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Istanbul (Not Constantinople) Lyrics
Artist: They Might Be Giants
Album: Flood
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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Comments/Interpretations
amazing
This song is so magnificently annoying... I sing it in class just to piss off the people around me, and you should, too!
o.O why would people be pissed off about this? it is nothing but the truth.
it sucks!It's always been Constantinople.Long live Greece!
COSTNTINOPOLI COSTANTINOPOLI NOT ISTANBUL
We're doing this song in a broadway camp and I love it so much!
thanos and antonio it is difficult to accept for you :)sad for you. FOREVER ISTANBUL...
"by thanos on 6/18/2008 6:18pm
it sucks!It's always been Constantinople.Long live Greece!"
Not true... it was Byzantium before Constantinople.
its been 600 years greeks...
get over it.
its turkish
I could as well claim New York City as New Amsterdam, being a Dutchman ^^.
i love it!!
love that song
right on the mark and i have no ethnic ax to grind (at least as far as Istanbul is concerned)
Amazing song!!
I suggest you to watch its video clip you will like it!!
P.S. : There are no more camels living in istanbul . Actually there have never been camels living in istanbul ..
constantinople just souns better then istanbul
if you still call istanbul as constantinople it is like calling new york as new amsterdam and that means you are still thinking 600 years back.
come to today you back-mindeds . STANBUL not constantinople.
btw antonio you are sexy that's my boyfriend's name but how sad to see your a jerk you even cant spell constantinople right. not COSTNTINOPOLI baby. ok ?? get this..
like the song says it was once constantinople now its istanbul and its nobodys business but the Turks!
by John Parton on 6/27/2008 2:57pm
"by thanos on 6/18/2008 6:18pm
it sucks!It's always been Constantinople.Long live Greece!"
Not true... it was Byzantium before Constantinople."
when it was constantinople the people were romans not greeks
it's Konstantinoupoli in greek d.kiz. get this?? go back to egypt and live this city to its owners!
It's just a god damn name! What is your peoples problem? >_<
And since it's located in Turkey it's turkish, and it's nobody elses business what the hell they call it! :-)
now...today...tomarrow...and yesterday...everytime...its istanbul..=)nobody can change it..=)
yes its always istanbul and it will be always istanbul
forever istanbul accept that oyu bastards oyu cant get back ahuahhaahuahauha
forever istanbul accept that oyu bastards you cant get back ahuahhaahuahauha
what a stupid and meaningless song.
wow lyk it.
i luv ISTANBUL..!
itz turksh delight on a moonlit night...
It may be meaningless, but not stupid... it always makes me smile and I like it.
hey greeks don't be jelaous;) it's over just shut up,we always conquer;)
you are all stupits..i am turk..its' turkish is istanbul and its' greek is constantinople..everyone can call it what they want..it doesnt change the thruth that istanbul now belongs to turks..bye
Sure are a lot of trolls around here
by carolina on 8/19/2008 7:10am
wow lyk it.
i luv ISTANBUL..!
itz turksh delight on a moonlit night...
thats quite funny.
wow lyk it.
i luv ISTANBUL..!
itz turksh delight on a moonlit night...
thats quite funny.
really? i didn't think you would get the joke. :)
if you want istanbul back, than the world has to give us Baghdah, Egypt, Morocco, Tunus, Holy Lands(Mekke, Medina, Damascus, Palestine, Jerusalem), and so many more countries and cities back.
If what I requested is stupid, tahn what the Greek's request is also stupid.
Istanbul belongs to Turks and always will be. If you wanna get it you have to destroy 70 million people. Do you understand it, you idiots?
that is one of the coolest songs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
song's been around a long time. first recorded by the Four Lads in 1953. also by Bette Midler, The Residents, and Monsieur Camembert from Australia. i like the fast TMBG klezmer version the best.
whether it's Istanbul or Constantinople, there're no deserts and camels in this city :) it's kind of funny actually. But cute song.
Kosovo is Serbia ~ Constantinople=Hellas
I love this song. My teacher played it for the class once, and I fell in love with it. It's catchy. :)
For those of you who obviously have not had a World History class...Constantinople belonged to the Romans!! I believe it was named after emperor Constantine in like the 300's. It DID NOT belong to Greeks!!!!
Just thought I'd point out that the source of the Turkish name "Istanbul" is from the Greek phrase "eis ton polin" meaning "in the city"... so... Greek people should stop getting upset about it.
Get over it people, its a song for music not for being historically accurate or to support turks/romans/greeks...
more to the point, good song
the singers make fun of it an there are still some people getting annoyed.. Hahaha! It's funny and it shows how affective is this song. If it did not reflect the reality, you would not be annoyed by this "silly" song, as you call...!
RESULT: I love this song as well.
Hope it's understood. Hahaha....
Cities "belong" to people not nations!
its Constantinople.....MALAKA!!!!!!!!!!
I luv that song, we sing in the class sometimes.
Ive read some text about the turks and their history. I have to say, its amazing! :D
But this is song is great!!
are they? why the turks in west trakya(selanik,Gmlcine,etc)does't have that right
p.s t's Istanbul since 1453....
FOREVER AND EVER ISTANBUL NOT ANYTHING ELSE!!!
guys,i see that this song has been a discussion subject now.greeks are angry about the city's name but,they have to know that turks were having many other cities in the world which don't belong to turks now.and those cities names were different.so why don't turks demand the old names of the cities which belong to them many years ago,but greeks demand it?
That song telling helpless of Europe and Greekss hahaha:D
istanbul ...islambol...
konstantiniyye is the meaning of city..like in arabic its medine , meaning is city...
wat a silly name..konstantinopol:))istanbul is better...
they think 600years back...my advise is run faster greeeks...remember izmir:)
It's an AMERICAN song so no Turks or Greeks for that matter should even be listening to it. Get your own songs and piss off.
its constantinople not istambul
hej hej there is no meaning to discuss..I was in Istanbul last year..ticket to Istanbul from Stockholm or anywhere that u come from..And turkish people really great and friendly...dont upset but there is really too many turkish in Istanbul..whether city belongs to people...HEJ guysss JAG alskar DIG :))
Actually I believe it was Roman and then Byzantium
please just someone speaks who is know anytnhg about turkish people and turkish cultere! STANBul Forever!!
