Singer Tarkan is the prince of Turkish pop music. Tarkan: biography, personal life, wife, height, weight, photo Why Tarkan no longer sings

TURKISH singer Tarkan loves to tell the story of his birth, which has already become a legend. A few months before little Tarkan was due to be born, his mother fell into a coma after an accident. The doctors, fearing for the patient’s life, suggested terminating the pregnancy, but the father of the future celebrity dreamed prophetic dream. He saw a completely healthy boy, screaming loudly and... with a star on his forehead.

“Dad decided to leave the child, he was sure that everything would end well,” says Tarkan. “I was really born healthy. And to this day, pah-pah-pah, I don’t complain about anything. And my mother feels great.” .

WHAT in this story is true and what is an invention of the singer’s image makers, probably only Tarkan himself knows. However, fortune undoubtedly favors the artist.

The first album of the twenty-one-year-old artist - "Yine Sensiz" ("Again Without You") - sold 700 thousand copies in Turkey in 1993, and the next one sold more than two million copies. In just a few years, Turkey has been gripped by “tarkanomania.” The publishers of the local Cosmopolitan took an unprecedented step - for the first time the cover women's magazine Instead of a seductive girl, it was decorated with a photo of a Turkish man N 1.

And then Tarkan began to look at Europe. Germany was chosen as the first country to be conquered. It was there that Tarkan went on his first foreign tour in 1994. By the way, Tarkan himself, although an ethnic Turk, was born in Germany, in the town of Elsee, not far from Frankfurt am Main. The family, where five more children besides Tarkan grew up, returned to Turkey when the guy turned 14 years old.

Before the start of the tour, the singer's manager, without much hope, sent out Turkish recordings of Tarkan to leading German radio stations. And I was quite surprised when they not only got into rotation, but began to win prestigious charts, ahead of famous American performers. Tarkan himself looked no less shocked: “This is fantastic, people fell in love with my songs without knowing the words.”

Newspapers interviewed the newly-minted celebrity; fortunately, Tarkan spoke German fluently, with only a slightly noticeable accent. He did not fail to tell the story of his happy birth. However, the artist presented the rest of the facts of his biography very sparingly: “As a child, I grew up as a lively boy, I was fond of football. I dreamed of becoming an ecologist or a veterinarian. But when our family returned to Turkey, I began to visit music school and seriously thought about a career as a singer. True, after school I tried to enter the university at the Faculty of Engineering, but, fortunately, I failed. After all, my calling is music."

Since 1995, Tarkan discs have been in greater and greater demand not only in Germany, but also in other countries. European countries. Over the course of several years, about one and a half million records were sold in Europe.

"I'm not gay"

BUT THE GROWING popularity did not always please Tarkan. In Turkey, he had no peace from the paparazzi. One day he opened a newspaper and saw himself kissing a man. The caption under the material read: “Tarkan hid his homosexuality for a long time.” It soon became clear that this was a photomontage.

Nevertheless, the singer’s alleged homosexuality continued to be actively discussed in the press. A book of memories added fuel to the fire former producer Tarkan. Thanks to the efforts of the singer, the sale of the book was stopped, and the published edition was destroyed by bailiffs. But the echo of those scandals still haunts the Turkish celebrity. This summer, during a tour in Moscow, Tarkan was again forced to answer a question about his attitude towards sexual minorities.

“I’m not gay, I have a girlfriend. But I don’t condemn homosexuals, moreover, I respect them very much,” said the singer. “But lesbians worry me, at least the group “Tatu” with their propaganda of freedom of sex for teenagers worries me unpleasant. This is a show. I never make a show of myself."

Be that as it may, Tarkan wanted peaceful life. To do this, he went overseas, to the USA, where almost no one knew him by sight. In New York, the singer bought himself an apartment.

Is it true, gossips claim that Tarkan left Turkey not only because of the paparazzi. According to Turkish laws, the singer had to serve in the army for about a year. However, citing his convictions as a pacifist, he categorically refused to do this. It is in Germany that such excuses could pass, but in Turkey all draft dodgers face prison and criminal prosecution. For some time, the singer did not appear in his homeland due to the order for his arrest.

But recently the Turkish parliament passed a new law according to which, for 15 thousand dollars, any Turk can declare himself a pacifist. Tarkan paid immediately the required amount and became a law-abiding citizen. Now nothing prevents him from moving freely between Turkey and the States.

