She was originally educated professionally as an opera singer and has a well-tamed soprano voice. However, she proceeded to establish herself in popular music.
Initially working with Sezen Aksu, another significant Turkish music star, she released her first album Sakin Ol in 1992, followed by Lal (1994), Sertab Gibi (1996), Sertab (1999) and Turuncu (2001). Lal was included in the "Soundtrack For A Century" collection by Sony music. Sertab Erener is also remembered for her duets with José Carreras and Ricky Martin and her single with Greek singer Mando. In 2004 she released her first English album called "No Boundaries" and a few English singles, which increased the number of her international fans. Also she made a special re-production of the album regarding the Far-East countries. Her two songs "One More Cup of Coffee" (a Bob Dylan cover) and "Here I Am" were used in international movie soundtracks. She also worked with famous musicians Desmond Child, Indonesian singer Anggun, and Belgian band Voice Male.
She released Ask Olmez, another Turkish-language album in 2005 and the singles Ask Olmez, Biz Oluruz (Love never dies, we die) and a dance remix of Satilik Kalpler Sehri.
There was an electronic/club remix album of some of her best-known songs ("Sertab Goes to the Club") along with Murat Uncuoglu and Aytekin Kurt in 2007. She also released her best-of album ("The Best of Sertab Erener") in 2007.
By 2009, Sertab and her partner Demir Demirkan, who is known as a rock singer in Turkey, released an original album called "Painted on Water". The Painted on Water Project has its bases on the Turkish Folk Music. 14 anonymous old Turkish Folk songs are re-formed and harmonied with jazz sound. Songs are in English. The name of the project, Painted on Water, refers to a traditional Turkish painting method "Ebru", which is painted on water and then dried on a paper.
Sertab released a new album named "Rengarenk" (Colorful) in 2010 to positive commentaries. This has several new songs and a couple of remixes of one of the songs. This is not similar to Painted on Water and reflects Sertab's original pop style.
Her album "Ey Şûh-i Sertab" was released in April 2012. She sang Turkish Classical Music songs, which were totally arranged according to the traditional ways. Her latest album is "Sade", released in April 2013.
On June 3, 2016, Sertab Erener released her 11th LP, Kirik Kalpler Albumu after 3 years. Yıldız Tilbe, Can Bonomo, Soner Sarıkabadayı, Can Temiz, Ersel Serdarlı, Sibel Algan contributed to the album with song writing.
Istanbul
Sertab Erener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kimisi sadece heyecan peşinde
Kimisine sorulmaz bile derdi ne
Kiminle
(İstanbul)
Kimisi paça sıvar dereyi görmeden
Kimisi bütün yutar lokmayı bölmeden
İnceden
(İstanbul)
Gelip bu şehri bozan
Bu şehre gelip bozulanlar
Hepsi aynı kazanda kaynıyor istanbulda
(Doğru söylüyor)
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul sever seni sen beni seversen
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul döver seni sen beni üzersen
Ne çok canlar yakar (İstanbul)
Bolca günahlara sokar (İstanbul)
Hızlı koşanları çabucak yorar İstanbul İstanbul
Ama sen istesen de bu şehirden kaçamayacaksın
Çünkü aklın bende bende İstanbuldayım
(Doğru söylüyor)
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul sever seni sen beni seversen
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul döver seni sen beni üzersen
Sen gidersin
İstanbul beklemez
Gelirsin gidersin
İstanbul farketmez
Acı çeker özlersin
İstanbul üzülmez
Nasıl nedir halin
Istanbul hissetmez
(İstanbul)
İstanbul birini sevmiyorsan çekilmez
(Doğru söylüyor)
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul sever seni sen beni seversen
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul döver seni sen beni üzersen
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul sever seni sen beni seversen
Dinle beni biraz şşt
Sen sen İstanbul döver seni sen beni üzersen
İstanbul sever seni sen beni öpersen
In the song "İstanbul" by Sertab Erener, the singer talks about the different people and experiences in the city of Istanbul. She starts with describing how some people are focused on their work, while others search for excitement. There are also those who don't even bother to think about their worries. Then she talks about the different behaviors of people, some are reckless and don't care about the consequences, while others are more careful and try to avoid trouble.
The chorus has a direct conversation with the city of Istanbul, where she tells the city that she loves it and that it hits her hard at times, but she can't escape it because her mind is there. She also mentions that the city is capable of causing pain and leading people into sins. The bridge emphasises the city's strong character, stating that Istanbul waits for no one, people come and go, it doesn't matter to the city. It hurts when we're away, but the city does not feel it. She concludes by saying that Istanbul is unbearable if you don't love it, and if you love her, she will kiss you.
Line by Line Meaning
Kimisi sadece işinde gücünde
Some are just busy with their work
Kimisi sadece heyecan peşinde
Some are only after excitement
Kimisine sorulmaz bile derdi ne
Some don't even bother being asked about their troubles
Kiminle
With whom?
Kimisi paça sıvar dereyi görmeden
Some roll up their pants before even seeing the stream
Kimisi bütün yutar lokmayı bölmeden
Some swallow everything without dividing the morsel
Kimisi düşmez yakadan başa çorap örmeden
Some don't even knit socks from top to bottom
İnceden
Softly
Gelip bu şehri bozan
Those who come and ruin this city
Bu şehre gelip bozulanlar
The ones who come and get ruined by this city
Hepsi aynı kazanda kaynıyor istanbulda
They all boil in the same pot in Istanbul
(Doğru söylüyor)
(She's telling the truth)
Ne çok canlar yakar (İstanbul)
How many souls it burns (Istanbul)
Bolca günahlara sokar (İstanbul)
How much it involves in sins (Istanbul)
Hızlı koşanları çabucak yorar İstanbul İstanbul
Istanbul quickly tires those who run fast
Ama sen istesen de bu şehirden kaçamayacaksın
But even if you want, you can't escape from this city
Çünkü aklın bende bende İstanbuldayım
Because your mind is with me, I am in Istanbul
Sen gidersin
You go
İstanbul beklemez
Istanbul doesn't wait
Gelirsin gidersin
You come and go
İstanbul farketmez
It doesn't matter to Istanbul
Acı çeker özlersin
You suffer and miss
İstanbul üzülmez
Istanbul doesn't get upset
Nasıl nedir halin
How is your condition
Istanbul hissetmez
Istanbul doesn't feel it
(İstanbul)
(Istanbul)
İstanbul birini sevmiyorsan çekilmez
Istanbul is unbearable if you don't love someone
Sen sen İstanbul sever seni sen beni seversen
If you love Istanbul, it will love you and me
Sen sen İstanbul döver seni sen beni üzersen
If you hurt Istanbul, it will hurt you and me
İstanbul sever seni sen beni öpersen
If Istanbul loves you, it will kiss both you and me
Contributed by Mason L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.