Sertab Erener has released her first album in four years and it is called ‘Ben Yaşarım’ (I live).
Sertab won the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest for Turkey with Every Way That I Can.
You can see the music video of Kafanı Yorma (Don’t tire your head) from the new album by Sertab below.
Source: ESC Covers
Tatia Kobaladze is from Georgia and she is currently competing on O Ses Türkiye (The Voice of Turkey).
Tatia recently performed What’s Up by 4 Non Blondes.
Check out Tatia’s performance below.
Source: ESC Covers; TV8
Hadise is back with a summer banger! The song is called Geliyorum Yanına (I’m coming to you). It is a real upbeat and feelgood track with a pulsating beat and production.
Geliyorum Yanına is composed by Gülşen.
It was in 2009 that Hadise represented Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest with Dum Tek Tek.
You can see the video clip for Geliyorum Yanına below.
Source: ESC Covers
Ajda Pekkan has released a brand new single entitled Canın Sağ Olsun (No problem). It is an upbeat song with a strong rhythm and beat.
Canın Sağ Olsun is composed by Sinan Akçıl.
Ajda Pekkan represented Turkey at the 1980 Eurovision Song Contest with Petr’oil.
You can see the music video for Canın Sağ Olsun below. The track is released on Ozinga & DMC label.
Source: ESC Covers
Many Eurovision fans dream that Tarkan will take to the Eurovision stage one year. The Turkish singer has many fans around the world and has had many top hits. Tarkan has just released his brand new single entitled Yolla. It is an upbeat pop/ethnic song with a strong beat and production. The lyrics are by Tarkan and the music by Ozan Çolakoğlu and Tarkan.
You can see the official video for Yolla below. This is great Turkish pop.
Source: ESC Covers
1996 – BESINCI MEVSIM – SEBNEM PAKER = 1 CD
1997 – DINLE – SEBNEM PAKER & GROUP ETHNIC = 1 CD
1998 – UNUTAMAZSIN – TUZMEN = 1 CD
1999 – DON ARTIK – TUGBA ONAL & GRUP MISTIK = 1 CD
2000 – YORGUNUM ANLA – PINAR & THE S O S = 1 CD
2001 – SEVGILIYE SON – SEDAT YUCE = 1 CD
2002 – LEYLAKLAR SOLDU KALBINDE – BUKET BENGISU & GROUP SAPPHIRE = 1 CD
2003 – EVERT WAY THAT I CAN – SERTAB = 1 CD
2004 – FOR REAL – ATHENA = 1 CD
2005 – RIMI RIMI LEY – GULSEREN & SHAMAN = 1 CD
2006 – SUPERSTAR – SIBEL TUZUN = 1 CD
2007 – SHATE IT UP SEKERIM – KENAN DOGULU = 1 CD
2008 – DELI – MOR VE OTESI = 1 CD
2009 – DUK TEK TEK – HADISE = 1 CD
2010 – WE COULD BE THE SAME – MANGA = 1 CD
2011 – LIVE IT UP – YUKSEK SADAKAT = 1 CD
2012 – LOVE ME BACK – CAN BONOMO = 1 CD
2013 – no participation
2014 – no participation
2015 – no participation
2016 – no participation
To the Head of TV Entertainment – Turkey
Surely no other country gives Eurovision more credibility in its goal of bringing people together than Turkey – a country that has spent its entire existence as a bridge for bringing people together. Turkey is often seen as the link between East and West and Europe and Asia. It is the crossroads, and it seems important to me that we get to hear music from this part of the world. Turkish music can blend the infectious pulse of pop with a traditional arrangement that springs from its ancient well. And please don’t try and convince me that any other dancers can dance as well as the Turkish women. They swirl and weave their own unique blend of magic on stage! There is so much exuberance and feeling. I have trouble staying in my seat when Turkish pop music is playing!
I have been captivated since 2003 when Turkey won with ” Every way that I can” and I would like to implore the Head of TV Entertainment in Turkey to advocate strongly for taking an entrant to Stockholm for Eurovision in 2016. Our world needs to become more connected and not lose music that can bring people together in celebration and joy.
Yours faithfully,
M S – A fan from Australia
An open letter to TRT
To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing to you about Turkey’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, imploring you to reconsider your decision to not attend in 2016.
As a great fan of Eurovision, and of Turkish entries in particular, it deeply saddens me that you have withdrawn from the contest indefinitely. It is particularly disappointing that you have cited moral objections, as Eurovision is inherently about inclusion and diversity. The contest is a celebration of differences, with no one being unwelcome: even Australia attended this year! What makes Eurovision so great is the manifestation of diverse cultures, attitudes and beliefs all coming together in one event. While your government may have objections to certain events that have occurred within the contest, it is a great shame for you to remove yourself entirely.
