The Voice of Memories: Yaşar

The Voice of Memories: Yaşar

Yaşar Günaçgün, whom we know as Yaşar, entered our lives during the golden age of Turkish pop music in the 1990s and became a name that touched all our memories with his songs. His songs have become unforgettable melodies that play in our ears during life's turning points.

Your first love, your first heartbreak, the vacations you took with your friends, and the excitement of your youth all deepened with Yaşar’s emotional songs.

His debut album, Divane, released in 1996, introduced him as the romantic voice of Turkish music. With songs like "Divane," "Kuşlar," and "Gel Benimle," he topped the music charts of the time. Yaşar's songs managed to bridge generations; he became the favorite artist not just of one era but of many. His songs, which express the longing and joys of both love and life, touched the souls of listeners.

Yaşar’s songs didn’t stop there—they inspired many to pick up the guitar and became melodies that accompanied significant moments in their lives. 

When you picked up your first guitar and played "Kumralım," Yaşar's music guided you. When you broke up with your first love, "Aldanırım" expressed your feelings. While on a vacation with friends, you listened to "Divane" at a fisherman's shop and created memories. Dancing to "Birtanem" at a nightclub, Yaşar's music helped you savor the taste of freedom. And, of course, those moments when you shared the joy of life with exclamations of "Nara" were crowned with Yaşar’s music.

Yaşar's songs are not just melodies but stories that touch every moment of life. He brings together the past and the future with his music, inviting listeners to create new memories each time. He places great importance on storytelling in his music, sharing the fine details of life, deep emotions, and life’s turning points in his songs.

One of the most crucial aspects that makes Yaşar's music unique and unforgettable is his ability to blend different styles. His fusion of traditional Turkish music motifs with Western music and Latin guitar rhythms added both a local and a universal touch to his songs. Beyond that, by incorporating Flamenco influences into his songs, he created a unique musical style. Yaşar has said in many interviews that his passion for playing the guitar began with Santana’s Black Magic Woman, which he heard on the radio as a child, emphasizing the influence of Latin music on his work. Additionally, he notes that artists like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd had a significant impact on his musical journey.

At the same time, the depth in Yaşar’s lyrics comes from his passion for literature. He adds that literature and poetry are foundational stones of music. In several interviews, he mentioned that he draws inspiration from Second New poets such as Cemal Süreya, Orhan Veli, and Attila İlhan, incorporating literary devices and imagery into his musical language. His success in songwriting is fed by this literary inspiration and the deep emotional experiences in his own life.

Yaşar consistently emphasizes the importance of curiosity and love in life, which explains the emotional depth that resonates through his songs. Each song is a reflection of a journey, the fine details of life, and memories. What immortalizes his songs is the way he weaves these elements together, translating sophisticated emotions and stories into a musical narrative, delivering them to the listener in a memorable and poetic way.

Yaşar's music goes far beyond just being a collection of hit songs; it is a journey that touches and grows with every generation, walking alongside them. Yaşar, who has shaped the memories of many generations with his songs, continues to hold his place as one of the most valuable names in Turkish pop music.

How lucky we are to relive these magical moments and sing along to unforgettable songs at an upcoming Yaşar concert during the Ankara Cocktail Festival.

Let’s gather at CerModern on October 12th to accompany this musical journey spanning from the past to the present as we watch Yaşar's live performance!