Many countries like france, england and russia wanted to conquer stanbul but they couldn't beacause the turkish soldiers were very conceited and they didn't let others to occupy our glamorous and flamboyant city. So stanbul is not Constantinople!
this is very incredible stupid song, and theres no Constantinopol, its Istanbul....
i loved the song <3333333
just peace ! I love both of them
Amazing Song!
Istanbul? Costantinople? Constantinopolis? Byzntion? Byzantium? Istimbolin? Istambolin? Ne Rom? Rūmiyya al-Kubrā? Qostantiniyye? İslambol? Py-i taht? Mikligardur? Carigrad?
Gostandnubolis?
This is only a part of all the names used to Istanbul.
If Istanbul hadnt its story and all these names, it couldnt be named as The City of the Cities or the Center of Universe as it was.
However the right name is Istanbul, since the city belongs to the Turks.
SINCE 1453 ISTANBUL FOREVER
I am in middle school and we already learned about this. U r sad people. LOOK IT UP!
sorry guys, It's stanbul and it will be forever!
BTW I have to send my thanks to Fatih Sultan Mehmed for the conquer and Atatrk for the Independence!
hey lala and the others like her..see the truths and wake up:) constantinople is just a dream..also only your grandgrandgrandmums could see it;)please open your eyes to 21. cenctury for the name of istanbulll:D
Yay, Grecos get over it, you'll never get it back!
Mustafa Kemal Atatrk And Fatih Sultan Mehmet!
C*
This song is amazing!
always the same thing with the greeks. they want palces that doesn't belong to them.Istanbul belongs to turks and its wonderful as Saranda belong to albanians.
istanbul rocks!!!!And the song also.!lol...They might be giants! :)
Great song, accept it or not its ISTANBUL
omg c'mon guyz!!!ist just a song!enjoy!(((although i dont like it very much )))
hey if you want to have it back just go and try to take.why are you swearing and shouting?calm down!
Hello to all, Turks, Greeks and neutrals :)
The City has been an important center for the Greeks for ages, up to very recent times, maybe up to the 1950s-1960s, when the last Greeks had to leave it under unhappy circumstances. So it is natural for the Greek language to keep the traditional Greek name Konstantinoupoli, because language is memory and history. I say Konstantinoupoli when I speak Greek and Istanbul when I talk to non Greeks. Please, relax, Turks, no serious person wants to take The City back. You r funny to believe that, just because we use the historical name of The City. (Historical note: Kosntantinoupolis is a Greek name, not a Roman one. Polis is greek, Civits is Latin. The Estern Roman Empire or Byzantium was totally hellenized and most of the time the majority of its population was Greek, as the Western Roman Empire was latinized).
Also it's a stupid song because no "Giant" can tell me how to call the city of my childhood. If I go to the UN I will say Istanbul, but in my daily life I say whatever I want.
we had to listen to this in class and ill start to hum it and IT IS STUCK IN ME HAED AND CANT GET IT OUT
Americans also say Vienna instead of Wien. I can't stand that myself, so I say Wien. Then I say Vienna 'cause they never heard of Wien. Wieners maybe, but not Wien. Anyway, it's a language thing. When I say "Linux" I alternate pronunciations on different days ...
Now, can anybody tell me about that string intro that starts the song?
wow u r right this should piss people off ..
ALSO WOGS RULE!!! COPY AND PASTE THIS IF U AGREE
The Balkan Slavs use the name "Solun" for the Greek city of Thessaloniki. I don't really mind. Why do Turks get so angry with us Greeks that say "Konstantinoupoli(s)" in our language? I don't understand that at all.
I'd better not say much about the American song writers. No sense of history, of language, of nothing... I wonder if they were aware of what were they talking about when they wrote the song, or just wrote it with the lightness of the ignorant or the semilitarate. What a pitty that they wasted such a beautiful music to emphasize a practically unexisting problem.
Why don't we just agree to change the name to "Atlantis" thus solving a bunch of complicated problems in one swell foop?
ISTANBUL!
I was born in Istanbul, this city is very important to me (and to the majority of the Greeks) and I feel I can call it Konstantinoupoli in my language (Greek) if I want to.
Thus, I know the official name is Istanbul and I call it like that in other languages. None wants to change the name or take the City back (!!). So relax, and please, allow me to keep my memory.
Go Ottoman Empire! (destroyed in WWI)
Hey you Greeks! Like we dont know Megolo Idea of yours. I tell you what you greedy bastards. You took all of those stupid islands around Turkey and demanding to raise sea boundaries to 12 miles. Well then, either islands is ours, or Turkey is yours? That means war you ignorant fools! We try to stay calm, at peace but you just cant stop poking! Everyday another problem! We just had enough of you. You clearly trying to demand war here! Well, I'll pray for your fithy souls if that happens. May the God have mercy on you, 'cause I wont!
Anyway... Gotta calm down. I love this song, not only lyrics, its just stuck on my head.
When I was a kid & heard this song, I thought it was "gotta e stand bull, can't stand tinople."
The Greek argument (it used to be ours, therefore our name is the 'right' name) is amusing but also wrong. Before there were Greeks there, there were Trojans there.
The 'correct' name for Istanbul may be Istanbul (based on what it is known as by the people who live there now) or it may be Troy (based on the earliest name known for certain for the place) but what it was known as for periods in between foundation and now is irrelevant.
Wow, Alenthans you really have to calm down, pal :)
Don't tell me that Turks were in the area before the Turks were, because I' ll laugh!
Anyway, none demands any turkish land. There are agreements and we should all respect them if we want to be considered civilized people and not ancient nwarlords.
Cheers from Athens (even if I was born in Istanbul).
And for the sea borders, we should go to some international court or the UN or something, instead of threatening our neighbours. Otherwise you will say this and we will say that, and war is not an option, in our days. :pppp
Why does it not mention Byzantium? That really annoys me.
Anyway, I must get that on my iPod - it's a great quickstep song, if perhaps a bit slow.
Indeed the pen is mightier then the sword if its got people at one anothers necks over a song, not to mention naming things. I have no religous or ethnic bindings, and even if I did I wouldnt let a name get to me. Hell think im gonna call that city whatever I want, how about Gripington? I like that name. Seriously folks, get over yourselves, and your names. Call the city what ya want, if it bothers someone they need to get over themselves to.
On a lighter note,songs really catchy, I like it.
In the greake and Roman Empires, it's name was Bizantz.
After the split of the Christian Roman empire, the city was called on the name of the Caesar Konstantin and it was the Bizntine Empire, until it was concuered by the Othmans at 1453, and the Sultans made it their capital with the name Istanbul.