The theme of inclusivity is extremely relevant now, with Turkey playing such a pivotal role in the current Syrian refugee crisis. Participating in Eurovision again would be a wonderful gesture of Turkey’s willingness to be a part of the European community, with a view to improving diplomatic relations with the rest of Europe. The political implications of Eurovision participation cannot be lost on you, with you yourselves initially withdrawing for political reasons. While the contest was initially established as a tool to unify Europe after World War II, it continues to foster harmony amongst European nations. In the face of a global humanitarian crisis, continental unity is critical and Eurovision holds the key.
Politics aside, it is worth noting that Turkey has had great Eurovision success in recent years. Reaching the top ten seven times in ten years is a remarkable feat, and one of which you must be proud. Your bold stage presentations and Mediterranean/oriental flavoured pop music products are a winning combination; the voting population cannot get enough. And just think, Eurovision 2017 held in Istanbul could even further strengthen Turkey’s relationship with the rest of Europe. This could be a key opportunity for you to use the recent popularity of Turkish music and culture to your advantage.
Looking closer to home, Eurovision is very popular within Turkey itself. This year, hotel searches for Vienna increased by 91% in Turkey, higher than in any other country in the world. Clearly there is still huge support for Eurovision within Turkey. It is a great shame that Turkish fans can no longer enjoy the broadcast from within their own country, in addition to not being represented on the stage.
Let’s not forget that there are approximately 150,000 Turkish people living in Sweden. They must also be very disappointed that a representative from their homeland will not be joining them in Stockholm. There are millions of Turkish people living across Europe who are actively involved with Eurovision, as displayed in Eurovision voting. Turkey has historically received the most points from Germany, which has the largest Turkish population in the world outside of Turkey, estimated at four million people. The second and third most points received have come from France and the Netherlands, who have the second and third largest Turkish populations in Europe. Vast numbers of Turkish people at home and abroad support Eurovision and they are being let down by your non-participation.
There are a multitude of reasons why Turkey should reconsider their position, but in the end it boils down to this: a Eurovision without Turkey does not feel complete. Something is missing. Your absence is felt deeply by all the fans, Turkish and otherwise, and we urge you to rejoin us.
Kind regards,
Huge Eurovision fan
The points table will close on 31 October 2015.
There is one more chance for points but this is exclusively just for people who became members for 2016. We know some of you joined late and did not have all the chances for points like the older members (especially good luck messages). So here is your last chance – the closing date is 21 October 2015.
It is a much more difficult task but there are a lot of points at stake – two members can get 100 points each which will almost guarentee those two for ticket packages.
The two winners will be judges by a panel of three people
Andy Mikheev – Kazakhstan
Cole van Dais – South Africa
Gerry Avelino – United States
These three people are not taking tickets themselves so they will judge each entry purely on merit. They won’t even know who is who, as I will get the entries and give it to them just as entry from A or B or C, no names.
So unlike normal tasks, this task will requite a little more thought to make sure you stand a chance to be one of the two winners.
One of the most important aspects of EUROVISION is which countries will take part and fans are always sad when some countries decide not to take part. Recently we heard NO’s from Croatia, Bosnia and Portugal. But we also know Turkey, Slovakia, Luxembourg, Andorra and Monaco will not participate.
The task is, you have to pick one of these NON participating countries and write a letter to their HEAD OF TV ENTERTAINMENT and give reasons why you as a fan want this country to reconsider and take part.
I myself have done this several times and in the case of two, I have had some success in that these countries did take part and one even wrote to me saying my mail got them thinking. The first example is CZECH REPUBLIC 2015. I wrote a long letter to them once we knew Eurovision 2015 would be in Vienna. My reasons for them to take part is that in 1968 their most famous singer KAREL GOTT took part for Austria in Eurovision with a song composed by Udo Jurgens, the only previous Austrian winner and it would be wonderful to have them make a return in Vienna. Even in Vienna Marta and Vaclav spoke to me as they knew of the South African who is a huge Karel Gott fan. In my mail to Czech republic I attached also sales figures of Karel Gott covers in South Africa (12 of his songs have been covered in Afrikaans with sales to around 3 million). Of course they did write to me to say other factors played a role as well, but it was great that I reminded them about this special connection between Austria and the Czech republic.
The second example was AUSTRIA 2011 – and here I focused mainly on the fact that Eurovision 2011 was in DUSSELDORF in Germany and it would look awful if a fellow German speaking country is absent.
I know this is not going to be easy but a lot of points are at stake and so think carefully which country you will pick and what reasons you will use to get them to return.
I would like to send the best mails to these countries – maybe a last passionate plea would get maybe one to return. We have nothing to loose.
Answers to info@esccovers.com
We are now two-thirds of the way and next up is TURKEY. Only one song by them have ever been covered in South Africa. It is their 2009 song DUK TEK TEK sung by HADISE. The Afrikaans cover is by ANDRIETTE NORMAN.
