Sertab: The Pop Diva of Turkish Music

Sertab Erener is a defining voice of Turkish pop music, emerging from Istanbul to achieve international acclaim. Her career is marked by sophisticated pop productions and a historic victory at the 2003 Eurovision Song Contest, which propelled her to a new level of global recognition and commercial success.

Early career

Sertab Erener was born in 1964 in Istanbul, Turkey, and began her professional journey after graduating from the Istanbul University State Conservatory. Her powerful vocal talent led to early work as a backing vocalist for prominent Turkish singer Sezen Aksu, a pivotal mentorship that shaped her artistic direction and industry connections.

Breakthrough

Sertab's solo breakthrough arrived with her 1992 debut album Sakin Ol!, which established her as a fresh force in Turkish pop. However, her defining moment came in 2003 when she represented Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Everyway That I Can. The song won the entire competition, giving Turkey its first-ever Eurovision victory and launching Sertab onto the world stage.

Key tracks

Everyway That I Can — This Eurovision-winning hit became a pan-European chart-topper and introduced Sertab to a massive international audience.

Zor Kadın — A major Turkish-language hit from her 1999 album that solidified her superstar status in her home country.

Here I Am — The English-language follow-up single to her Eurovision win, which gained significant airplay across Europe.

Aslolan Benim Sevdam — A classic from her early catalog that showcases her signature blend of pop with traditional Turkish melodic structures.

Following Eurovision, Sertab released the platinum-selling album No Boundaries in 2004, which featured collaborations with artists like Greek singer Mando. She has continued to release successful albums in Turkey, including Rengârenk (2010) and Lâ'l (2020), while also serving as a coach on Turkey's version of The Voice. Her work consistently blends contemporary pop with nuanced elements of Anatolian folk music.

Fans of Sertab's brand of emotive, sophisticated pop may also enjoy the music of Sezen Aksu, the legendary Turkish singer-songwriter who was her early mentor. Yıldız Tilbe offers a similarly powerful vocal style and poignant songwriting in the Turkish pop genre. For a more recent take on Turkish pop with crossover appeal, explore Hadise, who also competed in Eurovision. The dynamic pop-rock of maNga provides another compelling branch of modern Turkish music.

Sertab's extensive catalog of hits maintains a strong presence on radio, particularly on Turkish pop stations and international world music channels. Her anthems are staples on FM stations specializing in contemporary European pop and are frequently featured in special programming highlighting Eurovision's greatest successes.

Listeners can explore the vibrant pop music of Sertab on dedicated radio stations featured on onairium.com, where her classic hits and later works are regularly broadcast for fans and new audiences alike.