The Greeks can dream about Alexanders Empire and their legasy of name, but Philadelfia is now Aaman, and Alexandia is Iskadrun, and so many other places. This is now a days facts and Status Kwoo, to leave in peace w/o kills.
A name is what you get from your parents, and it is what you deserve in your live and what the world gives you.
And a song is only a song. and this is a funny song.
Thats all.
... and I'm not a greeke or Turk.
Ahron,
You are neither Turk nor Greek, but still it's obvious that you have to blame the Greeks for "dreaming the empire of Alexander"!! Who told you that the Greeks dream of the empire of Alexander? This is a lie and I don't know why you have to say that. The Greeks want peace and so do the Turks - at least the common people.
The issue of the name of Istanbul-Konstantinoupolis is a matter of memory and language. Greeks were connected to this city until VERY recently (I have said a thousand times that I am a Greek born in Istanbul, haven't I?).
The Jews are slaughtering the Palestinians in the name of historic memory (because God himself gave the land to the Jews 4000 years ago !!!) but you have to blame only the Greeks, who don't slaugter or threaten anyone, just because the Greeks have memory and use the name Konstantinoupolis ONLY in their own language.
You must not be serious at all...
Don't get me wrong, this is a good song. However, it's just so overused that it's not fun to listen to any more.
Istanbul is the best City (Not Constantinopel)
Yes,Constan..(anyway ;)) is just a dream.OK? Forever to be STANBUL Long time ago was be constantinopolis.. and nobadys cant change istanbul.. thx bye all
Calling istanbul as Constantinople is the same way as calling yourself as a monkey.
So greeks are you still monkeys? Constatinople is evolved to istanbul. If you resist evolution stay monkey then lol :D
Remember the football match in istanbul, the big big poster with Fatih Sultan Mehmet ho is the conquerer of Istanbul. What did they say??? what?? i cant hear you?? :))
!!!ISTANBUL SINCE 1453!!!
!!!ISTANBUL SINCE 1453!!!
THE TURKS TAKE THE NAME ISTANBUL
FROM THE GREEK "EIS THN POLI"
WHICH MEANS "TO THE CITY".
SO IT IS FUNNY!!!!
THANK YOU MS. TORRES!!!
Without you,I would have never found this song! God, it gets annoying, but its too catchy to forget!
It is istanbul!! we always conquer u always go:D
i love my city, and iam proud to say ''istanbul'':)
Awwwwwwwsummmm!!!!!!XDDD
Greece is little sassy boy of the West. Greece just wants take a beating by Turks. Always. They did and they will. They went down by Ottoman, after by Atatrk, after by Turkish Army (only 30 years ago, Cyprus peace operation). And all of them caused because of them occupancy policy. If they still want, we can civilize them.
You all need to just calm down, I have not laughed this hard in some time.
Istanbul is the name now, who cares what it was called hundreds of years ago, except for historians.
Not to mention that this is all over a silly song, written because it all sounds funny, not to raise tensions between greeks and turks.
Wow, some people really need to chill out.
Instabul is a greek phrase meaning "in the city"
Check out the Turk's comments which reflect their civilization. Thanks fatih!
I agree with the person above the person above me... except the laughing part, and Constantinople wasn't Greek, it was part of the Byzantine Empire, a thousand years after the Greeks disappeared.
It's a great city, the only city that a sea is passing through in it. You should visit it in summer time, you should see the maiden tower in the sunset.
.
As said in the song:
"It's nobody's business but the Turks.."
omg... it has like, 600+ Years, GET OVER IT U GREEK IDIOTS ! btw, it was the east roman empire, not Greeks... learn it first, then write it...
ISTANBUL SINCE 1453,
FATIH SULTAN MEHMET, THE CONQUERER
everybody knows that, STANBUL NOT constantinople
Istanbul Since 1453...
oh poor Greek guy thanos.. ITS OURS.your ancestors had met Fatih Sultan Mehmet, I know not in a pleasant way, and you have to live with this :)
i am a turkish girl, and i cant understand the hatred between some turks and greeks! i wish we could live in this city(istanbul/constantinapole) togather
LONG LIVE CONSTANTINOPLE! luv tht name
Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
that s all other comments lie :D
What a silly and useless discussion have been going on here..We paid the price with our grandfather's blood and changed it.If anyone dare to pay more which i strongly recommend not to do it,we can pay more than you again without any hesitation.If the subject is our land,espacially Istanbul,you can't imagine how mad we can be.Read some history for further information..Since 1453 and until the end of this world,it will be called Istanbul,none of your business,but our's.God Bless You Sultan FATIH...
I still love constantinople. but i get that it is instanbul now. why are people saying tht it should be constantinople?
if we stop fighting we all can discover how to have be immortal. WE ALL NEW GENERATION AND HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS SUCH AS GLOBAL WARMING AND PATHETIC WARS. THEY ARE JUST POLITICAL ILLUSIONS THAT MAKES YOU BLIND FOR SO MANY THINGS.
ITS BULLSHIT TO MAKE A WAR
IMAGINE THAT YOU WERE THE ONE OF SOLDIER AND NEED TO GO WAR, FIGHT WITH SOMEBODY THAT U NEVER KNOWN, KILL EACH OTHER COZ SOMEONE TOLD YOU TO DO THAT.
THIS IS TOTALLY BULLSHIT. IM TURKISH AND I DONT BELIVE IN WAR. UNLESS I HAVE TO DEFEND MYSELF, FAMILY AND COUNTRY.
omg I love this song so much the lyrics are so powerful.. :D Well like they say "That's nobody's business but the Turksss
!!" xD
i agree with wumpscut.
its constantinopal not istanbul long live greece
The world says , ''Istanbul''.Long live Turkey
Burada bile kavga ediliyor aq :D
hahahaha.it's okay "long live greece"
do u know turks.if u don't know ask it to your ancestors or mothers.
GrandTurk
WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT,
STANBUL SINCE 1453
LONG LIVE FATH SULTAN MEHMED
LONG LIVE YENERS
MAY ALLAH KEEP YOU ALL IN EDEN
Wumpscut is right
my geografy/civics teacher sings this song all the time. it gets annoyin
ha ha..This is just a song, people! Relax! :) There are no irrational nations as Greeks and Turks on this planet. Once again, even here about a simple song, it has been approved. When will both parts learn to think rationally?
