Born in Yalova to Turkish immigrant parents from Skopje, Macedonia, Ferah got her first guitar when she was in the first year in boarding at Bursa Namık Sözeri High School. She took lessons on the acoustic guitar, and during her second year she hired a studio with her friends and formed the group Pegasus. The group had their first stage experience during a rock festival in Bursa, in 1987. After a while, Pegasus disbanded. In 1988 with her four friends, Ferah formed Volvox, which was named after a microorganism that they had encountered in a biology lesson.
After a period during which she attended Middle East Technical University, studying economics in Ankara, she moved to Istanbul, where she attended classes on English language and literature at the Istanbul University. For two years she performed in various bars with Volvox, until they disbanded in 1994.
She released her first solo album, Kadın in 1996, and has gone on to release a total of six full studio albums, the last one being Benim Adım Orman, released in 2009. In addition to composing the music and writing the lyrics of every song in her albums, she occasionally sings on stage cover versions of work by artists of similar vocal qualities and style, such as Amy Lee and Skin.
On her third album, Perdeler, she collaborated with the Finnish cello rock band Apocalyptica.
Ferah's current group consists of Buket Doran (bass guitar), Metin Türkcan (electric guitar), Aykan İlkan (drums), and Ozan Tügen (keyboard), who have been performing with her in studio and on stage since her third album, Perdeler.
Perdeler
Şebnem Ferah Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bir yanýmda üst üste okunmamýþ kitaplar
Dünün yarýným hep burda küçücük adamda
Susadým yoruldum ama aklým hayatta
Bir yanda yorgun düþmüþ yaþlanmýþ insanlar
Bir yanýmda ümitle aþka uyananlar
Dünyanýn her hali burda daðýnýk odamda
Çok düþtüm yaralandým ama sarýldým hayata
Ardýmda büyük büyük kocaman aðýr yükler
Her yerimden çektiler beni beklettiler
Dinlendim su içtim aktý dudaklarýmdan
Her gün güneþ doðar yeter ki açýk olsun perdeler
Bir yanýmda durmadan çalýþan saatler
Bir yanda aðýr aðýr dipten gelen sesler
Düþündüm buldum sandýðým yüzyýllýk gerçekler
Hepsiyle giyindim durdum bazen büyük geldiler
Bir yanda hiç susmadan konuþan dudaklar
Bir yanda küsüp susmuþ sessiz akýllar
Dibe vurduysak ne olmuþ elbet çýkarýz
Bir gün var bir gün yokuz kiralýkmýþ hayatlar
Ardýmda büyük büyük kocaman aðýr yükler
Her yerimden çektiler beni beklettiler
Dinlendim su içtim aktý dudaklarýmdan
Her gün güneþ doðar yeter ki açýk olsun perdeler
The song Perdeler by Şebnem Ferah reflects on the complexities of life and the various experiences and situations that shape an individual's journey. The lyrics describe the duality of life, with one side representing the lived experiences and memories while the other side symbolizes the potential for a future not yet explored.
On one side of the individual's life experiences, there are pages filled with moments while other pages are blank and yet to be explored. The singer describes how past experiences have shaped their present, and how they feel tired and thirsty but remain focused and present. Meanwhile, the other side symbolizes hope and love, with people who have yet to experience the same life events. The singer acknowledges the messiness of life and feels worn down by the baggage of their memories.
The singer also speaks about how heavy burdens have held them back and slowed their progress, but they have managed to persevere through it. They contemplate deeply and find themselves prepared for whatever is to come, even when they know it will be a great challenge. The song ends with the message that every individual will experience highs and lows in their life and that opening oneself to the world and allowing the light to come in is essential.
Line by Line Meaning
Bir yanýmda dopdolu yaþanmýþ sayfalar
On one side, there are pages filled with lived experiences
Bir yanýmda üst üste okunmamýþ kitaplar
On the other side, there are unread books stacked up
Dünün yarýným hep burda küçücük adamda
Yesterday's tomorrow is always here in my tiny self
Susadým yoruldum ama aklým hayatta
I am thirsty, tired, but my mind is still alive
Bir yanda yorgun düþmüþ yaþlanmýþ insanlar
On one side, there are tired, aged people
Bir yanýmda ümitle aþka uyananlar
On the other side, there are those waking up to love with hope
Dünyanýn her hali burda daðýnýk odamda
The chaos of the world is all here in my messy room
Çok düþtüm yaralandým ama sarýldým hayata
I've fallen and been hurt so many times, but I still hold on to life
Ardýmda büyük büyük kocaman aðýr yükler
Behind me are huge, heavy burdens
Her yerimden çektiler beni beklettiler
They pulled me from all sides and made me wait
Dinlendim su içtim aktý dudaklarýmdan
I rest, drink water, and let it flow from my lips
Her gün güneþ doðar yeter ki açýk olsun perdeler
Every day the sun rises, as long as the curtains are open
Bir yanýmda durmadan çalýþan saatler
On one side, there are clocks ticking incessantly
Bir yanda aðýr aðýr dipten gelen sesler
On the other side, there are heavy, slow sounds coming from below
Düþündüm buldum sandýðým yüzyýllýk gerçekler
I think and find the ancient truths I buried away
Hepsiyle giyindim durdum bazen büyük geldiler
I put them all on and sometimes they feel too big
Bir yanda hiç susmadan konuþan dudaklar
On one side, there are lips that never stop talking
Bir yanda küsüp susmuþ sessiz akýllar
On the other side, there are minds that have stopped speaking due to anger
Dibe vurduysak ne olmuþ elbet çýkarýz
If we hit rock bottom, it doesn't matter, we will come out eventually
Bir gün var bir gün yokuz kiralýkmýþ hayatlar
One day we are here, the next we are not, our lives rented
Ardýmda büyük büyük kocaman aðýr yükler
Behind me are huge, heavy burdens
Her yerimden çektiler beni beklettiler
They pulled me from all sides and made me wait
Dinlendim su içtim aktý dudaklarýmdan
I rest, drink water, and let it flow from my lips
Her gün güneþ doðar yeter ki açýk olsun perdeler
Every day the sun rises, as long as the curtains are open
Contributed by Anna D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.