Gülden Karaböcek (born Saniye Gülden Göktürk on November 4, 1953) is a renowned Turkish arabesque and fantasy music singer. Considered one of the pioneering figures of arabesque and fantasy music, she experimented with various musical styles throughout her career, but gained particular recognition for her unique arabesque songs enriched with fantasy elements.

Born in Ankara, she completed her primary and secondary education there and later received vocal and solfège training from Yaşar Aydaş at Ankara Radio. After moving to Istanbul with her family, she recorded her first records at the age of 14–15: “Yazılanlar Gelir Başa & Garip Kaldım.” In these recordings, famous musician Orhan Gencebay accompanied her on the bağlama.

She initially released her first record under the name Gülden Göktürk, but due to family circumstances, she officially adopted the surname Karaböcek in 1972 by court order — the same surname chosen by her sister, well-known singer Neşe Karaböcek.

Gülden Fırtınası and Musical Career

In April 1982, her album “Gülden Fırtınası” was released, featuring notable tracks such as “Küstüm Sana Dünya,” “Mahşer Gününde,” “İki Kelime,” “Can mı Dayanır,” and “Nasıl Güleyim.” Although the album attracted attention, it did not achieve the expected commercial success.

The song “Anne” (Mother), written by Mehmet Yüzüak and featured on the album “Silemem,” received strong acclaim from both critics and fans.

Today, Gülden Karaböcek is regarded as one of the most distinctive and influential female voices in Turkish arabesque and fantasy music.