Im a Greek and i can get its 'Istanbul' now,why cant you my brothers and sisters?
good song i dont care what u call it
istanbul or konstantin i ll call it istanbul bec its easier than konstantin
this is the greatest song i ever heard its #1 on my ipod top 25!
i agree with HUMAN and Duarte.
CHILL THE FUCK OUT PEOPLE!!! ITS A SONG!!!
Long live Bagugal Town!
Call the damn city whatever you want guys. Noone gives a shit
that city's name is older than nationalism. call it whatever u want, just dont impose each other. greeks and everyone, come see Istanbul, be our guest.
obviously the song was not written by history teachers, it was just ment to be fanny.The sultans called the city konstadiniya,and had no problem with it's past, or how it's turkish, greek, armenian,jewish,levantine or whatever populace called it. It's kemal attaturk who made it officially istambul, a fascist leader who performed horrible crimes of ethnic cleansing, estamblissing a fascist opresing state,which hopefully is showing some change resently.Clearly the city's full glory is to be seen in the contributions of all it's races, not just the modern turks, who chose another, still greek in origin, name to glorify their dominance.
geçmişlerimiz hangimizin doğru ve temiz bilmem ama ben bu güzelim şehirde doğdum istanbul ancak yaşayanların bilebileceği bir duyğudur buranın havasını ve denizi tatmak anlamak. yinede kim ne derse desin sevdiceğim istanbuldur ismi şehrimin ve böle kalacaktır herkes için. sonsuza kadar...
the important thing is how fascinating city we are living in! No matter how people call it :)
kisses from istanbul
It is ISTANBUL! Constantinople was hundred years ago, you Greeks are jealous get over it. I read many articles about Turiksh people and you and the thing I found: You are jealous of Turkish people. You want to show world that many Turkish drinks and dessert are yours! Now is it time to say Constantinople instead of Istabul?
This has to be the most entertaining thread I have EVER read. Thanks for the Turk V. Greek entertainment!!! (p.s. it's all just one global village!)
To all you turks out there, thats right you always conquer and invade that's why you are FUCKED right now and cannot get Istanbollocks into Europe right now, as you so desperately want to get in.Too bad as no country in Europe would have such a pakistani style country enter gracious Europa.
Greece, Spain, Italy and the rest of europe still call it Constantinople a much cooler european name. Turkey can stay in Asia. We don't want or need mongolians in Europa. Muslims out!! Head east to Iran and Pakistan where you belong. Your Turkish delight song was shit you Sap and you are not wanted.
greece are in europe and giving asses for money now.
i would rather die in anatolia shelf , to be in europe.
turkey is stronger without EU..
Turkey is Ottoman, ottoman is turkey's turks....
:):):):):) nice song and truth
i like this song it is very very very awesome i like how they sing high and low that is very cool and why do you say turks at the end is it because it is from turkey and why do you say gal at the end because it is cool cool and cool.
You idiot greek people. Still trying to say its not istanbul.. We are Turco guys , Turk ;)
hey greeks guess u r living in 1100's or u want this :D
"They Might Be Giants" just did a cover, the original was lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy and music by Nat Simon 1953
ananin ami "nazim"!!! ayrca nazim'in adini kullanmayi da haketmiyorsun pis akp'li seni!!!
great tune.
senin begenmediğin Atatrk olmasaydı senin babanın adı John olup her hafta Pazar gfnleri aforoz ıkarırdın. Senin gibileri sreceksin bu lkeden sizler layık değilsiniz bu lkede yaşamaya ok beğenmiyorsan ananıda alıp sevdiğin arap yada avrupaya git
Greeks and Turks never gonna be friends. Because of this. You greeks never gonna understand , ISTANBUL BELONGS TO TURKEY. Ok ? When we are gonna spoil you from Aegean Sea "AGAN", u r gonna understand who is have STANBUL and THE WORLD !!!
well poor you just speak you will never get Istanbl back. You shouldn't speak too much if you dont want us to all EU haha poor you you could never beat us and u ll never too haha haha and haha again poor people
In Turkish, Thessaloniki is "Selanik". I don't understand what is that much important. Different names are given to foreign cities in every language. Of course, Istanbul's original name is that, actually.
P.S. Sorry for the Turkish guys who spoke Turkish right there.
Istanbul, since 1453...
Atina next...
It's a shame we never had it. Maybe the Brit's would have called it Constantinopoleshire.
(Greek culture is appeciated over here)
Where are you from and what would you country have called it if you'd conquered this teritory? We used to love conquering stuff but are now very sorry about all that.
Fuck knows why we are in Iraq, we didn't start that one.
wow! there was a stupid girl who says turks had come from egypt?!! yes we had egypt but we came from middle asia! and we are not arabs of course! before saying anything on the internet you better look up for it... at least on wikipedia...
@pelin: you were nomads in central Asia. No civilisation no alphabet, nothing, just tentes, desert and animals. Through your way to the place you live today you stole elements from big ancient civilisations, made a "Frankenstein" and you call it "Turkish civilisation". Everything: architecture, food, alphabet is mix 'n match from all big ancient civilisations. The same with land: you stole parts of all countries around you and n amed them "Turkey".
Katerina...baby you know me ha :))
First of all the Turks were Islamic so this the wrong language then there is the fact of the singing camels.
Wow, lol. It was never greek. It was ORIGINALLY Byzantium. Rome conquered it. Constantine moved capital to Byzantine, renamed it Constantinople after himself. Turks invaded. Turks renamed it. Used to be Constantinople, but isn't anymore. That's what the song is getting at.
Why don't you buy a ticket to Constantinopolis, then? What did the guy at the ticket office said? "The city you're looking for doesn't exist anymore?" What? "There's no time travelling service yet? "
Oh I see. You must've forgotten that it's called Istanbul by everybody else but you! :)
Just take a plane or train to Istanbul. You have to see how magnificent this city is! I'm sure none of you have seen it before. Or none of your ancestors. ;) It's a long time since 1453. Take some pictures, etc etc.
Greek and Turkish people have great similarities. You'll understand that when you meet them.
All the trouble between two nations is because of the politicians since the beginning. It has nothing to do with the folks. It's the governments who does it.
Whatever. It's only a song to listen to.