In America, the singer made himself plastic surgery- corrected cheekbones and upper lip. There he became infected with the spirit of entrepreneurship and expanded the scope of his activities. Like Hollywood stars, he launched his own perfume line. "Pleasant smells help good mood“like pleasant music,” the singer believes. Recently eau de toilette Anyone can purchase "Tarkan" for $80. Those with more modest incomes can get by with shower gel for $30. The fees for filming in a commercial for one of the Turkish companies also made a good addition to the million dollar fortune. cellular communications. And recently Tarkan entered into a contract with one of the world giants producing carbonated drinks. The singer will become the advertising face of the company in Turkey.

Love and drying

HOWEVER, the singer’s main sources of income, as before, remain the sale of CDs and tours. This year he visited Russia for the second time, visiting Moscow and St. Petersburg.

According to the organizers, the Turkish star did not put forward any special demands. The singer brought security of three people with him. He was content with the food that the hotel cooks prepared for him. The eminent guest was especially delighted by the dumplings and pancakes with caviar.

In St. Petersburg, the singer made an independent foray into the city together with his girlfriend Bilge Ozturk. The friends had a get-together in a small cafe, where they chatted for about half an hour, until Tarkan was recognized by one of the fans. The girl expressed her love an unusual gift- a bunch of dryers.

Bilge and Tarkan have been together for several years. Before this acquaintance, the singer spoke very negatively about the institution of marriage: “I don’t like the word “marriage” itself,” he said. “A person should live and enjoy life, love and have no restrictions. Marriage is not a panacea for loneliness. Marriage must be suffered and want."

But, as the singer’s inner circle notes, in Lately Tarkan is no longer so categorical. Rumor has it that the couple has already agreed on a wedding. True, the wedding date is kept in the strictest confidence. They say that Tarkan promised to almost personally strangle one of his friends who blurted out information about the upcoming celebration to the paparazzi.

Dossier "Superstars"

Height: 1m 74 cm.

Weight: 70 kg.

Shoe size: 42.

Place of residence: Manhattan (USA) and Istanbul (Türkiye).

Marital status: single.

Religion: Islam.

Hobbies: music, sports, literature, girls.

Favorite singers: Prince, James Brown, Steve Wonder, Madonna.

Favorite actors: Al Pacino, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman.

Family: mother, two brothers and three sisters. Father died in 1995.

Phobias: afraid of walking under stepladders.

Favorite slang expression: dumbass.

Favorite flowers are orchids.

Singer from Turkey Tarkan is one of the most famous performers popular music all over the world. Despite the fact that after the start of his career he did not sing songs in English for a very long time, he managed to achieve great fame in all European countries. Fans of Tarkan's work, who enjoy listening to his music and enjoying great shows, will be very interested in learning some facts from the biography of the star.

Brief biography and personal life of Tarkan

Turkish singer Tarkan was born into a family of hereditary Turks in 1972. At that time, the parents of the future celebrity lived in the German city of Alzey, and the reason for their move was the economic crisis in Turkey. When the boy turned 13 years old, the situation improved and the family decided to return to their historical homeland.

Immediately after moving to Turkey, the young man began to actively study music, and all teachers noted his remarkable talent. To continue his studies at a new level, Tarkan went to Istanbul, where he entered the Istanbul Music Academy. The aspiring singer did not have enough money to pay for his own accommodation, so he was forced to work as a performer of national music at weddings and various holidays. Although the height of the singer Tarkan is only 173 cm, he has a very attractive appearance, so he was often invited to host various events.

After some time, Tarkan met with Mehmet Soyutoulu, who then ran the Istanbul Plak label. As a result of the joint collaboration of producer, aspiring performer and composer Ozan Colakolu, Tarkan's first album Yine Sensiz was born in 1992. It included original compositions in which national Turkish motifs, as well as Western notes, were discernible. Thanks to this, songs from Tarkan’s album immediately became extremely popular, especially among the younger segments of the Turkish population.

IN further career young singer developed with extraordinary speed. All of his new albums and singles became incredibly successful, with the exception of the English-language album Come Closer, released in 2006. Contrary to expectations, Tarkan's songs on English dialect listeners did not like it, and sales of this album in the singer’s homeland amounted to only 110 thousand copies.

Turkish singer Tarkan is quite controversial personality. In particular, the celebrity’s biography contains several unpleasant facts. So, in 1999, the famous singer was called up to the Turkish army, however, he did not enlist, but chose to stay in Europe. As a result of such actions by the star, the question of depriving Tarkan of his country’s citizenship even arose in the Turkish parliament.

