Beyoğlu
—  District  —
İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu
Location of Beyoğlu in Istanbul Province
Country	Turkey
Province	Istanbul Province
Government
• Mayor	Ahmet Misbah Demircan (AKP)
Population (2008)
• Total	245,064[1]
Time zone	EET (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	EEST (UTC+3)
Area code(s)	0-212
Website	www.beyoglu.bel.tr www.beyoglu.gov.tr

Beyoğlu (Turkish pronunciation: [ˈbejoːɫu]) is a district located on the European side of İstanbul, Turkey, separated from the old city (historic peninsula of Constantinople) by the Golden Horn. It was known as Pera (meaning "Across" in Greek) during the Middle Ages, and this name remained in common use until the early 20th century and the establishment of the Turkish Republic.

According to the prevailing theory, the Turkish name of Pera, Beyoğlu, is a modification by folk etymology of the Venetian ambassadorial title of Bailo, whose palazzo was the most grandiose structure in this quarter. The informal Turkish-language title Bey Oğlu (literally Son of Governor/Emir) was originally used by the Ottoman Turks to describe Lodovico Gritti, son of Andrea Gritti who was the Venetian Bailo in Istanbul during the reign of Sultan Bayezid II (Andrea Gritti was later elected Doge of Venice in 1523, during the reign of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent.)^[2] Bey Oğlu thus meant "Son of the Bey (Doge) of Venice", referring to Lodovico Gritti (alternatively known as Alvise Gritti among the Venetians), who was born in Istanbul in 1480 and established close relations with the Sublime Porte, and whose mansion was located at the vicinity of the present-day Taksim Square. Located further south in Beyoğlu and originally built in the early 16th century, the "Venetian Palace" was the seat of the Bailo. The original palace building was replaced by the existing one in 1781, which later became the "Italian Embassy" following Italy's unification in 1861, and the "Italian Consulate" in 1923, when Ankara became the capital of the Republic of Turkey.^[3]

The district encompasses other neighborhoods located north of the Golden Horn, including Galata (the medieval Genoese citadel from which Beyoğlu itself originated, which today is known as Karaköy), Tophane, Cihangir, Şişhane, Tepebaşı, Tarlabaşı, Dolapdere and Kasımpaşa, and is connected to the old city center across the Golden Horn through the Galata Bridge and Unkapanı Bridge. Beyoğlu is the most active art, entertainment and night life centre of Istanbul.

History[link]

Map of Constantinople (1422) by Florentine cartographer Cristoforo Buondelmonti, showing (a greatly enlarged) Pera (Beyoğlu) at the north of the Golden Horn, with the peninsula of Constantinople to the south.

S. Antonio di Padova on İstiklal Avenue

The area that is now known as Beyoğlu has been inhabited for millennia, and records show that a settlement existed on the northern shore of the Golden Horn since the time of Christ. In the Greek period, the hillside was covered with orchards and was named Sykai (The Fig Orchard), or Peran en Sykais (The Fig Field on the Other Side), referring to the "other side" of the Golden Horn. As the Byzantine Empire grew, so did Constantinople and its environs. This side of the Golden Horn was built up as a suburb of Byzantium as early as the 5th century. It was in this period that the area began to be called Galata, and a fortress was built by Emperor Theodosius II. The name Galata (possibly derived from the Greek word Galaktos, meaning milk) was presumably given because the area was an important farmland for the city.^{[citation needed]}. Gallic people believe the name Galata is Celtic. In classical mythology Galata was the ancestress of the Gallic people. The Galata section of Istanbul carries a reminder of the Celts, as does the city of Galati in Romania.

Genoa and Venice periods[link]

The area came to be the base of European merchants, particularly from Genoa and Venice, in what was then known as Pera. Following the Fourth Crusade in 1204, and during the Latin Empire of Constantinople (1204–1261), the Venetians were more prominent in Pera. The Dominican Church of St. Paul (1233), today known as the Arap Camii, is from this period.

In 1273, Pera was given to the Republic of Genoa by the Byzantine Emperor Michael VIII Palaeologus in return for Genoa's support of the Empire after the Fourth Crusade and the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. Pera became a flourishing trade colony, ruled by a Podestà.

The Genoese Palace (Palazzo del Comune) was built in 1316^[4] by Montano de Marinis, the Podestà of Galata (Pera), and still remains today in ruins, near the Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street) in Karaköy, along with its adjacent buildings and numerous Genoese houses from the early 14th century.

In 1348 the Genoese built the famous Galata Tower, one of the most prominent landmarks of Istanbul. Pera (Galata) remained under Genoese control until May 29, 1453, when it was conquered by the Ottomans along with the rest of the city, after the Siege of Constantinople.

The Genoese Galata Tower (1348)

During the Byzantine period, the Genoese Podestà ruled over the Italian community of Galata (Pera), which was mostly made up of the Genoese, Venetians, Tuscans and Ragusans.

Following the Turkish siege of Constantinople in 1453, during which the Genoese sided with the Byzantines and defended the city together with them, the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II allowed the Genoese (who had fled to their colonies in the Aegean Sea such as Lesbos and Chios) to return back to the city, but Galata was no longer run by a Genoese Podestà.

