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Sezen Aksu is a legendary Turkish singer, songwriter, composer, and producer, widely hailed as the 'Queen of Turkish Pop' for her profound influence in modernizing Turkish popular music. Born in Denizli, Turkey, Aksu rose to fame in the mid-1970s. She revolutionized Turkish pop music by blending Western pop styles with Turkish folk melodies and sophisticated lyrics. Over her five-decade career, she has released over 20 studio albums, written hundreds of songs for herself and other major Turkish artists, and become a cultural icon symbolizing modernity and artistic expression in Turkey.

• Facing censorship during the politically turbulent period following the 1980 Turkish coup d'état, Aksu went into self-exile in Germany for a time.
• She is credited with discovering and mentoring major Turkish stars like Tarkan and Sertab Erener, shaping their careers and writing hits for them.
• Aksu is a prominent activist, particularly for women's rights, children's rights, and animal welfare. She founded the 'Sezen Aksu Foundation for Children'.
• Her song "Şımarık" (Spoiled), recorded by Tarkan, became a massive international hit, covered globally as "Kiss Kiss" by Holly Valance. Aksu faced a controversial plagiarism lawsuit regarding the song's melody, which was reportedly settled out of court (sources: Turkish media reports on the lawsuit).
• She has publicly advocated for Kurdish rights and refugee causes, sometimes drawing criticism from nationalist circles.