"Even old New York was once New Amsterdam
Why they changed it I can't say
People just liked it better that way"
As a Spaniard, I want to say that what that Andy person said above is false: no one calls the place Constantinopla unless they are talking about its history. It's Estambul nowadays for everyone and there's not a question that it's Turkish.
come on guys,stop fighting,we don't live in the medieval anymore.i'm greek and i don't give a shit how i'm going to call it, istanbul or costantinoupolis.i can tell the same thing for my city, in turkey they call it ''selanik'', and here in greece we call it ''thessaloniki''.it's the history,it's our history,we can't change it,it's done.enough blood from our ancestors.stop talking about war in our days it's stupid.we can live in peace both countries.we've done it so far.however we call it, istanbul or costantinoupolis i will always love you and visit you and it will always be the most beautiful ''CITY'' in the world,whoever conquered you.
OMG. i can't beLive it duh.
Istanbul is a perfect city as u know and since Fatih Sultan Mehmet brought it from Romans,its belong to Turks.I mean cmon why do you blame Turks that much at the time all nationalitys were attackin other countrys not juss Turks.And What do u think Romans just get Istanbul from God?!
Dont be sillyyy ! Ugh.
I have read Turk's history.And please if you don't know about them (which u dont),read then come and submit comment.
P.S : I listened the song OMG my grandma's voice is better than that 2 idiots.Just stop it and get a life. Im talkin tha truth although i aint Turk.
I support Turks @ that issue...
'''come on guys,stop fighting,we don't live in the medieval anymore.i'm greek and i don't give a shit how i'm going to call it, istanbul or costantinoupolis.i can tell the same thing for my city, in turkey they call it ''selanik'', and here in greece we call it ''thessaloniki''.it's the history,it's our history,we can't change it,it's done.enough blood from our ancestors.stop talking about war in our days it's stupid.we can live in peace both countries.we've done it so far.however we call it, istanbul or costantinoupolis i will always love you and visit you and it will always be the most beautiful ''CITY'' in the world,whoever conquered you.'''
I totallly agree with him.So right.
It's history,get over it pLease !
THE BOTTOM LINE IS... "goddamn turks..." lol
ppl grow up tho- it's 21st century, noone is the same.. thanks to monies ;)
I am the genie from the movie Alladin, and you all suck!
i had to do a music video on this it is so cool i sing it over and over and over again.
Wrong opinion about the Turks. They are very intelligent and helpful people. But it also depends on the history and culture. Like everyone else, get out of history.
I would like to follow on. Not all cultures where people live and survive only in Greek. open the doors to everyone in this city. everyone embraces the Marmara Sea, Istanbul the sun heats up everyone .. The enemy is not to be!
On the other hand, Istanbul is a beautiful city! it's air, sea, historical places, culture, good-hearted people .. etc Istanbul is very different with All These beauties .. Also I'm writing articles and poems about Istanbul .. cause I love this city with everything
full of peace and happiness in my world, I am from stanbul, Turkey:)
i taked long enough but there is alot to prove my point that there is no point of arguing!!! this city was never been only one nations city and never had only one name since now. now it is istanbul and it is certainly an international metropolitan. only a few decates age nearly 1-2 million of greek people (we say "rum" to them which means roman) was living here and they are as istanbulian as any others. and they can call their city whatever they want. noone has any rights to force them not to say otherwise, couse this is their city too
Turks and Greeks love each other when they actually meet and when their minds are not filled with political crap. I like Greek people, I wish we didn't have all these mental and physical restrictions and boundaries.
I couldn't understand what it says here:
"Why did Constantinople get the works?"
Can someone explain me the meaning of "getting the works"
Thanks
OMG that is the greatest song I've ever heard! Thanks to my lovely twin I got to meet this song not in Turkey - you heard me- but in the USA :) Istanbul bu haliyle daha guzel :)
Greek vs Turks, this is just like a terrie barking to a danua. :D
Great song...
I love the city istanbul and this song too...!!!!
It is STANBUL :=) ... constantinopolis not exists anymore ... by the way i'm a TURK ... :D ... we capture constantinople very long time ago... i said that cause of some humanbegins still can't realize that :=) ....
Lyrics explain everything.You can call what ever you want
All Turks out there; let them call whatever they wanna call it. let them call Smyrna to zmir, jungabungapolis to stanbul, etc. We are also saying the names that we used to say when we had their cities under control. Everyone is free to want the best and the most prestigious thing for their own country
To tnr:
To give someone the works means to subject them to harsh or cuel treatment, in the context of this song it is used facitiously.
You greek losers:
If you want to call it constantinople, you must come and take it. We ve been waiting for you since 1453. But you cant because you were losers and you ll be losers forever. Now shut the fck up and accept this.
You greek losers:
If you want to call it constantinople, you must come and take it. We ve been waiting for you since 1453. But you cant because you were losers and you ll be losers forever. Now shut the fck up and accept this. got it?
does anyone know a cover of this tune that was sung by a british-sounding singer in maybe the 70s? At least that was when I heard the recording. It was part of a great album that I am looking for, but I don't recall his name. It was a great cover version tho.
It still new amsterdam not newyork. Long live netherland..:)))))
everyone can call it however they want in their own language !
No offence people, but some of you take the lyrics too serious. Just enjoy the catchy melody and listen to the song! ^.^
lol
You are "fitting" on this subject the last 2 years It's hilarious .
Fighting on a name or a piece of land which actually does not belong to you
Americans Russians British German and others take advantage of your stupidity and take advantage of your natural resources
and your lives
hahaha you are losers
Keep fighting against yourself
When it was Constantinople it was progressive and glorious, then lay in filth and ruins, until Turkey woke up that it was a tourist attraction and gee-wiz maybe they should clean it up and start looking eligible to become part of the European community (what a joke that is). If I were a Turk which thank God/Allah I am not, I would be more worried about cleaning up the barbarity that concerns your long history of ethnic genocide so that the global community might actually one day see you to be human. Even the name Istanbul is not Turkish but a Turkish bastardisation of the word Is Tin Poli - which if you look it up is actually Greek for the phrase "To the City". But I guess education and enlightenment is not a strong point with you guys. Constantinople is was and one day will be. There is no way you will ever be considered eligible to join the EU and will always be seen to be the barbarians you have always been.
To Geo: And if it wasn't for the Americans pumping money into your economy in exchange for your allowing their military bases on your soil, you economy would be getting nowhere fast either. By the way it's "fighting" not "fitting". There are free online dictionary "resources" to help you spell. What are your natural resources? Opium.
