Yüksek Sadakat
The ending of our Turkey journey appeared to be quiet and chill. We end up being here during a big Islam celebration, which means that almost nothing works and almost all entertainment places are busy and crowded. Except some that are not really related to locals. For instance, we were able to visit the old church where Saint Nicholas was buried. He lived there and did a lot of good things according to legends. Do you know why the catholic world hangs socks on the fireplace? The legend says, Saint Nicholas (back then just Nicholas, I think) got to know about a poor family with 3 girls. Their father did not have enough money to marry them off. Nicholas had money because his dad was quite a rich person. But Nicholas was also very religious and generous. He decided to help these people and on one silent night, he threw a bag of money to their window. That evening was chill, socks were hanging in front of the fireplace to dry… you see - a pouch with coins accidentally got into that sock.
He did a bunch of good things. When he passed, his body was buried in a marvel sarcophagus in the small church of Myra town. Now it’s called Demre. Time has not been kind to that place - earthquakes, mud streams, floods… the cherry on the cake were Italian merchants who had broken into the church, crashed the sarcophagus and took relics. That happened hundreds of years ago, but still is a source of business. Icons and all religious objects from Italy, where stolen relics are now, are still sold every day to tourists in Turkey. Time has some sense of humor.
Anyway, a trip to that town has shown us some different Turkey. Places without crowds of tourists. Places where people are kind and smiley. Great cinematic road among the Mediterranean Sea and a feeling of a simple happy life.
What about music you say? Hm… I’ve selected another Turkish band for this Friday column. Band named Yüksek Sadakat. Turned out that it translates from Turkish as HiFi. Just like that. People from Russia probably remember the pop group with exactly the same name - HiFi - at the end of the 90s or so. To be honest, apart from liking their top song on Spotify, I simply thought the name meant something cool. Sadakat…. It sounds quite powerful.
The band has roots in Istanbul since 1997. There is only one band member - founder Kultu - who was still there since the beginning. He studied at the Istanbul University to become a lawyer but probably got bored and decided to pursue a musical career with a break for some journalist work.
To be honest, there is nothing too special in the band and music. They were quite famous around 2006 and were selected to represent Turkey on Eurovision 2006, but really failed it there. They played some quite standard pop-rock songs in English. I don’t really think they should have done it. If they would bring their own culture, Anatolian sounds, God's love, and Turkish language - they would probably be at least proud of it. Instead, they have probably decided to be more likeable by other people and received nothing. After that, the band had several years of despair and I don’t know how they feel now. I have not found that song on Spotify, probably for a reason
What dragged my attention is the song Belki Üstümüzden Bir Kuş Geçer. I don’t even want to google its translation now, after checking the band name. But I like the sound. The guitars in it do some real magic. Musicians managed to bring some old traditional sounds with just guitars. I feel like walking in the old city while listening to it, people pass by, and I stand still, listen to the street band, and try to guess people's destiny. I stand on the port shore of ancient Demre and see how the ship of Nicholas is being moored after returning from a long and tough journey to Aleksandria. I feel happy and sad at the same time - the journey was good, but it’s over now and normal life is about to continue. But I still stand and listen to the street band of the ancient city to prolong a moment a little bit more.