Turkish Pop

Turkey straddles Asia and Europe, and the music — at least to my ears — contains elements from both continents: Greek and Balkan melodies from the West, and Iraqi and Kurdish influences from the south and east. (There are popular Kurdish singers in Turkey despite political problems between the Kurds and the Turks.) But of course, in a cosmopolitan city like Istanbul, all of these elements fuse to evoke a funky yet haunting mood that that is entirely unique.

These tunes range from the 70s, with Baris Manco's psychedelic Anatolian funk, to more contemporary recordings by the likes of Sezen Aksu, who has remained one of the most adventurous Turkish artists over many decades. Her albums move from disco-inspired to collaborations with Goran Bregović, the Balkan composer. I have selected her more traditional tunes, though even these are pretty avant-sounding.

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Homini, Pufidi, Tumba Sezen Aksu
Sen Yanma Diye Ahmet Kaya
Dere Boyu Kavaklar Baris Manço
Dua Sezen Aksu
Boğazici Burhan Öçal
Gönül Dagi Baris Manço
Sevdam Agliyor Sertab Erener
Gozleri Fettan Guzel Müslüm Gürses
Ennio Ilhan Ersahin
Sude Sezen Aksu
Hay Yam Yam Erkin Koray
Yalnızlığın Acıklı Güldürüsü Mogollar
Farkindayim Sezen Aksu
Umrumda Degil Candan Erçetin
Gamsiz Sezen Aksu
Gül Döktüm Yollarına Tarkan
Estarabim Erkin Koray
Işte Hendek Işte Deve Barış Manço
Mutlu Ol Yeter Ibrahim Tatlises
Lambaya Püf De Baris Manço
Hepsi Senin mi? Tarkan
Sabuha Ibrahim Tatlises
Tenna Sezen Aksu
Nazar Eyle Baris Manço
İllaki Erkin Koray
Haliç'te Güneşin Batışı (1970 Single Version) Mogollar
Dem Azam Ali & Mercan Dede
Ahdim Olsun Sezen Aksu
Karşıkı Yayla Mogollar
Zülüf Dökülmüs Müslüm Gürses
Dom Dom Kursunu Ibrahim Tatlises
Dert Faslı Sezen Aksu
Telgrafçi Akif Ahmet Kaya
Çanakkale İçinde (Aynalı Çarşı) Mogollar
Muslum Extra Müslüm Gürses
Deliveren Sezen Aksu
Kalk Gidelim Küheylan Baris Manço
Deli Kadın Erkin Koray
Kanun Solo Taksim Trio
Ben Bilirim Barış Manço
Cecom Baba Zula
Bicare Taksim Trio
Abbas Aga Park Baba Zula