I
Nineties

Economically Turkey recovered at the end of the eighties. With composers Peker and Yengi giving a new push to pop music the scene exploded at the start of the nineties with numerous new acts. Singers like Candan Erçetin, Zuhal Olcay, Asya, Sertab Erener, Yildiz Tilbe, Tarkan, Serdar Ortaç and Mustafa Sandal appeared.
 
Also Turkish rock made a return with acts like Özlem Tekin, Şebnem Ferah, Haluk Levent, Demir Demirkan, Kargo soloist Koray Candemir, Kıraç and Teoman. Even more western styles were incorporated into to Turkish pop with a group like Arena making ska-punk and Pentagram making heavy metal.

Slowly but gradually the other European countries finally got used to the Arabic influences in Turkish pop. In 1997 Sebnem Parker came third in the Eurovision song contest with the song Dinle. But the real breakthrough was Tarkan's song Şımarık, which was both written and composed by Aksu, that became a huge hit in Europe and Latin America in 1999.