Sertab Erener facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sertab Erener
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Erener in 2019
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| Born | 4 December 1964 Istanbul, Turkey
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| Education | Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University |
| Occupation |
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| Spouse(s) |
Aykut Altın
(m. 1985; div. 1988)Levent Yüksel
(m. 1990; div. 1996)Emre Kula
(m. 2015) |
| Partner(s) | Demir Demirkan (1996–2014) |
| Relatives | Nil Karaibrahimgil (sister-in-law) |
| Awards |  State Medal of Distinguished Service |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Labels | |
Sertab Erener (born 4 December 1964) is a famous Turkish singer, songwriter, and composer. She has a powerful voice called a coloratura soprano. Sertab started her career singing backup for the well-known artist Sezen Aksu. With Aksu's help, she released her first album in the 1990s.
Even though she studied classical music, Sertab found her path in pop music. She wanted her songs to reach many people. Sometimes, she mixed Western music with Eastern sounds. She also used elements from opera and classical Turkish music. In the early 2000s, her music became popular in Europe and Turkey.
Sertab became very famous in the 1990s with albums like Sakin Ol! (1992) and Lâ'l (1994). Many of her songs, such as "Sakin Ol!" and "Vur Yüreğim," became number-one hits in Turkey. In 2003, she won the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with her song "Everyway That I Can." This was Turkey's first win ever in the contest!
After Eurovision, she released more successful albums like No Boundaries (2004) and Aşk Ölmez (2005). In 2010, her album Rengârenk brought her back to the top of the music charts. Later, she released Ey Şuh-i Sertab (2012), which was a special album for her father. Sertab has won many awards, including the State Medal of Distinguished Service for her Eurovision win.
Contents
Sertab Erener's Musical Journey
Early Life and First Steps in Music
Sertab Erener was born on 4 December 1964 in Istanbul, Turkey. She was the second child of Nizamettin and Yücel Erener. Her father loved Turkish classical music, and Sertab grew up listening to it. Her father even named her Sertab, which means "main light," after a song he liked.
During her high school years, Sertab became very interested in music. She loved opera and decided to study it at Istanbul University State Conservatory. Later, she continued her studies at Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Even though she studied classical music, she started performing as a stage soloist.
In 1987, Sertab met Sezen Aksu, who was already a big star. Aksu liked Sertab's voice and asked her to be a backing vocalist. At first, Sertab wasn't sure, but she later accepted. This was a big step in her career. Sertab also tried to represent Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1989 and 1990, but she didn't win those times.
Rising to Fame: Albums and Eurovision Win
With Sezen Aksu's help, Sertab released her first album, Sakin Ol!, in 1992. The album was a huge success and made her very popular. Songs like "Sakin Ol!" became instant hits. The album sold many copies and brought a fresh sound to Turkish pop music.
Between 1993 and 1994, Sertab had to deal with a serious health issue called ulcerative colitis. She had several surgeries and it was a very difficult time for her. This experience made her think deeply about life and she started studying philosophy.
Her second album, Lâ'l, came out in 1994. Many songs on this album were written by Sezen Aksu. Sertab also sang a famous opera piece, "Der Hölle Rache" by Mozart, in one of her concerts. She wanted to make opera more popular. In 1995, she won the Best Female Artist award at the Kral TV Video Music Awards.
In 1997, Sertab released her third album, Sertab Gibi. For the first time, she wrote some of the songs herself. This album showed her growing as an artist. She also started working closely with guitarist Demir Demirkan.
Her self-titled album, Sertab Erener, was released in 1999. It included unique works like a poem by Abdülhak Hâmid Tarhan and another Mozart piece. Songs like "Yanarım" and "Zor Kadın" were very popular. In 2000, she released the EP "Bu Yaz" to become more known in Europe. She even sang a duet with Greek singer Mando.
In 2001, her fifth album, Turuncu, was released. Sertab chose the name "Turuncu" (Orange) because it represents positive energy. She wanted the album to make people feel happy and connected to life.
Winning Eurovision 2003
In 2003, Sertab Erener was chosen to represent Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest. Her song was "Everyway That I Can", and it was sung in English. Some people thought she should sing in Turkish, but Sertab believed English would help her reach a wider audience.
