LEVENT ERGUN
1. Tülay German, “Burçak tarlası”
From: “Burçak tarlası” / “Mecnunum Leylamı gördüm”. Ezgi Plakları 45-101, 1964, 45 rpm.
Tülay German and Doruk Onatkut Band.
Arranged by Doruk Onatkut.
The synthesis of folk tunes with Western popular music styles (mostly jazz, pop, and rock ‘n’ roll), was “Burçak tarlası” (Field of Vetch), performed by one of the most extraordinary singers of the time, Tülay German, at the Balkan Melodies Festival on behalf of Turkey in 1964. This song, released as a 45 rpm in 1964, was the first significant example of performing local or folk tunes with Western musical instruments in the industry.
2. Yıldırım Gürses, “Gençliğe veda”
From: “Gençliğe veda” / “Canım İstanbul”. Diskofon Plak H 010, 1965, 45 rpm.
There were exceptions to this, such as winner of the first contest. Composed and performed in the muhayyer kürdi maqam by the 1965 winner, Yıldırım Gürses, “Gençliğe veda” (Farewell to Youth) was a Turkish art music song in which several distinctive elements linked to each other inside different rhytmic layers. The song was well-received due to the powerful voice of Gürses and his 24-piece -orchestra which included both Turkish and Western instruments. Nevertheless, there were people who criticized the winning song precisely because of these features. Especially, it was accused of being poly-instrumental rather than polyphonic Turkish music.
3. Mavi Işıklar, “Helvacı”
From: “Helvacı” / “Kanamam”. Diskofon Plak H 05, 1965, 45 rpm.
Nejat Toksoy: vocals; Zamir Manisa: drums; Cihat Günaydın: guitar; Metin Yavuzdoğan: keyboards; Çetin Yavuzdoğan: bass.
The 1965 second-place winning song was an anonymous folk tune “Helvacı” (Halva Seller) performed to the rhythm of the favorite dance of the time, the twist, following a slow introduction with three backing singers. This lithe melody, a Gaziantep folk tune taken from southeastern Anatolia, was performed by the young members of Mavi Işıklar, who were influenced by the Beatles.
3a. Mavi Işıklar, “Çayır çimen geze geze”
From: “Çayır çimen geze geze” / “Pınarbaşı”.
Nejat Toksoy: vocals; Zamir Manisa: drums; Cihat Günaydın: guitar; Metin Yavuzdoğan: keyboards; Çetin Yavuzdoğan: bass.
With its 9/8 rhythm, entertaining lyrics, doo-wop vocal arrangements, rock ‘n’ roll influence, and a melody from Isparta, “Çayır çimen geze geze” (Wandering in the Meadows) became popular.
4. Silüetler, “Lorke lorke”
From: “Lorke lorke” / “Gülnihal”. Melodi Plak H 15, 1966, 45 rpm.
Mesut Aytunca: lead guitar; Erol Bilem: bass; Rasim Ulusman: guitar; Aydın Daruga: drums; Sadık Bütünley: vocals.
Silüetler was the first-place winner in 1966 and the third-place winner in 1965. Their Shadows-influenced swing-flavored entry was “Lorke lorke” (a local, a folk dance and song tune).
5. Mavi Çocuklar, “Develi daylar”
From: “Develi daylar” / “Tamzara”. Melodi Plak H 020, 1967, 45 rpm.
Dinçer Erdoğan: vocals; Marten Yorgun: vocals; Burç Minas: saxophone; Erdinç Kutlu: drums; Haluk Hancı: bass; Adnan Yeğinsoy: guitar; Galip Mutlu: keyboards.
In 1967, Mavi Çocuklar won the contest with their song “Develi daylar” (Unsaddled Camels), a Middle-Anatolian folk-tune.
6. Cem Karaca and Apaşlar, “Emrah”
From: “Emrah” / “Karacaoğlan”. Melodi Plak H 018, 1967, 45 rpm.
Cem Karaca: vocals; Mehmet Soyarslan: guitar; Yalçınkaya Tümay: guitar; Nedim Demirelli: bass; Leon Habib: drums.
In 1967 second place went to, Cem Karaca and Apaşlar who performed their song, “Emrah”, considered to be one of the earliest examples of Anatolian rock/pop.
7. TPAO Batman Orkestrası, “Meşelidir enginde dağlar”
From: “Aç aç kolların” / “Meşelidir enginde dağlar”. Diskofon Plak, 1968, 45 rpm.
İlhan Telli: vocals; Semih Özmert: drums; Ünal Üstol: guitar; Çetin Oral: bass; Ünal Yiğitbaş: saxophone; Atila Akman: guitar.
The last of the Golden Microphone contests was held in 1968. The winner of the contest was Türkiye Petrolleri Anonim Ortaklığı (T.P.A.O.) Batman Orkestrası (the Turkish Petroleum Partnership Batman Orchestra). The Orchestra consisted of engineers and technicians from this particular petroleum company in Batman, a city located in southeastern Anatolia. Thus it attracted much attention. Their contest song was “Meşelidir enginde dağlar meşeli” (Wide Oak-Filled Mountains), a folk-tune arrangement with R&B-influenced riffs.
7a. TPAO Batman Orkestrası, “Kara toprak”
From: “Kara toprak” / “Ay beyaz deniz mavi”. H 022, 1967, 45 rpm.
Music and lyrics by Aşık Veysel.
Arranged by TPAO Batman Orkestrası.
İlhan Telli: vocals; Semih Özmert: drums; Ünal Üstol: guitar; Çetin Oral: bass; Ünal Yiğitbaş: saxophone; Atila Akman: guitar.
The song won fourth place in 1967. It is originally a folk song by a famous Alevi folk singer Aşık Veysel.
8. Haramiler, “Arpa buğday daneler”
From: T.P.A.O Batman Orkestrası, Haramiler, Moğollar, Erkin Koray Dörtlüsü,Turgut Oksay ve Sis Beşlisi. 1968 Altın Mikrofon. Hürriyet Hg01-I, 1968, LP.
Koray Oktay: guitar, vocals; Oğuz Durukan: bass; Uğur Dikmen: keyboard; Asım Ekren: drum; Çetin Yorulmaz: saxophone.
In 1968, Haramiler won second place with “Arpa buğday daneler” (Barley Stalks), a central Anatolian folk-tune.
9. Moğollar, “Ilgaz”
From: T.P.A.O Batman Orkestrası, Haramiler, Moğollar, Erkin Koray Dörtlüsü,Turgut Oksay ve Sis Beşlisi. 1968 Altın Mikrofon. Hürriyet Hg01-I, 1968, LP.
Cahit Berkay: guitar; Murat Ses: keyboards; Aziz Ahmet: vocals, guitar; Hasan Sel: bass; Engin Yörükoğlu: drums.
The Samim Bilgen composition, “Ilgaz” (name of the mountain), performed by Moğollar, is a school song taught as part of secondary-school music pedagogy in Turkey since the 1950s. The song won third place in 1968.