Venice, Genoa's archrival, regained control in the strategic citadel of Galata (Pera), which they were forced to leave in 1261 when the Byzantines retook Constantinople and brought an end to the Latin Empire (1204–1261) that was established by Enrico Dandolo, the Doge of Venice.

Venice immediately established political and commercial ties with the Ottoman Empire, and a Venetian Bailo (Bailiff) was sent to Pera as a political and commercial ambassador, similar to the role of the Genoese Podestà during the Byzantine period. The Venetians sent Gentile Bellini to Constantinople, who crafted the famous portrait of Sultan Mehmed II, which is found today in the National Portrait Gallery of London. It was also the Venetians who suggested Leonardo da Vinci to Bayezid II when the Sultan mentioned his intention to construct a bridge over the Golden Horn, and Leonardo designed his Galata Bridge in 1502, the sketches and drawings of which are located today at the Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia in Milan.

The Bailo's seat was the "Venetian Palace", originally built in Beyoğlu in the early 16th century and replaced by the existing palace building in 1781; which later became the "Italian Embassy" after the unification of Italy in 1861, and the "Italian Consulate" in 1923, when Ankara became the new Turkish capital.

The Ottoman Empire had an interesting relationship with the Republic of Venice. Even though the two states often went to war over the control of East Mediterranean territories and islands, they were keen on restoring their trade pacts once the wars were over, such as the renewed trade pacts of 1479, 1503, 1522, 1540 and 1575 following major sea wars between the two sides. The Venetians were also the first Europeans to taste Ottoman delicacies such as coffee, centuries before other Europeans saw coffee beans for the first time in their lives during the Battle of Vienna in 1683. These encounters can be described as the beginning of today's rich "coffee culture" in both Venice (and later the rest of Italy) and Vienna.

Following the conquest of Constantinople and Pera in 1453, the coast and the low-lying areas were quickly settled by the Turks, but the European presence in the area did not end. Several Roman Catholic churches, as St. Anthony of Padua, SS. Peter and Paul in Galata and St. Mary Draperis were established for the needs of the Levantine population.

Nineteenth century Beyoglu[link]

Greek shops on İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu, 1930s.

During the 19th century it was again home to many European traders, and housed many embassies, especially along the Grande Rue de Péra (today İstiklâl Avenue). The presence of such a prominent European population - commonly referred to as Levantines - made it the most Westernized part of İstanbul, especially when compared to the Old City at the other side of the Golden Horn, and allowed for influxes of modern technology, fashion, and arts.

Thus, Beyoğlu was one of the first parts of İstanbul to have telephone lines, electricity, trams, municipal government and even an underground railway, the Tünel, inaugurated in 1875 as the world's second subway line (after London's Underground) to carry the people of Pera up and down from the port of Galata and the nearby business and banking district of Karaköy, where the Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street), the financial center of the Ottoman Empire, is located. The theatre, cinema, patisserie and café culture that still remains strong in Beyoğlu dates from this late Ottoman period. Shops like İnci, famous for its chocolate mousse and profiteroles, predate the founding of the republic and still survive today.

The foreign communities also built their own schools, many of which went on to educate the elite of future generations of Turks, and still survive today as some of the best schools in Istanbul (see list of schools in Istanbul).

The rapid modernization which took place in Europe and left Ottoman Turkey behind was symbolized by the differences between Beyoğlu, and the historic Turkish quarters such as Eminönü and Fatih across the Golden Horn, in the Old City. When the Ottoman sultans finally initiated a modernization program with the Edict of Tanzimat (Reorganization) in 1839, they started constructing numerous buildings in Beyoğlu that mixed traditional Ottoman styles with newer European ones.

In addition, Sultan Abdülmecid stopped living in the Topkapı Palace and built a new palace near Beyoğlu, called the Dolmabahçe Palace, which blended the Neo-Classical, Baroque and Rococo styles.

20th-21st centuries[link]

A historic red tram in front of the Beyoğlu station of Tünel (1875) at the southern end of İstiklal Avenue.

When the Ottoman Empire collapsed and the Turkish Republic was founded (during and after the First World War) Beyoğlu went into gradual decline. Much of the foreign communities left the city, and the local communities of ethnic minorities such as Greeks, Jews, Levantines and Armenians who formed the majority of the residents in Beyoğlu found it increasingly attractive to live elsewhere in the city, or elsewhere in the world. The process gained momentum with the Varlık Vergisi (Wealth Tax) of the World War II years, the Istanbul Pogrom in 1955, and the Cyprus dispute in 1974. The widespread political violence between leftist and rightist groups which troubled Turkey in the late 1970s severely affected the lifestyle of the district, and accelerated its decline with the flight of the middle-class citizens to newer suburban areas such as Levent and Yeşilköy.

By the late 1980s, many of the grandiose Neoclassical and Art Nouveau apartment blocks which were once resided by the late Ottoman elite became home to penniless immigrants from rural Anatolia. While Beyoğlu continued to enjoy a reputation for its cosmopolitan and sophisticated atmosphere until the 1940s and 1950s, by the 1980s the area had become economically and socially degenerated.

