During my teenage years, there wasn’t much sushi in Turkey. I first tried it during my first year at university in Canada. My two French friends, Krister and Gladys, who were my sweethearts at the time, took me to a Japanese restaurant near my favorite patisserie, Calories, in the Westmount neighborhood where I was moving for my second year in Canada.
The first time I tried sushi, I’ll be honest, I almost threw up. I forced myself to, and the more I forced myself, the bigger the bites in my mouth became. Finally, after the first 5-6 sushi pieces I could barely swallow, I stopped eating.
To my friends’ surprise
Krister and Gladys quickly devoured the 20-odd sushi items in front of them, making sounds of satisfaction. As I placed my second order, Krister asked me:
Serhan, don’t you like sushi? Why aren’t you eating it?
This is such a strange dish. I didn’t like the taste at all.
What do you mean? You don’t like sushi? This is the first time I’ve seen someone who doesn’t like sushi.
This combination of raw fish and rice is growing in my mouth. I can barely swallow. I don’t understand how you can enjoy this.
We love sushi. Don’t you, dear?
When his girlfriend, Gladys, nodded in agreement with Krister’s statement, Krister kissed Gladys. The men were practically falling in love with sushi. This seemed very strange to me at the time. I felt like throwing up, while my French friends across from me were reinforcing their love with sushi.
Finally, Krister couldn’t resist, and after stopping to eat the sushi, he said to me, who was waiting for them to finish, “Serhan, if you don’t like your sushi, we can have yours.” Without a second thought, I said, “Here you go, bon appetit!” and handed the sushi in front of me to Gladys and Krister.
They enjoyed my sushi too. For me, the experience was a complete disappointment. But over time (I don’t fully understand how), I somehow continued eating sushi with different groups of friends, and after a while, I started to enjoy it. Later that year, the more sushi I ate, the more I wanted to eat. And so, I joined the ranks of sushi lovers.
A Similar Evolution to Sushi
My experience with Levent Yüksel was very similar. When Levent Yüksel first came out, when I first heard his songs on the radio, I’d immediately change the station, thinking, “Oh my God, why is this guy yelling so much?” Later, as Levent Yüksel’s popularity exploded, his songs began to play more frequently, and I, who had been changing the channel every time, gradually began to immerse myself in his songs. At first, I listened only halfway through, but gradually I started listening to his songs from beginning to end without changing the channel, thinking to myself, “Actually, it’s not bad at all.” A few years later, when Levent Yüksel’s songs came out, I started enjoying them and singing along.
Different aspects I appreciate
I’d like to say that I now fully enjoy listening to Levent Yüksel’s songs, which have had a truly sushi-like effect on me, and that I consider him one of my favorite artists in Turkey, especially because of the depth of emotion he evokes. At the Levent Yüksel concert I saw live for the first time this summer, other aspects I appreciate emerged:
1) His four-octave voice is incredible. He can sing difficult songs, often called “Uzun Hava” (long air), with ease and depth. With his shouting-like cries, he’s created his own school and established a certain standard. Many male singers are trying to prove themselves by demonstrating that they can sing the difficult songs Levent Yüksel can.
2) He’s incredibly likeable. His emotions are constantly reflected on his face when he sings. When he sings a joyful song, he has an incredibly sympathetic smile, and when he sings a sorrowful song, he reflects that sadness.
3) His songs are truly his own. If anyone else tried to sing those songs, they wouldn’t be able to capture the same vibe.
4) A true Sezen Aksu school. Sezen Aksu, Sertab Erener (his ex-wife), and Aşkın Nur Yengi form the quintessential quartet of the ’90s and the group that truly launched Turkish pop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzwXXZLumQM
5) Beyond his beautiful voice, he can play many different instruments. He’s a true musician.
6) What surprised me most at the concert was his use of an instrument like the electric bağlama. Although I learned it was created by Erkin Koray and Orhan Gencebay in the ’60s, this was the first time I’d witnessed such an instrument in person. This is how I discovered Levent Yüksel’s innovative personality.
