Zeki Müren

Zeki Müren (6 December 1931, Bursa – 24 September 1996, İstanbul) was a Turkish singer, composer and actor. He was famous for his compelling voice and precise articulation in his singing of both established Turkish classical music and contemporary songs. He was awarded the title of "State Artist" in 1991[1] for his contributions to art. The artist, who has also given to start the first Turkish Gold Record Award, have filled music experience of more than six hundred records and tapes throughout, has composed more than three hundred songs.[2]

Zeki Müren
The bust of Zeki Müren in front of his house in Bodrum, where he settled before his death.
Born(1931-12-06)6 December 1931
Bursa, Turkey
Died24 September 1996(1996-09-24) (aged 64)
İstanbul, Turkey
EducationBursa Osmangazi School
Boğaziçi High School(left)
Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts
Occupation
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actor
Musical career
GenresTurkish classical music
Years active1950–1996
Labels
  • Grafson Plak, Coşkun Plak LP, Kalan, Türküola LP, Minareci Kaset, Sahibinin Sesi Greece, Balkan Plak, Yavuz Plak, Lider Plak, Elenor LP
Websitewww.zekimuren.net
Signature

Biography

Zeki Müren grew up in the provincial capital city of Bursa in western Turkey. From 1950 to 1953 he studied decorative arts in Istanbul at the Fine Arts Academy while launching his musical career. Müren's first album was issued in 1951, at which time he was a regular singer on Istanbul Radio. In 1955, he produced his first Gold Record.[3]

In his forty-five-year professional career Müren composed more than one hundred songs and made more than two hundred recordings. He was celebrated as the "Sun" of classical Turkish music and was affectionately called "Pasha". For many years he reigned as "Artist of the Year". Many of Müren's records were also published in Greece, where he also enjoyed popularity, along with the US, Germany, and several other countries during the 1960s and 1970s.

Müren was also a gifted poet, publishing Bıldırcın Yağmuru (The Quail Rain) in 1951. Additionally, he acted in Turkish cinema, starring in eighteen films and writing many of their musical scores. Even though he did not consider himself a painter, he painted as a hobby.

Müren dressed effeminately, wearing large, ornate rings and heavy make up, especially in the later years of his life. Popular opinion holds that he was gay,[4] although he never made a public statement nor denial to this effect. In many ways, he had a pioneering role in rendering the Turkish society more accepting about homosexuality. He, with his distinct style, remained a highly respected artist throughout his career, and in a sense, paved the way for many later, more openly gay or transsexual Turkish artists.

He died of a heart attack during a live performance on stage in the city of İzmir on 24 September 1996. His death caused the greatest public grief in years and thousands of Turks attended his funeral. Zeki Müren Art Museum, established in Bodrum, where Müren used to live, has been visited by more than 200 thousand people between its opening on 8 June 2000 and December 2006.[5]

The theater where Zeki Müren gave his first concert on 19 November 1953, Grand Movie Theater, Ulus, Ankara.

Discography

Studio albums
Albums published during his lifetime
Album list ve sales
Album Release date Sales Record company Notes
Zeki Müren 1969
Senede Bir Gün 1970
Pırlanta 1 1973 Emre Grafson Plak
Pırlanta 2 1973 Emre Grafson
Pırlanta 3 1973 Emre Grafson
Pırlanta 4 1973 Emre Grafson
Anılarım 1974 Emre Grafson
Güneşin Oğlu 1976 Odeon Plak
Mücevher 1977
Nazar Boncuğu 1978 Elenor Plak
Sükse 1979 Elenor Plak
Kahır Mektubu 1981 Türküola
Eskimeyen Dost 1982
Hayat Öpücüğü 1984 AJS
Aşk Kurbanı 1985
Masal 1985
Helal Olsun 1987
Gözlerin Doğuyor Gecelerime 1988 Yavuz&Burç
Ayrıldık İşte 1989 Yavuz&Burç
Zirvedeki Şarkılar 1989 Yavuz&Burç
Dilek Çeşmesi 1990 Yavuz&Burç
Sev Beni 1989 Türkola
Doruktaki Nağmeler 1991 Yavuz&Burç
Sorma 1992 Yavuz&Burç

Singles
Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name
Single Year Format Notes
Hem Okudum Hem Yazdım 1951
Asmalar Kol Uzatmış 1951
Gönlümün Baharı Bir Gün Açacak 1953
Zehretme Hayatı 1955
Ruhumda Yine Aşk Bestesi Var 1955
Hasret Acısı 1957
Yiğidin Alnına Yazılan Gelir 1957
Karanlık Geceler Beklerim Yolunu 1957
Bende Hicran Yarasından 1958
Gözlerinin İçine Başka Hayal Girmesin 1958
Züğürt: Nem Alacak Felek Benim 1959
Zennobe 1960
Senden Ayrı Günlerimde 1962
Renk Almış İpek Saçların 1962
İki Damla Gözyaşı 1970
Hayat Kumarı / Mahpushane 1973 45s
Şarkıların Kaderi 1974 45s
Nasıl İçmem Arkadaşım 1977 45s
Kandil / Mutluluğun Sırrı 1986 45s
Madem Derdimi Sordun Dinlemeye Mecbursun 1987
Aşk Kurbanı 1998 45s It was published after his death.
Yemen Türküsü 2016 It was published after his death.
Biz Ayrılamayız 2018 It was published after his death.
Günah Defteri / Hasret Ateşi 2018 45s It was published after his death.
Su Akar Şırıl Şırıl 2018 It was published after his death.
Sus Kalbim Sus 2018 It was published after his death.
Canım Benim Gülüm Benim 2018 It was published after his death.
The phrase "45s" indicates that the studies were published as plates.

