AK Party will try to convince people to vote for the constitutional amendment package in the referendum due in September 12, with a leading leftist Kurdish singer’s song.

A folk song by Ahmet Kaya, Şafak Türküsü, or Ballad of the Down in English, will be the song, which Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will show off with during a campaign to convince people to the amendment bill.

The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, Central Executive Committee (CEC) discussed the preparations for the referendum campaign in detail in its meeting Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Turkish PM read two quatrains of a poem for leftist young man, Necdet Adalı, who was executed following September 12 coup d’etat by Nevzat Çelik, while addressing AK Party MPs. Erdoğan’s crying while reading the poem sparked a debate off mostly questioning his intentions.

Erdoğan’s tears followed by a decision of using one of Kaya’s songs, the lyrics of which is of a letter by a son for his mother, he essentially had written from prison.

Quoted from: here

Quoting si++

AK Party will try to convince people to vote for the constitutional amendment package in the referendum due in September 12, with a leading leftist Kurdish singer’s song.

A folk song by Ahmet Kaya, Şafak Türküsü, or Ballad of the Down in English, will be the song, which Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will show off with during a campaign to convince people to the amendment bill.

The ruling Justice and Development Party, or AK Party, Central Executive Committee (CEC) discussed the preparations for the referendum campaign in detail in its meeting Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Turkish PM read two quatrains of a poem for leftist young man, Necdet Adalı, who was executed following September 12 coup d’etat by Nevzat Çelik, while addressing AK Party MPs. Erdoğan’s crying while reading the poem sparked a debate off mostly questioning his intentions.

Erdoğan’s tears followed by a decision of using one of Kaya’s songs, the lyrics of which is of a letter by a son for his mother, he essentially had written from prison.

 

Quoted from: here

Though Ahmet Kaya has never been my singer..

But this song, Si++ has mentioned in this post, made us always quite sad.. It was a feeling, a sadness  we could not share with many at the time, we would just share between eachother. (it is a poem about a young boy who is waiting to be hanged and his letters to his mom.). We simply could not explain the sadness of sending a young boy to gallows or could not share what we felt with masses !!

Years later, maybe for a political purpose or maybe genuine, The prime minister mentioned  it in the parliament.. 

I think it is a great indication about the level of democracy we have right now comparing to old days and the will to confront with our past mistakes..

I am simply thankful..

Here is the song from Ahmet Kaya - Safak Turkusu (Ballad of dawn)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSjUHIVJcA0&feature=related

Now you made me curious. I wonder if someone could post lyrics of this song and, of course, translation would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Edited (7/26/2010) by slavica

The song chosen by the main opposition party (CHP) has also been introduced.

The songs is an anonymous folk song with lyrics tweaked for voting NO:

Siyasette Recep Bey. Uzanmış da yatar.
Oğlan gemicik almış. AKP suya batar.
Hani benim Recebim Recebim. Hayır oyu vereceğim. ( Sana hayır diyeceğim )
Yasanı sandığa gömeceğim.
Gemi dolu pırlanta. Atma Recep Bey atma.
Ali Dibolar devri. Kesme naylon fatura ( Naylon fatura çakma )
Sandık gelir yanaşır. Recep boşa uğraşır.
Vatandaş hayır diyor. Recep niye ağlaşır?
Recep Beyi tanırlar.Yolsuzlukta şanı var.
Kılıçdaroğlu der ki, Hayır demekte yarar var.
Hani benim Recebim Recebim.*
Hayır oyu vereceğim. Yasanı sandığa gömeceğim.

* Recep is of the names of PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and CHP leader calls him Recep Bey usually.

Personally I like this song. Beautifully adapted lyrics, with nice tunes. Cool!