The low-lying areas such as Tophane, Kasımpaşa and Karaköy, and the side-streets of the area consist of older buildings.

Infrastructure[link]

Roads[link]

Parallel to İstiklal Avenue runs the wide bi-directional boulevard named Tarlabaşı Caddesi, which carries most of the traffic through the area and was constructed in the 1980s. The streets on either side of this road contain historic buildings and churches. The once cosmopolitan areas surrounding them have deteriorated.

Culture[link]

Foreigners have long resided in Beyoğlu. There is a cosmopolitan atmosphere in the heart of the district, where people from various cultures live in Cihangir and Gümüşsuyu.^{[citation needed]} Most of the consulates (former embassies until 1923, when Ankara became the new Turkish capital) are still in this area; the Italian, British, German, Greek, Russian, Dutch, and Swedish consulates are significant in terms of their history and architecture.

Beyoğlu also has a number of historical Tekkes and Türbes. Several Sufi orders such as the Cihangirî (pronounced Jihangiri) order were founded here.
Beyoğlu is also home to many highschools like Galatasaray Lisesi, Istanbul Alman Lisesi and Beyoğlu Kiz Lisesi.

The globally unique international art project United Buddy Bears was presented in Beyoğlu during the winter 2004 and 2005.

Tourism[link]

Historic tram on İstiklal Avenue

The main thoroughfare is İstiklâl Caddesi, running into the neighbourhood from Taksim Square, a pedestrianised 1 mile (1.6 km) street of shops, cafés, patisseries, restaurants, pubs, wine houses and clubs, as well as bookshops, theatres, cinemas and art galleries. Some of İstiklâl has a 19th century metropolitan character, and the avenue is lined with Neoclassical and Art Nouveau buildings.^{[citation needed]} The nostalgic tram which runs on İstiklal Avenue, between Taksim Square and Tünel, was also re-installed in the early 1990s with the aim of reviving the historic atmosphere of the district.

Çiçek Pasajı (Cité de Péra) on İstiklal Avenue

Some of the city's historic pubs and winehouses are located in the areas around İstiklal Avenue in Beyoğlu. The 19th century Çiçek Pasajı (literally Flower Passage in Turkish, or Cité de Péra in French, opened in 1876) on İstiklal Avenue can be described as a miniature version of the famous Galleria in Milan, Italy, and has rows of historic pubs, winehouses and restaurants. The site of Çiçek Pasajı was originally occupied by the Naum Theatre, which was burned during the great fire of Pera in 1870. The theatre was frequently visited by Sultans Abdülaziz and Abdülhamid II, and hosted Giuseppe Verdi's play Il Trovatore before the opera houses of Paris.^[5] After the fire of 1870, the theatre was purchased by the local Greek banker Hristaki Zoğrafos Efendi, and Italian architect Zanno designed the current building, which was called Cité de Péra or Hristaki Pasajı in its early years. Yorgo'nun Meyhanesi (Yorgo's Winehouse) was the first winehouse to be opened in the passage. In 1908 the Ottoman Grand Vizier Sait Paşa purchased the building, and it became known as the Sait Paşa Passage. Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, many impoverished noble Russian women, including a Baroness, sold flowers here.^[5] By the 1940s the building was mostly occupied by flower shops, hence the present Turkish name Çiçek Pasajı (Flower Passage). Following the restoration of the building in 1988, it was reopened as a galleria of pubs and restaurants.

Cezayir Sokağı, also known as La Rue Française, is famous for its pubs and restaurants playing live music.

Pano, established by Panayot Papadopoulos in 1898, and the neighbouring Viktor Levi, established in 1914, are among the oldest winehouses in the city and are located on Kalyoncu Kulluk Street near the British Consulate and Galatasaray Square. Cumhuriyet Meyhanesi (literally Republic Winehouse), renamed in the early 1930s but originally established in the early 1890s, is another popular historic winehouse and is located in the nearby Sahne Street, along with the Hazzopulo Winehouse, established in 1871, inside the Hazzopulo Pasajı which connects Sahne Street and Meşrutiyet Avenue. The famous Nevizade Street, which has rows of historic pubs next to each other, is also in this area. Other historic pubs are found in the areas around Tünel Pasajı and the nearby Asmalımescit Street. Some historic neighbourhoods around İstiklal Avenue have recently been recreated, such as Cezayir Street near Galatasaray High School, which became known as La Rue Française and has rows of francophone pubs, cafés and restaurants playing live French music. Artiste Terasse (Artist Teras) on Cezayir Street is a popular restaurant-bar which offers panoramic views of the Hagia Sophia, Topkapı Palace, Sultan Ahmed Mosque and Galata Tower.

Bankalar Caddesi (Banks Street) in the Galata quarter of Beyoğlu was the financial center of the Ottoman Empire.

