For the first time in the Eurovision history Turkey has won the contest in Riga 2003 with Sertab Erener and "Everything that I can" - a gorgious song with belly dance. Returning home, her win was as much celebrated as the Turkish soccer team's success in the World Championship. Turkey has taken part in the Eurovision only since 1975 - usually ending up close to last . The second best result: being 3rd in Dublin 1997 with the song "Dinie" sung by Sebnem Paker. The reason might have been the rather exotic sound of Turkish music and their language. The fact that each country is now allowed to sing in English has proven an advantage for Turkey. Still unforgotten are Turkish entries like "Petr'oil" by Ajda Pekkan (The Hague 1980), "Opera" by Cetin Alp & The Short Wave (Munich 1983) or "Didai, didai, dai" by a group called MFÖ (Gothenburg 1985).

This year Turkey is going to follow it's old tradition in selecting the song and also in the style of music, which can be found in the 80's and 90's. The Turkish pre-decision was simply made and referred only to the big success of Sertab, Athena and the great show held in Istanbul last year. Why did the Turkish Television TRT let a jury decide who will win and not the public? There were almost old and boring people in that jury, no young and cool people at all. It was obviously that one of the worst songs won that night. Where has the 'world-class' of the last two years gone? Even Sertab is disappointed by that. Güleresen - the female singer is absolutely not known in Turkey so far. Even her exotic finger-game never ever will convince Europe. But Turkey has heard all the critics and reacted: the song is now restyled and now it's the first song ever whichs sound "Indian". It's necessarily imporant to have a strong entry this year, because it's the 50th celebration of the Eurovision Song Contest and the competion is extremely high.