Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest

Balance sheet

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Broadcasting company

First participation

1975

Last participation so far

2012

Number of participations

34 (as of 2012)

Highest ranking

1 ( 2003 )

Highest Score

195 ( 2004 )

Lowest Score

0 ( 1983 , 1987 )

Points average (since first post)

60.09 (as of 2012)

Average points per voting country in the 12-point system

2.33 (as of 2012)

This article deals with the history of Turkey as a participant in the Eurovision Song Contest .

Regularity of participation and successes in competition

Sertab Erener, here at the opening in 2004, is so far the only Turkish interpreter to win the competition

The Turkey took in 1975 at the Euro Vision Song Contest in part. After the country was not very successful at the debut and finished last, it withdrew from the competition from 1976 to 1977. In 1978 the country returned to the competition, but was only able to achieve third from last place. In 1979 Turkey was supposed to take part in the Song Contest in Israel, but the country withdrew shortly before the start of the competition. The pressure from the Arab countries due to Israel being the venue was too great. The country did not return to the Song Contest until 1980 and from then on took part regularly.

From 1980 the country was still not very successful. In 1980, only 15th place out of 19th was achieved, while in 1981 only the third from last place was achieved. In 1983 Turkey even finished last and did not receive a single point. In 1984, however, the Turkish entry was ranked 12th out of 19, which was an average ranking. Also in 1985 a rather average result was achieved with place 14 out of 19. 1986 saw the first success. The band Klips ve Onlar achieved a place in the top ten for Turkey for the first time with place 9. However, this success did not last long. In 1987 the Turkish contribution again reached last place and again received no points. In 1988, an average result was achieved again with place 15 out of 21. In 1989 Grup Pan reached only one penultimate place. Also in 1990 it came back to a rather average result with position 17 out of 22. It wasn't until 1991 that a better average result was achieved again with position 12 out of 22. In 1992, on the other hand, with position 19 out of 22, only one place in the lower half of the table was achieved, also in 1993 with position 21 out of 25. Since Turkey did not make it into the top 20 in 1993, the country was not allowed to start in 1994 and had to suspend accordingly. It was not until 1995 that the country was allowed to participate again.

But even when they returned, they only achieved an average result with position 16 out of 23. The singer Şebnem Paker was also only 12th out of 23 in 1996. In 1997 Şebnem Paker took part again, this time with the group Grup Etnic. Together they achieved third place and 121 points, which was by far the best result for Turkey at the Song Contest. However, 1998 and 1999 could not build on this success. In 1998, only 14th place out of 25 was achieved and in 1999 only 16th place out of 23. It wasn't until the turn of the millennium that things went significantly better for the country. In 2000, Turkey reached 10th place and only placed third among the top ten in the final. In 2001, with 11th place, another place in the top ten was just missed. In 2002, however, the result from 1999 was repeated in 16th place out of 24. In 2003 Turkey sent Sertab Erener, selected for the first time internally, with the song Everyway That I Can . With this, Turkey achieved the first victory in its history at the Eurovision Song Contest and set a new point record for the country with 167 points. In 2004, too, the participation in our own country was a complete success. The band Athena reached 4th place in the final and with 195 points got the highest number of points for the country in the competition to date. It was not until 2005 that there was only an average result with 13th place out of 24. In 2006, Sibel Tüzün just missed a place in the top ten with 11th place. In 2007, Kenan Doğulu reached 4th place and thus repeated the result of 2004 after he had already reached 3rd place in the semifinals. Turkey was also very successful in 2008 and reached 7th place. In 2009 Hadise was able to reach 4th place again, which is the third time in five years that Turkey has reached 4th place. Hadise was already successful in the semifinals and reached 2nd place there. 2010 was even more successful than 2009. The group maNga won the semifinals in 2010 and reached 2nd place in the final. It was not until 2011 that the first damper for the country came at the song contest.

In 2011, the band Yüksek Sadakat only reached 13th place out of 19 in the semifinals and thus missed the final for the first time. That year Turkey lost the status of having qualified for the final every time it participated. Despite this failure, the country also participated in 2012. Here it was successful again and achieved another place in the top ten with place 7. In 2013 Turkey withdrew from the competition. The voting procedure and the Big Five rule were criticized as a specific reason. Turkey wants to stay away from the competition, especially since winning Conchita Wurst in 2014. Despite the confirmation of a return planned for 2016 in early 2015, the Turkish broadcaster TRT announced at the end of 2015 that the changes requested by the broadcaster had not occurred (with regard to the Big Five rule and jury voting), so Turkey did not return in 2016 either. The country did not take part in 2017 and 2018 either. On August 4, 2018, the director of Turkish television , İbrahim Eren, still ruled out a return to the Eurovision Song Contest. He continued to name the voting process and the appearance of Conchitas 2014 as reasons .

A total of 13 of the 34 entries ended up in the left half of the table. In addition, Turkey missed the final once, but reached the last place three times, including two without points. Nevertheless, the country was able to win the competition once, came second once and came third once. Thus Turkey belongs to the average successful countries in the competition.

