II
Yildiz Tilbe

About:

16 July 1966

Yıldız Tilbe was born in İzmir to Kurdish parents, from Tunceli on the father's side and Ağrı on her mother's side. In 1985 she attended the Gymnasium and also married. From this marriage she has a daughter called Sezen. Yildiz had several jobs, from saleswoman at a boutique to babysitter. In 1990 she started performing with a musical group. First at weddings, later in the local music venues.  It was at one of these gigs at a nightclub in 1991, she met Sezen Aksu. Impressed by her voice Aksu invited her to Istanbul where she sang as backing vocalist in her band. After leaving the Aksu band after nine months she stayed in Istanbul as the inhouse singer of one of the better nightclubs.

After three years of working on stage Yildiz finally was able to get her debut album 'Delikanlım' released in 1994. The album sold really well and gave her the possibility to record a second album called 'Dillere destan' a year later. That meant her breakthrough. The success of the second album also had a downsight when Yildiz had difficulty coping with the success. Drugs and a failing marriage didn’t help her either. Although she kept releasing albums the quality was less and less, and the drugs also hit her voice. In 2001 she decided to go into rehabitation.

In 2002 she had a comeback, clean of drugs. Critics considered the album 'Haberi olsun' the best she had done since her debut. The album was voted Album of the year by the Turkish public, the single 'Çabuk olalım aşkım' the best song and Tilbe herself as best singer. In 2004 she released the album 'Yıldız'dan Türküler'  which is her best selling album up to date with 650.000 copies. Next to writing for herself Tilbe also writes for other artists like Bengü, Tarkan and Deniz Seki.

On the web:
- Yildiz´ website: http://www.yildiztilbe.com.tr
- Tribute site: http://www.yildiztilbem.com
- Biography: http://www.biyografi.info/kisi/yildiz-tilbe

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What do we think:

DB: I just love the complex percussion rhythms Yildiz puts into her music. I tried clapping along once and it is virtually impossible unless you concentrate and count really well. The orchestral arrangements usually play diagonal to the rhythms which makes it even more complex. And don't know how her later albums are but the first ones are brilliant.

PR: Great singer, great composer. She has a special, sharp ethno-pop singing style. Together with her music, made of traditional and electronic instruments, she creates a unique style of her own. No, this is not the 'easy listening hour'. Especially if you are not used to listen to Turkish/oriental music, be careful. But if you really open up to Yildiz' albums, you will be treated with a magical kingdom of rhythms, song and sound. In a very Turkish way, that is...

Recommendations:

♪♪♪♪ - Aşkperest - 1996

♪♪♪♪ - Salla gitsin dertlerini - 1998

♪♪♪ - Gülüm - 2001

♪♪♪♪ - Haberi olsun - 2002

♪♪ - Yürü anca gidersin - 2003

Yıldız'dan Türküler - 2004

Papatya baharı - 2005

Tanidim seni - 2006

♪♪♪ - Güzel - 2008

♪♪♪♪ - Hastayim sana - 2010

♪♪ - Oyanama - 2011

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided