Greek pop singer vows to steal Süleyman from his sweetheart Hürrem in new song

Greek pop singer vows to steal Süleyman from his sweetheart Hürrem in new song

ISTANBUL

Needless to say, these lyrics are unlikely to please Hürrem Sultan: 'Oh Süleyman, forget your harem. Leave Hürrem and I'll cook you imam bayıldı and kebabs.'

Süleyman the Magnificent's favorite concubine, Hürrem Sultan, has a new rival. She comes from Greece, she may not have a part in the audience ratings-breaking hit TV show "Muhteşem Yüzyıl (The Magnificent Century), but famous and coquettish as well, she has her mind set on stealing the Ottoman ruler's heart. 

The Turkish soap opera has gained so much popularity in Greece that pop singer Efi Thodi has released a new song based on the series' protagonists.

In her song "Oh Süleyman," Thodi declares her love for the sultan, asking him openly to leave his sweetheart Hürrem, and luring him with a delicious kebab and meze feast. The song has raised some eyebrows in her country, but Thodi has not flinched to criticism saying that the song intended to be ironic.

"Oh Süleyman, forget your harem. Leave Hürrem and come to heaven's gardens. Though I am a western woman, I'll be your slave and cook you imam bayıldı and kebabs," the song says, mentioning the eggplant meze that is one of the musts on the sultan's table.