List of posts

Color legend: - 1st place. - 2nd place. - 3rd place. - Equal points with last place. - Eliminated in the semifinals / in the qualification / in the Eastern European preliminary decision. - no participation / not qualified.     

year	Interpreter	Title Music (M) and Text (T)	language	translation	final		Semi-final / qualification		National preliminary decision
					space	Points	space	Points
1975	Semiha Yankı	Seninle bir dakika M: Kemal Ebcioğlu; T: Münir Ebcioğlu	Turkish	One minute with you	19/19	3	Direct participation		National preliminary decision
1976 1977	No participation
1978	Nilüfer & Nazar	Sevince M: Dağhan Baydur; T: Hulki Aktunç	Turkish	When someone loves	18/20	2	Direct participation		National preliminary decision
1979	Maria Rita Epik & 21st person	Seviyorum M / T: Maria Rita Epik	Turkish	I am in love	Participation withdrawn pressure of arab. World because of the location Israel				National preliminary decision
1980	Ajda Pekkan	Petr'oil M: Atilla Özdemiroğlu; T: Şanar Yurdatapan	Turkish	oil	15/19	23	Direct participation		National preliminary decision
1981	Modern Folk Trio & Ayşegül Aldinç	Dönme dolap M / T: Ali Kocatepe	Turkish	The carousel	18/20	9			National preliminary decision
1982	Neco	Hani? M: Olcayto Ahmet Tuğsuz; T: Faik Tuğsuz	Turkish	Where?	15/18	20th			National preliminary decision
1983	Çetin Alp & The Short Waves	Opera M: Buğra Ugur; T: Aysel Gürel	Turkish	Opera	19/19	0			National preliminary decision
1984	Beş Yıl Önce, On Yıl Sonra	Halay M: Selçuk Başar; T: Ülkü Aker	Turkish	-	12/19	37			National preliminary decision
1985	MFÖ	Aşık oldum (Didai didai dai) M / T: Mazhar Alanson, Özkan Uğur, Fuat Güner	Turkish	I fell in love	14/19	36			National preliminary decision
1986	Klips ve Onlar	Halley M: Melih Kibar; T: İlhan İrem	Turkish a.	-	9/20	53			National preliminary decision
1987	Seyyal Taner & Lokomotif	Şarkım sevgi üstüne M / T: Olcayto Ahmet Tuğsuz	Turkish	My song is about love	22/22	0			National preliminary decision
1988	MFÖ	Sufi M: Mazhar Alanson, Fuat Güner, Özkan Uğur; T: Mazhar Alanson	Turkish	-	15/21	37			National preliminary decision
1989	Grup Pan	Bana bana M / T: Timur Selçuk	Turkish	To me, to me	21/22	5			National preliminary decision
1990	Kayahan	Gözlerinin hapsindeyim M / T: Kayahan	Turkish	Trapped in your eyes	17/22	21st			National preliminary decision
1991	İzel Çeliköz , Reyhan Karaca & Can Uğurluer	İki dakika M: Şevket Uğurluer; T: Aysel Gürel	Turkish	Two minutes	12/22	44			National preliminary decision
1992	Aylin Vatankoş	Yaz bitti M: Aldoğan Şimşekyay; T: Aylin Uçanlar	Turkish	Summer is over	19/23	17th			National preliminary decision
1993	Burak Aydos	Esmer yarım M / T: Burak Aydos	Turkish	My pretty brunette	21/25	10			National preliminary decision
1994	Not qualified
1995	Arzu Ece	Sev M: Melih Kibar; T: Zeynep Talu Kurşuncu	Turkish	love	16/23	21st	Qualified directly for the final		National preliminary decision
1996	Şebnem Paker	Beşinci mevsim M: Levent Çoker; T: Dr. Selma Çuhacı	Turkish	the fifth season	12/23	57	7/29	69	National preliminary decision
1997	Şebnem Paker & Grup Etnic	Dinle M: Levent Çoker; T: Mehtap Alnıtemiz	Turkish	Listen	3/25	121	Qualified directly for the final		National preliminary decision
1998	Tuzmen	Unutamazsın M: Erdinç Tunç; T: Canan Tunç	Turkish	You can't forget	14/25	25th			National preliminary decision
1999	Tuğba Önal & Grup Mistik	Dön artık M: Erdinç Tunç; T: Canan Tunç	Turkish	come back	16/23	21st			Eurovision Şarkı Yarışması 1999
2000	Pınar Ayhan & the SOS	Yorgunum anla M: Sühan Ayhan; T: Pınar Ayhan, Orkun Yazgan	Turkish, English	Understand that I am tired	10/24	59			National preliminary decision
2001	Sedat Yuce	Sevgiliye son M: Semih Güneri; T: Nurdan Güneri, Figen Çakmak	Turkish, English	The end of love	11/23	41			Eurovision Şarkı Yarışması 2001
2002	Buket Bengisu & Grup Safir	Leylaklar soldu calf band M: Fani Hodara; T: Sami Hodara, Figen Çakmak	Turkish, English	The lilac is fading in your heart	16/24	29			Eurovision Şarkı Yarışması 2002
2003	Sertab Erener	Everyway That I Can M: Sertab Erener , Demir Demirkan ; T: Demir Demirkan	English	In every possible way	1  / 26th	167			internal selection
2004	Athena	For Real M / T: Gökhan Özoğuz, Hakan Özoğuz	English	Really	4/24	195			Eurovision Şarkı Yarışması 2004
2005	Gülseren & Shaman	Rimi rimi ley M: Erdinç Tunç; T: Göksan Arman	Turkish	-	13/24	92			Eurovision Şarkı Yarışması 2005
2006	Sibel Tüzün	Super Star M / T: Sibel Tüzün	English, Turkish	Superstar	11/24	91	8/23	91	internal selection
2007	Kenan Dogulu	Shake It Up Sekerim M / T: Kenan Doğulu	English, Turkish	Shake it darling	4/24	163	3/28	197	internal selection
2008	Mor ve Ötesi	Deli M / T: Mor ve Ötesi	Turkish	Insane	7/25	138	7/19	85	internal selection
2009	Hadise	Düm tek tek M / T: Sinan Akçıl, Hadise Açıkgöz, Stefan Fernande	English, Turkish	Düm Tek Tek (In love with you)	4/25	177	2/18	172	internal selection
2010	maNga	We Could Be the Same M / T: Ferman Akgül	English	We could be the same	2/25	170	1/17	118	internal selection
2011	Yüksek Sadakat	Live It Up M / T: Kutlu Özmakinaci	English	Live big	Eliminated		13/19	47	internal selection
2012	Can Bonomo	Love Me Back M / T: Can Bonomo	English	Return my love	7/26	112	5/18	80	internal selection
since 2013	No participation

