Meeting of East and West: Anatolian Rock
We listen to music whenever we can, at home, at school, and work. It has become an indispensable part of our lives. There are hundreds of genres like hip hop, rock, pop, etc.
But have you ever heard of Anatolian Rock?
50s
The 1950s marked the beginning of the golden years for rock 'n' roll worldwide. It quickly spread and was widely accepted in many places. Of course, it also reached Turkey, where it was more commonly known among the upper classes.
In those years, the first popular music performers were students from the Naval Academy. Later on, artists like Erkin Koray and Barış Manço formed their own bands while they were still high school students. Thus, more bands started to form to play in concert venues, and investors began to understand the need for live music.
Concert venues and bars started to open, and as new bands were formed, the concept of cover music was also developing in Turkey. By the end of the 1950s, the arrangement concept had started to be used in Turkish music. Foreign music was taken and reinterpreted with Turkish lyrics, with French and later English pieces initially used.
60s
The 1950s were difficult for Turkey, and the 1960s began with a coup where the military took over the government. The Prime Minister was arrested and sent to the gallows, accused of being a dictator. However, a sense of relief was observed in society, which was also reflected in music.
Instead of arranged pieces, bands were now producing their own compositions and participating in competitions. With the rise in fame of bands like The Beatles, followed by Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd, their names also began to be heard. This led to the emergence of Anatolian rock.
Young musicians, realizing that the essence of psychedelic rock was present in their country's music, decided to turn to folk music instead of simply translating it. Initially, they experimented with some traditional Turkish musical instruments in instrumental form. Later, they interpreted Turkish and Anatolian epics in an original way. Groups like Moğollar, Barış Manço, and Üç Hürel took the lead in this movement. This allowed Anatolian rock to spread not only among the upper class but also among working people.
Anatolian rock was quickly gaining popularity, and new bands and singers were emerging every day. As Anatolian rock was moving towards its golden years, the world was being dragged into political chaos. The 68 movement spread across all of Europe and reached Turkey as well. Consequently, music also evolved in that direction. The movement, initiated by people to end wars, was spreading first among the youth and then among the working class, influenced by social and political oppression.
70s
The 1970s began as a period of complete political chaos for Turkey. Most Anatolian rock artists were now creating more protest songs, expressing the feelings of rebellion of the Anatolian people. For this, they used rebellious folk songs.
The famous female artist Selda Bağcan sang a song addressing journalists who did not report on the people’s situation, saying, "Write, journalist, write, write about the situation of these people."
Cem Karaca narrated the story of an ordinary mechanic’s apprentice and sang a march for May Day. Today, that march still leads the May Day workers' parade.
The Moğollar band, one of the pioneers of this genre, almost warned the people in their songs, saying that something must be done. Although not as harsh as the others, Barış Manço highlighted the state of humanity in his song "Halil İbrahim Sofrası."
Yes, as politics became more intense, the songs also grew harsher, but the artists never abandoned the main themes of folk music, such as love and longing, and continued to produce works in this direction. Thus, Anatolian rock was experiencing its golden days.
People found emotions they couldn’t express in these songs regardless of political and economic background. The fan base was growing daily, awards were pouring in for these artists, and their concerts were packed to the brim.
As the late 1970s approached, people were killing each other over political views, neighbors were turning against neighbors, brothers against brothers. The streets were in complete chaos, and the thing everyone expected but was afraid to say finally happened. At 3 a.m. on the night of September 12, 1980, the military seized power again after twenty years, and the coup was taking place.
80s
This coup was different. Unlike previous military interventions, September 12 brought a period of great repression and censorship. Anatolian rock, which had marked the previous twenty years, suffered its greatest defeat. Films were banned, unions were disbanded, books were burned, and of course, music was suppressed.
Cem Karaca, who had come to the forefront with his political influence, was stripped of his citizenship and forced to flee to Germany. Another artist, Selda Bağcan, was arrested and sent to prison. Even Barış Manço's song "Arkadaşım Eşek," which tells of the friendship between a donkey and a human, was censored on the grounds that such a thing could not be real.
Artists' production systems were being halted. Anatolian rock never returned to its former glory. The remaining artists gradually distanced themselves from protest music. Meanwhile, another music genre, Turkish Arabesque, filled the void Anatolian rock left.
This music rapidly spread among the lower classes and was made with more traditional instruments. Although it mostly dealt with themes of love and longing, it voiced the troubles of Anatolian people who had migrated from the village to the city with the proclamation of the Republic.
90s
In the 1990s, with the diminishing effects of the coup, Anatolian rock began to reach abroad, and some works were translated into English. Although high-quality artists emerged in the following years, the golden era was never recaptured. Today, those works are still listened to by people from all around the world, still resonating with people's emotions. What happened to Anatolian rock shows us that as long as there are people, there will be hope, and as long as there is hope, there will be music.
Honorable mention:
There is currently a project on YouTube called the Anatolian Rock Revival Project, where old works are re-released with improved sound quality and English subtitles. I recommend checking out this channel.