Throughout Beyoğlu, there are many night clubs for all kinds of tastes. Babylon and Nu Pera are among the most popular European style night clubs and restaurants in the district, while Kemancı plays rock, hard rock and heavy metal. Maksim plays Oriental music, while Andon is a place where one can eat, drink and dance to the traditional Turkish music called fasıl. There are restaurants on the top of historic buildings with a view of the city, such as 360. The Ottoman era Rejans is a historic Russian restaurant. Asmalımescit Street has rows of traditional Turkish restaurants and Ocakbaşı (grill) houses, while the streets around the historic Balıkpazarı (Fish Market) is full of eateries offering seafood like fried mussels and calamari along with beer or rakı, or the traditional kokoreç. Beyoğlu also has many elegant pasaj (passages) from the 19th century, most of which have historic and classy chocolateries and patisseries, such the Markiz Pastanesi, along with many shops lining their alleys. There is also a wide range of fast-food restaurants in the district, of international chains such as McDonald's, Burger King, Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut, etc.; as well as local Turkish chains, such as Simit Sarayı which serves simit (sesame-covered, ring-shaped pretzel bread) along with cheese and tea, or individual eateries such as döner kebab houses.

Apart from the hundreds of shops lining the streets and avenues of the district, there is also a business community. Odakule, a 1970s high rise building (the first "structural expressionism" style building in Turkey) is the headquarters of İstanbul Sanayi Odası (ISO) (Istanbul Chamber of Industry) and is located between İstiklal Avenue and Tepebaşı, next to the Pera Museum. Most of the upper floors of the buildings in Beyoğlu are office space, and small workshops are found on the side streets.

Landmarks[link]

Istanbul Modern, located near Karaköy Port on the Bosphorus, frequently hosts the exhibitions of renowned Turkish and foreign artists.

Pera Museum exhibits some of the works of art from the late Ottoman period, such as the Kaplumbağa Terbiyecisi (Turtle Trainer) by Osman Hamdi Bey. Apart from its permanent collection, the museum also hosts visiting exhibitions, which included the works of renowned artists such as Rembrandt.

Doğançay Museum, Turkey's first contemporary art museum dedicated to the works of a single artist, officially opened its doors to the public in 2004. While the museum almost exclusively displays the works of its founder Burhan Doğançay, a contemporary artists, one floor has been set aside for the works of the artist's father, Adil Doğançay.

Hotel Pera Palace was built in the district in 1892 for hosting the passengers of the Orient Express. Agatha Christie wrote the novel, Murder on the Orient Express, in this hotel. Her room is conserved as a museum.

S. Antonio di Padova, the largest Catholic church in Turkey, and the Neve Shalom Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Turkey, are also in Beyoğlu. There are other important Catholic and Orthodox churches in the area, such as the centrally located Hagia Triada Church at the conjunction point between Istiklal Avenue and Taksim Square. It is the seat of the Chaldean Catholic Archeparchy of Diyarbakir.

The only Jewish Museum of Turkey, which has been converted from a synagogue, is located in the Karaköy quarter, which was known as Galata in the medieval period.

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Beyoğlu

• Beyoğlu Municipality official website

• Galata travel guide from Wikitravel
• Galata Tower
• Pera Museum
• Çiçek Pasajı - Cité de Péra
• Tiyatro Pera - Pera Theater
• Galatasaray High School

v t e Beyoğlu in Istanbul Province (in the Marmara region) of Turkey Urban districts Istanbul - (Adalar - Arnavutköy - Ataşehir - Avcılar - Bağcılar - Bahçelievler - Bakırköy - Başakşehir - Bayrampaşa - Beşiktaş - Beylikdüzü - Beyoğlu - Beykoz - Büyükçekmece - Çatalca - Çekmeköy - Eyüp - Esenler - Esenyurt - Fatih - Gaziosmanpaşa - Güngören - Kadıköy - Kağıthane - Kartal - Küçükçekmece - Maltepe - Pendik - Sancaktepe - Sarıyer - Silivri - Sultanbeyli - Sultangazi - Şile - Şişli - Tuzla - Ümraniye - Üsküdar - Zeytinburnu) Regions Provinces Aegean Afyonkarahisar - Aydın - Denizli - Izmir - Kütahya - Manisa - Muğla - Uşak Black Sea Amasya - Artvin - Bartın - Bayburt - Bolu - Çorum - Düzce - Giresun - Gümüşhane - Karabük - Kastamonu - Ordu - Rize - Samsun - Sinop - Tokat - Trabzon - Zonguldak Central Anatolia Aksaray - Ankara - Çankırı - Eskişehir - Karaman - Kayseri - Kırıkkale - Kırşehir - Konya - Nevşehir - Niğde - Sivas - Yozgat Eastern Anatolia Ağrı - Ardahan -Bingöl - Bitlis - Elâzığ - Erzincan - Erzurum - Hakkâri - Iğdır - Kars - Malatya - Muş - Siirt - Tunceli - Van Marmara Balıkesir - Bilecik - Bursa - Çanakkale - Edirne - Istanbul - Kırklareli - Kocaeli - Sakarya - Tekirdağ - Yalova Mediterranean Adana - Antalya- Burdur - Hatay - Isparta - Kahramanmaraş - Mersin - Osmaniye Southeastern Anatolia Adıyaman - Batman - Diyarbakır - Gaziantep - Kilis - Mardin - Şanlıurfa - Şırnak

Sezen Aksu
Sezen Aksu concert Maltepe University, 2009.
Background information
Birth name	Fatma Sezen Yıldırım
Also known as	Sezen Aksu
Born	(1954-07-13) July 13, 1954 (age 57)
Genres	Pop
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Years active	1975–present
Website	Official Website

Sezen Aksu (Turkish pronunciation: [seˈzen ˈaksu]; born: Fatma Sezen Yıldırım; July 13, 1954 in Denizli) is a Turkish pop music singer, song-writer and producer who sold over 40 million albums worldwide.^[1] Her nicknames include the "Queen of Turkish Pop"^[2] and Minik Serçe ("Little Sparrow").