Meanwhile, in August 1999, in the singer’s homeland, a law was passed on the possibility of passing military service within 28 days and pay 16 thousand dollars in charitable foundation. This is exactly what Tarkan took advantage of, going into the army for only 4 weeks.

In 2010, the singer, along with other people, was detained by drug police. Tarkan faced up to two years in prison for the use and possession of narcotic substances, however, 3 days after his arrest, the young man was released.

Finally, for a long time There were rumors in the press that Tarkan belongs to the category of people with unconventional. According to rumors, the Turkish singer himself has repeatedly confirmed that he is gay. Meanwhile, from 2001 to 2008, he was romantically involved with Bilge Ozturk, and in 2011, he began dating his fan Pinar Dilek.

Tarkan's musical career

During his years in Istanbul, he had to earn his own living, singing in restaurants and at weddings. One day, while in Germany, he met a person directly connected with the record company.

His name was Mehmet Soyutoulu. He listened young guy, appreciated his vocals and offered his help in recording his debut album.

During the recording of the album, fate brought Tarkan together with another talented person– composer Ozan Colakol. He, like the young performer, was practically unknown in those years. The acquaintance continued with many years of successful cooperation.

The success of the first album in 1992 was deafening. In it, Turkish melodies are intertwined with Western motifs, resulting in a unique color and sound. Two years later, the artist’s second album was recorded.

Soon Tarkan went to the USA to learn English language and sing on it. True, the album in this language was released already in 2006. He also continued his musical education in the USA.

Tarkan's albums became popular not only in his native Turkey, but also in Europe. In 1997, his third disc was released. The performer began to receive prestigious music awards.

Despite his growing global popularity, his duties as a Turkish citizen have not been canceled. Namely, he was threatened with military service, the reprieve from which had ended by that time.

In Turkey, this is very strict; evasion can lead to imprisonment; the country’s authorities have discussed depriving the singer of his citizenship. Everything was decided by the earthquake that occurred in Turkey in 1999.

Then parliament passed a law allowing, if one contributes 16 thousand dollars to help the victims, to serve only 28 days. Tarkan took advantage of this right and also gave in Turkey a charity concert.

In total, to date Tarkan has released 8 albums and recorded many video clips. The last disc was released in 2010. Many of his works became real hits. The performer was incredibly popular in Russia.

Personal life of Tarkan

The singer, despite being old enough to get married, is not yet married. At one time, rumors about his homosexuality were actively circulated in the press.

This was initiated by a Turkish publication that placed on the cover of its magazine a photo of Tarkan kissing another man. As it turned out later, it was a photomontage.

However, the photo created a lot of hype. Tarkan explained in an interview that he has a girlfriend and that he is not gay, although he does not condemn same-sex relationships.

For several years he dated a girl named Bilge Ozturk. However, the marriage never took place. Tarkan was generally not too eager to go to the registry office, saying that an open relationship is better and that marriage needs to be suffered through. Or it is necessary for his fiancee to be pregnant.

Now the singer lives on a ranch in Istanbul, where he grows plants and takes care of animals. He also has expensive apartments in New York.

Who has achieved success in the Turkish field, watch and read

Singer Tarkan is perhaps the most famous Turkish showman in Russia and throughout the post-Soviet space. Almost any adult resident of Russia, Ukraine or other countries can sing Tarkan’s songs or at least “guess this melody from three notes.” former USSR. Tarkan's music is known and loved by thousands of Russian-speaking people. Who is Tarkan, where is he from, how did he end up in Turkey and Istanbul and why Philip Kirkorov sang his songs, read on.

Tarkan - prince Turkish pop music

Tarkan: biography

Tarkan Tevetoğlu was born, no, not in Turkey, but in the city of Alzey in Germany in the family of Ali and Neshe Tevetoğlu, on October 17, 1972. It is believed that he was named Tarkan in honor of the hero of the Turkish famous in the 60s of the twentieth century books, and his real name is Hüsamettin.

Tarkan’s parents, naturally Turks by nationality, ended up in Germany in a completely traditional way for the middle of the last century. At that time, Türkiye was experiencing one economic crisis after another, and Germany needed a lot of foreign work force(does the situation remind you of anything? :-)). I personally had the opportunity to observe the consequences of the policy of inviting labor from abroad into the country in Germany in 2009, and also communicated about this with both the Germans and, in fact, with local Turks. So, the family of the singer Tarkan was one of thousands like her. His grandfather, according to some information, was a participant Russian-Turkish wars XIX century, there were also Turkmen in his family folk singers. The singer has a brother and sisters from Tarkan’s mother’s first marriage. Tarkan's father died in 1995 and Tarkan's mother married for the third time. In general, Tarkan’s biography is not an easy one.