It is a freaking song. Go debate this whole issue somewhere else. I mean really? There have been the Ottoman Empire, Prussia, Holy Roman Empire(which was not actually Roman) and so many other names in Europe that have changed becuase they lost their power. If the Greeks wanted Constantinople/Istanbul then they should man up and take it. But they can't so the Turks have it now. Everything in the world is changing because of the balance of power and Greek lost their power so the Turks had every right to take Constantinople/Istanbul. It is a man eat man world and you better do something rather than spewing useless words at each other.
Look people, this is just a song to remind you people names change you know clear things out, not to kill each other! I mean Mexico's capital is Mexico City, not Tenochitlan anymore.
You kno the saddest date in history is 1453.
Greco : So take me back to Constantinople.
Turk: No, you can't go back to Constantinople
"istnabul" is also a greek word.it means : "into polis" that greeks in istanbul used to say...
so the turks incapable, even to create a new name used to say istanbul...
Besides most of the cities in Anatolia (also a greek word) are of greek source, and there is no city created by the turks, all they have is stolen from others..
To Andy,
I am so proud of not being a European. If they ask me I would never want to be a part of this non-working, two faced group of losers. Greece has bankrupt already and Germany is struggling. European Union is a non working organization and Turkey does not need to be a part of. You are dying that Istanbul is Istanbul. And you need to kill every single Turk on the planet to make it Constantinafuck again... We took it fair and square. And it is just killing you all because you know and I know that It is the best city of the world. In your face losers....
I am sorry greek friends, but it is ISTANBUL. You can not name what is not belong you...You should be glad you have your own YUNANISTAN now....
So if you've a date in Constantinople
She'll be waiting in Istanbul
LOL, so true :D:D:D
yes...i love this song.
i went to istanbul last year and it was wonderful city.Lovely city.
Turks so hospitable people.
just like mentioned in the song, it is not costantinople anymore.but it is not important because it was Byzantium before the greeks.So the greeks should not be so jealous.Because the greeks changed some turkish city name's after greece founded.
let's live in peace together...
Not Constantinople
Noble STANBUL
yeees.
we have to admit that it is not Constantinople anymore.
But turks and greeks have athe same culture.In fact the turks are our relatives.we had lived together peacefully 400 years.we can live again.
I love Turkey and i know that lots of turks love greece as well.
yeahhh.
It is definetely Istanbul.
I love Istanbul.
I like Turks and their hospitality.
>>>by Fatih Sultan Mehmet on 12/12/2010 5:45am
You greek losers:
If you want to call it constantinople, you must come and take it. We ve been waiting for you since 1453. But you cant because you were losers and you ll be losers forever. Now shut the fck up and accept this. got it?<<<
What is funny is if the West wanted to, we could take back Constantinople in a matter of minutes. I wouldn't be calling for a fight when the outcome would not be in doubt.
well u no what.. CONSTANTINOPOLE will always be greek no matta what you turkish barbarians think. Greece might not have an arms as big as yours but we have our dignity. one day we WILL get our land back.. all the ancient runis in '' istanbul '' are GREEK. the big '' mosque '' in ''istanbul'' is GREEK ayia sophia and we WILL have it back. so you can think what u like.. but im warning you now.. THE GREEKS WILL GET THEIR LAND BACK. u enslaved us for 400 years, killed our men and children & raped our women, and u expect us 2 respect you barbarians.
did not you make the same in izmir? so whats done is done. lets learn to live like human in peace. vengence is endless. both of my turk and greek brothers and sisters.
OH WOW FOR ALL THE CLUELESS CONSTANTINOPLE IS GREEK AND ISTANBUL IS TURKISH NOW CAN WE ALL ENJOY THE SONG PLEASE
Alright. Greeks should call it Constantinople and Turks should call Istanbul and end this discussion. Just dance with the song :)
why make a song like this ? who are you mocking ? (I know its old). Constantinople was the name fo the town, before that it was Byzantion. It was occupied Greece until 1922 when the Turks "won" it in a brutal war and then changed the name. Greeks to this day laemnt over the loss of it's history of such an important historical and beloved place. It's always puzzles me why someone would make a song mockng the name Constantinople
constantinople sounds more coool :P
OK listen to this , what does instabul means? from the Greek words is tin poli (which means to the city). The old time they used to call Constantinople as poli.
So, is tin poli == istanbul.
Salute Turks and dream on!!!!!
it is istanbul now and forever!!!
go home greeks :)
hey aalk greeks (look at trkish dictionary)you can't see istanbul even your dreams...
I love this song so much
500,1000,1500 years, more? One day the flags of Greece will be all over Constantinople next to the mongol corpses of the current inhabitats.
It's all God's lands...what are we fighting for?
Chill out guys and gals! I am also Turkish and I have a lot of very good Greek friends. Believe it or not, Greek and Turkish people have so many common points (from cuisine to culture, actings, responses, attitudes). Our nations are different just because of country borders, but we are the same!!
To Greek people: You should accept our cities names in their current and TURKISH names.
Istanbul (not Constantinople)
Izmir (not Smyrna)
Trabzon (not Trapezounta)
vica versa...
Peace people! =)
Also zmir not Smyrna :D
Byzantium!
Look This song was NOT ment as a belittling or demeaning lyric towards anyonethe song came about because one of the Four Lads in 1947 Went to Turkey and had a date he set up with a girl to meet in Constantinople Thinking it was the proper name because in the Western world the city was still refered to as Constantinople on maps. When he arrived in what he thought was constantinople he was greeted by a man who said "welcome to Istanbul". Confused about his location he left the city to look for constantinople unaware that he was in what the west still refered to as constantinople until bout 1963. THAT is the story behind the song its not a political referance or anything so get the hell over it
you turks should try and respect the greek calling istanbul consantinople, they call it for centuries even after mehmet rename the city, is that wrong? even the european recognize istanbul as constanttinople until the 20th century there's nothing wrong with that, is there? you turks continue calling thesaloniki selanik, whats wrong with greek calling istanbul constantinople? its still istanbul you ppl are just racist :P
It's Constantinople, not Istanbul.
Sun turns around the earth.And world is notorbicular.America is India.Zeus is the God.There are 3 Headed Dragons in caves.