Aksu's influence on Turkish pop and world music has continued since her debut in 1975, and has been reinforced by her patronage of and collaboration with many other musicians, including Sertab Erener, Şebnem Ferah, Aşkın Nur Yengi, Hande Yener, and Levent Yüksel.^[3] Her work with Tarkan resulted in continental hits like "Şımarık" and "Şıkıdım" and her collaboration with Goran Bregović widened her international audience.

Biography[link]

Sezen Aksu was born in Sarayköy, Turkey. Her family moved to İzmir when she was 3 years old and she spent her childhood and early youth there. Aksu's parents discouraged her singing because they wanted her to have a steady profession as a doctor or engineer. She used to wait until they left the house and sing on the family's balcony.^[4] After finishing high school, she began studying at the local agricultural institute, but left college to concentrate on music.

Along with her close friend Ajda Pekkan, Aksu is credited with laying the foundations of Turkish pop music in the 1970s.^[5] Her sound has also spread across the Balkans and Greece.^[6] It was this sound that changed the face of the Eurovision song contest when her protégé Sertab Erener won in 2003. Aksu has also toured in Europe and the U.S to critical appraise.^[7]

She has championed a variety of causes, including women's rights, the environment, and educational reform in Turkey.^[2] Aksu has been married and divorced four times, but kept the name from her second marriage to Ali Engin Aksu, a doctor of geology who currently resides in Canada. She has a son with Sinan Özer.

Career[link]

This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2011)

Sezen Aksu released her first single, Haydi Şansım/Gel Bana (Come on My Luck/Come to Me) in 1975 under the name of Sezen Seley. However, she remained undiscovered until her 1976 single Olmaz Olsun/Vurdumduymaz (Wish It Never Happened/Insensitive) reached number one in the Turkish charts. Her first album was 1978's Serçe (Sparrow), which was to give her the nickname, penned by a Turkish journalist.

An Aksu drive finally got Turkey to apply for the Eurovision Song contest in the mid-70s. Ironically however, even though she competed in the national finals for the competition three times - "Küçük Bir Aşk Masalı" (A Little Love Tale) was a duet with Özdemir Erdoğan, "Heyamola" was performed as a trio with Coşkun Demir and Ali Kocatepe and "1945" was her solo performance - none got the chance to represent Turkey abroad. It was to be left to her pupil Erener to win the Eurovision and realise Aksu's dream to push her musical vision further into Europe.

In the 80's, Aksu had a relationship with producer Onno Tunç that was both romantic and professional. As a couple they put their signatures to works that broke new ground in Turkish pop music, such as Sen Ağlama (Don't Cry), Git (Go), Sezen Aksu'88 and Sezen Aksu Söylüyor (Sezen Aksu Sings). Her music matured in the 90's, when she co-produced her best selling album to-date Gülümse (Smile) with Tunç. The A-1 track from the album called Hadi Bakalım (Come On Now) was a hit in Turkey and Europe, and was published as a single in Germany. It was to be later rediscovered in Europop by singer Loona as Rhythm of the Night. She also began to produce albums for her vocalists, notably producing Aşkın Nur Yengi's debut album Sevgiliye (To a Lover) again with Tunç. She was to repeat her success with artists Erener and Yüksel also.

Parting ways with Tunç, in 1995, Aksu branched out with the experimental album Işık Doğudan Yükselir (Light Rises From the East), drawing both on western classical and regional Turkish musical traditions. This album made her name outside Turkey and gave her a world music following across Europe. In 1996, she released Düş Bahçeleri (Dream Gardens) as a tribute to Tunç, who died that same year tragically when his private plane crashed. In 1997, she released Düğün ve Cenaze (The Wedding And The Funeral), this time collaborating with Goran Bregović.

She returned to her roots with Adı Bende Saklı (Its Name Is Hidden In Me), which was released in 1998. She began to use experimental sounds and was once again pushing Turkish pop into the future. Aksu continued with this trend with her subsequent albums Deliveren (Crazymaker), Şarkı Söylemek Lazım (Gotta Sing) which also featured former Sparks bassist Martin Gordon as engineer/mixer (and also as bass player on her subsequent European tour), Yaz Bitmeden (Before The Summer Ends) between the years 2000 - 2003. After a two year hiatus, she returned with Bahane (Excuse) in 2005. That same year she released Kardelen (Snowdrop) where all proceeds went to charity, and before the end of 2005 released a Bahane/Remixes (Excuse/Remixes) double-CD album which contained the original Bahane album in disc one and the remixes of songs in Bahane in disc two. At the end of the year her albums Bahane, Kardelen and the re-released album Şarkı Söylemek Lazım were the three best-selling albums in the country.

