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Development of Turkish Popular Music (western oriented) and outstanding artists

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In this article we would like to share our observations and opinion about the development of Turkish Popular and Rock Music (western tunes and harmonies) through several decades and prominent artists and performers in the country.

Back in 1960s Turkish people interested in western popular music used to listen to singers such as Paul Anka, Elvis Presley, Clif Richard, Donovan, Peppino di Capri, Frank Sinatra and alike and groups such as The Shadows, The Animals, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Bee Gees and certainly the Beatles above all and alike…

At that time there were some popular singers and groups in Turkey trying to perform western popular music (cover that is – and not with much success) such as TİMUR SELÇUK, EROL BÜYÜKBURÇ, MAVİ IŞIKLAR, SİLUETLER, APAŞLAR, ERKİN KORAY etc. This we believe was due to the big difference between the melody and harmony essentials/basics of in Turkish Music and Western music as well as rhythm patterns.  Moreover, young Turkish musicians – very unfamiliar to Western pop and rock – did not know how to play the instruments (mainly guitar) used in Western music, very well etc.

So it took some time for Turkish musicians to get truly acquainted to playing their instruments, guitar to be in the first place to match that type of music and today Turkey has very talented guitarists as well as performers of other instruments such as drums, bass guitar, keyboard etc.

mazhar-fuat-ozkan

Starting 1960-70s, some truly talented young Turkish musicians started to come up with some neat work, nice songs that is such as Timur SELÇUK, Barış MANÇO, Cem KARACA to be followed by BÜLENT ORTAÇGİL who has introduced Turkey “protest music” and created his own audience thanks to his brilliant music and lyrics, MAZHAR FUAT ÖZKAN a trio that have truly hit success with many splendid pop and soft rock songs with Turkish lyrics. Thereafter, Turkey has seen some other younger groups and singers worth attention such as KESME ŞEKER, DUMAN, MOR VE ÖTESİ, ATENA, BADEM, ŞEBNEM FERAH, ÖZLEM TEKİN, MANGA and OGÜN SANLISOY playing Turkish rock and terrific guitarists such as SERDAR ÖZTOP. Last but not least we definitely need to refer CENK TANER (group, Kesmeşeker) who has done SO MUCH to make people listen to and like ROCK MUSIC (with Turkish lyrics) in Turkey. In other words, he has been among the fathers (so to say) of rock music in Turkey.

tuna-kiremitci

Certainly we have not been able to name many more that have hit success but most recently the sector has witnessed an interesting happening in this arena; A truly prominent poet and writer namely TUNA KİREMİTÇİ has also stepped into the arena of Turkish Pop Music. And to the surprise of many of his fans as an author and writer he has proved to have a real talent in the field of music as well thanks to his lyrics (he is a poet anyway) and melody as well as harmony in his songs. His duet performances with some other singers such as Ms. ÖZGE FISKIN and Ms. GONCA VUSLATERİ (both very popular and respectable lady performers) have made a remarkable impact in the sector and among thousands of fans. (For more info visit his OFFICIAL WEB PAGE)

Obviously there are a lot more to say about this topic but as mentioned above this is to provide basic information only, about the history and development of the sector and artists involved. (27 Oct 2016)

SOME SONGS FROM ABOVE MENTIONED MUSICIANS

MAZHAR FUAT OZKAN  (MFÖ) SARI LALELER (YELLOW TULİPS)
BÜLENT ORTAÇGİL BU SU HİÇ DURMAZ (THIS WATER WILL NEVER STOP)
ŞEBNEM FERAH VAZGEÇTİM DÜNYADAN (I GAVE UP ON THIS WORLD)
MOR VE ÖTESİ KÜÇÜK SEVGİLİM (MY LITTLE DARLING)
OGÜN SANLISOY BÜYÜDÜK ANİDEN (WE GREW UP SUDDENLY)
TUNA KİREMİTÇİ BANA SEBEPSİN (YOU’RE THE REASON TO ME)
TUNA KİREMİTÇİ SANA DAİR (ABOUT YOU)
CENK TANER ATLAR DÖNMEDİ (HORSES HAVE NOT RETURNED)

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