Sezen Aksu

Sezen Aksu (born 13 July 1954, as Fatma Sezen Yıldırım in Sarayköy/Denizli, Turkey) is a pop music singer and songwriter, popular both with a mass audience in Turkey, and with world music fans internationally. She began to study at the local agricultural institute, but gave up her studies to concentrate on music full time. She released her first single, Haydi Şansım/Gel Bana (Come on My Luck/Come to Me) in 1975. 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 Serçe (Sparrow) appeared in 1978, which gave her also her nickname. In the coming years, Aksu also acted in two movies and opened a live music club in Istanbul. Her music throughout these years remained conventional, but melodic pop, perhaps best exemplified by Gülümse (Smile) of 1991. In 1995, Aksu branched out with the experimental album Işık Doğudan Yükselir (The Sun Rises in the East), drawing both on western classical and regional Turkish musical traditions. This album made her known outside of Turkey and gave her a devoted world music following across Europe. She has collaborated with many other musicians, such as Tarkan and Sertab Erener, resulting in continental hits like Şımarık. Discography Allahaısmarladık (Good Bye) 1977 Serçe (Sparrow) 1978 Sevgilerimle (With My Love) 1980 Ağlamak Güzeldir (To Cry is Beautiful) 1981 Firuze (Turquoise) 1982 Sen Ağlama (Don't Cry) 1984 Git (Go) 1986 Sezen Aksu '88 1988 Sezen Aksu Söylüyor (Sezen Aksu Sings) 1989 Gülümse (Smile) 1991 Deli Kızın Türküsü (Crazy Girl's Ballad) 1993 Işık Doğudan Yükselir (The Sun Rises from the East) 1995 Düş Bahçeleri (Dream Gardens) 1996 Düğün ve Cenaze (Wedding and Funeral) 1997 Adı Bende Saklı (His Name is Hidden In Me) 1998 Deliveren (Crazymaker) 2000 Şarkı Söylemek Lazım (Time to Sing) 2002 Yaz Bitmeden (Before The Summer Ends) 2003 Bahane (Excuse) 2005 Bahane Remixes (Excuse Remixes) 2005 Kardelen (Snowdrop) 2005 Deniz Yıldızı (Starfish) 2008 Yürüyorum Düş Bahçeleri'nde... (I'm walking in the gardens of dream) 2009 She's currently preparing a new 30-year retrospective album in the US.