Sertab Erener

Sertab Erener (born 4 December 1964) is a famous Turkish pop singer and songwriter. She first gained recognition in Turkey in the early 1990s and later achieved international fame by winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2003 with her song “Everyway That I Can”. Erener’s music is known for blending Western pop with traditional Turkish elements, and she has built a successful career spanning over three decades.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Sertab Erener was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and grew up in a musical family. She studied opera at the Istanbul State Conservatory and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. However, she decided to switch to pop music to reach a larger audience. In 1987, a chance meeting with legendary Turkish pop star Sezen Aksu changed her life. Aksu loved Erener’s powerful voice and took her on as a backing vocalist. This mentorship helped Erener launch her own music career. Erener attempted to represent Turkey in Eurovision in 1989 and 1990 but did not pass the national selection. Instead, she focused on building her reputation at home.

Rise to Fame in the 1990s

Erener’s debut album Sakin Ol! (“Keep Calm!”) was released in 1992 with Sezen Aksu’s support. The album was a huge success in Turkey, featuring hit songs like the title track “Sakin Ol!” and “Aldırma Deli Gönlüm,” which topped the Turkish charts. Her strong soprano voice and unique style quickly won over pop audiences. She followed up with a string of successful albums: Lâ’l in 1994, Sertab Gibi in 1997, and a self-titled album Sertab Erener in 1999. These albums produced several number-one hits in Turkey, such as “Sevdam Ağlıyor,” “Zor Kadın,” and “Vur Yüreğim”. By the late 1990s, Sertab Erener had become one of Turkey’s top pop stars. She even collaborated internationally, providing guest vocals on Ricky Martin’s song “Private Emotion” in 1999.

Eurovision Victory in 2003

In 2003, Sertab Erener reached a new peak in her career on the global stage. The Turkish broadcaster TRT selected her to represent Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest 2003. Erener performed “Everyway That I Can,” an upbeat pop song with Turkish musical elements. The contest took place on 24 May 2003 in Riga, Latvia, and Erener won first place with 167 points. This triumph marked Turkey’s first-ever Eurovision victory. The winning song became a hit across Europe, reaching #1 on music charts in countries like Sweden and Greece. Erener’s victory was celebrated widely in Turkey. She was welcomed home as a national hero. Sertab received the Turkish State Medal of Distinguished Service for bringing pride to the country. In 2004, she had the honor of opening the next Eurovision Song Contest (hosted in Istanbul) with a live performance.

International Projects and Continued Success (2004–2010)

After Eurovision, Erener expanded her international presence. In early 2004 she released her first English-language album, No Boundaries, aimed at the European market. The album topped Turkey’s charts and included songs like “Here I Am.” In 2005, Erener returned to Turkish pop with the album Aşk Ölmez (“Love Never Dies”). Around this time she founded her own music label with her partner Demir Demirkan, who was also the co-writer of her Eurovision song. Erener continued to experiment with different styles. In 2009, she and Demirkan released a jazz/rock fusion album called Painted On Water, featuring Turkish folk songs performed in English. This project showed her versatility beyond pop music.

Back at home, Sertab Erener remained a prominent figure in the Turkish music scene. After a brief break from studio albums, she made a strong comeback with Rengârenk in 2010. This album produced hit singles like “Bu Böyle” and “Açık Adres,” returning Erener to the top of the charts.

Recent Years and Legacy

Sertab Erener has continued to thrive in the 2010s and 2020s. In 2012 she released Ey Şûh-i Sertab, an album of classical Turkish songs dedicated to her father. The next year, she put out Sade (2013), featuring popular songs such as “İyileşiyorum”. In 2016, Erener celebrated her pop roots with the album Kırık Kalpler Albümü (“Album of Broken Hearts”), which was praised for reviving the sound of her 90s hits. She also staged a special musical show, Sertab’ın Müzikali, to mark 25 years of her career, performing her classic songs live for fans.

In 2020, Erener released her twelfth studio album, Ben Yaşarım (“I Live”), collaborating with younger musicians and receiving positive reviews. Proving her enduring appeal, she was invited back to the Eurovision stage in 2024 as an interval act, where she performed “Everyway That I Can” 21 years after her victory. Erener remains active in the music industry, and in 2023 she celebrated 30 years in music with a new album (Her Dem Yeşil) containing fresh interpretations of her past hits.

Throughout her career, Sertab Erener has won numerous awards and honors. In addition to her Eurovision title, she has collected multiple Kral TV Video Music Awards and Golden Butterfly Awards in Turkey.