I'm being sarcastic you retards !
greek people are idiots. look at the first comments & see who is making a fuss about even a simple song. because of wasting time on things like this, greece is in crisis now. and I am very happy about it, you lazy assholes deserve it. even eu is fed up with your laziness and being a jerk all the time. and accept the fact that you have more turkish blood then greek blood, your women sucked turkish men's dicks for 600 years.
although greece is almost 10 times bigger that istanbul, it has a population of only 11 million, while istanbul has a population of 13 million. you know this is why? because majority of greek men are either gay or useless heroin addict losers. that's why every greek girl I met are dying to get into bed with me. it's in their genes, they know greek men are useless and turkisn men rocks!
btw I know this is a stupid discussion on a lyrics page, but it is always idiot greeks who start it. even on food listing sites they are posting messages of hatred against turks. so I am sick of this greek-turkish friendship bullshit. greek people are useless, I don't give a shit what happens to them. I hope they never recover, stupid lazy bastards.
istanbuuuuuuuuuulll
I LOOOOOOOVE Turkish food!!
istanbul or konstantinople, does not matter....both words are greek...
Constantinapole had only 35.000 population before Ottomans invaded. It now has 15million population and all of them are turk. Now who can claim that istanbul is greek???
Unlike some of you guys, I'm gonna enjoy the song. Please stop fighting over something that's over. Either like the song or not. As simPle as that. I could really care less av
It is both istanbul and constantinople thats he truth if you dont like it deal with it ok and also i am awesome that is my text signature like it of course you do it my signature and you all love it right cause you all love me right yes you do dont awnser that you dopes later see ya!
i am $(0++
I heard this song in Mona Lisa's smile with Julia Roberts.
Since that moment I like Stambul.
For us Scandinavians, the town is always MIKLAGRD and will never be anything else!
Before it was Istanbul it was Constantinople and before thet it was Byzantine.
Before that is was a **#&**!!! SWAMP!
funny song...haha i laugh! it did help me answer a question in class.(what did new york used to be) haha love it...
S, esta cancin es muy divertida, aunque ya que estoy en Espaa, slo puedo entender un poco. mis amigos de america me lo cont, y yo me ro de ello, es estpido. jajaja
S, esta cancin es muy divertida, aunque ya que estoy en Espaa, slo puedo entender un poco. mis amigos de america me lo cont, y yo me ro de ello, es estpido. jajaja
If you listen the song and find this lyrics page, we have some common things. Have you ever think about it? OMG! this is great. My Scandinavian friend, Harald, whatzup? You're the best. So, come on guys, you did smth whatever. Let them go.. We all have friends, family and we like them. Why i cant like someone that idk? Like sum1 as a human. We're sharin the same sky. Being ally is harder than being enemy. So do best! Do hardest thing. Cya guys, i know i wont come back, dont reply me. I like all of you. ^^
Istanbul is a nice name that derives,as mentioned above,from Greek words'eis tin polin'.Constantinopolis was/is often mentioned as Poli.Anyway,the song is quite fun!
You can call it "sasquatch" as far as I'm concerned, it'll always be COSTANTINOPLE.
You're just idiots. Istanbul is also derived from the same source as constantinople, which is:
"is tin póli"
When I was in high school, many moons ago, my aquacade club did a water ballet to that tune. The rhythm lends itself well to a numbr like that! A fun song!
Wasn't Constantinople named after the Roman emperor Constantine? I seem to remember reading that somewhere.
Hey guys, even Istanbul comes from the greek indications on the roads of the byzantine empire "is tin poli" meaning "to the city" ;-)
Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that the city was called Byzantium and then Constantine (who was emperor) divided Rome into two sections, one with the capital of Rome and the other was Byzantium, which Constantine renamed after himself, and thus Constantinople was born. Some time later it was changed to Istanbul (I wish I knew more about that change, but alas, I do not).
It's the same shit
I guess that we Greeks should call ''Londino'' London, ''Constanoupoli'' Istanbul, Verolino Berlin, "Angyra" Ankara, "Madriti" Madrid and so on.. Excuse us for having our own language and we express ourselves in it... I did not know that we should call the places as they are originally called. And this is a message from someone whose country is called with its original name only by the Chinese and the Norwegians. It is Ellas or Ellada, not Greece. Should the Greeks start fighting about the fact that most countries actually translated our name?! What is this inferiority complex you have my dear turkish friends? I guess you can't swallow down the fact that our revolution, the last one out of many we had during the 400 hundred years of your barbarian occupation, actually destroyed your medieval and totally uncivillized Ottoman Empire. Now tell me again, what did you offer to the global and European history except of blood? ok Sevyorum!
People have their own languages. Call it what you want. Byzantium, Constantinople, Istanbul- All names for the same city and surrounding land that lies on the Bosphorus Strait connecting Europe and Southwest Aisa, right? An interesting tidbit for you to ponder on: Some people consider the conquest of Constantinople (1453) as the end of the Middle Ages. And that's the same year the 'Hundred' Year's War ended. And did you know there's a dance to this song? We did it in class. 8D
istanbul is not konstantinoupoli everyone should come here...
FUCK CONSTANTIN ITS ISTANBUL
NOT CHRISTENS NAME FUCK CHRISTENS THE WORLD IS AFRAID FOR TURKS WE GIV A FUCK
FUCKKK THE WORLD THE WORLD HATE ONLY THE MUSLIMS
In fact, Constantinople its a part of Istambul, the zone of the Golden Horn, Galata. Thats the true
Like Emilios said, Both words are of Greek descent.. Istanbul comes from the Greek words 'Εις την Πόλη' which mean to the city. Πόλη (city) was one of the names used by Greeks as well as Constantinople. Written with capital letter to differentiate it from the rest of the cities. So basically is one and the same.. And like Cool mentioned, Just different language so different pronunciations..
Right! Both Constantinople and Instanbul are Greek names as these cities were Greek (Smyrna until 1922 that Turks burned the city and slaughtered thousands Greek/Armenian/Kurdish residents that didnt manage to escape by sea or denied to convert to islam).
Istanbul=is tin bolin ( )=to the city
Ismir=is smyrni ( )=to smyrna
Constantine was ass fucked by Fatih's big fat dick. It is historically proven that Constantine liked it. During all the fucking Constantine was yelling is=big tan=fat bul=dick. Hence the name Istanbul.
Contantinople was the capitol city of the Byzantine, the Eastern Roman Empire, founded by Roman Emperor Constantine. They were not Greeks, They were Romans. Then in 1453 Ottoman Turk Mehmet conquered the Region and the city and it became Istanbul, Not Constantinople, but Istanbul.
