Tarkan Tevetoğlu (; born 17 October 1972) is a Turkish singer-songwriter. Since the early 1990s, with the successful sales of his albums, he has been a prominent figure of
pop music
Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form during the mid-1950s in the United States and the United Kingdom. The terms ''popular music'' and ''pop music'' are often used interchangeably, although the former descri ...
, recognized in Turkey and worldwide.
Tarkan was born and raised in
Alzey
Alzey () is a ''Verband''-free town – one belonging to no ''Verbandsgemeinde'' – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the fifth-largest town in Rhenish Hesse, after Mainz, Worms, Ingelheim am Rhein and Bingen.
...
,
Rhineland-Palatinate
Rhineland-Palatinate ( , ; german: link=no, Rheinland-Pfalz ; lb, Rheinland-Pfalz ; pfl, Rhoilond-Palz) is a western state of Germany. It covers and has about 4.05 million residents. It is the ninth largest and sixth most populous of the ...
. In 1986, he moved to Turkey together with his family. Tarkan, who had been interested in music since his childhood, went to high school at
Karamürsel and took music lessons. In the following years, he met the owner of İstanbul Plak, Mehmet Söğütoğlu, and signed a contract to release his own album.
Tarkan released his first album ''
Yine Sensiz'' in late 1992 with "Kıl Oldum" being chosen as its
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
. His second and third albums, ''
Aacayipsin
''Aacayipsin'' (''You're Different'') is the 1994 album of the Turkish pop singer Tarkan. The album was published in Europe and Asia. This was his second album, the success of which launched him as a superstar onto the Turkish pop scene with ov ...
'' and ''
Ölürüm Sana
"Ölürüm Sana" (English "I'd Die For You") was recorded in 1997 by Tarkan, named after the similarly named song '' Ölürüm Sana'' that is featured in the album. Its most popular song was "Şımarık", also known as "Kiss Kiss" in some countr ...
'', were released in 1994 and 1998 respectively. The song "
Şımarık
"Şımarık" (, "Spoilt"), also known as "Kiss Kiss", is a 1997 song by Turkish singer Tarkan. It was written by Sezen Aksu, with music credited as composed by Tarkan. However, Tarkan later admitted in a 2006 interview that this had been done wi ...
" from ''Ölürüm Sana'' became popular in a number of countries. In 1998, he signed a new contract with
Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
. In 1999, his compilation album, ''
Tarkan
Tarkan may refer to:
People
* Tarkan (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Tarkan (singer) (born 1972), Turkish pop singer
Other uses
* Tarkhan, an ancient Turkic and Mongol nobility title
* Tarkan (comics), a fiction ...
'', received platinum and gold certifications in several countries. In 2001, he made music videos for the songs "
Kuzu Kuzu
The were a people of ancient Japan believed to have lived along the Yoshino River in Nara Prefecture. They were mentioned in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. The name was also used for a population living in the old Hitachi province (today's Ibara ...
, "Hüp" and "Verme" from his fourth studio album ''
Karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively ...
''. Two years later, extended play ''
Dudu'' performed well on the sales charts, and in 2006 with the release of his first English album, ''
Come Closer'', he became known in Europe. "
Bounce" and "
Start the Fire" were the lead singles of this album. The lyrics of the songs included in the album ''
Metamorfoz'' were praised by the
Turkish Language Association
The Turkish Language Association ( tr, Türk Dil Kurumu, TDK) is the regulatory body for the Turkish language, founded on 12 July 1932 by the initiative of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and headquartered in Ankara, Turkey. The Institution acts as the ...
. In 2010, his seventh studio album, ''
Adımı Kalbine Yaz'', became the best-selling album of the year in Turkey. In 2016, his ninth album, ''
Ahde Vefa'', which has a
Classical Turkish theme, was released.
Alongside his music career, Tarkan has taken part in numerous social projects and is known as "Megastar" and "Prince of the
Bosporus
The Bosporus Strait (; grc, Βόσπορος ; tr, İstanbul Boğazı 'Istanbul strait', colloquially ''Boğaz'') or Bosphorus Strait is a natural strait and an internationally significant waterway located in Istanbul in northwestern Tu ...
