Introducing 2010: Turkey

All songs for the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 have been selected. During the weeks between the national final season and the actual Eurovision Song Contest, we will introduce all 39 entries in random order. Part thirty-eight of the series is dedicated to the Turkish entry.

Basic information

The song

We could be the same is an up-tempo pop/rock song featuring various different styles. About the lyrics, the band has stated that they expected the listeners to find out what the song means. However, they revealed that the message of the song is the quest for a peaceful world where people live with love and faith:

I've seen you dancing like a star
No matter how different we are

For all this time
I've been loving you
Don't even know your name
For just one night
We could be the same

The performers/The songwriters

maNga was founded in 2001. Having played mostly smaller venues over a while, they came into the spotlight after finishing second in a music contest. Their eponymous debut album was relased in 2004 and became a major success achieving gold status for sales exceeding 100,000 copies. Their song Dursun zaman, a duet with singer Göksel, was included on the soundtrack of the 2006 film Sınav and the re-release of their first album. maNga's second studio album Å�ehr-i hüzün was released in 2009 and it spawned the three hit singles Dünyanın sonuna doÄ�muÅ�um (no. 1 in Turkey), Beni benimle bırak and Cevapsız sorular.

maNga currently consists of Ferman Akgül (vocals), Özgür Can Öney (drums), Efe Yılmaz (turntable), Cem Bahtiyar (bass guitar) and YaÄ�mur Sarıgül (guitar). They were invited to represent Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest 2010 and their song We could be the same was officially presented during a special press conference.

The national selection

For the fifth year in a row, Turkey selected both song and performer internally. However, the decision was based on suggestions by the public as submitted to the broadcaster. maNga were announced as representatives and their song We could be the same was officially presented during a press conference, which was also broadcast on TV.

Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest

Turkey entered the Eurovision Song Contest in 1975 and finished last on its debut. Also, over the following years the country was not very succesful and it was not before 1986 that the first top ten placing was achieved. However, it turned in 1997 when Turkey finished third. A victory in 2003 followed as well as fourth places in 2004, 2007 and 2009.

Türkiye ve MaNga'ya Oslo'da iyi Å�anslar ve iyi bir sonuç dileriz!

Videos

The song presentation:

The preview video:

Performing Dursun zaman with Göksel:

Dünyanın sonuna doÄ�muÅ�um:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBaXFrXPkGI

Tomorrow, we will take a look at the Maltese entry, which is the last one to be introduced.

Previous parts of this series:

1. Ireland
2. Belarus
3. Albania
4. Denmark
5. Russia
6. Bulgaria
7. Switzerland
8. FYR Macedonia
9. Armenia
10. Spain
11. Poland
12. Croatia
13. Finland
14. Greece
15. Ukraine
16. Lithuania
17. Belgium
18. Norway
19. Portugal
20. Moldova
21. The Netherlands
22. The United Kingdom
23. Latvia
24. Serbia
25. France
26. Slovenia
27. Azerbaijan
28. Bosnia & Herzegovina
29. Georgia
30. Romania
31. Sweden
32. Israel
33. Estonia
34. Cyprus
35. Slovakia
36. Iceland
37. Germany