Broken Music: 2005/06

Sting Passed Through Istanbul...

Sting performed his third Turkish concert at Kuruçeşme Arena, overlooking the Bosphorus. The music system and magnificent stage setting underscored the true nature of Sting. Despite tickets being sold for 100 YTL, the concert was packed.

The moment Sting arrived in Istanbul, news outlets began pouring in. Sting visited the Hagia Sophia Museum, chatted with umbrella boys, voraciously devoured the simit he bought from a bagel vendor, and turned up his nose at backgammon in a shop in the Grand Bazaar to buy two fezzes... The Turkish press followed Sting every step of the way. On his third visit to Turkey, he had become one of "us," taking to the streets with his wife, son, and manager. Sting maintained this "one of us" attitude at his concert at Kuruçeşme Arena the night before. He began his concert, which took in the world's most magnificent view, with a song from his time with The Police. The British musician, who opened the concert as part of his "Broken Music" Tour with "Message In A Bottle," performed his hits such as "Walking On The Moon," "If I Ever Lose My Faith in You," "Englishman in New York," "Roxanne," and "Shape of My Heart." Towards the end of the concert, the British musician had a surprise for the audience. Darbuka virtuoso Mısırlı Ahmet took the stage to perform "Desert Rose," a song Sting originally performed with Algerian ra singer Cheb Mami. Mısırlı Ahmet, who had the audience shaking their necks and dancing, joined Sting in his final numbers.

Despite everything, Sting didn't do what Morrissey had done four nights earlier at Parkorman. Morrissey had changed the lyrics of "Let Me Kiss You" to "I've zig-zagged all over Istanbul...", moving the audience to tears, but Sting passed through Istanbul without further ado. Despite all expectations, he didn't say "I'm an Englishman in Istanbul."

Before Sting, the musician's son, Joe Strummer's band, Fiction Plane, took the stage as the opening act. The young rock band, excited to be embarking on their first world tour with a legendary figure like Sting, prepared the audience for the "massive concert."

Sting took the stage without delay and was accompanied by world-renowned musicians such as Dominic Miller, Lyle Workman, and Abe Laboriel on guitar, and Jr. on drums. The stage itself, prepared according to Sting's tour conditions, was a sight to behold. (Sting's stage, 33 meters wide on a two-meter-high platform, was Istanbul's largest permanent stage.) The British musician's dazzling lighting and sound system were transported to Türkiye on seven trucks. Now, the same lighting and sound system are on the road. Sting will perform in Athens tonight and Thessaloniki tomorrow. Like a bird, like a human being...

An estimated 15,000 people watched the rock legend Sting at Kuruçeşme Arena. Despite the deadly food queues, the concert, organized by BKM, went off without a hitch. Except, of course, for the cameraman war that erupted when BKM's bride and groom, Mustafa Erdoğan and Gülben Ergen, entered the arena.

© Radikal by Müjde Yazici

Sting's Voice Echoes in Bosphorus...

The first of the stars Istanbul has been waiting for appeared at Kurucesme Arena on Wednesday night.

The residents of Istanbul poured into the streets for Sting, a legend in rock music.

Despite the cool weather, music lovers queued up at the gate as cars jammed kilometers away from the place.

Sting's son Joe Summer and his group Ficton Plane first took the stage at the concert at Besiktas Culture Center.

Summer was replaced by his father at 21.30. The time stopped as Sting appeared on the stage singing his 'Message In A Bottle'. The star's fans aged between 10 and 50 sang along with him.

In addition to his 'Shape Of My Heart' and 'Englishman in New York', the unforgettable records of the Police such as 'Walking On The Moon' and 'So Lonely' showed Sting is still a star despite the years that have passed.

Approximately 15,000 people listened to Sting's Istanbul concert in the frame of his European tour. Egyptian Ahmet accompanied Sting for a short time with his darbuka (tomtom).

Five years ago, Sting invited Burhan Ocal to the stage at the concert he gave in Istanbul Jazz Festival.

The concert was also attended by famous people such as Yilmaz Erdogan, Mustafa Erdogan, Kenan Imirzalioglu, Sebnem Ferah, Kirac, Kenan Dogulu, Sertab Erener, Izel ve Mehmet Aslantug.

Sting, who made his appearance on the stage like a star falling from the sky, vanished again like a star in the darkness of the night. Pink Floyd's founder Roger Waters, Group Alphaville and Lara Fabian are next.

© Zaman by Ozge Yalin