" in the press. One of few European singers who has managed to span chart success without singing in English, he is also noted for his live stage performances. Tarkan's effect on Turkey has been compared by the ''
Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large na ...
'' to that of
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the " King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. His ener ...
in the US around 1957 and
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most im ...
's co-founder
Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegun (, Turkish spelling: Ahmet Ertegün; ; – December 14, 2006) was a Turkish-American businessman, songwriter, record executive and philanthropist.
Ertegun was the co-founder and president of Atlantic Records. He discovered and ch ...
described him as one of the best live performers he had ever seen.
He has also been listed by
Rhapsody
Rhapsody may refer to:
* A work of epic poetry, or part of one, that is suitable for recitation at one time
** Rhapsode, a classical Greek professional performer of epic poetry
Computer software
* Rhapsody (online music service), an online m ...
as a key artist in the history of European pop music, with his
signature song
A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a Handwriting, handwritten (and often Stylization, stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and ...
"
Şımarık
"Şımarık" (, "Spoilt"), also known as "Kiss Kiss", is a 1997 song by Turkish singer Tarkan. It was written by Sezen Aksu, with music credited as composed by Tarkan. However, Tarkan later admitted in a 2006 interview that this had been done wi ...
" as a keystone track that moved the genre forward.
His albums have sold over 15 million copies.
[ Throughout his career, he has won four ]Turkey Music Awards
Kral Turkey Music Awards (previously known as Kral TV Video Music Awards between 1995–2009, Kral Music Awards between 2009–12, and Turkey Music Awards between 2013–16) were the annual music awards in Turkey. The first awards were given in 19 ...
, six Golden Butterfly Awards and one World Music Award
The World Music Awards is an international award show founded in 1989 under the patronage of Albert II, Prince of Monaco and co-founder/executive producer John Martinotti. The event is based in Monte Carlo. Awards are presented to the world' ...
and has received various nominations.
Early life
Tarkan Tevetoğlu was born on 17 October 1972 in Alzey
Alzey () is a ''Verband''-free town – one belonging to no ''Verbandsgemeinde'' – in the Alzey-Worms district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is the fifth-largest town in Rhenish Hesse, after Mainz, Worms, Ingelheim am Rhein and Bingen.
...
, West Germany
West Germany is the colloquial term used to indicate the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG; german: Bundesrepublik Deutschland , BRD) between its formation on 23 May 1949 and the German reunification through the accession of East Germany on 3 O ...
, to Neşe and Ali Tevetoğlu. His mother named him after the comic book character Tarkan.[ The name Tarkan is said to originate from an ancient Turkic king or title, meaning bold and strong.] Tarkan's interest in music began in childhood. Tarkan and his five siblings moved to Turkey in 1986 with their parents settled in Karamürsel, Kocaeli.[ After his father's death, his mother married an architect, Seyhun Kahraman. Tarkan has three step-siblings named Adnan, Gülay and Nuray, from his mother's first marriage, and a brother, Hakan, and a younger sister, Handan, from her marriage to his father.][Star olan çocuk (''The kid that became a star'')](_blank)
– Milliyet
Tarkan started his high school there and took Turkish Art and Music lessons at the Karamürsel Advanced Music Association.[ After his family moved to Istanbul, he continued his music studies at the Uskudar Music Society and started performing at various venues.] After finishing high school, he made plans to move to Germany for higher education and meanwhile he signed a contract with İstanbul Plak's owner Mehmet Söğütoğlu to release his first album.[
]
Career
1992–2000: ''Yine Sensiz'', ''Aacayipsin'' and ''Ölürüm Sana''
Tarkan's first album, '' Yine Sensiz'', was released on cassettes by İstanbul Plak on 26 December 1992. He wrote the lyrics for three of the album's songs, and composed three other songs himself and chose "Kıl Oldum" to be its lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
. On 18 June 1993, three new versions of the album were released on CD. Alongside "Kıl Oldum", he made music videos for the songs "Kimdi", "Gelip de Halimi Gördün mü?", "Vazgeçemem" and "Çok Ararsın Beni". The album sold 700,000 copies in total. Wrote one critic: "It happened maybe for the first time in the world of urkishmusic, that "slang" words were used in songs and the brave young man began to draw attention as much with his songs as with his green eyes."
