"" (Those I Called My Dear) is a hallmark of the Turkish Arabesque genre, famously performed by Ceylan (often referred to as Küçük Ceylan during her child-star era). The song is a poignant reflection on betrayal and emotional disillusionment. Song Profile Artist: Ceylan (Küçük Ceylan). Genre: Arabesque / Turkish Folk.

For Ceylan, this song remains a staple of her early career. It is often used in nostalgic contexts to represent the emotional weight of 1980s and 90s Turkish music. Fans often listen to it on platforms like Spotify and TikTok to revisit the "classic" era of her vocals.

Typical of Arabesque music, the song attributes this suffering to a "cruel fate" and asks the creator why those loved were made so "merciless". Cultural Impact

Ceylan Ertem - Zalım lyrics translation in English - Musixmatch

The song was written by the legendary lyricist Ali Tekintüre and has been covered by numerous icons, including İbrahim Tatlıses , Müslüm Gürses , Kibariye , and Bergen .

The singer expresses regret for having loved or even being born, as their trust led to deep suffering ("Beni sevdiğime pişman ettiler").