In 2005 she was featured in Fatih Akin's documentary film "Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul" with a performance of the song "Istanbul Hatirasi."

Aksu has recently been re-releasing all her old classics digitally remastered and with specially designed new sleeves. After her concert tour in summer 2006.

Sezen Aksu performed at the Royal Albert Hall in London, on 7 October 2007. After Zeki Muren, she was only the second Turkish artist to perform at the prestigious venue.

In 2008 Aksu released her album called Deniz Yıldızı through Starfish Records. And in 2009 she released her latest album Yürüyorum Düş Bahçelerinde which sold over 100 000 copies during the first week of its release. The album contains new original songs as well as some older songs which were composed by Sezen Aksu for other singers, most notably Çakkıdı, Kibir, Yok Ki.

Discography[link]

Music Albums[link]

Acting/Musicals[link]

• Sezen Aksu Aile Gazinosu - (Sezen Aksu Family Music Hall) (1982)
• Bin Yıl Önce Bin Yıl Sonra - (1000 Years Before, 1000 Years Later) (1986)

sezen aksu

See also[link]

• Turkish Wikipedia and Sezen Aksu
• List of Turkish musicians

Notes[link]

1. ^ CD Baby
2. ^ ^{a b} 6Moons Review
3. ^ Sezen Aksu and Her Children
4. ^ Grant, Neva (12 April 2010). "Sezen Aksu: The Voice Of Istanbul". Morning Edition. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125787999. Retrieved 24 May 2011. 
5. ^ Aksu's expressive vocal technique, distinctive songwriting, and prolific output were all integral to her success and to the development of a unique Turkish pop sound. Many musicians--for example, Alexander Hacke and several of the artists he interviewed for the documentary Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul--have acknowledged Sezen Aksu's broad influence.
6. ^ With the Greek diaspora from Turkey in the seventies, many brought their musical tastes, which included Aksu's music to Greece; the Greek musicians Haris Alexiou and Giorgos Dalaras acknowledge her influence.
7. ^ Sezen Aksu (June 19, 2002). The Guardian

References[link]

• Sezen Aksu Sezen-Aksu.com.
• Sezen Aksu Discography Sezen Aksu Discography.
• Sezen.net Sezen.net.
• Sezen Aksu (June 19, 2002). The Guardian.
• Songs Must Be Sung (November, 2002). 6 Moons.
• Sezen Aksu And Her Children (September 15, 2004). DEUTSCHE WELLE.
• [1] Producer for Sezen Aksu

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sezen Aksu

• Sezen Aksu Video Klipleri
• Sezen Aksu at the Internet Movie Database
• Can Dündar - Hey gidi günler! (Turkish)
• The Official Sezen Aksu Web Site
• The Sezenciler Fansite
• sezen.onlinecosmos.com
• Sezen Aksu Dinle
• Review of 'Öptüm' (in English)

Nazan Öncel (born February 6, 1956) is one of Turkey's most successful and famous pop music and pop rock singers/songwriters. She writes her own songs, does the arrangements for most of them and has also written songs for many famous singers such as Tarkan and İbrahim Tatlıses. She's mostly known for her unique writing style, a combination of grammatically perfect "high-class" Turkish and slang.

Biography and career[link]

Nazan Öncel was born on 6 February 1956 in Karşıyaka, İzmir, the second child to a family of government officials. Her mother, Raziye Hanım, was a teacher. Her interest towards music started early in her childhood. She began singing songs and playing guitar in her middle school years. For three years from 1969 she worked with "Kervanlar Orkestrası", then in 1971 she joined the band "Çılgınlar", which performed at weddings and celebrations. In 1976 she won a song contest organized by the İzmir Radio Station with her song "Annem" ("My Mother").

In 1978, her song "Sana Kul Köle Olmuştum" ("I've Become Your Slave"), written by Erdener Koyutürk and Özdener Koyutürk, was aired on radio and television, and Nazan's interesting voice attracted attention. Her first album (LP), "Yağmur Duası"("Prayer for the Rain") was published in 1982. The first album, where all of the songs were written by Öncel herself, was published in 1992, by the title "Bir Hadise Var" ("There is an Issue"). In 1994 she published her second album "Ben Böyle Aşk Görmedim" (I Didn't See Love like This) and album included a 1994 hit with its video,^[1] "Geceler Kara Tren" ("The Nights are Dark Train"). Songs lyrics written by Nazan Öncel and with "Geceler Kara Tren"s lyrics, she reached high-class lyric writer rank. In 1995 she published an unplugged album, "Göç" ("The Migration") under her own publishing company Naz Müzik. Until recently, this album has been out of print and received a cult following in Turkey. It has been considered by many to be one of the best albums in Turkish music history. Her 1996 album "Sokak Kızı" ("Stray Girl") included a more rock-oriented sound than its predecessor. Album included four singles and three of this singles; "Erkekler de Yanar" (The Men Are on the Hook, too),^[2] "A Bu Hayat" (This Life) ^[3] and "Bırak Seveyim Rahat Edeyim" (Let Me Love You Disembarrass Me) ^[4] became hits with their videos. In 1999, she released "Demir Leblebi" ("The Iron Chickpea"), which caused controversy because of the lyrics of the song with the same name, which talks about her memories of child molestation by her father. Her latest album, "Yan Yana Fotoğraf Çektirelim" ("Let's Have Our Photo Taken Side By Side") came out in 2004 under HITT Productions, pop-star Tarkan's own publishing company. The album includes two duets "Hay Hay" and "Nereye Böyle" with him.