In May 1994, his second studio album ''Aacayipsin
''Aacayipsin'' (''You're Different'') is the 1994 album of the Turkish pop singer Tarkan. The album was published in Europe and Asia. This was his second album, the success of which launched him as a superstar onto the Turkish pop scene with ov ...
'' was released in Turkey; it was subsequently released in Germany and Russia in 1996 and 1998 respectively. Artists Sezen Aksu
Sezen Aksu (; born Fatma Sezen Yıldırım; 13 July 1954) is a Turkish pop music singer, songwriter and producer who has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. Her nicknames include the "Queen of Turkish Pop" and "''Minik Serçe''" ("Little Spar ...
, Ümit Sayın, Ozan Çolakoğlu
Ozan Çolakoğlu (, born 1 April 1972) is a Turkish composer, songwriter and music producer; famous for his work with various Turkish pop singers and his multiple film scores. He co-founded the production company ''Sarı Ev'' (Yellow House), but ...
and Yıldız Tilbe
Yıldız Tilbe (born 16 July 1966) is a Turkish singer of Kurdish descent and one of the best-selling musical artists in Turkey, known especially for her eastern-infused ballads.
Life and career
Yıldız Tilbe was born in the Gültepe district o ...
were among those who were featured on the album. Tarkan wrote the lyrics for four songs, three of which were also composed by him; "Hepsi Senin mi?", "Unutmamalı", "Gül Döktüm Yollarına", "Kış Güneşi", "Şeytan Azapta", "Dön Bebeğim" and "Bekle" were the songs that got separate music videos. ''Aacayipsin'' sold two and a half million copies and earned Tarkan the "Best Male Pop Music Artist" award at the Turkey Music Awards
Kral Turkey Music Awards (previously known as Kral TV Video Music Awards between 1995–2009, Kral Music Awards between 2009–12, and Turkey Music Awards between 2013–16) were the annual music awards in Turkey. The first awards were given in 19 ...
.[ The song "Hepsi Senin mi?" was also awarded with the "Best Lyrics", "Best Composition" and "Best Song" awards.]
In 1994, he experienced a dip in his celebrity status after he made a gaffe during an interview on a live broadcast marking the anniversary of the private Turkish TV channel ATV. When asked how he was on live television, his response was "Çişim var, ağabey." ("I've gotta pee, man.") He was publicly criticised for the comment and only after performing traditional songs on another TV special did he endear himself again to the nation. In part to remove himself from media scrutiny, Tarkan moved to New York in 1994 to learn English and complete his education at Baruch College
Baruch College (officially the Bernard M. Baruch College) is a public college in New York City. It is a constituent college of the City University of New York system. Named for financier and statesman Bernard M. Baruch, the college operates und ...
. During this period he filmed a video to another song from his second album, "Dön Bebeğim", in New York. Again Tarkan stripped for this project, but this time he was sharing a bed with a female American model for the slow love song. While in the United States, he met the Turkish founder of Atlantic Records
Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most im ...
, Ahmet Ertegun
Ahmet Ertegun (, Turkish spelling: Ahmet Ertegün; ; – December 14, 2006) was a Turkish-American businessman, songwriter, record executive and philanthropist.
Ertegun was the co-founder and president of Atlantic Records. He discovered and ch ...
. Tarkan has described Ertegun as his mentor in music and business. Ertegun, who died in December 2006, had long been preparing Tarkan for an American career.
In 1997, Tarkan found his own production company Hitt Müzik and in the same year he released his third studio album ''Ölürüm Sana
"Ölürüm Sana" (English "I'd Die For You") was recorded in 1997 by Tarkan, named after the similarly named song '' Ölürüm Sana'' that is featured in the album. Its most popular song was "Şımarık", also known as "Kiss Kiss" in some countr ...
'', which sold three and a half million copies.[ Tarkan himself did the songwriting and composition for many of the songs on this album. "]Şımarık
"Şımarık" (, "Spoilt"), also known as "Kiss Kiss", is a 1997 song by Turkish singer Tarkan. It was written by Sezen Aksu, with music credited as composed by Tarkan. However, Tarkan later admitted in a 2006 interview that this had been done wi ...
