Turkey participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 34 times, debuting in 1975. Their participation, however, is now suspended, with their last entry being in 2012. Despite a relatively long history in the competition, Turkey only achieved one victory, in 2003, with Sertab Erener’s “Everyway That I Can.” Turkey’s early years in Eurovision were marked by modest results. They frequently finished in the lower half of the scoreboard and often received “nul points” (zero points), which became something of a running joke among fans. The early entries often featured a mix of traditional Turkish music elements and contemporary pop sounds, reflecting the country’s cultural identity. The 1990s saw a gradual improvement in Turkey’s performances. Artists like Tarkan (who didn’t actually represent Turkey at Eurovision but was considered for it at various points) helped to modernize Turkish pop music and make it more internationally appealing. This influence began to translate to better results at the contest, with more entries reaching the top 20. The victory in 2003 with Sertab Erener was a watershed moment for Turkish Eurovision history. “Everyway That I Can” was a catchy, uptempo song with strong choreography and visual appeal. It resonated with audiences across Europe and secured Turkey’s first, and so far only, win. The victory led to Turkey hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Istanbul in 2004. Following their win, Turkey continued to send competitive entries, often incorporating a mix of Turkish and English lyrics, as well as diverse musical styles. They often embraced contemporary trends in pop and rock music, resulting in several top 10 finishes. Notable entries included Hadise’s “Düm Tek Tek” in 2009, which finished fourth, and Manga’s “We Could Be the Same” in 2010, which came second. However, Turkey withdrew from the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013, citing dissatisfaction with the voting system, particularly the “Big Five” automatic qualification and the perceived unfairness of the jury vote. The Turkish broadcaster TRT also expressed concerns about the increasing influence of LGBTQ+ themes in the contest, stating this was against Turkish values. Since their withdrawal, there have been occasional rumors and speculation about Turkey’s potential return to Eurovision. While there is clearly still a strong interest in the contest among Turkish fans, the current political and social climate in Turkey makes a return appear unlikely in the near future, particularly given TRT’s stated concerns regarding content and voting. The future of Turkey and Eurovision remains uncertain, but many fans hope to see them compete again someday.
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