Sezen Aksu, born as Fatma Sezen Yıldırım, is one of the most widely accepted figures in Turkish music and was born on 13 July 1954 in the village of Sarayköy in Denizli. Known as “Minik Serçe,” Aksu is among the pioneers of popular music in Türkiye, and the works she has contributed to the musical world form an essential part of her artistic legacy. Recognized both as a singer and a word songwriter, Sezen Aksu has played a pivotal role in the evolution of music in Türkiye and has significantly contributed to the development of many young artists.

Childhood and Education

Known in the media as “Minik Serçe,” Sezen Aksu is the daughter of a mother who migrated from Thessaloniki to Türkiye and a father from the village of Pazarlı in Rize. She was born on 13 July 1954 in the district of Sarayköy in Denizli. When she turned three, her family moved to Izmir, where she began her education. After completing İzmir Girls’ High School, she enrolled at the Faculty of Agriculture at Ege University but left her studies midway during her second year.

Sezen Aksu’s interest in music dates back to her childhood. She began singing from a young age and, with her family’s support, enrolled at the Istanbul Conservatory. Aksu completed her musical education there and, after further developing her talents, embarked on a professional music career. The Conservatory years correspond to a period during which her musical foundation was strengthened.

Beginning of Her Career

In the early stages of her music career, Sezen Aksu released her first single, “Haydi Şansım/Gel Bana,” under the name “Sezen Seley” in 1975. However, she did not gain widespread recognition until 1976, when her single “Olmaz Olsun/Vurdumduymaz” reached number one on Türkiye’s music charts and achieved major success. That same year, Aksu won the award for “Woman Artist of the Year,” marking her official entry into the music industry.

Her first album, released in 1977, was titled “Allahaısmarladık.” This album included not only her previous singles but also new songs such as “Uzun Lafın Kısası” and “Gözlerindeki Bulut.” Released in 33 rpm format, the album took its name from her earlier single “Allahaısmarladık/Kaç Yıl Geçti Aradan.”

In the mid-1970s, Sezen Aksu attempted to represent Türkiye in the Eurovision Song Contest. Although she participated three times in the national finals—with a duet with Özdemir Erdoğan titled “Küçük Bir Aşk Masalı,” a performance with Coşkun Demir and Ali Kocatepe titled “Heyamola,” and a solo performance titled “1945”—she never secured the opportunity to represent Türkiye internationally. Her dream of winning Eurovision and bringing her musical vision to the global stage was later realized by her student Sertab Erener.

The album “Kusura Bakma,” released in 1976, became a turning point in the evolution of Turkish pop music. It marked a significant step in her rise to popularity by attracting a broad audience.

Musical Style and Works

Sezen Aksu is an artist who has produced works across many different genres in Turkish music, singing songs ranging from pop to people music and even arabesque. Her songs commonly explore themes such as love, life, melancholy, and social events.

In the early 1980s, Aksu diversified her musical style and experimented with different genres. Her albums “Ağlamak Güzeldir” (1981) and “Firuze” (1982) became among the most listened-to works of the era. In particular, the song “Firuze” from the album “Firuze” was widely appreciated by a broad audience. Other important works from this period include the albums “Sen Ağlama” (1984) and “Git” (1986). “Sultan Süleyman” (1988) is also one of the hit songs from this period.

In the early 1990s, Aksu turned toward more mature and profound themes in her music. Her albums “Gülümse” (1991) and “Deli Kızın Türküsü” (1993) received positive critical reviews and achieved commercial success. Songs such as “Hadi Bakalım” (1991) and “Masum Değiliz” (1993) became among the most beloved tracks of the decade.

In 2000, with the album “Deliveren,” Aksu explored a new sound and garnered acclaim with songs such as “Söz Vermiştim.” In 2002, she released the album “Şarkı Söylemek Lazım,” producing hit songs like “Şarkı Söylemek Lazım” and “Gitme.” In her 2003 album “Yaz Bitmeden,” she drew attention with the tracks “Summer Bitmeden” and “Beni Anlama.”

In 2014, Aksu released the album “İmza,” achieving great success with tracks such as “İmza” and “Beni Unutma.” The album drew attention for both the distinctiveness of her songwriting and her musical diversity. In the same year, she also released the album “Yaz Günü.”

In 2016, Aksu released the album "Benim Şarkılarım," in which she brought together songs from both the past and the present, once again drawing attention with tracks such as "Aşk" and "Geri Dön" on.

Songs such as "Gülümse," "Tükeneceğiz," "Tutuklu," and "Begonvil" have become classics of Turkish music. Moreover, Aksu’s songs are often associated with social events and reflect the political and cultural atmosphere of their time.