Nazan Öncel has finished working on her 7th studio album. It features 12 new songs and is titled 7'n Bitirdin. The mastering process of the album has been seen through by Miles Showell in London, who is known for his works with artists such as Queen, Elton John and George Michael.^[5] The first single of the album was "Aşkım Baksana Bana". 27. Aralık.2008'de Hatırına Sustum albümünden Seni Bugün Görmem Lazım gibi muhteşem bir hit çıkardıktan sonra. Amerikada Karaciğer nakli yararına çıkartılan ROCK4LIFE serisinde Hatırına Sustum şarkısına yer verilmiştir. 2010 a gelindiğinde ilk defa Tuttum Bırakmam'ı single olarak çıkarmış, bu single'ın klibinde İskender Paydaş, Janti ve Tolga Kılıç'a baş rol vermiştir. 6.Haziran.2011'de Hayvan albümünü çıkarmıştır.

Discography[link]

Singles[link]

Albums[link]

• Nazan Öncel, 1978

1. Sana Kul Köle Olmuştum
2. Kader Bu Çekeceksin

• Yağmur Duası, 1980

1. Zalimin Zülmü
2. Hüdaverdi
3. Damarımda Kanımsın
4. Şahane Gözler
5. Kim Demiş
6. Demedim mi?
7. Yağmur Duası
8. Böyle mi Olacaktı?
9. Kaderimde Hep Güzeli Aradım
10. Ben Yalnız Seni Sevdim
11. Geçti Güzelim

• Bir Hadise Var, 1992

1. Aynı Nakarat
2. Gitme Kal Bu Şehirde
3. Aşık Değilim Olabilirim
4. Leylim Yar
5. Mühürledim Seni Kalbime (Bir Hadise Var)
6. Hadi Hadi Nazlanma
7. Boncuk
8. Hani Böyle Olamazdık?
9. Nokta Nokta
10. Ağla Erkeğim Ağla
11. Olmaz ki
12. Aynı Nakarat (Remix)

• Ben Böyle Aşk Görmedim, 1994

1. Ben Böyle Aşk Görmedim
2. Geceler Kara Tren
3. Dillere Düşeceğiz Seninle
4. Adam Sende Yeter
5. Nazınla Dünya Sazınla Dünya
6. Bu Kaçıncı Bahar?
7. Eveleme Geveleme Develeme Bitti
8. Avare Yıllar
9. Aşk Beklemez
10. Bunu Bir Ben Bilirim Bir Allah

• Göç, 1995

1. Gidelim Buralardan
2. Sen Beni Öldürüyorsun
3. Aşk Olmalı
4. Bir Şarkı Tut
5. Ağlama Gönlüm
6. Nazlı Ay
7. Göç
8. İşiniz Gücünüz Yok mu Yani?
9. Çocuk Kalbim
10. Vesaire

Erdem Sökmen : Guitar
Erkan Oğur : E-Bow
Güral Ağırbaş : Bass
Tarkan Gözübüyük : Bass
Hüseyin Cebeci : Mandolin, acoustic instruments
Özer Arkun : Cello
Music direction: Nazan Öncel
Producer : Akşit Togay
Arrangement : Nazan Öncel
Supervisor : Mert Özmen
Art Direction : Mete Özgencil

• Sokak Kızı, 1996

1. Ben Sokak Kızıyım
2. Bana Özel
3. Bu İstanbul
4. Erkekler de Yanar
5. Geberik
6. Bırak Seveyim Rahat Edeyim
7. Özgür Çiçek
8. Ölüyorum Anlasana
9. A Bu Hayat
10. Hadi Güneye

Alper Erinç : Acoustic, Electric and Bass Guitar
Ogün Sanlısoy : Harmonica
Ahmet Koç : Bağlama
Deniz Selman : Zurna
Hamit Ündaş : Shaker
Vocals: Sezen Aksu, Metin Arolat, Mert Savaş, Zeynep Erekli, Hamit Ündaş, Menent Savaş

• Demir Leblebi, 1999

1. Beni Söyletme
2. Bu Havada Gidilmez
3. Kunduram Sandukam Zembilim
4. Aşıklar Parkı
5. Zor Dünya
6. Hızlı Yaşarken
7. Hep Yalnız
8. Kötülere Bi'şey Olmaz
9. Kız Bebek
10. Sokarım Politikana
11. Demirden Leblebi

