Neha Patil (Editor)

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

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B-side
  
"James K. Polk"

Format
  
CD single, 7", 12"

Length
  
2:34

Released
  
May 14, 1990

Genre
  
Alternative rock

Label
  
Elektra (US) Elektra / WEA (EU)

"Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is a 1953 swing-style song, with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy and music by Nat Simon. Written on the 500th anniversary of the fall of Constantinople to the Ottomans, the lyrics humorously refer to the official 1930 renaming of the city of Constantinople to Istanbul. The song's original release certified as a gold record.

Contents

Musical 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 (Not Constantinople)" was originally recorded by the Canadian vocal quartet 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.

They Might Be Giants

One of the better-known versions of "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" is the cover by the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants (TMBG), 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
  1. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" – 2:34
  2. "James K. Polk" – 3:16
  3. "Stormy Pinkness" – 1:08
  4. "Ant" – 1:53
  5. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" (Brownsville mix) – 5:13
European single
  1. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" – 2:34
  2. "James K. Polk" – 3:16
  3. "Stormy Pinkness" – 1:08
  4. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (Brownsville Mix)" – 5:13
European 7" release
  1. "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" – 2:34
  2. "James K. Polk" – 3:16

Other recordings

Recording artists and groups known to have covered this song include:

  • Bruno and The Gladiators, instrumental version titled "Estambul" (surf music from 1963 released by Vault Records)
  • 80 Drums Around the World (instrumental)
  • Edmundo Ros (1953)
  • Bing Crosby with Ella Fitzgerald (1953)
  • Frankie Vaughan (1954)
  • Caterina Valente (1954)
  • Renato Carosone
  • Darío Moreno (1954, in French)
  • Marie-José (1954, in French)
  • Jacques Hélian et son Orchestre (1950s, in French as "Istamboul")
  • Lou Busch (as "Joe Fingers Carr & his Ragtime Band")
  • Ota Čermák (1959)
  • Santo & Johnny (1962)
  • Bette Midler for the live album Live At Last (1977)
  • Harvard Din & Tonics have sung this song since the group's inception in 1979.
  • Lee Press-on and the Nails (1998)
  • Oscar Aleman, instrumental version titled "Estambul" (2005)
  • Ska Cubano (2006)
  • Terrance Zdunich sings this song as Count Tarakan, the Badass Russian (2011)

    • 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.

    References

    Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA