Şımarık


"Şımarık", also known as "Kiss Kiss", is a 1997 song by Turkish singer Tarkan. It was written by Sezen Aksu, with music credited as composed by Tarkan. However, Tarkan later admitted in a 2006 interview that this had been done without Aksu's consent, who was the true copyright owner. It formed part of Tarkan's album Ölürüm Sana. "Şımarık" was released in France in 1998 and the rest of the world in 1999, from the compilation album Tarkan, which was released in Europe. It has sold two million copies all across Europe. Many versions of the song were recorded in different languages, most notably the English-language cover, titled "Kiss Kiss", by Greek-American singer Stella Soleil in 2001 which was itself covered by Australian actress Holly Valance in 2002.

The song

As Tarkan's first major single, the song is generally considered his debut single. He had released three albums before this, but never released a song in single format due to the album-orientated nature of the Turkish music industry. The song has also appeared in soundtracks of various movies, including French film Beau travail and the American film XX/XY. It is generally considered Tarkan's signature song in Europe. Its chorus ends with two characteristic kiss sounds.

Music video

The music video is shot in Marseille, France with narrow streets and cobbled roads, with Tarkan singing and jaywalking. Several females on the streets see him and start following him to try to kiss him, but he tries to avoid them by first changing direction and then later by walking faster. More and more women begin to follow him as the song proceeds, but Tarkan eventually starts running in order to avoid them. A big group of women then run after him and as the song finishes, Tarkan takes cover in a street corner. A young girl is there as well and Tarkan kisses her forehead.

Track listings

  1. Şımarık Malagutti
  2. Şımarık Malagutti edit remix
  3. Şımarık Malagutti extended remix
  4. Şımarık Ned Divine edit remix
  5. Şımarık Ned Divine extended remix
  6. Şımarık radio edit
  7. Şımarık long version
  8. Şımarık Orıental
  9. Şımarık Zıo dub extended remix
  10. Şımarık Zıo dub edit remix
  11. Şımarık Şınan soulful
  12. Şımarık Şınan dub
Track lists to this CD single change depending on the country of release, e.g. America and Germany.
There were four promotional LP versions released.
A promotional CD single was released in France, with an orange cover. This was the first ever release and included one track. This is now a collector's item. There was also a limited edition single released in Germany, which came with a poster of Tarkan.

Commercial performance

When the single was released in Europe, it reached No. 1 in Belgium, No. 2 in Norway, plus No. 3 in Switzerland, France, Germany and the Netherlands. Sales went gold in Europe, where Tarkan was presented with his gold disc at Cannes Midem and in Germany by Universal.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Germany 26
Netherlands 14
Netherlands 18
Sweden 24
Switzerland 17

Usage in media

"Şımarık" was featured in films and soap opera including Beau travail, Romané and XX/XY.
"Şımarık" was using with sound effect of Tarkan kiss sounds including in several Chilean television program including: Calle 7, Yingo, En portada, Buenos Días a Todos, Muy buenos días, Mucho gusto, Gente como tú, La mañana de Chilevisión and others.

Stella Soleil version

"Kiss Kiss" is the debut single by American recording artist Stella Soleil. The single is a cremake of the Turkish song "Şımarık" by Tarkan with new lyrics. The English version was credited to by Juliette Jaimes, Sezen Aksu, Tarkan, and Steve Welton-Jaimes. The single was released to mainstream radio in April 2001. The single was also released in regions of Europe, excluding the UK.

Music video

The music video is set on the beach during the late night. The video shows Soleil dancing on the sand, while scenes go back and forth from birds eye views of landscape around the beach.

Track listing

  1. "Kiss Kiss"
  1. "Kiss Kiss"
  2. "Kiss Kiss"
  3. "Kiss Kiss"
  4. "Kiss Kiss"

    Charts

Holly Valance version

"Kiss Kiss" is the debut recording by Australian actress Holly Valance. Her version is a remake of the 2001 song of the same name by Stella Soleil, itself a remake of "Şımarık" by Tarkan. The single was released in April 2002 in Australia and United Kingdom, and shot straight to number one in both countries.

Music video

The official music video for Holly Valance’s version features a compilation of Valance herself with a variety of different looks and sexualised outfits whilst performing the song.
The video opens with a close-up of Holly's lips, painted with a burnished red gloss, as she mimes a kiss at the viewer. Lightbulbs flash and pulse on a black background, gradually illuminating Holly's apparently-naked figure, save for two bars of light across her chest and hips.
Once the music starts to build, Holy is next shown within a second black room, this time surrounded by blue rectangular strips of light. In this scene Holly wears a plaited hairstyle, white underwear and a white cropped jacket. During the video these lights change to red before returning to their original color.
As Holly begins to sing the view returns to the opening close-up scene, before cutting to show her sat within and surrounded by a black velvet structure. The room is illuminated further by a mosaic background pattern of flashing white lights. In this environment she has winged eyeliner, hoop earrings, and a purple top & shorts with her hair down. Between shots two DJ's are seen using a record table.
During the chorus the scene shifts to show Holly with six male backing dancers on a black and gold backdrop. This time Holly's hair is wet and she is wearing a shiny wet-look top and hi-leg shorts, both featuring black sequins. The video switches between each of these settings throughout the video.

Commercial performance

The single also debuted at number-one in the United Kingdom on 5 May 2002, selling 143,408 copies in its first week. The song made its debut on the Australian ARIA Charts, UK Singles Chart and Turkish Singles Chart at number one, it was Valance's first number one single. It went on to spend nine weeks in the ARIA Charts top ten, thirteen weeks in the top twenty and a total of seventeen weeks in the top fifty. In countries like Ireland, Finland, Italy and Taiwan the song went to peak in the top ten. It also reached the Top 20 in Austria, Greece, Sweden, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and Denmark. It was certified Platinum by the ARIA and Gold by the BPI.

ARIA awards

"Kiss Kiss" was nominated for four ARIA Awards at the 16th ARIA Awards in 2002.

Track listing

;Australian CD single
  1. "Kiss Kiss" — 3:25
  2. "Kiss Kiss" — 5:15
  3. "Kiss Kiss" — 7:41
  4. "Kiss Kiss" — 3:02
;UK CD single
  1. "Kiss Kiss" — 3:25
  2. "Kiss Kiss" — 5:15
  3. "Kiss Kiss" — 7:41
  4. "Kiss Kiss" — 3:02
  5. "Kiss Kiss"
;Germany CD single/UK Cassette Single
  1. "Kiss Kiss" — 3:25
  2. "Kiss Kiss" — 3:02

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Other cover versions

Aside from "Kiss Kiss", there were many other covers of "Şımarık" in English and various languages, like a version sung by Hong Kong group E02 in Cantonese and an Egyptian cover version sung by Samy Mansour. Notable covers include:

Dj R'AN version

An alternative release of the DJ R'AN version of "Kiss Kiss" was done in 2017 by Kosovar-German singer Ardian Bujupi with Dj R'AN featuring Mohombi and Big Ali.
Other samplings