Turkish Delight
Last friday, the 8th, was the historical day in Istanbul, Elvis Costello was in town for the first time. His show was a sold out event but I will cover this later.
He came to the stage just in time after the audience took their seats. He was wearing a black suit, black shirt and a red tie. He was excited to play in a city like Istanbul. From what I understood he had spent a nice night the day before, he might have gone to touristical places. (He might have enjoyed the Bosphorus, fish and Turkish raki, possibly:)
As he entered the stage he waved and immediately started the show. He started with the songs from When I Was Cruel, up tempo ones. I really cannot remember the order of the songs he played. I was slightly drunk not from alcohol bur from the excitement I was having.
Just before the third number someone from the audience with a good accent of English shouted at him about how he could still play after the attack in London the day before. Elvis was quite cool and responded back he should shut up if he wanted to watch the show.
He went on with his early years classics, from the Detectives to Radio Radio, Chelsea, etc. I think this was a setlist he was using in most events.
He started the ballad section with Shipbuilding. He also played Almost Blue (for his wife) and the magnificent So Like Candy. He introduced the song as the one which he wrote with famous mersey blues man Paul McCartney. I applauded:))
Then he started the section of songs from The Delivery Man.
Then was the turn for the classics again. He finished the show by playing old numbers, up tempo ones especially. He was enjoying himself, that is for sure. Pump It Up, I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down.
With I Can't Stand Up... he asked the audience to stand up, everyone was sitting like dead fishes and then the crowd started to dance. :))
Tthe reason of the lack of the cheers from the crowd was the lack of the knowledge on Elvis' music in the crowd.
As I've said many many times, people are only interested in She and I
Want You. That is all. Nobody is aware of his catalogue. No one sang the
songs. No choirs. That was embarassing for me. People got bored should I
say. Some left very early, some went to have a drink or ate something. I
felt very bad. It was astonishing.
The reason behind this was the show was a part of the Istanbul jazz festival and because of this the sponsors got the tickets and delivered them to the relevant people. This is how things go in all big musical events in Turkey. This brought in irrelevant people. They were just there to participate to the jazz festival. I don't want to mean that this happened because what Elvis plays was not jazz. This was related with the lack of the public interest. On Sunday it was Tori Amos in the same venue and the interest was 180 degrees reverse. I was in Tori Amos concert as well.
This is totally shame for Turkish people. We should have approached to Elvis more respectful.
But Elvis did not realize what was happening because, I think, he was quite happy to play in Istanbul.
His band was extraordinary. Stevie, Bruce and the bass player were amazing.
Then the bis came in. He played Hurry Down Doomsday and then the time came for the general masturbation of the night. Elvis gave the public a heartfelt version of I Want You. The song people were waiting for. He really sang very sadly. As if he was crying.
The other people including myself who was there for him only really enjoyed
the show. He received a standing ovation which lasted for couple
of minutes.
The show lasted for 2 hours 20 minutes without a break. He was in sweat.
On 8the of July, one of my dreams came true. I was really forced myself not to cry during some songs, especially So Like Candy. It was thrilling for me.
But now I don't want my personel biggest dream come true. I never want
Paul McCartney to deal with such an audience.He should never come in
here.
Today one journalist who is well known with his intellectual approach
mentioned this shame in his column. He was there for EC only and hated
what he saw.
Erman the reporter from Istanbul