Turkey was represented at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song "", composed by Kemal Ebcioğlu, with lyrics by Hikmet Münir Ebcioğlu, and performed by Semiha Yankı. The Turkish participating broadcaster, (TRT), selected its entry through a national final. This was the first-ever entry from Turkey in the Eurovision Song Contest, and the first-ever entry performed in Turkish in the contest.
Before Eurovision Prior to the confirmation of participation, TRT made few attempts to make its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest. In 1974, TRT expressed interest to debut in the contest, but was too late to join, as the scoreboard had already begun construction.
In July 1974, TRT announced to its viewers that it had plans to make its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in . A board of TRT members in Ankara, consisting of İskender Salgir, Bülend Özveren, and Erol Okman, ultimately agreed on participation.
1975 The Turkish entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 was chosen during a national final: 1975 .
Competing entries A total of 106 songs were submitted to the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), with 17 bring shortlisted by a selection committee for the national final. In early 1975, "Boşver" performed by Nilüfer was withdrawn from the selection due to plagiarism claims. "Umut" performed by Şenay was also withdrawn as Şerif Yüzbaşıoğlu, his wife, was a member of the committee.
On 6 February 1975, the selection committee selected the 8 songs which would compete in the televised final out of the 106 songs that were submitted. The songs were accompanied by Timur Selçuk with Orchestra 75.
+Semifinal – 6 February 1975 Artist(s) Song Songwriter(s) Result Composer(s) Lyricist(s) Ali Rıza Binboğa "Yarınlar" Ali Rıza Binboğa Qualified "Dilenci" Qualified "Özlenen sevgì" Cici Kızlar "Delisin" Attila Özdemiroğlu Qualified Esin Afşar "Canı sıkılan adam" Esin Afşar Füsun Önal "Minik kuş" Attila Özdemiroğlu Çiğdem Talu Qualified Gökhan Abur "Bir gün karşılaşırsak" Çiğdem Talu "Günahsızlar" and Reha "Caniko" Nilüfer "Boşver" Nahman Varon Withdrew Semiha Yankı "Seninle bir dakika" Kemal Ebcioğlu Hikmet Münir Ebcioğlu Qualified Serter Bağcan "Mümkün değil" Serter Bağcan Qualified Şenay "Umut" Selçuk Basri Şenay Withdrew Uğur Akdora "Anılar" Uğur Akdora Çiğdem Talu Yeliz Eken "Hayalimdeki adam" Selmi Andak Çiğdem Talu Qualified Yeşim "Böyle mi başlar?" Qualified Zerrin Yaşar "Çiçekler"
Final The final took place on 9 February 1975 at the studios of TRT, hosted by Bülend Özveren. Eight songs competed and the winner was determined by a 50/50 combination of votes awarded by public postcard voting and an expert jury. Ali Rıza Binboğa was the winner of the postcard vote. As there was a tie at the end of the voting, the final winner was determined by giving the two winning singers two envelopes to choose between – one being a blank envelope and the other one containing the message "the song which will represent Turkey in Sweden", which was chosen by Semiha Yankı.
+Final – 9 February 1975 Artist Song Public Points Public Rank Jury Points Jury Rank Total Rank 1Yeşim"Böyle mi başlar?"2,63381635178 2Cici Kızlar"Delisin"14,07122542282 3"Dilenci"7,76941674243 4Yeliz"Hayalimdeki adam"7,64451923243 5Füsun Önal"Minik kuş"3,92871626195 6Serter Bağcan"Mümkün değil"5,35061547195 7Semiha Yankı"Seninle bir dakika"8,25732831281 8Ali Rıza Binboğa"Yarınlar"27,16211268187
At Eurovision The contest was broadcast on . The show was watched by 17 million viewers.
On the night of the contest Turkey performed thirteenth in the running order, proceeding and preceding . The conductor at the contest was Timur Selçuk. At the close of the voting Turkey had received 3 points, finishing nineteenth and last place in the contest.
Voting
+ Points awarded to Turkey Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
+ Points awarded by Turkey Score Country 12 points 10 points 8 points 7 points 6 points 5 points 4 points 3 points 2 points 1 point
References