MFÖ, also known as Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan, is a Turkish pop band.
Mazhar and Fuat first met in 1965, when they at a record shop when Alanson saw Güner with a Beatles record in his hand and offered then a stranger Güner to listen the record together. Alanson and Güner would then start to work together and play in the Turkish band, Kaygısızlar, featuring collaborations with other notable Turkish artists. After the band split up in 1971, Mazhar and Fuat worked together as a duo, releasing their only album Türküz Türkü Çağırırız in 1973.
In 1980, Özkan Uğur joined the band, thus refiguring the group into Mazhar-Fuat-Özkan. They worked on a musical initially, before playing behind multiple Turkish artists. They started participating in Turkish finals since 1981, but they didn't make the contest.
In 1984, they released their debut album, Ele Güne Karşı Yapayalnız, which became a huge hit within Turkey. The album was noted for Mazhar Alanson's songwriting, which continued with the group. The following year, they finally won the selection to represent Turkey at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985 with the song Didai Didai Dai, which placed 14th overall.
With the release of their album, Vak The Rock in 1986, they released an animated music video--the first in Turkish musical history. They released their next album, No Problem, the next year, and again participated in the Turkish national selection. They ended up representing the country again at the 1988 contest with the song Sufi, which placed 15th overall.
During the 1990s, they transitioned more to rap, and added more politically critical aspects into their lyrics. Along with their music career, they also ventured into television. They still remain one of Turkey's best known bands, with several of Turkey's best rock songs of all-time and getting their songs covered by multiple artists, including 2003 winner Sertab Erener.
Özkan Uğur passed away from leukemia on 8 July 2023 at the age of 69.
| Eurovision Song Contest 1985 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Maria Christian •  Sonja Lumme •  Lia Vissi •  Hot Eyes •  Paloma San Basilio •  Roger Bens • MFÖ •  Linda Lepomme •  Adelaide Ferreira •  Wind •  Izhar Cohen •  Al Bano & Romina Power •  Bobbysocks! •  Vikki Watson •  Mariella Farre & Pino Gasparini •  Kikki Danielsson •  Gary Lux •  Margo, Franck, Diane, Ireen, Chris & Malcolm •  Takis Biniaris
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Wait Until the Weekend Comes • Eläköön elämä • To Katalava Arga • Sku' du spørg' fra no'en? • La fiesta terminó • Femme dans ses rêves aussi • Didai Didai Dai • Laat me nu gaan • Penso em tei, eu sei • Für alle • Olé, Olé • Magic, oh, Magic • La Det Swinge • Love Is • Piano, Piano • Bra Vibrationer • Kinder dieser Welt • Children, Kinder, Enfants • Miazoume
| |||
| Eurovision Song Contest 1988 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Participants | |||
 Beathoven • Tommy Körberg • Boulevard • Scott Fitzgerald • MFÖ • La Década Prodigosa •  Gerard Joling • Yardena Arazi • Celine Dion • Jump The Gun • Maxi & Chris Garden • Wilfried Scheutz • Hot Eyes • Afroditi Frida • Karoline Krüger • Reynaert • Lara Fabian • Luca Barbarossa • Gérard Lenorman • Dora •  Srebrna Krila
| |||
| Songs | |||
| Þú og þeir (Sókrates) • Stad i ljus • Nauravat silmät muistetaan • Go • Sufi • La chica que yo quiero (Made In Spain) • Shangri-La • Ben Adam • Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi • Take Him Home • Lied für einen Freund • Lisa, Mona Lisa • Ka' du se hva' jeg sa'? • Kloun • For vår jord • Laissez briller le soleil • Croire • Vivo (Ti Scrivo) • Chanteur de charme • Voltarei • Mangup
| |||
Trivia[]
- When announcing their entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1985, Lilli shortened the band's name to MFO, which has stuck to this day.
- Their 1988 entry, Sufi, garnered a cult following during Eurovision Again, and placed second in their poll for the year. As a result, the members of MFO announced the introduction of 1985 in August 2020.