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Turkey in 2004
Athena
Song
For real
Gökhan & Hakan Özoğuz
Composer(s)
Gökhan & Hakan Özoğuz
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Sarki Yarismasi Turkiye Finali
Athena has been pointed out by an internal selection to represent Turkey at the 2004 Eurovision Song Contest. The audience selected For real out of three songs by televote.
Biography
Starting point of ATHENA might be traced back to 1987 when the Özoğuz brothers, Hakan and Gökhan, became passionately fond of making music with a makeshift cumbus (metal bodied mandolin) they made out of a wooden crate. Aged only 11 and not necessarily liking to live the student's life, Hakan and Gökhan began to take guitar lessons from Ümit Yılmar (ex-Pentagram / Turkey's wellknown Metal Band), decided to become full-time musicians, and posted an advertisement at Akmar Bazaar (a shopping arcade in Istanbul, acting as a hangout for heavy metal fans) to seek a bass player and a drummer. Continuing to work as a duo, Gökhan and Hakan played with some of their friends in the initial years, with rented instruments at various studios. However, the fact that their friends saw the music as a hobby prevented them from reaching the true group format. Being sure that their love of music was not a passing teenage desire, Hakan and Gökhan continued their search against all odds, and finally found both a group name and a bass guitarist and a drummer.
As a group admiring the music of “ D.R.I., S.O.D., Nuclear Assault, Slayer, Megadeth and Metallica” , they recorded their first demo tape containing 4 songs in the hardcore trash sound. Their bass guitarist and drummer problem continued, and after many replacements they finally found their soul mates in the drummer Turgay Gülaydın and the bass guitarist Asrın in 1990.
The above mentioned line-up played before audience for the first time at Bilsak Rock Café. The concert they gave at Göztepe Park as support group for Bulutsuzluk Özlemi and Erkin Koray became the first serious opportunity to let the local music lovers hear their name. In the meantime they recorded a 7-song demo tape entitled Punished Society . Famous German trash group Tankard came to Turkey to give a concert at Bostancı Cultural Center on June 14, 1992, where they were supported by ATHENA . Their successful performance there ensured them to be known by a wider audience.
Their debut album, One Last Breath , was released in 1993 and continued their trash sound. Asrın Tuncer, the bass player, had quit the group just before the album's recording. All bass parts were played by Hakan. Thereafter they added Ozan Karaçuha in their line-up.
The summer of 1994 turned out to be a turning point for the group, during which many new doors opened to them. They began to play at a bar called Barfendi in Marmaris (Summer Town), and their show based on hardcore, punk and ska styles and their wide-ranging play list containing songs of Madness, Busters, The Specials, Bad Manners, Clash, RATM, The Cure and Sex Pistols achieved to draw the attention of many foreign and native patrons who were holidaying in Marmaris. The exciting shows they played in Marmaris became the talk of town at Istanbul's night clubs, so that it was not surprising for them to see upon their return to Istanbul that many bars were offering contracts to them. They agreed to play at such alternative music bars as Kemancı, Mandala and Gitar three nights a week, and continued to increase the number of their fans.
In 1995 an interesting adventure centering around a bar called Captain Hook began for ATHENA , which is just a memory now but still considered a very special period for its patrons. Captain Hook was a special bar due to the facts that it was located in the Harbiye district of Istanbul, instead of Taksim being the heart of night life, and was an alternative to the conventional entertainment and bar customs. Started without a specific concept, the Captain Hook had considerable percussions when ATHENA began to play live there, initially at Friday nights, and the bar and the group identified with each other in a short time.
Such new songs as “ Holigan ” “ Skalonga ” and “ Devam Boşver ”, to be included in their next album, were performed for the first time before the Captain Hook patrons.
They began to record their new album, entitled Holigan , in 1997, but no local record company was interested in releasing it because it was an unusual style for the Turkish record buying public. Finally a new company named NR1, determined to take a chance on alternative projects, released Holigan as its first music production. This album was released in Spring 1998 and unveiled at the Captain Hook. Video clip for one of the singles released from it, “ Tarlaya Ektim Soğan ”, was shot in the Captain Hook too at a Saturday night during a live performance, and managed to capture its ambiance in full.
They say all things must pass, so one day the ATHENA period of the Captain Hook came to an end. It was 1999, and a short time after Athena's departure the Captain Hook closed down.
