Tarkan is a name that has radically changed the history of Turkish pop. Everyone knows that our King of Pop, whom we’ve crowned with every work since the 1990s, is an artist author who electrifies his concerts with both his voice and his artistic direction. His career extends far beyond his iconic vocal performances; it’s deeply rooted in his extraordinary ability as a songwriter, composer, and lyricist. From his very first steps into the world of music, Tarkan has demonstrated a complete artistic vision, personally shaping many of the tracks that have made him one of the most influential figures in Turkish and international music. He became the most successful Turkish artist worldwide after 1980 and has earned his place in music history as the Megastar of the late 20th and 21st centuries.

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For more information about Tarkan’s career and upcoming projects, visit his official website.

Tarkan Collection: Buy CDs and Digital Listening

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Tarkan: Origins and First Steps in Composition

Tarkan’s authorial journey is rooted in his solid musical training. During his high school studies, he delved into Turkish art music at the Karamürsel Advanced Music Association and later, in Istanbul, at the Üsküdar Music Association. This foundation provided him with the essential tools to express his creativity.

His debut album, “Yine Sensiz” (Again Without You, 1992), immediately revealed his authorial imprint. For this work, Tarkan wrote the lyrics for three songs himself and co-composed three others, including his debut hit, the famous “Kıl Oldum” (I Got Annoyed). This first album sold a remarkable 700,000 copies, with music videos for tracks like “Kimdi” (Who Was It), “Gelipte Halimi Gördün Mü?” (Did You Come and See My State?), “Vazgeçemem” (I Can’t Give Up), and “Çok Ararsın Beni” (You’ll Miss Me So Much).

With his second album, “Aacayipsin” (You’re Incredible, 1994), Tarkan’s authorial vein significantly strengthened. For this record, he wrote the lyrics for four songs and composed three of them, contributing to hits like “Unutmamalı” (Not Forget), “Gül Döktüm Yollarına” (I Scattered Roses on Your Path), “Kış Güneşi” (Winter Sun), “Şeytan Azapta” (The Devil in Torment), “Dön Bebeğim” (Come Back My Baby), and “Bekle” (Wait). The success of “Aacayipsin” was enormous, selling two and a half million copies, and the track “All Yours?” received prestigious awards for Best Lyrics, Best Composition, and Best Song at the first Kral TV Video Music Awards in 1995, solidifying his reputation as an author.

Over the years, Tarkan has continued to forge his creative path with numerous other tracks he wrote and/or composed:

• “Şımarık” (Spoiled, 1997) and “Şıkıdım” (Shake It, 1995), two of his most internationally famous songs, were written by him or had his strong creative contribution. “Şımarık,” in particular, known globally as “Kiss Kiss,” exploded onto the world market, selling a million copies and topping the Billboard charts.
• The EP “Dudu” (2003), released by his own label Hitt Müzik, saw him not only as an artist but also as a co-producer alongside Ozan Çolakoğlu, reinforcing his artistic control. The title track and “Sorma Kalbim” (Don’t Ask My Heart) are among those accompanied by music videos.
• The single “Ayrılık Zor” (Parting Is Hard, 2005), specially created for an Avea campaign, was entirely written and composed by Tarkan, demonstrating his ability to create targeted and impactful music, selling nearly half a million copies.
• The album “Karma” (2001) saw the success of “Kuzu Kuzu” (Like a Lamb), a single that held the #1 position for three months, selling 600,000 units. From this album, Tarkan re-worked “Taş” (Stone) to create the anthem “Bir Oluruz Yolunda” (United for You, 2002), composed for the Turkish National Football Team, with his own lyrics and music (adapted from “Taş”), demonstrating his versatility.
• The Turkish classical music album “Ahde Vefa” (Loyalty to a Promise, 2016), released under his Hitt Müzik label, is a testament to his artistic depth and his ability to fully oversee a project from an authorial and production standpoint, winning two awards.
• The single “Geççek” (It Will Pass, 2022) is a powerful track with lyrics and music entirely by him.
• “Yap Bi Güzellik” (Do Something Good, July 22, 2022), another song written and composed by Tarkan (with co-composition by Ozan Çolakoğlu).
• “Son Durak” (Last Stop, November 18, 2022), with lyrics written by Tarkan.
• His latest album, “Kuantum 51” (Quantum 51, 2024), and the recent single “Dönmüyor Giden” (The One Who Left Isn’t Coming Back, 2024), are further examples of his continuous authorial output, with Tarkan actively contributing to the lyrics and/or composition of these new works.

