Once, I was having quality time with one of my friends and also enjoying the Turkish Classical music which was an excellent choice that is a very good match with the place of the café. I was enjoying both the beautiful view that is very before my eyes and the music that was filling my ears and heart. Then suddenly this funny thing happened! The nice tune went away and a disco song started to fill the space around us!
I waved hand to a waiter and when he approached us, I asked why they changed the tune into a disco song. The answer was absolutely funny! They changed the music into a disco song because a group of foreign tourists had just got into the place! I said: ''They can listen to this kind of English songs anywhere in the world; they are coming to a very special part of Uskudar, Istanbul and you greet them with this worn out disco song! Why don't you let them experience Turkish Classical Music just before this very Turkish and Ottoman view?'' The waiter looked at with blank eyes and I regret destroying his very fragile thinking system!
The owners of cafés have weird approach to the music they play in their places. They hire decorators to decorate their restaurants or cafés, but they leave the decision on what music is played to a waiter, the cook or someone else irrelevant! Whereas music is the vital elements of the emotional and invisible decoration of the place!
It was amazing for me to listen to Turkish songs in a restaurant in Singapore, but I do not think that it is very interesting to listen to a disco song to a group of English people while watching the Bosphorus view!
A long time ago, again I was walking in Uskudar, in the square where the city hall takes place and passing by the small shops. Then I heard a rap song that was coming out one of the small shops! The singer set himself free and he was not very aware of the phrase ''to watch one's mouth'' I looked at the shopkeeper who was at the door of shop at that moment and asked him if he could understand the lyrics of the song. He looked at me said: ''No! Not a single word!'' I said: ''Let me tell you something: The singer offers his best wishes (!) to anyone who can hear him!'' Uskudar is a very classical, Ottoman and peculiar neighborhood and it does not deserve to be filled with irritating songs!
Heart and soul does not need a certain language; because they feel the core of the things. Bad is bad in any language and no good for any soul!Stay tuned with the rhythm of Uskudar!
Savaş ŞENEL
ELT Trainer
Communication Advisor
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If you are interested my seminar: ''If I were younger again, What things would I do different?'' please contact us at both the two email addresses below: The seminar can be presented in Turkish or English.
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