma which is also an absolutely amazing and incredible album. But my favourite track is still Dudu, it wins everything hands down.

I am into Spanish, Greek, Turkish and Arabic modern music. At this point I believe I could buy Tarkan's next CD without sampling it first. He is one of the few artist I've come acrossed where I enjoy 100 % of the songs in the CD. BUY DUDU, it's worth every penny. I have "Tarkan" and "Karma." All of these 3 Cds provide a blend of sensual, upbeat and contemplative mood. Hope he keeps up the high standard quality music production. I wish I knew Turkish.

JS

He did not make us wait too long this time but this is a Maxi Single not an full album. Dudu is a classic Tarkan song, it is beautiful. Uzun Ince Bir Yoldayim is a classic Turkish song; lycrics and music done by Asik Veysel, poet/bard, very long time ago. This song is totally different than any other songs he has ever done. His voice really shines in this song though. I liked Bu Sarkilar Olmasa the least but after listening the remix, I really like it now. Gulumse Kaderine is a great love song. Non-Turkish listeners would do anything to understand the lyrics if they knew what he meant, the lyrics are just excellent. Sorma Kalbim is a same type of song. The remixes are also very good. Especially Bu Sarkilar Olmasa is better than the original version. I am still waiting for an English album from him. Arif Mardin probably will be behind him if he makes the English album. Arif Mardin is a Turkish producer who won the Best Producer Of The Year, Non-Classical in the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. He is the producer of the album, Come Away With Me, by Norah Jones (I don't have to write how many awards Norah Jones won with this album :) ) So, if Tarkan makes an English album and Arif Mardin stands behind him, you know it is going to be an awesome album. It is time Tarkan it is time for an English album! You are being too late for it...

It seems tarkan shows no sign of slowing down,every album just keeps getting better and better. I especially liked this one because some of the songs are remakes of classic turkish songs,only this time they have a modern flare to them. The remixes for dudu and gulumse kaderine are phenomenal, they will make you want to dance whether you like it or not!

DUDU surely is one of his masterpieces, albeit the small number of songs. Great introduction to Tarkan's music for new listeners and a marvelous follow-up for avid fans. This is worth your money!

Dudu is a great song. Tarkan's works are always better than the previous ones. If he goes on like this, he will be a great superstar around the world.