Devoted fans of Tarkan know that there are some songs the singer previously performed only in live broadcasts or during concerts, but which never appeared on any of his albums, showcasing an authorial richness that extends beyond official releases. These include:

• “Bu Kış Ne Olur Sev Beni” (Please Love Me This Winter): Tarkan performed this song at a concert in the 1990s and in a 1995 interview. Although he sang it live before including other tracks on his future albums, this beautiful song was never officially released on any of his albums.
• “Kara Gözler” (Black Eyes): Tarkan performed this song at a concert in Aya Irini (Istanbul) that was broadcast on the Turkish television channel ATV, alongside “Havalim” (another track he wrote for Yıldız Tilbe). Initially, “Kara Gözler” was intended to be part of the album Ölürüm Sana (I’d Die for You, 1997), but it was ultimately not included. The lyrics and music are entirely by Tarkan, further testament to his prolificacy.
• “Yeni Yıl Şarkısı” (New Year’s Song, 1996): On December 21, 1996, Tarkan created a special song for New Year’s Eve, performing his new track for Kanal D viewers. For the occasion, he also sang a section composed of beloved classics with veteran names of Turkish music and performed remixes of his own tracks like “Bekle,” “Seviş Benimle” (Make Love With Me), “Şeytan Azapta” (The Devil in Torment), and “Şıkıdım.” This performance demonstrates his ability to create tailor-made music for events and his versatility as an arranger of his own hits.

Tarkan’s stature as an author also extends beyond his personal repertoire, as he has lent his talent as a lyricist and composer to several other Turkish music stars. This versatility highlights his influence in the music scene, demonstrating how his creative vision has been appreciated and brought to success by other big names.

• The Collaboration with Bülent Ersoy
  
  In March 2019, the celebrated “Diva” of Turkish music, Bülent Ersoy, released the single “Ümit Hırsızı” (Thief of Hope). The importance of this track lies in the fact that it was entirely written and composed by Tarkan, solidifying his role not only as a performer but also as a prolific author and composer for the big names in the industry.
• “Çakmak Çakmak” (Those Eyes Are Blazing) for Sibel Can: This song pulsates with intense feelings of love and desire, using metaphors like “Leyla and Mecnun.” The lyrics describe the overwhelming effect of love, symbolized by “those blazing eyes,” depicting an inability to resist intense emotions despite challenges. This hit was entirely written and composed by Megastar Tarkan, who also enriched the track with his unmistakable voice in a memorable duet. It is the opening track of Sibel Can’s album, Akşam Sefası (Evening Delight, 2007).
• “Püf” (Puff/Whisper) for Murat Boz: A powerful expression of deep and passionate love and desire, with metaphors like burning like a candle. Lyrics and music belong entirely to Megastar Tarkan, with arrangements by Ozan Çolakoğlu. The music video, recorded at Sarı Ev studios (part of the Maximum album, 2007), aired in the summer of 2007 and achieved notable international success, earning 91 points in the 2007 OGAE Video Competition and placing Turkey in 4th position.
• “Canımsın” (My Dear/My Soul) for Nalan: This song is a testament to Tarkan’s talent for blending emotion and melody. Tarkan skillfully infused a depth of emotion that transcends words, making the track a timeless masterpiece. Ozan Çolakoğlu’s arrangements add a sonic dimension that further enhances the melody. The music video, directed by Metin Arolat, completes the work. Released on November 7, 1997, as part of Nalan Tokyürek’in’s album Usul Usul (Slowly).
• “Havalim” (My Companion) for Yıldız Tilbe: Tarkan is the author of both the lyrics and music for this track, which appeared on Yıldız Tilbe’s album Dillere Destan (Legendary) in 1995. His performance of “Havalim” during the concert at Aya Irini in 1997, broadcast on Turkish channel ATV, captivated the audience, showcasing his vocal power and the emotion he imbues in his compositions.
• “Ben Yanmışım” (I Am Burnt) for Ajda Pekkan: This song expresses the persistent pain and inability to move on after a breakup. The lyrics describe the struggle to forget a past love, feeling consumed by memories and unable to find closure, using metaphors like “burning” to convey the intensity of emotional distress. Tarkan collaborated on Ozan Çolakoğlu’s album “01” (released June 11, 2012, by Doğan Music Company) not only as a performer on “Aşk Gitti Bizden” and “Hadi Bakalım,” but also as the lyricist and composer of “Ben Yanmışım,” sung by another icon of Turkish pop music, Ajda Pekkan.