Tarkan in childhood

Singer Tarkan in Turkey

In 1986, the family future star pop music is moving to Turkey as the country experiences steady economic growth. Tarkan began his education in the city of Karamürsel in the province of Kocaeli near Istanbul, and musical education The singer's parents trained him from the age of 13. Tarkan loved music. From 1990 to 1992 he studied at Üsküdar Musiki Cemiyeti (a music academy in Istanbul in the Üsküdar district). There is information that the singer’s financial situation at that time left much to be desired and he worked part-time, so to speak, “in his specialty,” that is, he sang in bars and clubs, as well as at various events, including weddings, various music from pop music to national Turkish music. Yes, there were such moments in Tarkan’s biography.

Tarkan in the early 1990s

Tarkan: first serious successes

success, worthy of attention, began with the singer in 1992. It was this year that Tarkan’s debut album “Yine Sensiz” (Again Without You) was released, which was warmly received in Turkey, especially by young people, who, against the backdrop of the rather conservative and traditional Turkish music of that time, heard in it fashionable European notes, as well as familiar slang words. By some estimates, the album sold about 1 million copies. Apparently, the head of the İstanbul Plak label, Mehmet Söğütoğlu, was involved in this success. Around the same time, singer Tarkan met Ozan Çolakoğlu, a talented young composer, songwriter and producer who long years will become his business and creative partner.

Tarkan's first album looks funny now, but then it was a huge success

In 1994, Tarkan’s second album “Aacayipsin” (You are beautiful) was released. Over 2 million copies were purchased in Turkey and about a million more outside its borders. Before the singer Tarkan, perhaps no one had achieved such success.

Two songs on Tarkan's new album were written by the famous Turkish pop singer and composer Sezen Aksu. The song “Hepsi Senin Mi?!”, which later became a hit and is known in Europe as “Şıkıdım”, was written by her.

About 20 concerts in Europe, thousands of fans in Turkey, a face on the cover of Cosmopolitan Turkey, interviews for radio, TV, newspapers and magazines, Tarkan’s music everywhere... Success!

In the mid-nineties, Tarkan was already known not only in Turkey

Singer Tarkan in the USA and Europe

In 1994, Tarkan travels to the USA. The main goal is to learn English perfectly and get an education at Baruch College in New York. There he begins preparations for his first English-language album, but for a variety of reasons these plans are postponed, despite the album's announcement in 1995.

Then the singer Tarkan began to actively perform in Europe, and in 1997 Tarkan’s third album “Ölürüm Sana” (Crazy about You) and the single “Şımarık” were released, which immediately took the leading positions in the European hit parades. 3.5 million copies in Turkey. Platinum in Mexico, gold in France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, Sweden and Colombia. Did Tarkan himself expect such success?

The style, unusual for Turkish singers of that time, sharply distinguished Tarkan from the general mass of show business

Tarkan: international recognition, successes and problems in Turkey

The end of the nineties brought Tarkan the World Music Awards, the title of “the most successful Turkish musician” according to the association of Turkish journalists and a contract with Universal Music Group, another album “Tarkan”, as well as many different achievements, which once again confirmed his status as a “prince” Turkish pop music. Tarkan's music is becoming recognizable in the world.

But in addition to success, the singer also faced troubles. In 1998, his deferment from mandatory military service in Turkey ended. In this regard, he was not in much of a hurry to return to his homeland, but since at that time he was already very famous person, the Turkish government became interested in this issue. The issue of depriving Tarkan of Turkish citizenship for evading military service was considered. The situation was resolved in an unexpected way. In 1999, a powerful earthquake occurred in a city in Turkey. On this occasion, a law was passed that reduced military service to 28 days for those who contributed an amount approximately equal to 16 thousand US dollars to the fund for earthquake victims. Tarkan, of course, contributed it, and also held a charity concert in Istanbul, which was also affected by the earthquake, the proceeds from which were also transferred to charity. Interesting fact biographies of Tarkan - he served his 28 days as a singer, after all.

Tarkan during his 28 day service in the Turkish army

Singer Tarkan in the two thousandth

In 2001, Tarkan entered into a contract and became the official representative of Pepsi in Turkey, as well as the mascot of the Turkish football team at the 2002 World Cup. For this, the singer recorded the song “Bir Ölürüz Yolunda”, which became a kind of anthem for the fans.