^a.in a few words in English, French and Italian

National preliminary decisions

Turkey always held preliminary rounds until 2002, but in 2003 opted for an internal selection. While preliminary decisions were still being made in 2004 and 2005, from 2006 to 2012 all contributions were selected internally.

languages

Due to the language rule introduced in Turkey's debut year, people always sang in Turkish . The first contribution sung partly in English was Yorgunum anla in 2000. In 2001, 2002, and 2006 a mix was also used. In 2003, 2004, 2007 and since 2009 only English was sung; the only completely Turkish-language contributions were sung in 2005 and 2008.

Scoring

The following countries received the most points from or awarded the most points to Turkey (as of 2012):

Most of the points awarded in the final space country Points 1  Bosnia and Herzegovina 129 2  United Kingdom 126 3  Ireland 119 4th  Spain 118 5  Germany 086

Most in the final received points space country Points 1  Germany 170 2  France 151 3  Netherlands 132 4th  Belgium 108 5  Switzerland 104

Most of the points awarded space country Points 1  Bosnia and Herzegovina 175 2  United Kingdom 126 3  Ireland 124 4th  Spain 118 5  Sweden 097

Most total obtained points space country Points 1  Germany 208 2  France 190 3  Netherlands 168 4th  Switzerland 154 5  United Kingdom 143

Award of the highest rating

Since 1975, Turkey has awarded the maximum number of points to 19 different countries, five of which to Azerbaijan.

Sustaining land
year	country	space
1975	Portugal	16
1976 1977	No participation
1978	Israel	1
1979	Participation withdrawn
1980	Netherlands	5
1981	Germany	2
1982	Germany	1
1983	Yugoslavia	4th
1984	Spain	3
1985	Spain	15th
1986	Belgium	1
1987	Yugoslavia	4th
1988	United Kingdom	2
1989	Yugoslavia	1
1990	Yugoslavia	7th
1991	Israel	3
1992	Ireland	1
1993	Bosnia and Herzegovina	16
1994	Not qualified
1995	Norway	1
1996	Ireland	1
1997	Malta	9
1998	United Kingdom	2
1999	Germany	3
2000	Sweden	7th
2001	Estonia	1
2002	Austria	18th
2003	Bosnia and Herzegovina	16
2004	Ukraine	1
2005	Greece	1
2006	Bosnia and Herzegovina	3
2007	Armenia	8th
2008	Azerbaijan	8th
2009	Azerbaijan	3
2010	Azerbaijan	5
2011	Azerbaijan	1
2012	Azerbaijan	4th
since 2013	No participation

various

• Since 2008, the year Azerbaijan participated for the first time , Turkey has always received twelve points from Azerbaijan, including in the semi-finals in 2011, when Turkey was eliminated there. Turkey has always given Azerbaijan twelve points since 2008.
• In 2013, the Türkvizyon Song Contest was designed as a separate competition for Turkic peoples , which took place in Eskişehir for the first time in December 2013 .

Impressions

• 

  Kenan Doğulu 2007

• 

  Mor ve Ötesi 2008

• 

  Hadise 2009

• 

  maNga 2010

Individual evidence

1. ↑ 39 countries to take part in Eurovision 2013
2. ↑ Its now official: Turkey will not be in Eurovision 2016 ( Memento of November 10, 2015 in the Internet Archive ), eurovoix.com
3. ↑ Turkey: “If they can fix it, we can join Eurovision again” - TRT General Manager. In: eurovoix.com. August 4, 2018, accessed January 5, 2019 .