Tarkan has also contributed his songs or new interpretations to numerous tribute albums, compilations, and exclusive projects, often playing an authorial role or re-working iconic tracks, further solidifying his legacy as an author and performer:

• “Benzemez Kimse Sana” (No One Resembles You) – Müzeyyen Senar ile Bir Ömre Bedel (A Lifetime with Müzeyyen Senar) – 1998
• “Özgürlük İçimizde” (Freedom Is Within Us) – Single for Turkcell – 2002 (where he is also a co-author)
• “Ayrılık Zor” (Parting Is Hard) – Single for Avea – 2005 (written and composed by him)
• “Alaturka” – İz (Trace) – Fahir Atakoğlu – 2008
• “Herşeye Rağmen” (Despite Everything) – Kalbim – Enbe (My Heart – Enbe) – 2010
• Ozan Çolakoğlu’s album “01” (2012): Tarkan participated in this work with two tracks:
  • “Aşk Gitti Bizden” (Love Left Us): with lyrics and music by Tarkan.
  • “Hadi Bakalım” (Come On, Let’s See): with lyrics by Aysel Gürel and music by Onno Tunç.
• “Kara Toprak” (Black Earth) – Soundtrack for Entelköy Against Efeköy (Movie) – 2012 (as author)
• “Hatasız Kul Olmaz” (No Human Is Faultless) – Orhan Gencebay – 2012
• “Firuze” – Aysel’ in – 2013
• “Hop De” (Say Hop) – Zamansız Şarkılar – İskender Paydaş (Timeless Songs) – 2014
• “Yemin Ettim” (I Swore) – Kayahan’ ın En İyileri (Kayahan’s Best) – 2014
• “Ceylan” – Alakasız Şarkılar (Unrelated Songs) – 2017
• “Yalnızlar Treni” (Loners’ Train) – Ve Nazan Öncel Şarkıları (And Nazan Öncel Songs) – 2018

Beyond creating and bringing his own compositions and those of other contemporary artists to success, Tarkan has shown a deep reverence for Turkish musical heritage. His unmistakable voice, vocal power, emotion, and passion have breathed new life into iconic tracks, making him a bridge between musical generations.

A prime example is his interpretation of “Bir Bahar Akşamı” (One Spring Evening). This piece belongs to the legendary Turkish music composer Selahattin Pınar and is the result of a hopeless love that profoundly inspired him. The song, taken from a poem by poet and lyricist Fuat Edip Baksı (“One spring evening I died because of you / I withered the last rose and buried it in my heart / I died for love, I died for love”), is known to reflect the deep emotional turmoil experienced by Pınar.

According to the story, Pınar transferred into his music the moments when he often met Afife Jale, the first Muslim Turkish theater actress whom he deeply loved during his youth, on spring evenings. Unfortunately, this love ended in tragedy and left deep marks on Pınar’s inner world. “Bir Bahar Akşamı” holds an important place not only in Selahattin Pınar’s life but also in Turkish music, perfectly reflecting the musical understanding and emotional intensity of the period. The fluidity of Pınar’s music and Baksı’s masterful verses leave a profound impact on listeners. The song, which became synonymous with vocalist Müzeyyen Senar, who brought numerous compositions to life, has been performed by many artists over the years and is considered a timeless classic and one of the most precious pieces of Turkish music. Tarkan, with his interpretation, pays homage to this rich history, imbuing the song with his unique sensitivity and expressive power.

Tarkan doesn’t just write songs; he infuses them with his soul and convictions. His commitment as an environmental activist, for instance, is reflected in the single “Uyan” (Wake Up, 2008), a powerful appeal for nature conservation that mobilized other artists. This demonstrates how his writing is often a vehicle for significant messages and deep sensitivity. His passion for Turkish classical music, culminating in the Ahde Vefa album, further highlights the vastness of his authorial horizons. Tarkan seeks not just a hit, but authentic creation that resonates with the audience and with his personal passions.