The Captain Hook adventure was over, but a new page opened in the career of ATHENA thanks to Holigan selling fantastically across the country. Contrary to the theories made up by certain record companies, ATHENA 's ska sound and songs were welcomed by the local record-buying public so much so that the title song of the album was adapted and sung as a march by football supporters of all ages at stadiums.
Shortly after releasing the Holigan album in 1999, ATHENA took a large-scale tour in Turkey. One of the significant moments of the tour was their show at Açıkhava Tiyatrosu in Istanbul, followed by their role as a support act for THE ROLLING STONES' concert at Ali Sami Yen Stadium which is considered to be the most important performance of their career.
Athena began to record songs for their new album in the same year, but parted with NR1 due to some disagreements. Entitled Tam Zamanı Şimdi , their new album was released in November 1999 by UNIVERSAL. Now it was apparent that they found their true sound and created an original style. Right after the album's release, they performed as part of the so-called Millennium Concert at Taksim Square in Istanbul, and made thousands of people experience an unforgettable night. The said concert was broadcast live by NTV television channel.
One might say that the Millennium brought good luck to ATHENA . They were invited to Popkomm Festival held in Köln, Germany every year, and gave a successful concert before a mostly German audience. The festival in question was based on the concept that different groups would play at different stages scattered throughout the city simultaneously, so that ATHENA performed simultaneously with the world-famous Beastie Boys. WRD, one of the leading radio stations of Germany, broadcast Athena's concert live, and their success brought them new offers.
In 2001 they took a 3-city tour in Germany. The Fritz, a famous German ska group whose songs were performed by ATHENA at bars, supported ATHENA at the said tour. The two groups also found an opportunity to perform together during the tour. After the tour Pork Pie Records , a pioneering ska label, included a song by ATHENA in its compilation album entitled World of Ska Vol.11 released throughout Europe. The song in question is “ Devam Boşver ” off the album Holigan .
Then came one of the major events in ATHENA 's career, the “ 12 Dev Adam ” (12 Giant Men) project. Turkish Basketball Federation, planning to have a song written for the national basketball team, decided that ATHENA was the most suitable group for this assignment thanks to its hooligan culture. Thus Athena wrote and recorded a song entitled “ 12 Dev Adam ” and its immense success throughout the country proved the Federation's decision right. The song in question was as much appreciated in Europe as well. Turkish national basketball team rated runner-up in “ European Championship ”, and many European newspapers commented that the song, sung by the team's supporters during the matches, considerably led the team to play better. Admitting that the song contributed to the team's success, Turkish Basketball Federation gave an award and a trophy to ATHENA . In the meantime the song was included in the group's new album, Tam Zamanı Şimdi , and the said album's new prints were made in that format.
Before following the national basketball team to the U.S.A. for World Championship , ATHENA decided to make a video clip for their song “ Macera ” (Adventure). They had initially planned to shoot the clip in the U.S.A., but the September 11 disaster prevented them to do so.
At the end of 2001 ATHENA 's line-up changed, Ozan Karaçuha and Turgal Gülaydın left, they were replaced with Canay Cengen (bass) and Doğaç Titiz (drums). The new line-up began to work on the group's new album, but they had no materials in their hand. February and March saw them work full time in the studio; members of the group commented that it was their most stressful preparation period. New songs encouraged them overcome their stresses, so that their new album entitled Her Şey Yolunda (Everything's All Right) was released, and was promoted with the video clip of the song “ Öpücük ” (Kiss). Then the group flew together with the national basketball team to the U.S.A.
Hakan and Gökhan Özoğuz departed their ways from Canay Cengen whom they thought they could not share their feelings and mentality. The group will go on their way together with their new bass guitarist, Ozan Musluoglu.
2003 is a particularly busy year for ATHENA . The large tour for the Her Şey Yolunda (Everything's All Right) album is still in progress, and as a sideline they perform other people's songs at separate shows under their “cover project” concept. Then “Mor ve Ötesi” started an anti-war movement against the Iraqi war which disturbed most of the world in early 2003; ATHENA contributed to the movement with a song specially written for it, entitled “Savaşa Hiç Gerek Yok ” (No Need To the WAR), and performed with many other musicians as part of the movement.
