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.
Oysa
Sertab Erener Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daha önce bir yerde tanışmış gibi
Dilimin ucunda bir sırdaş gibi
Yılların ardından gelişi vardı
Adresime yazılmış bir mektup gibi
Açmadan açılmadan anlamış gibi
Cevabı önceden verilmiş gibi
Oysa söylenecek bir şarkım vardı
Yaşanacak yıllarım vardı
Kimbilir kaç yarın kaldı
Oysa söylenecek bir şarkım vardı
Yaşanacak yıllarım vardı
Zaman beni benden çaldı
Gecesi sabahıma uyanmış gibi
Elleri ellerime uzanmış gibi
Konuşmadan her şeyi anlamış gibi
Öylesi anlamlı gözleri vardı
Uzakta olsa da içimde gibi
Bir katri çiçeği koklamış gibi
Yağmurda dudağı dudağım gibi
Öylesi sıcak bir kalbi vardı
In Sertab Erener's song "Oysa", the lyrics speak of a deep longing and anticipation for someone or something that feels like a familiar presence. The first couple of lines describe a longing gaze that feels like looking out towards the horizon, as if waiting for something to arrive. The singer then likens the feeling to that of recognizing someone they have met before, but can’t quite put their finger on who they are. As the years go by, the anticipation only grows stronger, like a closely guarded secret on the tip of their tongue.
The second verse paints a picture of a mystery letter that has arrived at the singer’s address, one that they can feel holds profound meaning even before opening it. The answer seems to have already been given, and the singer knows exactly what to expect without having read it. Despite this, they still wait eagerly, knowing that what they are yearning for is finally on its way.
Throughout the song, the singer emphasizes the notion that there is something they need to express or share; a song that needs to be sung, years that need to be lived. Despite the passage of time and uncertainty of the future, their heart is warm with a sense of familiarity, as if this longing has been a part of them all along. With this, the lyrics capture the raw emotion of longing that can only be described as "Oysa".
Line by Line Meaning
Bakışına bakışına gibi
Like looking into your eyes
Daha önce bir yerde tanışmışım gibi
Like we've met somewhere before
Dilimin ucunda bir sırraşı gibi
Like a secret on the tip of my tongue
Yılların ardından gelişi vardı
After all these years, here you are
Adresime yazılmış bir mektup gibi
Like a letter addressed to me
Açmadan açılmanan anlamışım gibi
Like I've understood it before even opening it
Cevabı önceden verilmiş gibi
Like the answer was already known to me
Onu beklediğimden haberi vardı
She knew I was waiting for her
Oysa söylenecek bir şarkım vardı
But I had a song to sing
Yaşanacak yıllarım vardı
I had years to live
Kimbilir kaç yarın kaldı
Who knows how many tomorrows are left
Zaman beni benden çaldı
Time stole me away from myself
Gecesi sabahıma uyanmış gibi
Like waking up to a new dawn
Elleri ellerime uzanmış gibi
Like her hands reaching out to mine
Konuşmadan her şeyi anlamış gibi
Like understanding everything without words
Öylesi anlamlı gözleri vardı
She had such meaningful eyes
Uzakta olsa da içimde gibi
Even though she's far, she's inside me
Bir katre çiçeği koklamış gibi
Like smelling a drop of flower
Yağmurda dudağı dudağıma gibi
Like our lips in the rain
Öylesi sıcak bir kalbi vardı
She had such a warm heart
Contributed by Hunter B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.