Tarkan

Tarkan Tevetoğlu is a Turkish pop singer and performer from Alzey, Türkiye, born in 1972. He is one of the best-known figures in Turkish pop and is often called the Turkish Prince of Pop. His career spans several platinum-selling albums and an estimated 15 million albums sold.

Career

Tarkan begins his recording career in Turkey after meeting producer Mehmet Sogutoglu, who signs him to Istanbul Plak. His debut album, Yine Sensiz, appears in 1993. Its singles include “Kil Oldum Abi”, “Cok Ararsin Beni” and “Vazgecemem”, and the album sells more than 700,000 copies.

His second album, Aacayipsin, follows in 1995. The title track is a collaboration with Sezen Aksu and becomes his first number one single. In the same period he performs extensively in Turkey and Europe, with 74 live concerts in 1995 and a live broadcast from New York’s Palladium to audiences in Turkey. The album sells more than 2.5 million units.

He later moves to New York to learn English, and maintains a close professional connection with Ahmet Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records, who becomes an important guide in his career.

International success

Tarkan’s third album, Olurum Sana, is released in 1997. Its standout track, “Şımarık”, written by Sezen Aksu and known internationally as “Kiss Kiss”, becomes a major international hit. The song charts across Europe, Russia and the Americas without being sung in English, and its widespread success leads it to be regarded as an important track in the history of European pop. The song is also covered by other artists, including Holly Valance, after the music rights are sold.

In support of this period, he tours widely, including sold-out stadium shows, dates in more than 17 European cities and appearances in South America. The album is later licensed in France by PolyGram and becomes platinum in Mexico and gold in several European countries.

Albums in the 2000s

Karma appears in 2001. Its first single, “Kuzu Kuzu”, reaches number one for three months. The album is successful in Russia as well as Turkey, selling more than 2.5 million units despite economic and political crisis in Turkey. Around this period, he is asked to compose and perform the official song for the Turkish national football team and receives recognition from the Turkish Ministry of Tourism for music used in documentary films.

Dudu follows in 2003 and is backed by another major tour, with concerts in Turkey, Germany, Moscow, Baku and Alma Ata.

He releases his English-language album Come Closer in 2006. It includes collaborations with Wyclef Jean, Pete Martin, Brian Kierulf, Josh Schwartz, Devrim Karaoglu, Billy Mann, Lester Mendez, David Werner, Dexter Simmons, the Jettsonz, Supaflyas and Ozan Colakoglu. The album features tracks such as “Just Like That”, “In Your Eyes”, “Why Don’t We (Aman Aman)”, “Mine”, “Over”, “Start the Fire”, “I Wanna Hear Love Speak (SHHH)”, “Bounce”, “Come Closer”, “Don’t Leave Me Alone”, “Sikidim”, “I’m Gonna Make You Feel Good”, “Mass Confusion”, “Touch” and “If Only You Knew”.

In 2007 he releases Metamorfoz, a Turkish-language album made mostly from his own writing. Seven songs are written by Tarkan and three others are collaborations with Ozan Çolakoğlu. The album sells more than 300,000 copies in its first two weeks and he becomes the most downloaded artist at TTNetMüzik.

Style, performance and recognition

Tarkan is known for live performance and stage presence. The Washington Post compares his effect in Turkey to Elvis Presley’s impact in the United States in the 1950s, and Ahmet Ertegun describes him as one of the best live performers he has seen. His music combines pop with dance elements and he uses Turkish language lyrics throughout a career that reaches audiences across several continents.

He receives a World Music award and is also recognised by the Turkish Language Association for his lyrics, which use correct language and traditional idioms. His career includes work through his own music company, HITT Music, which he establishes in 1997 and which is linked to Hitt Müzik. He is also associated with brand endorsements, including Pepsi, for which he appears in commercials.