Tarkan

Tarkan is Turkey’s biggest pop performer. The singer and composer’s Middle Eastern sound has earned him platinum record sales and World Music awards.

Tarkan was already a big star in Turkey (with multi-million album sales) when his fame spread throughout Europe in 1998. The track “Şimarik” from his third album became a hit in clubs all over Europe and prompted his record company to release a compilation album of his work. The album, Tarkan, earned him a World Music Award, and when it was released in the States, the Latin America sales took it platinum.

After a break for Tarkan to serve his National Service, and the Europe-only release Karma, he released an English language album in 2005. Bounce featured collaborations with Wyclef Jean on “Aman Aman”, and with writers who had penned tracks for Britney Spears and Shakira. The album was less successful than his Turkish releases and he returned to his native language for Metmorfoz. Sales of the album were good, and he even received praise from the Turkish Language Association for his return to the language.