Compilation albums
Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name
Album Year Format Notes
Sorma 1992
Batmayan Güneş 2006
Taş Plak Klasikleri 2019

Albums released abroad
Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name
Album Year Records Notes
The Best Of Zeki Müren Love Songs Folk Songs Popular Songs Of İstanbul 1964 Balkan Records
The Golden Voice Of Zeki Müren 1964 Balkan Records
Latest Hits Of Zeki Müren 1964 Balkan Records
The Golden Voice Zeki Muren 1964 Balkan Records
Zeki Müren Altın Sesli The Golden Voice 1964 Balkan Records

Duo albums
Playlist with selected list positions, release year and album name
Album Year Format Notes
Biz Ayrılamayız 1998 He sang with Muazzez Abacı.

Albums released after his death
  • 2000: Muazzez Abacı ve Zeki Müren Düet
  • 2002: Zeki Müren: 1955-1963 Kayıtları
  • 2005: Selahattin Pınar Şarkıları
  • 2005: Sadettin Kaynak Şarkıları
  • 2006: Batmayan Güneş
  • 2008: Baş Başa Radyo Günleri 1
  • 2008: Baş Başa Radyo Günleri 2
  • 2008: Baş Başa Radyo Günleri 3
  • 2009: Lunapark Konseri
  • 2009: Saklı Kayıtlar 1952-1984

In addition to these, there are 12 other albums attributed to Zeki Müren published during 1968–1974 by Grafson Plak.

Filmography

International titles are given in parentheses.

Year Film Director Task Notes Source
Actor Music director Scriptwriter Soundtrack Role
1953 Beklenen Şarkı
(Awaited Song)		 Orhon Murat Arıburnu, Sami Ayanoğlu, Cahide Sonku Yes Zeki His only movie with Cahide Sonku. [6]
1955 Son Beste
(The Last Musical Composition)		 Arşavir Alyanak Yes Zeki Müren [7]
1957 Berduş
(The Vagabond)		 Osman F. Seden Yes Yes Bedri [8]
1958 Altın Kafes
(Gilded Cage)		 Osman F. Seden Yes Yes
1959 Kırık Plak
(The Broken Disk)		 Osman F. Seden Yes Yes Yes Zeki Müren Work in the Credits: Zeki Müren is mentioned. The screenplay is Bülent Oran.
Gurbet
(Foreign Place)		 Osman F. Seden Yes Yes
1962 Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır
(Sometimes Life Is Enjoyable)		 Nejat Saydam Yes [9]
1963 Aşk Hırsızı
(Love Thief)		 Osman F. Seden Yes Yes Zeki
1963 Bahçevan
(The Gardener)		 Nejat Saydam Yes Fındık Ali
1964 İstanbul Kaldırımları
(Pavements of Istanbul)		 Metin Erksan Yes Yes Zeki
1965 Hep O Şarkı
(Always That Song)		 Atıf Yılmaz Yes Yes
1966 Düğün Gecesi
(The Wedding Night)		 Osman F. Seden Yes
1967 Hindistan Cevizi
(The Coconut)		 Osman F. Seden Yes Zeki
1968 İstanbul'da Cümbüş Var
(There is a Revel in Istanbul)		 Sırrı Gültekin Yes Zeki Müren [10]
1968 Kâtip (Üsküdara Giderken)
(Kâtip)		 Ülkü Erakalın Yes Katip
1969 İnleyen Nağmeler
(Howling Tunes)		 Safa Önal Yes Yes Zeki Müren
Kalbimin Sahibi
(Owner of my Heart)		 Safa Önal Yes
1970 Aşktan da Üstün
(Fallen Out Of Love)		 Atıf Yılmaz Yes Yes Zeki
1971 Rüya Gibi
Like A Dream		 Lütfi Akad Yes Zeki
1975 Deli Deli Tepeli
(Crazy Crazy Crested)		 Nejat Okçugil Yes Zeki

Others
Clips he has appeared in or songs dedicated to him
Year Artist Album Notes
2002 Aziza Mustafa Zadeh Ayrılık Shamans Zeki Müren said in an interview that he is a fan.[11]
2006 Nil Karaibrahimgil Bu mudur? Tek Taşımı Kendim Aldım In his video, he included the scenes with Zeki Müren.

See also

References
  1. "Devlet sanatçılığına iptal". NTVMSNBC. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
  2. "Zeki Müren" (in Turkish). Uzelli. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Who is Zeki Müren? In how many years did he die? Where is His Grave?". Raily News. 29 July 2020.
  4. Shidfar, Farhad (2005). "Gay musicians in Turkey". International Forum of Psychoanalysis, vol. 14(3–4) 224–226, Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
  5. Turkish Daily Sabah, Sanat Güneşi anılıyor, 6 December 2006. (In Turkish, last accessed 8 July 2007).
  6. "Kimi yönetmen koltuğuna oturdu, kimi senaryo yazdı". HaberTürk. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2018.
  7. "Zeki Müren movies". Dergi Bursa. Archived from the original on 27 April 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  8. "Zeki Müren filmleri, "Berduş"". SinemaTürk.com. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  9. "Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır (1962)". IMDb.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2005. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  10. "İstanbul'da Cümbüş Var". Youtube, "SinemaGo".
  11. "Cazın hüzünlü prensesi Aziza Zeki Müren aşığı..." Milliyet. 2002. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
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