Feb 07, 2018
Aysel Gürel’s 89th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
There will never be another Aysel Gürel. Born on this day in 1929, in Sarayköy in the Denizli Province of Turkey, Aysel Gürel lived life to the hilt. Buoyant and daring, Gürel ruled the Turkish pop music scene from the late 1970s through the 2000s, penning lyrics about love lost and found for both legendary singers as well as up-and-comers including Sezen Aksu, Nilüfer, Tarkan, and Sertab Erener. New songs are produced from the trove of lyrics she left behind even today!
At heart, Gürel was a poet who found her audience through her songs, but she was also a gifted actress, Turkologist, and witty provocateur. She also made her mark as a feminist and animal rights activist.
While stars gave voice to her songs, Gürel wasn’t one to hide in the background. She, too, was made for the limelight. Dressed in her oversized red glasses, pink wigs and head-turning outfits, flirting, and always quick with clever repartee, Gürel was as unforgettable as she was unpredictable.
Today’s Doodle celebrates Gürel’s inner (and outer) wild child. Wearing those signature specs, her hair colored in hues of fuschia, her joy is hard to contain on the screen.
Happy 89th birthday, Aysel Gürel!
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