Biographie
Sezen Aksu is a Turkish pop singer, songwriter, and producer who has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. She is often referred to as the "Queen of Turkish Pop" and Minik Serçe ("Little Sparrow").
Since her debut in 1975, Sezen Aksu has significantly influenced Turkish pop and world music. She has supported and collaborated with numerous artists such as Sertab Erener, Şebnem Ferah, Aşkın Nur Yengi, Hande Yener, and Levent Yüksel. Her work with Tarkan produced continental hits like "Şımarık" and "Şıkıdım," while her collaboration with Goran Bregović expanded her international reach.
Born in Sarayköy, Denizli, Turkey, Aksu’s family relocated to Bergama when she was three, where she spent her childhood and early youth. Her parents discouraged her singing ambitions, hoping she would pursue a stable career in medicine or engineering. She would sing on the family balcony when they were away. After high school, she enrolled in a local agricultural institute but left to focus on her music career.
Together with close friend Ajda Pekkan, Aksu is credited with establishing the foundation of Turkish pop music in the 1970s. Her music has also spread throughout the Balkans and Greece. She has toured Europe and the U.S., receiving critical acclaim. Aksu is an advocate for constitutional reform, minority and women’s rights, environmental causes, and educational reform in Turkey. She has a son named Mithat Can with Sinan Özer; he is the lead vocalist of the Pist'on band.
In the 1980s, Aksu had both a romantic and professional relationship with producer Onno Tunç. Together, they created groundbreaking works in Turkish pop music such as "Sen Ağlama," "Git," "Sezen Aksu'88," and "Sezen Aksu Söylüyor." Her music matured in the 1990s, co-producing her best-selling album Gülümse with Tunç. The album’s leading track "Hadi Bakalım" became a hit in Turkey and Europe, released as a single in Germany. It was later reinterpreted in Europop by singer Loona as "Rhythm of the Night." Aksu also produced albums for her vocalists, including Aşkın Nur Yengi’s debut album Sevgiliye (To a Lover), again with Tunç. She repeated this success with artists Sertab Erener and Levent Yüksel.
In 2005, she appeared in Fatih Akin's documentary "Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul," performing the song "İstanbul Hatırası." Recently, Aksu has been digitally remastering and re-releasing her classic songs with newly designed covers.
In 2008, Aksu released the album Deniz Yıldızı through Starfish Records, followed by her 2009 album Yürüyorum Düş Bahçelerinde. This album features new original songs as well as older compositions she wrote for other artists, notably "Çakkıdı," "Kibir," and "Yok Ki.
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