The country went on to achieve five more top five placements after the introduction of the free language rule and televoting, with "Everyway That I Can" by Sertab Erener giving Turkey its first victory in 2003.

Greece did not take part in the contest for "unknown reasons" according to the EBU, but it was later revealed that the withdrawal was in protest of Turkey's debut and their invasion of Cyprus in 1974.

[4][5] TRT organized a national final to select the first ever Turkish entrant to the Eurovision Song Contest.

In 1976, Greece's entry to the contest aroused controversy due to its subject matter being the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.

However, Turkey withdrew from the contest due to pressure from neighboring Arab countries to do so, which arose from the ongoing controversy regarding the status of Jerusalem.

In 1980, Turkish superstar Ajda Pekkan and the song "Petrol" was selected by TRT through a national final.

Turkey had their best result (until 1997) in the 1986 contest in Bergen, Norway, when Klips ve Onlar placed ninth with a total of 53 points.

Several famous Turkish artists performed for the contest during the 1980s, including Ajda Pekkan, Neco, Candan Erçetin and MFÖ.

In the late 1990s to early 2000s, the contest became one of the most popular events in Turkey as a result of the participation of other Central and Eastern European countries, and Sertab Erener's win in 2003 with the song "Everyway That I Can".

Along with Greece, Turkey brought the contest a new outlook with flashy stage performances and dresses alongside their oriental/Mediterranean-flavoured pop music acts (Sertab Erener, Sibel Tüzün, Kenan Doğulu and Hadise).

In 2012, Turkey participated for the last time as of 2012[update] with the song "Love Me Back" by Can Bonomo, which placed seventh in the final with 112 points.

[15][16] The EBU and Eren entered talks on a potential Turkish return ahead of 2022 contest;[17] despite this, the country was not on the final list of participants.

[18] Prior to 2012 every contest Turkey had taken part in had always been commentated on by Turkish television presenter Bülend Özveren, with the exception of 1982–1985, 1990–1991, 1998–2001, and 2007.