I’ve always loved Teoman’s songs, but I never had the chance to see him live before. So, when I heard that he was back from his career break and performing at Harbiye, I didn’t hesitate for a second. But the moment he started singing the first song, I was taken aback. Sure, it was Teoman on stage, and his songs were playing, but the voice was noticeably deeper and sounded like a different person.
He was dressed in a suit and exuded energy on stage. It was clear he’d missed performing. He recently released a book and has been giving lots of interviews and appearing on live shows. Clearly, he’s putting in effort and trying to get his life back on track. In fact, here’s a recent interview he gave to Armağan Çağlayan:
Facing the Hard Truth
The musicians who accompanied him were excellent and clearly chosen with care. Especially one female vocalist, whose name I didn’t catch—she absolutely crushed it (in the best way). She had a powerful voice and, in my opinion, a bright future. The whole show seemed well-organized. But still, that familiar high-pitched Teoman voice? Nowhere to be found. After the first song, I thought, “Okay, maybe he’s just warming up.” After the second, I blamed the sound system. But by the third, it was time to face the music—literally. A friend had warned me that Teoman’s voice had changed and that he’d never sound the same again. I didn’t believe it. “Voices don’t change like that,” I said. It turns out I was wrong. Apparently, they do. I asked around and got responses like, “He drinks too much whiskey or smokes cigars,” or “He doesn’t take care of his health.” I don’t know if there’s a scientific explanation for it, but it’s clear now—voices do change with age.
From Teoman to Kenan Doğulu and Nilüfer
To be honest, I didn’t enjoy the concert as much as I usually enjoy Teoman’s songs. I’m not sure how many people noticed, but the open-air theater was packed, and the crowd still sang along with their usual enthusiasm out of respect and love for him.
I started noticing similar issues with other artists. I went to several concerts this summer, and both Kenan Doğulu and Nilüfer also didn’t sound quite the same. Kenan’s voice, like Nilüfer’s, would waver throughout the performance. It was different from Teoman’s case—his voice stayed consistently different the whole night, delivered in a strained tone typical of rock singers, but lacking its original magic.
The Responsibility of Public Figures
Kenan Doğulu and Nilüfer’s voices would crack or switch to a different tone occasionally. The difference was that they could sometimes return to their original sound. Still, it wasn’t pleasant to witness. Nilüfer is older, so it’s more understandable. But seeing Kenan struggle at a relatively young age was disheartening.
Public figures owe it to themselves and their fans to take care of their health. For singers, losing their voice can be psychologically devastating and deprive fans of the songs they love. That’s why I believe artists who contribute so much to society through their music have a kind of civic duty to stay healthy. Sure, some things are genetic. But taking care of yourself is the key to maintaining vocal health at any age. Take soprano Magda Olivero, for example—genetically blessed and incredibly disciplined. Just listen to her perform at age 42 and then again at 96: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBeT2HQxerK/?igsh=ZHNuYjJ0a3ZscGE2
My Concert Rankings
That said, here’s a list of the concerts I attended this year, ranked by how much I enjoyed them. This could give you some ideas if you’re planning to go next year:
1) Imany (Harbiye Open-Air): A true spectacle—stunning outfits, a captivating light show, beautifully played cellos, and Imany’s smoky voice. Easily the best concert I attended this year.
2) Karsu (Harbiye Open-Air): She delivered a fantastic bilingual set in Turkish and English, backed by a solid orchestra. A saxophone vs. electric guitar face-off during the show was a highlight. Her charming personality and broken Turkish jokes made the night even more delightful.
3) Goran Bregovic (Uniq Istanbul): I’ve always loved Balkan music and hearing it from a legend like Bregovic was a first for me. He brought a large, diverse ensemble—from Romani musicians who nailed the up-tempo pieces to soulful older Balkan women who moved us with emotional ballads. The whole performance was like a musical mosaic.
4) Zeynep Bastık (Harbiye Open-Air): I’ve always liked her style and songs, but I didn’t expect her Harbiye concert to be this grand. Costumes, sets, lights, and dancers were all carefully crafted into a vibrant visual feast. I applaud her for it and highly recommend catching her live.
5) Yaşar (Harbiye Open-Air): One of my favorite male vocalists with a rich, husky voice and beautiful songs. This concert felt a bit underprepared, though. He casually walked on with sunglasses and guitar, maybe the lights bothered him? He also seemed slightly tipsy. Still, his voice held up, and it was a joy to hear him live.
6) Kenan Doğulu (Galatasaray Island): I saw him during Galatasaray’s championship celebration. It was fun, but again, his voice kept faltering.
7) Nilüfer (Cesme Open-Air): The venue wasn’t as intimate or enjoyable as Harbiye. There was a noticeable distance between the stage and audience. Nilüfer seemed affected by recent events in her life—she looked sad, lacked her usual spark, and her voice wavered. Still, those occasional moments of her smoky signature voice were enough for me. At 70+, she’s still impressive.
8) Teoman (Harbiye Open-Air): I’ve already said everything I need to say above. Despite everything, it was still nice to hear his songs live.
My Wishlist for Next Year
Here are the concerts I missed this year but hope to attend next year: Gypsy Kings, Pink Martini, Göksel, Levent Yüksel, Aşkın Nur Yengi, Candan Erçetin, Buika, and Ludovico Einaudi. And topping my list is Ata Demirer—his mix of stand-up comedy and musical talent makes him a standout performer. In my opinion, he’s Turkey’s best stand-up comic. Great impressions, funny jokes, a lovely voice, and solid musical skills. I want to see him at Harbiye next year.
In the midst of life’s hustle, we need to carve out time for the things that bring us joy. Wishing everyone happy days as we enter the final quarter of the year.
Tag: memoir
