Friday Featured Track
The song that has been on my brain the most this week:
- “Istanbul (Not Constantinople),” They Might Be Giants, from the 1990 LP “Flood.”
Just hearing a few seconds of this incredibly infectious song gets it wedged in my head for days. The alt-rockers’ cover of this old swing song, with its klezmer (Jewish/Eastern European) flair, has become one of the best-known versions, and it always puts a smile on my face.
According to Wikipedia, Jimmy Kennedy wrote the lyrics and Nat Simon the music for “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).” It was originally recorded by a Canadian singing group called The Four Lads back in 1953. It first broke into the Billboard charts on October 24, 1953, and it peaked at No. 10.
Gen-Xers like me will remember the They Might Be Giants version was featured on an episode of the animated series “Tiny Toons.” It’s pretty much been stuck in my head ever since. Along with the video, above, I’ve posted the “Tiny Toons” video here; both are embedded her courtesy YouTube.
And remember, fellas, if you’ve a date in Constantinople, she’ll be waiting in Istanbul.
-BAM
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Is it lame to say that I LOVED that episode of Tiny Toons when I was younger? I still remember every song they did on it. They did another They Might Be Giants song “Particle Man” if I’m not mistaken.