Also, in 2001, Tarkan’s long-awaited album “Karma” was released, on which the singer worked for recent years. The singles “Kuzu-Kuzu” and “Hüp” occupy the top lines of the hit parades. The album sells 1 million copies in Europe.

The beginning of the two thousandth fans of Tarkan call the Karma Period

At the beginning of the 2000s, 2 scandals awaited the singer Tarkan. The first is with the book “Tarkan: Anatomy of a Star” (Tarkan – Yıldız Olgusu), which is first published and then withdrawn from sale due to accusations of plagiarism, according to one version, and according to another, due to the fact that it presents the singer as gay. The second is with the video for the song “Hüp”, due to the fact that some representatives of the Turkish public declared some scenes of the video to be pornographic and this caused a certain resonance in society. However, this video was nominated for an award by the Turkish music channel Kral. Tarkan tries not to advertise this page of his biography.

In 2003, Tarkan’s album “Dudu” was released, which the singer recorded on his own label “HITT Music”. It sold 1 million copies throughout Turkey. In the same year, the singer tried his hand at producing perfumes under his own brand Tarkan.

At the beginning of the 2000s, Tarkan tried various businesses related to showbiz, for example, perfume

Tarkan in English

Tarkan apparently had ideas to record his own English-language album back in the early nineties. But Tarkan’s first album in English was released only in 2006. Despite expectations, he did not expect even a tenth of the success that albums in Turkish brought Tarkan. The singles “Bounce” and “Start To Fire” were also received lukewarmly by the public, despite the European tour in support of the album.

Despite all Tarkan’s attempts, his English-language projects were fundamentally less successful than Turkish ones

Singer Tarkan sings in Turkish again

And he doesn’t just sing, but releases the album “Metamorfoz” in 2007 entirely in Turkish and is completely rehabilitated in the eyes of fans around the world. In the first weeks, over 300 thousand copies of the album were sold. This was the Tarkan music that fans loved.

Tarkan consolidates his success by releasing the collection “Metamorfoz Remixes” in 2008. Several videos are also shot for album songs. It seems that it was then that he regained the trust of his fans and determined the direction that most corresponds to both his internal vision of creativity and the preferences of consumers. In 2010 the world saw new album Tarkan "Adımı Kalbine Yaz". And again success. Over 300 thousand copies in the first weeks. The top lines of the hit parades in Turkey. Here he is, the former prince of Turkish pop music.

It seems that by the end of the two thousandth Tarkan had acquired the final image of a professional musician on a global scale

Tarkan: rumors, true or not?

The two most common rumors about Tarkan are that he is gay and that he is a drug addict. Naturally, both in support and in refutation of these rumors, you can find a lot of information, both similar to the truth and downright funny. This is what is trustworthy.

In addition to the fact that on many talk shows, singer Tarkan personally rejected all accusations of unconventional sexual orientation, he did not hide his relationship with Bilge Öztürk for about seven years, with whom he broke up in 2008. After this, the singer did not advertise his relationship with anyone, saying that he was free.

Regarding use famous singer drugs, there are also many rumors. But the only fact is that in 2010, during a large-scale operation by the Istanbul police, Tarkan and several other well-known figures of Turkish show business were detained in Istanbul in a private villa on charges of drug use and possession. A few days later, Tarkan was released. Whether this was an accident and a police mistake, most likely, we will never know, but in Tarkan’s biography it will be recorded forever.

In 2010, all newspapers were full of news about a drug scandal involving Tarkan, but it all ended in nothing

Tarkan and Russia

In 1998, when Tarkan was already quite famous in Russia and throughout the CIS, popular at that time, Russian singer Philip Kirkorov suddenly releases the album “Oh, Mom, Chic Ladies!”, the main motive of which is the melody of Tarkan’s song “Sıkıdım”. This happened due to the fact that the author of this song, Sezen Aksu, and Tarkan tore business relationship and Sezen began selling the rights to her songs to various performers, including Philip.

Separately, I would like to note the Russian Tarkan awards. “Dudu” was recognized as “Song of the Year” in Russia. Also for this song he received the “100-pound hit” award from the Russian radio station Hit FM in the form of a weight. Tarkan's music has been heard live on stage in Russia more than once.

Tarkan has been to Russia more than once, both for concerts and on personal business. In 2009, he made a whole tour of Russian cities with the “Prince of the East” program.