It's very interesting to note that orientalism seems to come back to popular music styles every once in a while. Of course, as everybody has probably by now noted the current R&B production styles employ a whole lot of "Arabic", "Indian" or "Chinese" riffs and even some samples lifted straight off ethnic records. This has been going on for quite some time now. Orientalism in itself refers to vague use of Asian instrumentation that is taken out of its original context without really paying much respect to the music's roots. In the 80s, a lot of the synthpop music steered towards this direction partly because of the limited note-polyphony and the type of sounds available on many synthesizers that made the asian motif attractive to play on them, and partly because of course the whole martial arts fad of those times.

Orientalism is by no means a new phenomenon. It has always had a strong foothold on European easy listening musical styles all throughout the last two Centuries, and even with the euro-dance craze of the 90s (heaven forbid) there were always a couple of numbers on the charts that employed the theme. Currently if you take a look at the pop music produced at the baltic countries they are still widely fascinated by Eastern culture there (Bulgarian "Tshalga" music for example). The records that come out there are frankly speaking of quite low-brow cultural value, and I think this same actually applies to the American R&B of today. It's bizarre to note that both musical styles have THE MUSIC VIDEO as the leading medium to distribute the music and that the videos use such outright sexist imaginery hardly without any hindrance. Big cars, flashy jewelry, women who look like high-class prostitutes - all accompanied by music that makes usage of subtle but easily recognizeable Eastern musical motifs. And basically it's been the same thing since the dinner-theatre performances of the 19th Century, cheap entertainment for the masses.

You just felt like sharing, huh?

Listening to Monsoon - Ever So Lonely (Extended Mix)

Novabreaker said:

Thanks for providing some backround on this. I've been noticing this trend for about the past 6 years and din't know how the usage orinated in western music.


Good insight, kiddo...

PANDURITO said:

I like to come off as intellectually cultivated in front of other people, yes.

You are so European

PANDURITO said:

Because he still uses the term "oriental"?

Novabreaker said:

One day you should check out Adnan Senses´ body of work ..( )

He only sings about women who did him wrong and about drinking and about the benefits of living a Turkish Gipsy life.

Classics are : Doldur Meyhaneci ( Fill it up one more time,bartender)
Neden Saclarin beyazlanmis ? ( Why has your hair turned white?)
Sulukule ( a famous Gypsy district in Istanbul)
Üzgünsün Arkadas ( You Are Sad, My Friend)

This is the kind of music that Turks listen to when they get in a state of melancholy, especially after a break up. Some even go as far as cutting their arms with razorblades, even during concerts. Müslüm Gürses´fans are quite notorious for this and the singer often has to ask his fans not to hurt themselves. Many also commit suicide listening to this kind of music.
Kings are : Orhan Gencebay ( the Turkish version of Prince...if he died, they could still release at least two albums a year for many years to come, he´s that prolific and has a big vault....been in the game for more than thirty years, hardcore saz player, built his own saz called "Baba".)

Müslüm Gürses, neither a great songwriter nor a composer, but has a hardcore following.

Adnan Senses, ex-alcoholic, divorced at least five times, sings the Turkish blues better known as Arabesk .( Intellectuals hate it with a passion).

Ibrahim Tatlises...mysoginist pig and big businessman today, has a fastfood chain, hotels, record companies, bus companies, radio, tv, you name it. Got discovered while singing at a construction site. Turkish-Kurdish macho, threatens his ex-girls and rivals, had a few shootouts.

Those mentioned above fall into the category of Arabesk.


More upbeat, uplifting and uptempo are Tarkan, Sezen Aksu ( the Queen of Turkish pop), Nazan Öncel, etc.even though some of Sezen Aksu´s classic songs are really depressive...

Ahh, and don´t forget Mustafa Sandal...I´m not really into male singers, but most people go nuts over him.He´s a bit of a egomaniac though.

Novabreaker said:

Somewhere in India, someone is writing another variation of your post...in hindi. Only they're complaining that because of all the western influence, the traditional ghazal has become the new Indian pop song.

I, personally, like the result. One fav is interestingly, another Adnan. This one is Adnan Sami. "Aao Na", is a nice track and a good example of the mix of both the classical and the new...listen to it often.

Good thread.

I'm not really complaining myself though, I think the eastern influences are the only reason why I could somewhat tolerate a song like 50 Cent's "Candy Shop" coming out of the radio while I am sitting on the bus.

Novabreaker said:

I know. You're both kind of saying "you've got too much West in my East". But even in India...only the purists complain.

Novabreaker said:

So, you read Said Orientalism uh?

This reminds of this album that I bought a few years ago:


Anokha: Soundz of the Asian Underground

Novabreaker said:

And I appreciate that!

Orientalism in pop music sounds really cheesy at times but it's waaay more interesting in jazz, with eastern musicians like Anouar Brahem and Rabih Abou-Khalil collaborating with western musicians, creating something entirely new, erasing the borders betwen east and west so you cant tell which is which anymore.

However I do like Mustafa Sandal's "isyankar" simply because it has a great melody.

This thread reminds me of an album I used to like a lot, by Brooklyn Fun Essentials, In the Buzz Bag