Gülşen Bayraktar Çolakoğlu (born May 29, 1976 in Istanbul, Turkey) is a Turkish singer-songwriter. Discovered by a composer while performing at a bar, she recorded her first studio releasing the single “Gel Çarem” in July 1996, from her debut studio album Be Adam, which earned Gülşen a nomination for Best Newcomer Female Artist at the 3rd Kral TV Video Music Awards. Taking a brief hiatus to focus on her marriage, she returned two years later, releasing her second album Erkeksen in December 1998 and receiving a nomination for Best Pop Female Artist. Her intensely personal third album Şimdi was released in the wake of her divorce. It was however Gülşen’s fourth studio album that gave her the commercial success that her former albums had lacked thus far, winning Best Female Pop Singer at the 11th Turkey Music Awards with her song “Of Of” awarded Song of the Year, propelling Gülşen to stardom. During this time several of Gülşen’s music videos were banned due to their controversial sexual content. Her fifth album Yurtta Aşk Cihanda Aşk released in February 2006 was certified gold, with single "Ya Tutarsa" peaking at number 1, signing a three-album deal with a new label, releasing her sixth Ama Bir Farkla in July 2007 amidst controversy over previously unreleased material owned by her former label which Gülşen prevented from release.
Unsatisfied with the creative process on her upcoming seventh studio release, Gülşen halted production, travelling to London to study visual and performing arts, before releasing the album through Sony Music, with the single "Bi' An Gel" becoming an instant hit, remaining at number 1 on the Turkish music charts for three weeks, with the video clip nominated for the Best Music Video Award at the 17th Turkey Music Awards. This success was continued with the release of singles "Yeni Biri" and "Sözde Ayrılık", both peaking at number 1. In February 2013, Gülşen released Beni Durdursan mı? which was certified gold and quickly becoming the most successful album in history, taking home Album of the Year at the Turkey Music Awards and "Yatcaz Kalkcaz Ordayım" winning Song of the Year, keeping the song in the number 1 spot for over seven weeks. Gülşen was also awarded Best Female Artist and Best Lyricist and Best Composer. After several collaborations with other artists, her ninth studio album Bangır Bangır released in May 2015, sold 100,000 copies by the end of the year, with the lead single certified gold, and remaining at number 1 on the charts for thirteen weeks. By 2019, Gülşen was one of the highest streaming female artists in Turkey, releasing “Nirvana”, a duet with Turkish singer Edis on digital platforms only. In 2022 she released a cover of Bergen’s hit “Sen Affetsen Ben Affetmem” followed by “Lolipop” and a collaboration with Ozan Dogulu, “Bir Kereden Hiçbir Şey Olmaz”.
