Tarkan "Şımarık": Lyrics Meaning & English Translation
Tarkan's "Şımarık" is about wanting someone who refuses to be controlled. Its narrator is jealous of a woman who confidently follows her own rules, yet that independence only makes him more attracted to her. Beneath the playful lyrics lies a clash between traditional expectations and changing attitudes toward relationships.
What does "Şımarık" by Tarkan mean?
"Şımarık" is about a man who becomes increasingly attracted to a woman who challenges his expectations. Seeing her with another man makes him jealous, while her confidence fascinates him.
The song turns this contradiction into playful flirtation and explores jealousy, masculinity and changing ideas about relationships.
What "Şımarık" Really Means
The song opens with the narrator watching the woman walk arm-in-arm with another man. He immediately becomes jealous. Even her carefree behavior with chewing gum irritates him.
Yet the more she refuses to behave as he expects, the more interested he becomes. That contradiction is the heart of "Şımarık." He does not simply want her. He is drawn to the fact that he cannot control her. The line
"Belki de bu yüzden vuruldum"
— roughly, "Maybe that's why I fell for you" — makes the contradiction explicit. What frustrates him is also what attracts him. The title reinforces this attitude. "Şımarık" can mean "spoiled" or "spoilt," but depending on context it can also describe someone as cheeky, sassy or overly confident. Here, it sounds more teasing than genuinely hostile.
Traditional expectations meet a changing world
The song becomes more culturally revealing when the narrator asks:
"Biz böyle mi gördük babamızdan?"
He is essentially asking whether this is how they were taught by their fathers. He then complains:
"Yeni adet gelmiş eski köye"
The expression describes a new custom arriving in an old village. In the song, it represents a clash between traditional expectations and unfamiliar behavior.
The woman is not necessarily doing anything wrong. She simply refuses to conform to the rules he expects her to follow.That gives the song a second layer. His jealousy is also a reaction to a changing idea of how relationships should work.
What gets lost in an English translation?
Some of "Şımarık's" personality comes from Turkish expressions that do not have direct English equivalents. Tarkan portrays the woman as "fındık kıran" and "yılanı deliğinden çıkaran." These exaggerated images describe someone unusually capable of provoking or captivating him. Another phrase,
"Kaderim püsküllü belam"
roughly means "my troublesome fate." He presents her as a problem he cannot escape — but also clearly does not want to escape. This is why translating the song word for word misses part of its character. The original uses exaggeration and playful imagery to turn jealousy into flirtation.
Why "Kiss Kiss" became the international title
Outside Turkey, the song is often known as "Kiss Kiss." The name comes from the two kissing sounds that became its most recognizable musical feature. But "Kiss Kiss" loses an important part of the original title.
"Şımarık" immediately describes the woman and establishes the narrator's attitude toward her. "Kiss Kiss," by contrast, emphasizes the song's playful ending. That difference also shows why the song could cross language barriers so effectively. Its lyrics contain distinctly Turkish expressions, but its central hook requires no translation.
"Şımarık" - The official music video
Why "Şımarık" still connects with listeners
The basic situation is universal: someone becomes more attractive because they are difficult to win over. But "Şımarık" gives that idea a distinctly Turkish perspective.
His jealousy reflects expectations about masculinity, family and proper behavior, while the woman refuses to conform to them. That is the song's central idea. "Şımarık" is ultimately about attraction created by resistance: the narrator wants her more because he realizes he cannot make her behave the way he wants.
FAQ
What is "Şımarık" by Tarkan about?
"Şımarık" is about jealousy, attraction and a man struggling with a woman whose confidence challenges his expectations. His frustration ultimately becomes part of his fascination with her.
What does "Şımarık" mean in English?
"Şımarık" most directly means "spoiled" or "spoilt." Depending on context, it can also suggest someone who is cheeky, sassy or overly indulged.
Why is "Şımarık" called "Kiss Kiss"?
"Kiss Kiss" comes from the song's famous kissing sounds. The name was also adopted by English-language adaptations, most notably Holly Valance's 2002 version.
Is Holly Valance's "Kiss Kiss" the original?
No. Holly Valance's 2002 recording is an English-language adaptation of Tarkan's "Şımarık." An earlier English version was recorded by Stella Soleil.
Further Reading