", "İkimizin Yerine", "Salına Salına Sinsice
"Salına Salına Sinsice" ("Swaying Insidiously") is the fourth single taken from Tarkan's 1997 album ''Ölürüm Sana
"Ölürüm Sana" (English "I'd Die For You") was recorded in 1997 by Tarkan, named after the similarly named song '' Ölür ...
", "Ölürüm Sana
"Ölürüm Sana" (English "I'd Die For You") was recorded in 1997 by Tarkan, named after the similarly named song '' Ölürüm Sana'' that is featured in the album. Its most popular song was "Şımarık", also known as "Kiss Kiss" in some countr ...
" and "Kır Zincirlerini
"Bu Gece (Kır Zincirlerini)" ("Tonight - Break Your Chains") was originally formed part of Tarkan's 1997 album ''Ölürüm Sana'' (''I'd Die For You'') under the title of "Kır Zincirlerini". The song was written and composed by Tarkan. It was ...
" were the songs for which music videos were made. "Şımarık" became a hit in many countries; ranking third in France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland; second in Norway; and first in Belgium; it also ranked 26th on ''Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' list of Latin Pop Songs
Latin Pop Airplay (also referred to as Latin Pop Songs) is a record chart published on ''Billboard'' magazine and a subchart of the Latin Airplay chart. The chart focuses on Latin pop music, namely Spanish-language pop music. It was established ...
. The song was later performed by many other artists. The song "Kır Zincirleri" also made it into Germany, Belgium and France's music charts. A copyright
A copyright is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the exclusive right to copy, distribute, adapt, display, and perform a creative work, usually for a limited time. The creative work may be in a literary, artistic, education ...
dispute erupted between Tarkan and Aksu over the track "Şımarık", which ultimately blocked the singer's chance to release an English-language version of the song. The music was initially credited as composed by Aksu, Tarkan and Çolakoğlu, but Tarkan later admitted in a 2006 interview that this had been done without Aksu's consent, and that Aksu was the true copyright owner. This dispute ended their successful musical partnership and friendship.
In 1998, Tarkan signed a contract with Universal Music Group
Universal Music Group N.V. (often abbreviated as UMG and referred to as just Universal Music) is a Dutch–American multinational music corporation under Dutch law. UMG's corporate headquarters are located in Hilversum, Netherlands and its ...
.[ (Note: You have to click on the biography section on the opened site.)] In the same year, his compilation album ''Tarkan
Tarkan may refer to:
People
* Tarkan (name), a given name (including a list of people with the name)
* Tarkan (singer) (born 1972), Turkish pop singer
Other uses
* Tarkhan, an ancient Turkic and Mongol nobility title
* Tarkan (comics), a fiction ...
'' was released in a number of countries including France, Argentina, Russia and the Netherlands, and it also contained his signature songs from his previous albums. ''Tarkan'' sold one and a half million copies worldwide earning the singer a platinum certification from Mexico, and gold certifications from Germany, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Colombia and Luxembourg.[ In 1999, Tarkan, who already had high sales figures around the world, was honored at the ]World Music Awards
The World Music Awards is an international award show founded in 1989 under the patronage of Albert II, Prince of Monaco and co-founder/executive producer John Martinotti. The event is based in Monte Carlo. Awards are presented to the world's ...
as the Best-Selling Turkish Artist. As the first artist of Turkish origin to sell 500,000 albums in France, in an interview for CNN
CNN (Cable News Network) is a multinational cable news channel headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. Founded in 1980 by American media proprietor Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld as a 24-hour cable news channel, and presently owned by ...
he said: "It feels wild, you know, because in the beginning I never thought it was going to really happen. It's all in Turkish, you know, and nobody understands a word. But I think it's a groove. It's the kisses that are universal."
His entry into the European musical consciousness started a Turkish pop boom in Germany and Turkey in the 1990s, with his European successes signalling that the musical borders between Turkey and Europe, more specifically Germany, were dissolving. Because of his success, he became the prime example of a Turkish pop performer with an audience outside Turkey. His erotic persona was enhanced when the artist posed naked and semi-naked for the most popular Turkish magazines of the period.
