News: maNga will represent Turkey at ESC 2010

Rock band maNga, which won Best European Act at the MTV Europe Music Awards, releases a new song, 'We Could Be The Same,' which will represent Turkey at this year's Eurovision contest. The English song includes traditional Turkish motifs and is apprecitaed Turkish music authorities. 'We will go there to win the contest,' the band says. Rock band maNga will represent Turkey at the 55th Eurovision song contest in the Norwegian capital Oslo on May 25 and 29 with a song “We Could Be The Same.”

Earlier this year, Turkey’s state-run broadcaster Turkish Radio and Television, or TRT, agreed that the band could compete in the contest on behalf of Turkey. At a press conference held Tuesday at the TRT Tepebaşı Studio, maNga performed the song for the first time. “We chose maNga because it received the most votes in a poll,” said TRT General Director İbrahim Şahin. He said there might be some differences in the voting system this year and it might be in favor of Turkey. “I hope maNga will be the winner with this song.”

"Şahin said maNga delivered three songs and a commission selected one and that he wished the song was in Turkish, but the band preferred to perform a song in English. He said TRT did not intervene in the band’s decision about its song or wardrobe choices. Şahin said they have a budget of 400,000 Turkish Liras for the Eurovision contest and have received offers for sponsorship. 'We made a very nice song’ The band’s soloist Ferman Akgül, stating that TRT was very interested in the band since they got the proposal to represent Turkey in the contest, said, “We have made a very nice song that we love and we believe in its success. Our goal is to represent our band, our music and our country in the most proper way.”

Akgül said they left the massages of their songs to listeners. “But the main idea is to give a global message of love and friendship. The most important reason why we chose an English song is that we want everyone to understand our message. maNga has always used traditional Turkish motifs in its songs. This time we did not do anything but our own music, too. The same motif, the same instrument, the same maNga but only the language is different,” he said. “We will go there to win the contest.”

Speaking about their stage show and wardrobe for the contest, Akgül said they had not decided it yet. “Our five band members are the most important factor. No stage show should overshadow us.” Another band member Özgür Can Öney said the contest has inspired them to make new songs, adding that they would do their best to show their music to the world.
After the press conference, maNga performed the song “We Could Be The Same.” The band also gave a mini concert.

Authorities love the song
Turkey’s music authorities who listened to the song liked it. Their common idea is that the cong could finish in the top five. Emel Müftüoğlu, pop singer: I love maNga very much. But I don’t take Eurovision seriously because no one gets the points they deserve. The band also has a problem with its English accent but they can work hard to fix it. Bülent Özveren, presenter of the Eurovision contest: It is a very nice song. It is suitable for Eurovision. Vocals are very good. It should be among the first five. Ali Kocatepe, musician: maNga made a very strong song again. It is its own style. And it is very good that they perform in English.

Özdemir Erdoğan, musician: maNga is a very good choice. There is no problem in the song. No one can criticize their music. Everything is perfect but it doesn’t have magic, it is not as effective as last year’s song "Düm tek tek". It will likely finish in the middle with votes from abroad. Garo Mafyan, composer: I loved the song. An English song was already necessary because it is an international contest. Sezen Cumhur Önal, composer and anchorman: The song is too energetic. It would be better if it was Turkish but I am sure that they will get a success there."

Source: Hurriyet