Sezen Aksu (born 13 July, 1954) is a Turkish pop music singer, popular both with a mass audience in Turkey, and with world music fans internationally.

Sezen Aksu was born in Izmir, Turkey and began to study at the local agricultural institute, but gave up her studies to concentrate on music full time. She released her first single, Haydi Şansım/Gel Bana (Come on My Luck/Come to Me) in 1974. However, she remained undiscovered until her 1976 single Olmaz Olsun/Vurdumduymaz (Wish It Never Happened/Insensitive) reached number one in the Turkish charts. Her first album was the 1978 Serçe (Sparrow), which gave her also the nickname.

In the coming years, Aksu also acted in two movies and opened a live music club in Istanbul. Her music throughout these years remained conventional, but melodic, pop, perhaps best exemplified by Gülümse (Smile) of 1991.

In 1995, Aksu branched out with the experimental album Işık Doğudan Yükselir (The Light Rises in the East), drawing both on western classical and regional Turkish musical traditions. Made in the best traditions of progressive rock, this made her name outside Turkey and gave her a devoted world music following across Europe.

Sezen Aksu has been married and divorced four times. She has one son by her first husband, Sinan Özer.

List of albums

• Serçe (Sparrow) 1978
• Ağlamak Güzeldir (Crying is Beautiful) 1979
• Firuze (Turquoise) 1982
• Sevgilerimle (With Love) 1982
• Sen Ağlama (Don't You Cry) 1984
• Git (Leave) 1986
• Sezen Aksu '88 1988
• Sezen Aksu Söylüyor (Sezen Aksu Sings) 1988
• Gülümse (Smile) 1991
• Deli Kızın Türküsü (Crazy Girl's Ballad) 1993
• Işık Doğudan Yükselir (Ex Orient Lux) 1995
• Düş Bahçeleri (Dream Gardens) 1996
• Düğün ve Cenaze (Wedding and Funeral) 1997
• Adı Bende Saklı (His Name is Hidden in Me) 1998
• Deliveren (Crazygiver) 2000
• Şarkı Söylemek Lazım (We Need to Sing) 2002 [1]
• Yaz Bitmeden (Before The Summer Ends) 2003
• Bahane (Excuse) 2005

References

• [2002] Sezen Aksu (June 19, 2002). The Guardian Newspaper.

See also:

• List of Turkish pop music performers and genres
• Music of Turkey