Since I wanted to play a musical instrument in the future, I looked at it from this perspective and decided on the electric bağlama. Playing the electric bağlama, which combines our traditions with the future, appeals to me. In fact, one day, God willing, I’d like to accompany Levent Yüksel when he performs his tune “Karaağaç” (you can also see the electric bağlama in this video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J672lzkIKSk&list=RDJ672lzkIKSk&start_radio=1
7) He has a humble personality. He’s extremely harmonious with his band and gives them their due during concerts.
Let’s briefly introduce Levent Yüksel to those of us who don’t know him well (See: https://www.kimkimdir.net.tr/kisiler/levent-yuksel#google_vignette ):
Brief biography
He was born in Antalya on 21 October 1964. Like Sertab Erener and Aşkın Nur Yengi, he is one of the performers trained by Sezen Aksu. Levent Yüksel, who completed his primary and secondary education in Antalya, graduated from Antalya High School and then graduated from the double bass department of the Municipal Conservatory, (today’s Istanbul University State Conservatory).
While studying at the conservatory, he played bass in numerous nightclubs and accompanied numerous artists. After his military service, he worked for two years in a nightclub orchestra with Fatih Erkoç and his wife, Sertab Erener, from 1990 to 1996.
Through Aykut Gürel, he met Sezen Aksu and sang lead vocals alongside Harun Kolçak on the song Bile Bile, from Aşkın Nur Yengi’s debut album, Sevdeliye. Finally, in 1993, he released the album Med Cezir. Yüksel, who made a name for himself with this album, solidified his reputation two years later with the album İkinci Kasedi (CD) (Second Cassette). His 1997 single Bi Daha became the best-selling singer of that year. However, the following year, his album Adı Menekşe fell short of expectations and produced the worst album of his career.
After this album, he took a three-year break and returned with Aşkla. His 2004 album Uslanmışm signaled a return to his old ways, featuring Orhan Gencebay’s song Yarabbim. His 2006 album Kadın Şarkıları, featuring covers of old songs by female artists, was met with critical acclaim.
Married to Sertab Erener from 1990 to 1996, he married Özlem Öztürk in 2020.
Albums
1993: Med Cezir
1996: Levent Yüksel’in 2. CD’si
1998: Adı Menekşe
2000: Aşkla
2004: Uslanmadım
2006: Kadın Şarkıları
2008: Sıfır Km (Sıfır Km adlı grubuyla birlikte)
2012: Topyekûn
2017: Hayatıma Dokunan Şarkılar
Singles
1997: Bi’ Daha
2010: Aşk Mümkün müdür Hala
Now, let’s continue the tradition I started with the Kenan Doğulu article and share my top 10 and second 10 favorite songs by Levent Yüksel:
My top 10 favorite songs by Levent Yüksel:
1) Med Cezir
2) İstanbul
3) Karaağaç (enjoy the electric bağlama)
4) Yeter ki onursuz olmasın aşk
5) Mutsuzsun (Remix is also good)
6) Tuana (The beginning is a bit static, but listen patiently; the song gets better)
7) Ya Sonra
8) Zalim
9) Dedikodu
10) Sultanım (Remix is also good)
My second 10 favorite songs by Levent Yüksel
(ranked 11-20):
1) Kadınım (enjoy the electric bağlama)
2) Haram Geceler
3) Ayrılamam
4) Beni Bırakın
5) Bi’ Daha
6) İmkansız Aşk
7) Bu aşkın katili sensin
8) İkinci Bahar
9) Sensiz olmaz
10) Yarabbim (The remix is also nice)
A lasting artistic and meditative influence
We will always remember Levent Yüksel, a member of the school that pioneered Turkish pop, for his vibrant and engaging personality, his true musicianship, his four-octave voice, and the soulful songs he sang in his unique style. I have no doubt that his immortal art and songs, passed down from generation to generation, will be enjoyed by future generations, albeit in different forms. They can already listen to the techno versions of some of his songs.
I can also recommend that the younger generation who haven’t heard Levent Yüksel give him a listen. Although they might find it overwhelming upon first listen, saying, “I don’t like this guy’s style at all; he shouts too much,” and they’d be right. But trust me, let them continue listening to Levent Yüksel. After a while, they’ll feel the meditative effect his songs have on them, strengthening their deep emotions, they’ll enjoy the experience.
So, without further ado, enjoy the distinguished works of our Republic’s artists.