2001–06: ''Karma'', ''Dudu'' and ''Come Closer''
Tarkan released the lead single of his fourth studio album "Kuzu Kuzu
The were a people of ancient Japan believed to have lived along the Yoshino River in Nara Prefecture. They were mentioned in the Kojiki and Nihon Shoki. The name was also used for a population living in the old Hitachi province (today's Ibara ...
" in May 2001, which sold 200,000 copies on cassettes and 500,000 copies in CD format. Three months later, in July 2001 his fourth studio album ''Karma
Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptively ...
'' was released. Tarkan wrote and composed six of the songs, and Nazan Öncel
Nazan Öncel (; born 6 February 1956) is a Turkish singer-songwriter. She also does the arrangements for most of them and has written songs for such singers as Tarkan and İbrahim Tatlıses.
Biography and career
In 1978, her song "''Sana Kul K ...
, Mete Özgencil
Mete Özgencil (born 1962) is a Turkish songwriter, composer, music video director, singer, screenwriter and painter.
Early life
Born in Istanbul on 1962, Özgencil lived in Izmir for 14 years and graduated from the management faculty of Ege ...
and Mazhar Alanson
Mahmut Mazhar Alanson (born February 13, 1950) is a Turkish musician, guitarist, member of the popular Turkish pop music band MFÖ, and an actor.
Early life
He was born on February 13, 1950, to a family of musicians in Ankara, Turkey, wher ...
helped in its preparing.[ The album ''Karma'' sold one and a half million copies.][ Although ''Karma'' was not released worldwide, it was distributed in large shipments to Russia, where he had become the largest-selling non-Russian pop star. A million copies shipped to other areas of Europe, including Denmark.] "Hüp" and "Verme", became the album's other songs to get music videos, and the clip for "Hüp" was subject to various negative criticisms. When the video, directed by Ferzan Özpetek, was released, the Turkish Radio and Television Supreme Council
Radio and Television Supreme Council ( tr, Radyo ve Televizyon Üst Kurulu), also known in short as RTÜK, is the Turkish state agency for monitoring, regulating, and sanctioning radio and television broadcasts. RTÜK was founded in 1994 and is ...
considered banning it from television broadcast, as some viewers complained that the scene in which Tarkan kisses actress Sinemis Candemir was too "explicit" and "pornographic". The case was reported through Europe by the BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...
.
At the Golden Butterfly Awards, "Hüp" was awarded with the "Best Video Clip" award; and Tarkan himself received the "Best Male Turkish Pop Music Soloist" award in addition to an honorary award. Tarkan's so-called ''Karma-era'' style projected an image totally different from his earlier persona in respect to both music and looks.
His appearance – tight trousers, loose, unbuttoned shirts or tight T-shirts – and his new hairdo set a trend among young Turkish men, who started to copy his looks.
'' hairstyle was the most frequently requested style in the salons of Turkey.
, who became his international manager. According to Lang, Tarkan is a great singer and his performance is great.
In 2001 researcher Dr. N Aysun Yüksel published a book titled ''Tarkan – Yıldız Olgusu'' (''Tarkan – Anatomy of a Star''), which was withdrawn from bookshelves by a court order after Tarkan's lawyer Süheyl Atay sued the writer. According to the court's decision the book published personal information and copyrighted photos of the artist, and violated his good reputation. In 2002, Tarkan released two new singles "
and released in summer 2003 in Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Japan. It was the first album of its kind to sell over a million copies in Turkey, while the title track won Tarkan a "Song of the Year Award" in Russia.
Although musically a continuation from ''Karma'', in terms of image ''Dudu'' presented different visuals from the 2001–2003 period. Sexuality became secondary in terms of fashion and concerts were toned down to become intimate affairs. The new image portrayed a more laid back Tarkan sporting shorter hair and wearing less glamorous designs. It was a declaration that glitz and sex were no longer a necessary tool to sell his works. Indicating his desire to show different sides of his personality, he said of his new look: "It's not important how sexy I look or whether I dance sexy".