Kaya/Bilgin @ Swissôtel

Megan Taylor and I are definitely not of Turkish heritage, nor are we dancers of the nationality. After spending some time spinning music for the wedding of the lovely Ceylan Kaya and her husband Efe Bilgin, we left with some really great dance steps—and a great deal more. The attractive Turkish couple had their wedding ceremony and reception at the beautiful Swissôtel in downtown Chicago. We were on the top floor of the hotel, which proudly showcased one of the most breathtaking views of the city. The evening was filled with a load of awesome music: the ceremony featured a grand selection of the Gipsy Kings; cocktails and dinner contained a compilation of various artists like Norah Jones, the Eagles, and Stan Getz (as well as a rousing live song performance from the best man) and dancing featured a whole lot of upbeat dance music, including the original versions of Ricky Martin's "Cup of Life" and Shakira's "Wherever, Whenever." We also played a lot of great Turkish songs that definitely brought the crowd to the dance floor—both those of Turkish and non-Turkish backgrounds. The biggest song of the night—and I have the right to say this, for it was played twice—was a song titled "Simarik" (a.k.a. the "kiss-kiss song") by Tarkan, a Turkish pop artist. If you ever have a chance to listen to this song, you'll understand why it was part of our line-up. This was an energetic and cultural evening, and I was glad to learn a few dance steps along the way.

– Brent Rolland, resident fig deejay