Son Rüya

Son Rüya (meaning "Last Dream") is a poetic exploration of escapism, existential longing, and the desire to transcend a suffocating reality. The lyrics paint a picture of a protagonist trapped between a harsh physical world—symbolized by the implicit concrete of the band's name, Apartmanlar—and a metaphysical sanctuary referred to as the "Mavi Yer" (Blue Place).

The "Blue Place" likely represents a state of peace, oblivion, or perhaps the afterlife, contrasting sharply with the "melting walls" of the narrator's current environment. The request for the blue place to "renew" the narrator suggests a desire for spiritual cleansing or a reset from the accumulation of "old memories" and "fears."

The recurring imagery of "roses" serves as a complex metaphor. Initially, they are "glowing" and held tight, perhaps representing a cherished hope or love. By the end, they are "spilled from the neck" and described as coming "without asking," implying that these emotions or attachments have become a burden that the narrator is shedding as they approach their final dream or destination.

The song begins with a surreal vision of a "last dream" where the very fabric of space seems to descend or collapse. The narrator confesses the difficulty of their situation, clutching glowing roses in their hands—a symbol of beauty maintained amidst struggle.

The focus shifts to a celestial yearning, describing "high stars" located in a "beautiful blue place." This location serves as a sanctuary or a metaphysical destination. The narrator implores this blue realm to renew them, despite the weight of old memories that linger. There is a sense of finality, as they declare that the ultimate end of their journey is this blue place, beckoning it to come closer.

A theme of isolation emerges as the narrator mentions a confession from "one of the lonely ones." The physical barriers of reality—represented as walls—begin to melt away, signifying a transition or a dissolution of the material world. The plea to the blue place intensifies, asking for love and acceptance once more.

In the final verses, the narrator reflects on a "last mistake" while holding onto their fears. The imagery concludes with "unasked-for roses" spilling from their neck, suggesting a burden of romance or emotion that is finally being released or lost, leaving the narrator in a state of vulnerable exposure.

Son Rüya was released on February 28, 2020, as the lead single for the band's second EP, AŞKAŞKSEVGİSEVGİAŞKAŞK. The band Apartmanlar, formed in Istanbul in 2019, was founded by Furkan Güleray (guitars/composition) and Brek (vocals/guitars). By the time of this release, the lineup had expanded to include Birkan Başören (drums), Deniz Braderin (synths), and Dehan Kılınçarslan (bass).

The song marks a sonic evolution from their debut EP's lo-fi, homemade aesthetic to a more polished yet still gritty studio sound, released under the label Tamar Records. The lyrics were penned by the mysterious persona Ölü Bebek (Dead Baby) and the music was composed by Furkan Güleray. The track was produced and engineered by the band themselves, maintaining their DIY ethos while expanding their sonic palette with darker, more atmospheric textures.

The lyrics follow a somewhat free structure but utilize internal rhymes and strong rhythmic repetition to match the driving beat of the music.

• Rhyme Scheme: The song does not adhere to a strict AABB or ABAB scheme. Instead, it relies on the assonance of open vowels (like the Turkish 'a' and 'e')—seen in pairings like rüya/uzay and yerde/yine.
• Rhythm: The lyrical rhythm is syncopated against the steady, driving 4/4 time signature of the drums. The delivery is often staccato, mirroring the mechanical, urban feel of the instrumentation, before stretching out into longer notes during the refrains about the "blue place," creating a sense of expansion and release.

Apartmanlar employs a blend of post-punk and no wave stylings to create a disorienting yet compelling atmosphere:

• Musical: The track is driven by a repetitive, motorik drum beat and a driving bassline, typical of the post-punk genre. The guitars are often textured with noise and distortion, avoiding traditional melodic solos in favor of atmospheric washes. Synth layers add a "cold" and "spacey" dimension, reinforcing the "falling space" lyric.
• Vocal Delivery: The vocals are often drenched in reverb, sitting slightly back in the mix. This creates a detached, ghost-like quality that enhances the themes of alienation and dream-states.
• Literary: The lyrics utilize elliptical phrasing and abstract imagery rather than a linear narrative. Phrases like "Blue place come to me" act as an incantation or mantra, repeated to induce a trance-like feeling in the listener.

While Apartmanlar is an underground act, "Son Rüya" is a significant track within the modern Turkish alternative/indie scene, specifically the wave of Istanbul-based bands revitalizing the post-punk and dark wave sounds for a new generation. Released via Tamar Records, a hub for independent Turkish music, the song helped establish the band's reputation for blending noisy, experimental textures with emotional depth. It reflects a growing sentiment of disillusionment and escapism among Turkish youth, resonating with listeners who feel trapped by the concrete realities of urban life.

The song relies heavily on color symbolism and surreal imagery to convey its message:

• The Blue Place (Mavi Yer): Represents a utopia, a dream state, or death. It is the antithesis of the grey, concrete reality implied by the band's urban aesthetic. It symbolizes peace, infinite space, and liberation.
• Glowing Roses (Güller): Traditionally a symbol of love, here they represent the heavy, perhaps unwanted, emotional baggage of romantic idealism. Their "spilling" from the neck suggests a loss of control or a violent release of emotion.
• Melting Walls (Eridi Duvarlar): A metaphor for the breakdown of reality or the boundaries of the self. This could signify a mental breakdown, a psychedelic experience, or the transition into the "last dream."
• Falling Space (Düşer Uzay): Suggests a collapse of the external world, turning the focus inward to the psychological state of the narrator.

The central motif of the song is the "Mavi Yer" (Blue Place). This phrase is repeated like a desperate prayer throughout the track ("Mavi yer beni yenile," "Mavi yer bana gel"). Its recurrence anchors the song, providing a constant point of focus amidst the chaotic imagery of falling space and melting walls. Additionally, the phrase "Zor bu zor" (This is hard, this is hard) emphasizes the struggle of the protagonist's existence, contrasting the difficulty of the now with the ease of the desired blue destination.