Ajda Pekkan

Ajda Pekkan is an acclaimed Turkish pop singer and actress, with a career spanning over five decades. She was born on February 12, 1946, in Beyoğlu, Istanbul. Her initial foray into the entertainment industry began in the 1960s when she joined the music group Los Çatikos and began performing in nightclubs. She then transitioned into acting and eventually starred in nearly 50 black and white films from 1963 to 1969. Ajda Pekkan's music career took off with her cover versions of songs written by Fikret Şeneş, including "Palavra Palavra," and "Sana Neler Edeceğim," which became significant hits in Turkish pop music. Her recording of the song "Kimler Geldi Kimler Geçti" became a big hit in 1973 and was described by critics as the most meaningful song ever written in Turkish. She also collaborated with important songwriters like Şehrazat and Sezen Aksu in the 1990s, which led to chart-topping songs such as "Yaz Yaz Yaz" and "Sarıl Bana." Ajda Pekkan wasn't only popular in Turkey; she became an international superstar across Europe in the 1970s. In 1978, she released the French album, Pour Lui. She also represented Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1980 with the song "Pet'r Oil," finishing in 15th place. She continued performing and acting in the following decades, and in 2011 released the chart-topping album, Farkin Bu. This success was followed by the classical Turkish music album Ajda Pekkan & Muazzez Abacı in 2014 and Ajda, her nineteenth studio album, in 2021.