On 24 May 2003, in Riga, Sertab won the contest! This was a historic moment, as it was Turkey's first-ever victory in Eurovision. "Everyway That I Can" became a hit in many European countries. After her win, Sertab received many awards and was even given the State Medal of Distinguished Service.
New Music and Collaborations
In 2004, Sertab released her first English album, No Boundaries. It included singles like "Here I Am" and "Leave." She also performed at the opening of the Eurovision Song Contest 2004. Later that year, she started her own music label, Simya Müzik, with Demir Demirkan.
Her seventh album, Aşk Ölmez, was released in 2005. Critics liked it for being honest and simple. In 2009, Sertab and Demir Demirkan released a special album called Painted on Water. They turned traditional Turkish folk songs (türkü) into English jazz songs.
In 2010, Sertab released Rengârenk, which was a big comeback. Songs like "Açık Adres" and "Koparılan Çiçekler" were very successful. In 2012, she released Ey Şûh-i Sertab, an album of classical Turkish music dedicated to her father. She won an award for Best Female Classical Turkish Music Soloist for this album. Her album Sade followed in 2013.
In 2015, Sertab married Emre Kula, a guitarist. In 2016, she released Kırık Kalpler Albümü, which reminded fans of her 90s style. She also formed a rock band called Oceans of Noise with her husband and other musicians. They released EPs and even worked on the soundtrack for the movie Ayla: The Daughter of War.
To celebrate 25 years in music, Sertab started a musical show called Sertab'ın Müzikali in 2017. She performed her hit songs with dancers, telling her life story through music. In 2020, she released her twelfth studio album, Ben Yaşarım, which was praised for its dynamic sound.
Sertab Erener continues to be an important figure in music. In 2024, she performed as a special guest at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 in Malmö, bringing her winning song "Everyway That I Can" back to the stage.
Sertab's Unique Music Style
Voice and Sound
Sertab Erener has an amazing voice that can reach three octaves. She is known as a coloratura soprano, which means she can sing very high and fast notes. Her music mixes different styles, from Middle Eastern melodies to pop and rock songs.
When she started, Sertab found it hard to switch from opera to pop music. But she wanted her music to reach many people. She learned to combine her classical training with popular sounds. She realized that pop music was the best way to share her message with a wide audience.
Her songs often have a positive and warm energy. She likes to connect with people through her music. For example, her album Turuncu was made to link people to life with its cheerful vibe. She also likes to explore different themes in her songs, like love and human relationships.
Who Inspired Sertab?
Sertab grew up listening to her father's classical Turkish songs. Some of her favorite artists include Alanis Morissette, Sting, and Tina Turner. She also says that Barbra Streisand was a huge influence on her. Sertab used to imitate Streisand a lot when she was younger. Later, she worked hard to find her own unique voice and style.
Awards
State Medal of Distinguished Service
Discography
- Sakin Ol! (1992)
- Lâ'l (1994)
- Sertab Gibi (1997)
- Sertab Erener (1999)
- Turuncu (2001)
- No Boundaries (2004)
- Aşk Ölmez (2005)
- Painted on Water (with Demir Demirkan) (2009)
- Rengârenk (2010)
- Ey Şûh-i Sertab (2012)
- Sade (2013)
- Kırık Kalpler Albümü (2016)
- Ben Yaşarım (2020)
- Her Dem Yeşil (2023)
- Her Dem Akustik (2024)
Filmography
Television
| Year | Program | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Ti Show | Herself | |
| 2011 | Star Akademi | ||
| 2014 | Yalan Dünya | Episode 76 | |
| Arkadaşım Hoşgeldin | |||
| 2015 | Sesi Çok Güzel | ||
| 2018 | Jet Sosyete | Episode 26 | |
| 2020 | Episode 59 |
Images for kids
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Sertab Erener in 2019
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Sertab Erener and Demir Demirkan
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Sertab Erener performing in June 2014
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Sertab Erener performing at Eurovision 2024
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Barbra Streisand, an inspiration for Sertab Erener
See also
In Spanish: Sertab Erener para niños
