"Istanbul" is a 1953 swing-style song, with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy and music by Nat Simon.
The lyrics comically refer to the official 1930 renaming of the city of Constantinople
to Istanbul.
It also references other renamed cities, specifically the renaming of New York City from New Amsterdam.
Influences It is said to be a response to "C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E"
recorded in 1928 by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra.
The Four Lads original version "Istanbul" was originally recorded by the
Canadian group The Four Lads on August 12, 1953.
This recording was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 40082.
It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on October 24, 1953, and it peaked at #10.
It was the group's first gold record.
Cover versions Live performance cover versions
The Duke's Men of Yale, an all-male a cappella group at Yale University, perform the song
at the end of most of their concerts.
The song has been in the repertoire of the Duke's Men since 1953.
During the 2000s, the song was performed live by Australian Klezmer/Gypsy Jazz band Monsieur
Camembert.
Recorded cover versions Recording artists and groups known to have
covered this song include: Edmundo Ros
Bing Crosby with Ella Fitzgerald Frankie Vaughan
Caterina Valente Renato Carosone
Darío Moreno Cacka Israelsson with Systrarna Rosenblom,
titled "Istanbul" Jacques Hélian et son Orchestre
Lou Busch Ota Čermák
Santo & Johnny Bruno & the Gladiators, instrumental surf
rock band, though titled "Istanbul" Leo Addeo,
Bette Midler for the live album "Live At Last" Harvard Din & Tonics have sung this song since
the group's inception in 1979.
Lee Press-on and the Nails.
Belmont Playboys, Instrumental titled "Istanbul" Ac Rock, a cappella version "Istanbul"
Oscar Aleman Instrumental version titled "Estambul" Ska Cubano
Ayhan Sicimoglu made a French/Latin version named "Istanbul Pas Constantinople" on "Friends
and Family" Top Shelf Jazz recorded this on their debut
album "Fast and Louche" Terrance Zdunich sings this song as Count
Tarakan, the Badass Russian Frau Kraushaar interpreted the song as "Istanbul
Konstantinople" on "The Power of Appropriation".
DJs Chris Milan and Jay Phoenix sampled the original recording by The Four Lads in their
EDM mix of the same name.
The Loveboat Big Band on their debut album "Songs In the Sea of Life"
They Might Be Giants cover One of the better-known versions of "Istanbul"
is the cover by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants, who released it on their
album Flood in 1990.
It was released as the second single from that album in the same year.
TMBG's version is at a faster tempo than the original.
Track listing American release
"Istanbul" – 2:34 "James K. Polk" – 3:16
"Stormy Pinkness" – 1:08 "Ant" – 1:53
"Istanbul" – 5:13 European single
"Istanbul" – 2:34 "James K. Polk" – 3:16
"Stormy Pinkness" – 1:08 "Istanbul" – 5:13
European 7" release "Istanbul" – 2:34
"James K. Polk" – 3:16 Sales chart history
Popular culture references The song is featured in the Steve Martin and
Michael Caine comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
The lyrics were used in the March 21, 1954 episode of The Jack Benny Program during a
sketch about a man trying to buy a train ticket to Constantinople.
Jack Benny and Frank Nelson proceed to use the lyrics to dispute where the man can go.
The They Might Be Giants version is used in the Tiny Toon Adventures episode "Tiny Toons
Music Television" and The Simpsons episode "Mobile Homer".
A few lines of the song were sung in the film Mona Lisa Smile.
A few lines of the song are sung by some Muppet rats at the beginning of the second season
episode of Muppets Tonight guest-starring Pierce Brosnan.
When host Clifford tells the audience that the show can be seen everywhere from Istanbul
to Constantinople, Rizzo the rat corrects him that Istanbul is Constantinople.
On NBC's America's Got Talent on August 16, 2011, the act Those Funny Little People performed
a routine to the They Might Be Giants version of this song.
On CBS's Cold Case, the 2008 episode "Pin Up Girl" features a scene, that takes place
in 1953, where the victim entertains her companions by singing and dancing to the Four Lads version
of the song.
The song ends up being part of a clue that helps move the case forward.
In the TV Series Raising Hope, Maw Maw is a pro at Jenga while listening to the song.
During the TV series Get Smart episode "Die Spy", several lines of the song are spoken
as interplay between Don Adams and Stu Gilliam.
In the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode featuring The Castle of Fu Manchu, Tom Servo
recites a few lines after Joel says "Oh, sure just barge into Istanbul... hey, at least
it's not Constantinople."
In Gilmore Girls, when Lorelai is being quizzed about her history knowledge, she responds
"I don't know that one.
I do know Istanbul is Constantinople, so if you've got a date in Constantinople, she'll
be waiting in Istanbul".
On the June 3, 2009, episode of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Ferguson and many
dancers dressed up in "Turkish" garb performed a comedic cover of the They Might Be Giants
version.
In the TV series Bunheads, Sasha leads a fantasy contemporary ballet dance number set to the
song in her class, in the form of a Pas de trois.
The song is featured in Just Dance Kids 2 and Just Dance 4, both by publisher Ubisoft.
In Crash Bandicoot 2: N-Tranced, a level is named 'Now it's Istanbul'.
Chapter 2 of Jacques Steinberg's bestselling book The Gatekeepers is titled "Istanbul".
References
External links Istanbul EP on This Might Be A Wiki
"Istanbul" on This Might Be A Wiki