ÇEŞME – Gürsel Kaya

We were emotional children. So diligent. We were a generation that loved our homeland, nation and flag. A spirit that did not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for their values ​​prevailed in all the children of the country. Those years came with a wind of arabesque over our emotionality that we experienced to the fullest. With “crying” melodies brought together by dozens of different instruments. Some of us became “Ferdici”, some of us became “Orhanci”. While one of us was saying “set sun, take me with you”, the other one was shouting “let this world go down”. However, neither the world was setting nor the sun was taking us with it.
On the one hand, we were trying to save the homeland, on the other hand, we were sending our songs to our “utopian loves” in our dreams. We were experiencing intense emotions in loves that did not exist or were experienced. Or the arabesque world was making us experience this. We came out of that chaotic world, that arabesque world, having learned a lot of things. Of course, we lose a lot of things. We are always surprised and thankful that we are alive and standing…
I think the year was 1976. Ferdi Tayfur was singing his song “Çeşme” and everything was falling apart. Immediately afterwards, the movie of the song was shot; The movie was playing to sold-out theaters. Maybe there wasn't a fountain in front of every house, but everyone, especially young people, had a fountain song on their lips. Especially the sound of water at the beginning of the song, instead of extinguishing the fire in our hearts, it fueled the fire even more.
We had endless respect for folk culture and the essence of our folk songs. However, it was impossible not to be impressed by the arabesque. In those years, we were singing the song at the weddings we attended and on the stages we attended, upon the request of our friends. By imitating Ferdi a bit. It was liked…
The songs of Ferdi Tayfur, which we sang about our distant and inaccessible loves at the fountains, seemed to have come out of the circle of suffering. It was burning people to death. Even the fountain that would extinguish the fire was turning into fire and embers in the hearts of lovers.
The melodies that came from that beautiful person's heart have become silent today. The murmur of the fountain has also become silent. From now on, the fountains will flow silently. The trembling and burning sound that takes people to the beyond will no longer be heard. The evening sun has set. And the setting sun took Him from us too. While we were dancing halay at Fadime's wedding, we suddenly found ourselves mourning for a poor person…
Each song touched hearts in a different way. However, Çeşme and Emmioğlu were even more special for me.
And you, the one who touched every heart, will live on in your songs, Ferdi Tayfur..
Goodbye, child of suffering. May you rest in peace…