She has released nine 45 rpm singles, eight singles, and twenty-five albums. Her songs have garnered widespread popularity among various segments of Turkish society and have built a large listening audience loyal. Today, she continues to work on singles and albums.

Famous Mentorship and Production Career

One of Sezen Aksu’s most significant contributions has been introducing new voices to Turkish music. Aksu discovered many young artists and played a pivotal role in shaping their careers through production. Notably, artists such as Sertab Erener, Harun Kolçak, Aşkın Nur Yengi, Levent Yüksel, Işın Karaca, Hande Yener, and Yıldız Tilbe were musically guided and profoundly influenced by Aksu.

In the 1990s, Aksu also hosted a program called Sezen Aksu Show on Canal 6, successfully making her name known in the television world. She produced Aşkın Nur Yengi’s album "Sevgiliye," which achieved sales of one million copies.

In 1991, Aksu also produced Aşkın Nur Yengi’s album "Hesap Ver," which achieved high sales figures similar to her debut album. That same year, the album "Gülümse," with musical direction by Onno Tunç, achieved major success with sales exceeding two million copies.

In 1992, Sezen Aksu collaborated with vocalist Sertab Erener to release Erener’s debut album "Sakin Ol." The album surpassed expected sales figures. Additionally, in 1993, she worked with Levent Yüksel to release the album "Med-Cezir," which achieved high sales and established Yüksel as one of the most recognized names of the 1990s Levent. That same year, Aksu released her own album "Deli Kızın Türküsü." On this album, she collaborated with Uzay Heparı, experimenting with different musical styles and producing popular songs such as "Küçüğüm" and "Masum Değiliz."

However, in 1994, a tragic event marked one of the most difficult periods in Aksu’s music career. Uzay Heparı, with whom she had collaborated on the album, died in a traffic accident. Following this event loss, Aksu composed a song titled "Yas" in his memory and included it on Levent Yüksel’s album instead of releasing it herself but.

In 1995, Aksu released the album "Işık Doğudan Yükselir." This album features music heavily influenced by Anatolia traditions, incorporating works by famous figures such as Yunus Emre, Mevlana, and Âşık Daimi.

In 1996, Aksu appeared as a vocalist on Nazan Öncel’s album "Sokak Kızı" and also appeared in Zerrin Özer’s famous music video for "Paşa Gönlüm." In 1997, she released the album "Düğün ve Cenaze," but due to critical reception, it failed to achieve the expected sales figures. The album’s songs were composed by international composers such as Goran Bregović and Kurtis Jasavev.

In 1998, the single "Erkekler," the most notable track from the album "Düğün ve Cenaze," was released and attracted considerable attention. That same year, Levent Yüksel’s third album "Adı Menekşe," produced by Aksu, was released.

Aksu’s production career has led to her being recognized not only as a singer but also as a mentor and guide within the music world.

Awards and Position in Society

She has won over 200 awards and has been named "Woman Artist of the Year" numerous times. In 2005, she brought the educational campaign "Kardelenler" to public attention and created awareness to support girls' education. In addition to her musical career, she has contributed to numerous social responsibility projects and has performed many benefit concerts.

Her collaborations particularly with Tarkan resulted in international hits such as "Şımarık" and "Şıkıdım", which garnered widespread attention across world. Furthermore, her collaboration with Goran Bregović expanded Aksu’s international audience and introduced her music to diverse cultures. In 2010, being named one of "The 50 Great Voices of the World" by NPR (National Public Radio) was another significant recognition of her standing on the global music scene.

Aksu has reached a vast audience not only in Türkiye but worldwide. She has performed over 1500 concerts in more than 20 countries and achieved serious success through her interpretations and lyrics. Her songs have been covered by over 100 artist. To date, she has sold over 20 million albums and authored more than 500 compositions.

Personal Life and Additional Information

Sezen Aksu married Hasan Yüksektepe at a young age, but this marriage ended after short duration. During the early years of her career, she married Ali Engin Aksu, a name she adopted and later used as her surname. On 10 July 1981, while pregnant with her child, she married Sinan Özer, but this marriage also ended in divorce in 1983. In 1993, she married journalist Ahmet Utlu, but this relationship was brief and concluded with divorce.

In addition to her marriages, Aksu had a romantic relationship with composer Uzay Heparı. Aksu has one son, Mithat Can Özer, from her marriage to Sinan Özer. Additionally, the asteroid 266854 Sezenaksu, discovered in 2009, asteroid, bears the artist’s name.