On Sunday evening, 3,500 lucky Londoners had the chance to hear the King of Arabesque, İbrahim Tatlıses, live at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith. The entertainer performed his classic songs of the past five decades in a show that ran for over two hours.
It was the singer’s first concert in the capital in 19 years, and formed part of his European “The Legend Returns” tour, with more concerts due in Germany, Austria, and France in 2023.
The veteran singer, 70, has consistently been one of Turkiye’s most popular singers, captivating audiences with his catchy blend of Turkish pop and folk music, and on Sunday, 23 October, he didn’t disappoint, delivering an incredible set to the delight of his British fans.
With a 21-piece band, Tatlıses sang hit after hit, including ‘Haydi Söyle’, ‘Ben Her Gece Sarhoşum’, ‘Mavi Mavi’, ‘Evlerinin Önü Boyalı Direk’, ‘Dom Dom Kurşunu’, ‘Bir Kulunu Çok Sevdim’, ‘Caney Caney’, and ‘Esmersen Güzelsin’. The crowd, on their feet for much of the evening, accompanied him verse for verse throughout the songfest.
Just before the concert, İbrahim Tatlıses’s voice could be heard backstage. The crowd roared as the curtains drew apart to unveil Tatlıses, who told them, “After 19 years, you are one big crowd, but for me you are each unique. I love you very much. I am able to stand now thanks to your prayers. Thank you all. Thank you.”
In August of this year, Tatlıses was involved in a near fatal car accident in Bodrum, but he was determined to fulfil his concert commitments.
The star regularly sat on an armchair during his London performance. He also made one change of outfit during the show, swapping a pistachio green suit for a red one.
The fun-packed evening included inviting a fan on stage to be a part of a song. Tatlıses asked the woman where she was from. When she said Cyprus, he told her and the crowd he loved Cyprus very much. The singer, who is of Kurdish-Arab descent, also sang a song in Kurdish.
The fun-packed evening included inviting a fan on stage to be a part of a song. Tatlıses asked the woman where she was from. When she said Cyprus, he told her and the crowd he loved Cyprus very much. The singer, who is of Kurdish-Arab descent, also sang a song in Kurdish.
At the end of his show, Tatlıses said that he wanted to come back to London for another gig next year. Both he and his band were given a long standing ovation at the end of the concert.
All photos © Halil Yetkinlioglu
