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Waters and Taksim

August 12, 2013
 
Tamta Tvalavadze

Great days are not planned. If not ordinary January evening and suddenly discovered group on the social network Facebook – Georgians at Roger Waters Live-Concert in Istanbul, I would not have written this blog and would not have attended the best ever show in the world; I would not have been caught in the dispersal of assemblies in Taksim Square and I would not have thought where I was then.

Having arranged organizational issues since January, 2013, I joined 212 – member -group of Georgian fans and travelled to Istanbul to attend the live-concert of Roger Waters. I was asked: “how was the concert?” I reply “I cannot express in words” because Georgian word [the best] refers to something usual that cannot be compared with Waters’ live-concert. Somebody might think “what was it like?” “How could two hours impress a person so much?!” “she is exaggerating”… let them think whatever they want.

World leading edition The Guardian wrote about this show: “It is impossible not to be impressed with this show as a sensory experience.” And The New York Post wrote: “The best Arena show ever. Period.”  The author of this sensation is musician Roger Waters– leader of legendary Pink Floyd who will celebrate his 70-year birthday in September and Istanbul Show was one of his last concerts.

And here is the day when I arrived in Istanbul. I realize that this is the city about which Napoleon said it deserved to be a world capital. Number of population, area, contrast between districts, impressive culture monuments and Bosporus – this city has too many priorities.

Speaking about priorities, I had to start with protest culture. In the main square of Istanbul – Taksim, demonstrations, which launched against the cut down of trees in the nearby Gezi Park launched on May 31, still continue. It has been first large-scaled protest in Turkey in the last twenty years. The turmoil was caused by the cut down of Gezi Park and construction of trading center in the area. Indeed, you can rarely see plants in large cities between densely located buildings. So, Turkish people really have reason to protest.

Police has dispersed protesters several times during last two months. I attended one of them personally. Demonstrators’ requests went beyond environmental problems. “It does not deal with trees; it is pride of the nation!” “We protest state system – Erdogan believes he is a king!” “Tyrant Police!” “Taksism everywhere, protest everywhere!” the slogans are heard everywhere.

First surprise to me was in the noisiest street of Istanbul – Istiklal where I was walking together with my friends. Suddenly we heard shouts of the protesters. Police immediately arrived at the place. Protesters were dispersed by water-cannon and police blocked all ways. We saw similar thing first time. We acted according to the self-preservation instinct and sheltered the nearest street. This turmoil lasted 20 minutes and everything calmed down soon.

You never know when protesters and police arrive in Istiklal Street. Population and personnel of shopping centers are not surprised with similar things. Next day, on our way back to the hotel from our stroll in Istanbul streets, we again got in the dispersal and I lagged my friends. During dispersal Turkish seller of mussels attracted my attention – he rapidly wrapped up his counter and sheltered the building. We even gave shelter to us and said in a smile: “Calm down, this turmoil will soon subdue.”

A strange protest! Protesters appear in the streets after working hours, demonstrate their requests during several minutes that they are not going to surrender, police disperse them and everything is in order several minutes later. Time is too precious in mega polis and everybody has its responsibilities. I tried to find parallels with our protest culture. It is evident – they have much higher culture than we!

Two months before the concert, Roger Waters published support letter to Turkish demonstrators on his official website. He wrote that demonstrators’ protest against autocratia  and repressions is justified. His last phrase is the most impressive: “There is nothing more important than what you do today.”

So, Turkish audience was already encouraged by the support of the great musician. His support demonstrated during the concert was followed by noise.

It would have been more unusual of the Pink Floyd’s musician not to support the protesters. His music is struggle against power, money, violence and war.

How can a person unify young and middle-aged people gathered in the stadium with his music? We often divide music – it is for young people, this is for other generations. During this concert there was no division and boundaries. This music unified every generations, social layers and nationalities. 

Success secret of Waters and the group in general is permanent changes and experiments. Pink Floyd’s 1979 album The Wall is still actual and impressive in 2013. The group was innovative in using new gadgets. They were first to use laser show, animations, slides and panoramic regulator of sound which intensively changes the sound background.

Initially, you cannot believe where you are; then you are realizing that something marvelous is happening, they are checking apparatus and it really starts… experience of legendary musician, his technique, energetic resource, show and technologies destroys your preliminary illusions. In this moment you want to shout, to sing, move and lose yourself. I remember that Georgian audience (according to unofficial information about 3000 Georgians were in the stadium)was under particular impression when we saw a photo of Shalva Gabunia, 19 – a hero of the August war on the screen together with the heroes of the world armed conflicts.

Now I guess and share the position of Gia Khaduri in his article “Open Air 2013- or free improvisation on the topic – do we need rock-fests or not” published in the magazine Tskheli Shokoladi, where he wrote: “Believe me, you might have graduated five Harvard universities and one or two Sorbonne Universities but attending a concert or listening to one music album might give you more knowledge about those values, that are important in our life.”  

I attended this concert – the concert which has changed me! I listened to the album The Wall! 

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