Nazan Öncel: Music direction, Sound and Rhythm Composition, Electric guitar, Hollo
İskender Paydaş: Arrangement
Hamit Ündaş : Arrangement, Basa, Electric and Classic Guitar, Taf, Shaker, Castanet, Bongo, Holo, Backvocals
Erdem Sökmen : Acoustic Guitar
İslay Tetik ve Grubu : Yaylı
Volkan Öktem : Acoustic drums
Mehmet Bitmez : Ud
Kerem Tüzün : Bass
Deniz Yılmaz : Electric Guitar
Cengiz Ercümer : Darbuka
Ahmet Koç : Bağlama, Electro Bağlama, Cura
Alper Erinç : E-bow, Bass, Bağlama
Evran Tokdamış : Bass
Mustafa Süder : Violin, Guitar, Backvocal

• Yan Yana Fotoğraf Çektirelim, 2004

1. Hay Hay
2. Ukala Dümbeleği
3. Nereye Böyle
4. Beyoğlu
5. Atıyorsun
6. Beni Hatırla
7. Hokka
8. Anlamaya Çalış
9. Küçük Gemiler
10. Gül Pansiyon
11. Otomobil (Yan Yana Fotoğraf Çektirelim)
12. Ruh Hali
13. Hayat Güzelmiş

• 7'n Bitirdin, 2006

1. Aşkım Baksana Bana
2. Omzumda Ağla
3. 7'n Bitirdin
4. Ekilmekteyim
5. Zehirli Sarmaşık
6. Bırak Konuşsunlar
7. Utan
8. El Kızı
9. Bittimse Bittim
10. Anlat Arkadaşım
11. Direkten Döndüm
12. Kış Baba

Executive Producer: Nazan Öncel
Sound Designer: Nazan Öncel
Director: Akşit Togay
Recording Studios: İmaj, RMS, I.P Studio, M.İ.A.M
Mix: Ulaş Ağce
Mastering: Metropolis (London)
Recordings: Okan Doğu, Hamit Ündaş, Tufan Taş, Evrim İşbilir, Özgür Yurtoğlu, Murat Elgün, Veli Meral
Nazan Öncel Vocal Recordings: Hamit Ündaş
Studio Assistants: Murat Elgün (Mix), Emin Hasan
Caricatures: İsmail Gülgeç
Booklet Design: Nazan Öncel
Photographer: Gül Gülbahar
Photography Coordinator: Nurdan Sözgen
Make-up: Ülker Mutlucan
Hair Designer: Yüksel Altun
Costume Designer: Nazan Öncel
Graphics: Özgürarcan
Print: FRS Printing
Producer: A3 Music Production
Production: Avrupa Music Production A.Ş - 1697

• Hatırına Sustum, 2008

1. Öp Barışalım
2. Seni Bugün Görmem Lazım
3. Canım Benim Nasılsın
4. Hatırına Sustum
5. Nereye Gitti Bu Adam
6. Ankaralı Sevgilim
7. Bu Da Hayat Mı
8. Manzaralı Oda
9. Pollyanna
10. Ali
11. Çiçekçi Geldi

Sources[link]

• Nazan Öncel Biography, Official Site

References[link]

1. ^ "Geceler Kara Tren" music video on YouTube
2. ^ "Erkekler de Yanar" music video on YouTube
3. ^ "A Bu Hayat" music video on YouTube
4. ^ "Bırak Seveyim Rahat Edeyim" music video on YouTube
5. ^ Son albüm Londra'dan (The latest album from London) - 20 July 2006, Hürriyet Newspaper
6. ^ Turkish Top 20 Chart Retrieved on January 26, 2009
7. ^ Russia Singles Chart - Hay Hay Retrieved on January 29, 2009
8. ^ Russia Singles Chart - Hokka Retrieved on January 29, 2009
9. ^ Russia Singles Chart - Atıyorsun Retrieved on January 29, 2009

External links[link]

• Nazan Öncel Official Site

Münir Özkul (August, 15 1925 - Istanbul) is a retired Turkish cinema and theatre actor. He has been awarded the title of "State Artist of Turkey"

He completed his formal education at İstanbul Erkek Lisesi. Özkul starting his acting career at Bakırköy Halkevi theatre. Later he worked at Ankara State theatre and İstanbul Şehir theatre. He became famous after his role in Muhsin Ertuğrul's Fareler ve İnsanlar. From the 1950s onwards, he acted mostly in cinema. During the 1970s, he appeared in many films of the director Ertem Eğilmez like Hababam Sınıfı, Şabanoğlu Şaban, Mavi Boncuk, Banker Bilo, Namuslu. Many of these films paired him with the actress Adile Naşit. Other films include Edi ile Büdü, Halıcı Kız, Kalbimin Şarkısı, Miras Uğruna, Balıkçı Güzeli, Neşeli Günler, Gülen Yüzler, Gırgıriye, Görgüsüzler, Mavi Boncuk, Bizim Aile, Aile Şerefi. In the 1980s, he acted in some television series such as Uzaylı Zekiye, Ana Kuzusu ve Şaban ile Şirin. He has acted in a total of more than 400 films and theatre plays.

Münir Özkul has married four times and he has three children. His second wife was actress Suna Selen. In 1998, he was awarded the title of "State Artist of Turkey" by the Turkish Ministry of Culture.

Filmography[link]

External links[link]

• Münir Özkul at the Internet Movie Database

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