Athena performed as a guest group at the huge dance show ŞehirOrman (Jungle Book) performed by State Opera and Ballet Company in May, directed and choreographed by Beyhan Murphy. They also performed as headliner group at the H2000 Festival June 2003 with “ Starsailor” . Their magnificent show enchanted thousands of punters and made them experience the most enjoyable and exciting hours of the festival. ATHENA continued their tour in the summer and ended as on of local headliners at the biggest event of the year Rock'n Coke festival, sponsored by Coca Cola, with such artists/bands like Pet Shop Boys, The Cardigans, Sugababes, Suede, Simple Minds, Dirty Vegas etc…
ATHENA has been chosen to represent Turkey at the next years Eurovision Song Contest '04. Their song “For Real” is chosen to be the song to represent Turkey by the Turkish audience at the contest which will be in May the 15 th 2004 in Istanbul.
After the election ATHENA performed two concerts in Holland. One was in Roterdam Night Town, the other one was in Amsterdam Club Paradiso. They also appealed to the Dutch press.
ATHENA is now working hard both for Eurovision and for their new album which is due to be released in April 2004.
Gökhan Özoğuz Vokal, Gitar
Hakan Özoğuz Gitar, Back Vokal
Doğaç Titiz Davul
Ozan Musluoğlu, Bas Gitar
source: www.athenasite.com
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History
We are currently updating our country history pages and therefore, they are temporarily unavailable! How many times they won? Who represented the country in 1960? This and a lot more is available in the history section soon!
All Participations for Turkey
| Year | Artist | Song | Points | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0 | 13 | ||
| 2008 | Mor ve Otesi | Deli | 85 | 7 |
| 2008 | 61 | 2 | ||
| 2007 | Kenan Dogulu | Shake it up shekerim | 197 | 3 |
| 2007 | Kenan Dogulu | Shake it up shekerim | 163 | 4 |
| 2006 | Sibel Tüzün | Superstar | 91 | 11 |
| 2006 | Sibel Tüzün | Superstar | 91 | 8 |
| 2005 | Gülseren | Rimi rimi ley | 92 | 13 |
| 2004 | Athena | For real | 195 | 4 |
| 2003 | Sertab Erener | Everyway that I can | 167 | 1 |
| 2002 | Buket Bengisu & Saphire | Leylaklar soldu kalbinde | 29 | 16 |
| 2001 | Sedat Yüce | Sevgiliye son | 41 | 11 |
| 2000 | Pinar Ayhan & S.O.S. band | Yorgunum anla | 59 | 10 |
| 1999 | Tuba Önal & Grup Mystik | Dön artik | 21 | 16 |
| 1998 | Tüzmen | Unutamazsin | 25 | 14 |
| 1997 | Sebnem Paker and Group Etnic | Dinle | 121 | 3 |
| 1996 | Sebnem Paker | Besinçi mevsim | 57 | 12 |
| 1995 | Arzu Ece | Sev! | 21 | 16 |
| 1993 | Burak Aydos, Öztürk Baybora & Serter | Esmer yarim | 10 | 21 |
| 1992 | Aylin Vatankos | Yaz bitti | 17 | 18 |
| 1991 | Izel Çeliköz, Rayhan Soykarçi and Can Ugurluér | Iki dakika | 44 | 12 |
| 1990 | Kayahan | Gözlerinin hapsindeyim | 21 | 17 |
| 1989 | Pan | Bana bana | 5 | 21 |
| 1988 | MFÖ | Sufi (hey ya hey) | 37 | 15 |
| 1987 | Seyyal Tanner and Lokomotif | Sarkim sevgi üstüne | 0 | 22 |
| 1986 | Klips ve Onlar | Halley | 53 | 9 |
| 1985 | MFÖ | Di dai di dai dai (a'sik oldum) | 36 | 14 |
| 1984 | Bes Yil Önce, On Yil Sonra | Halay | 37 | 12 |
| 1983 | Çetin Alp and the Short Wave | Opera | 0 | 19 |
| 1982 | Neço | Hani | 20 | 15 |
| 1981 | Modern Folk Trio and Aysegül | Dönme dolap | 9 | 18 |
| 1980 | Ajda Pekkan | Petr'oil | 23 | 15 |
| 1978 | Nazar | Sevinçe | 2 | 18 |
| 1975 | Semiha Yanki | Seninle bir dakika | 3 | 19 |
