A Milestone in the History of Turkish Pop Music: Zeki Müren and Song Translation (1964)

Authors : Alaz Pesen

Pages : 521-538

Doi:10.26650/LITERA2024-1484246

View : 27 | Download : 4

Publication Date : 2024-12-24

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :This research explores the previously unacknowledged importance of Zeki Müren’s collaboration with Fecri Ebcioğlu in rewriting and performing Charles Aznavour’s “La Mamma” [Mama] in Turkish in 1964 as “Annem”. At that time, Müren was already a celebrated figure in Turkish art music, while Ebcioğlu had made a name for himself in the music industry through earlier releases, most notably “Bak Bir Varmış Bir Yokmuş” [Once Upon a Time], the inaugural song of Turkish pop music, translated from Bob Azzam’s “C’est Ecrit Dans Le Ciel” [Written in Heaven]. This collaboration is a significant event in the realms of cultural history, translation history, and music history, yet it has been largely ignored by scholars and deserves closer examination. Müren’s established fame in Turkish art music played a crucial role in the acceptance of this new genre by the Turkish audience (1), enhanced Ebcioğlu’s own reputation (2), and reciprocally boosted Müren’s popularity through the translation of a global pop hit (3). Utilizing the concept of aranjman, a songtranslation practice unique to Turkey, the study asserts that Müren’s rendition not only retains culture-specificity but also infuses it with their distinct style. This unique style is not merely a queer performance but is tied to Müren’s stature as a performer of Turkish art music, composer, lyricist and radio programmer. All these aspects constitute the symbolic capital of Zeki Müren. The study aims to show that only by analyzing musical, verbal, and visual elements together can we fully understand the strategies employed and gain a comprehensive understanding of song translation.
Keywords : zeki müren, aznavour, şarkı çevirisi, icra, çeviribilim

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