Like Portugal and Finland Turkey used to be one of the most underrated countries in Eurovision. Here I go with my history info again, hope you like to know and read. Started to participate in 1975 for the first time and reached a shameful "shame on you European juries" last place with one of the most beautiful songs of Eurovision ever, with only 3 points from Monaco for Seninle bir dakika. The years after they did not do much better, in 1980 in the Netherlands (Israel had won twice in a row and did not want to organize it again and my country stepped in, which the UK had done a couple of times also) they reached 15th place with a very ethnic and beautiful song by Ajda Pekkan, Petroil. Only 15th I would say and that seems okay but only 3 countries were responsible for that result, their first ever 12 from Morocco, the only time Morocco participated, 8 from Italy and 3 from Austria. In 1984 a 12th place for the first time with Halay and the first time some European countries gave their first ever kind of high points to Turkey like Sweden (6), UK (5), Yugoslavia (10) and Switzerland (6) Then 1985 was suspected to do so much better ( I think many agree this should have been their first top 10 or may be 5) and it started out well with 7 points from Ireland, but again many countries ignored this wonderful happy uptempo ethnic pop song called Didai didai dai and it only finished shared 14th with 36 points, 3 countries responsible for the most of that with 8 from the UK and their second 12 points ever but then from a western European country 12 from Switzerland. Then finally their reward in 1986 with their first ever top 10 entry, 9th placed Halley and more countries gave them high points: Luxembourg 6, Yugoslavia 12, Netherlands yes 6 points, Switzerland 8 , Belgium 6, Germany 8 points, together 46 points from 6 countries and some lower points from 3 others to reach 9th place with 53 points. The years after 1988 deserved much better than only 15th, with 2 times 8 by Israel and Germany and some more. 1991 Turkey decided to send a quite uptempo disco dance song Iki dakika, which ended only 12th again, but this time some other countries gave Turkey points for the very first time ever: high points from Denmark 8, Italy 8, Malta, France, Israel 7. It went down hill again until in 1996 Sebnem Paker entered with her beautiful song the Fifth Season, opening the contest, she reached 12th place and 57 points with good points from Malta 10, Spain 8, Netherlands 7, UK and Switzerland 6. But again only 10 countries gave them points out of 22. And then then then: 1997. Turkey decided to send Sebnem again and before the contest it was predicted to make it into the top 10. It was the first year 5 countries I think had partly televoting, but only 5. But no points from the first countries AND THEN it changed. All of a sudden the points were rolling in! Out of 24 (25 participating countries) for the first time ever that high, Turkey received points from 18! countries from all over Europe, also from countries that had never before given points to Turkey, of which the highest were: Austria 7, Switzerland 6, Italy 7, Estonia 6, Portugal 5, Sweden 6 and oh my from due to politics a country that had never given Turkey points before 7 from Greece!, 10 from Malta, 6 from Hungary, 6 from France and 7 from Iceland! And 3 top marks from Spain, Germany and Bosnia Herzegovina 12. And a 3d place! They were ecstatic, and it was not because of only 5 televoting countries participated, the juries rewarded them big time also! Again lower results the years after until in 2000 they reached a 10 th place with 2 times 12 points from the Netherlands and France, also my winner. 2001, 2002 lower again and then of course 2003, when the song came out almost immediately all over Europe people and fans said this would be the year of Turkey and it was! Followed by other top 10 and top 5 places: 2004, 4th, 2007, 4th, 2008 7th, 2009 4th, 2010 2nd , 2011 the first time Turkey did not qualify from the semifinals and 2012 7th. And then due to political reasons Turkey withdrew from the contest. Turkey come back! And music overcomes political tension: Cyprus, the country partly reason for the tension between Turkey and Greece, Greek Cyprus participates in Eurovision (though Turkish Cyprus is never recognised) and gave the winner fromTurkey in 2003 8 points. The other way around Turkey was generous to Greece by giving them 10 in 2004 and 12 in 2005. Well there you have some Turkish Eurovision history!
As much as I LOVE this song, this was a Turkish vibe watered down to try and garner votes from the west. The earlier entries from the 2000's and 1990's were much more ethnic, from Sebnem Paker - Dinle (1997) and Kayahan - Gözlerinin Hapsindeyim (1990)
She can speak 6 languages and also she began her career in Belgium and she moved to turkey after eurovision. Before the eurovision, she won 3 important awards in belgium three years in a row. You should watch her all TMF awards performance (2006, 2007, 2009). Especially her performance in 2007 because at the same year Rihanna was nominated but she didn't win. And hadise chose the eurovision song of the Belgium at 2016 in Eurosong. You can watch her opening performance in Eurosong. Plus, i recommend you watch to her concert videos in Harbiye at 2019. Because her all shows were world class. I am waiting for ur reaction. :)
OH BOY! She was THE HOT FAV that year and was HATED by many! I do not think that she performed as well as the recording. Granted she was sick and the pressure was INTENSE on her. Turkey used to be the DADDY of this contest!!!
