Istanbul vs. Constantinople

So here’s the song I referenced in class on Thursday.  It’s called “Istanbul, Not Constantinople” by the They Might Be Giants.  It’s a remake of an old 1950s song.  It’s also an appropriate song to start off our course with since Constantinople, the great capital of the Byzantine Empire, fell to the Ottomans in 1453.

Constantinople was named after Constantine the Great, the Roman Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire.  Constantinople officially became Istanbul in 1930 with the establishment of a modern Turkish state; however, Turks had been using variations of the name “Istanbul” for centuries.  Many historians believe that the term Istanbul comes from the Greek phrase “εις την Πόλιν”  (is-tin-poli) which translates to “towards the City”.  Even today Greeks refuse to call Istanbul by its new name.  They call it Konstandinoupoli or simply “Η Πολη” (The City).

Warning: This song can be addictive.

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Now it’s Turkish delight on a moonlit night

Every gal in Constantinople
Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople
So if you’ve a date in Constantinople
She’ll be waiting in Istanbul

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can’t say
People just liked it better that way

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can’t go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That’s nobody’s business but the Turks

Istanbul (Istanbul)
Istanbul (Istanbul)

Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can’t say
People just liked it better that way

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That’s nobody’s business but the Turks

So take me back to Constantinople
No, you can’t go back to Constantinople
Been a long time gone, Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That’s nobody’s business but the Turks

Istanbul

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