Memories are not Forgotten even when Loves are

The wind of Mavi Işıklar is blowing for a long time now. Shortly after the songs of the band was used in the TV series “Öyle Bir Geçer Zaman ki,” they  have become knowned and beloved by everyone including the new generations yet again. The power of TV as one primary medium of popular culture reveals itself once again in this case: A band founded in 1964 can race to be the best after long years.
Mavi Işıklar was founded on 7 September 1964. The reason why we can define the date with such certainty is the detailed accounts from the diary or rather the notebook kept by a member of the band, Çetin Yavuzdoğan. The notebook comprising of various memoirs, notes and newspaper clippings was called “My Memories”.
The first staff of the band consisted Çetin and Metin Yavuzdoğan brothers, Nejat Toksoy, Cihat Günaydın and Zamir Manisa. The four members of the band had already known each other from the vicinity of Fındıkzade where they resided. Çetin and Metin brothers attending Erkek Lisesi (a boys’ high-school) those days founded the band taking their schoolmate Nejat Toksoy along with them. The day is recounted in “My Memories” as such: “Now that Nejat joined, the band has taken shape. Today we practiced for the first time and decided to name the band Mavi Işıklar (Blue Lights). We listened to the recordings Nejat had taken from America and chose the songs we are going to play…”
And the band members explains where the name of the band was coming to newspapers and magazines as such: “For us, ‘blue’ represents peace and harmony and the word ‘lights’ signifies our incentive to set an example for and shed light to future generations….”

Contemplate Well 

Shortly after the band was founded, the friends began to work fervently. Hürriyet newspaper had already announced the attendance criteria for the renowned music contest Altın Mikrofon (The Golden Microphone) that was to be held in the year 1965. Once they heard about it, they decided to join the contest.
And the decision turn about to be a good one. Leaving behind very professional and powerful names, they ranked number two with the anonymous song “Helvacı Helva” performed in “twist tempo” style The song brought fame and popularity to the band at the very beginning.
Things went well and brought a gleaming success for them from then on. The band again won a runner-up prize in Altın Mikrofon the following year. Then followed countless concerts, all best-selling and best-loved records. Indeed, they became unmitigatedly “the youngsters’ favourite” as we call today.
Due to the 12 September (1980) military coup and the state of affairs sweeping the country to this crushing, Mavi Işıklar, as many fellow musicians had to retreat from the music arena for long years. And for the outbreak of pop in the 90’s only gave credence to “new stuff,” very few names from the past could come into prominence in music market.
Nevertheless everything takes its course. The old 45 records series which Ada Music has begun to release by the 2000’s, after bringing forward the glorious past of Turkish pop with precious names like Ayten Alpman and Hümeyra, now brings us together with Mavi Işıklar.  This album has both cherished the memory of the band and encouraged them to get together for new projects.
The echo created by the album has been crowned last year with the TV series “Öyle bir Geçer Zaman ki.” And this is the very indication that Mavi Işıklar can still be among us with ever new songs.
The maxi-single album consists of the updated 2012 performances of the two compositions of the band (“Fısılda” and “İşte Çözüm, İşte Sofra,” belonging respectively to Metin Yavuzdoğan and Çetin Yavuzdoğan Bestesi) among with the long-familiar and best-loved songs of the band, “Helvacı Helva” and “İyi Düşün Taşın” (Contemplate Well). Mavi Işıklar, one of the most eccentric bands of the history of Turkish pop is now breathing the same air with us.
Make the most of it! Let the loves and separations you assume to be forgotten as well as the thousand details of everyday life flutter around in the air. And youngsters will secure an unflinching “background music” for the stories they will tell after years.

Mavi Işıklar is a band who means a lot and who has a lot to say for young and old alike. In fact it is ideal for removing the rust in our ears. 

Naim Dilmener