YOU IDIOTS, INSTANBUL IS A CUT UP WORD FROM A SENTENCE. IN STIN POLI, EVEN THAT WORD IS GREEK ASSHOLES IT JUST MEANS IN THE CITY IN SLANG GREEK. AND WE ARE GOING TO GET IT BACK. WE MAY FORGIVE, BUT WE NEVER FORGET AND MANY DON'T EVEN FORGIVE, AND REVENGE WILL BE THE WORSE JUST LIKE ANYONE WHO GOES TO HELL WILL SUFFER MORE BECAUSE ITS FOREVER!!!!!!!!! I BELIEVE IN KARMA, AND THERE IS NO WAY TO ESCAPE IT. WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND SO ANYTHING YOU DID TO US GREEKS WILL COME BACK TO YOU SOME DAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i love stanbul, what makes the difference eighter its greek or turkish city u have to pay for the hotels u stay ;)
Just to set things straight... you guys know this is a cover from the 1950's right? Not actually by They Might Be Giants...
The original lyrics are by Four Lads... slightly different from the TMBG's lyrics
Original Chorus:
"Take me back to Constantinople
No, you can't go back to Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople
Why did Constantinople get the works?
That's nobody's business but the Turks'"
What some of you don't realize is that even the name "Istanbul" derives from the Greek. When it was called Constantinople the Turks would hear the Greeks say I am going to " I stin poli". Literal translation of "I stin poli" means " To the city". Sound out the words "I stin poli" together and you have Istanbul. So that is how Constantinople became to be known as Istanbul. really. No real difference if you ask me. haha Sorry Turks.. u need to be better versed in your "own" history!
@Mehmet. Yes Byzantium was known as the Eastern Roman Empire because it broke away from the Holy Roman Empire. Hence it became a completely different empire. And even though it was called the Eastern Roman Empire it's inhabitants were mostly Greek and Greek speaking people no Romans as you say. Please review your history lessons. Sometimes you Turks actually believe your own propaganda and are truly ignorant. It's a shame really because you are missing out on history.
And why shouldn't the Greeks call Istanbul as Constantinople? We simply use the Greek name for it. Why do the Turks call Greece as "Yunanistan" insetad of Greece or Hellas? You don't see the Greeks making a big to do about that do you????? Btw the Turks call Greece as Yunanistan because it refers to the ancient Ionians. See.. the Turks can't even call us Greeks. That would be too much!!!!
@Sophie- Actually, the Holy Roman Empire was a loose confederation of Germanic states and parts of Italy. The Western Roman Empire fell, and became kingdoms of the various Germanic tribes. Kingdom of the Franks? Became France. The Vandals had north Africa, the Visigoths and Ostrogoths had Italy and most of the Iberian peninsula. The Byzantine Empire was largely a Greek speaking region, not a Latin one.
If the current inhabitants call it Istanbul then it is Istanbul. Wanna call it Constantinople bring back justinian and reconquer it for the byzantine empire.
@Enigma
I wasn't commenting on the Holy Roman Empire. I commented on the Eastern Roman Empire and/or Byzantine Empires. We are saying the same thing essentially that the Eastern Roman Empire was inhabited mostly by Hellenes and that Greek was the prevalent language used. Hence, I was simply responding to somebody who couldn't differentiate between the Holy Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empires. I was just clarifying for them that the Eastern Roman Empire wasn't "Latin" but rather has a more Greek influence.
@ Bobby
No one has a problem with it being called "Istanbul". We are simply pointing out the derivative of the name. Turks generally don't understand their own "history" let alone the history of the region or where the names derive from. Just informing people that are ignorant or unaware. That's all. No need to get defensive about it!
@Sophia- Ah, OK. Amazing how some people get worked up over something as trivial as a name, isn't it? I personally use either name. It's still the same city, right?
penguin
Константинопољ или Цариград никад Стамбол!!!
Lol i like the "Turks dont know their own history" line. Greeks call themselves greeks. They do not know their own history. You have been Greece for not even 100 years. Before that you were the Ottoman Empire (Ruled by Turks) for 500 odd years, before that you were part of the Byzantine Empire, (Eastern Roman), before that you were Roman empire, and before that a collection of city states. Greeks need to get over themselves. BTW ALL of the higher ranking Roman officials spoke Greek, Latin was the language of the people (Just like French was the language of the ruling classes in the west)
Either I've never ever hear that song like a I'VE NEVER HEAR LOSERS EMPTY CROWDED SONGS!!!
I find it amazing how people claim to be civillized when they go into another people's land and brutally take it. Examples are all over history- Rome extending its influence throughout three continents, Alexander the Great's conquests, the Ottoman Empire's takeover of the Byzantine Empire, the Spaniard's conquest of Tenochtitlan, the German Third Reich, the Japanese Empire, the British Empire... Even America's 'manifest destiny' qualifies.
NO I'M DIRTY DAN
To Sophia,
Turks did not want / need to change the names of the cities. Just, the easier pronunciation for them turned out to be the new names sometimes. There are other examples of this all over Turkey. Samsun, Sinop, zmir, Trabzon etc. All these have very minor derivations from the old names of those cities. Still, if you make a little research you'll see that Konstantinapol (Constantinapole) was still used at the beginning of the 20th century...
Whatever is the history, I don't think it makes any Greek or Turkish individual superior to the other.
Absurd debates.
The name Istanbul is as Greek as Constantinople is.
The inhabitants of Istanbul are mostly Byzantine Greeks that became Moslems and adopted the Turkish language.
Turkey is not the sole example of a country which took the language of small group of invaders.
See France, which kept its Celtic population but adopted a Latin language from its Roman invaders.
We love greeks and your culture. We dont need to fight over and over and over again.
Hi from Istanbul :)
Ottoman culture ruined the city indefinetely, it went from being the admiration of all of Europe to a Haven for modern day terrorists.
Because let's face it, modern day man stereotypes muslims as hairy guys with plastic strapped around their waist.
sorry to revive dying thread but HISTORY LESSON: the roman citizens populating byzantium under emperor constantine were HELLENIC aka Greek...constantinople was the capital of the roman empire for 1000 years after the fall of rome. guess what, they were mostly Greeks and other ethnic minorities besides the ancient italians (bulgars, illyrians, hellenized egypt, etc.). Just in response to some people who said stuff like "when it was constantinople the people were romans not greeks" nothing against turks, would be cool if things went differently for us greeks, but now we are at peace so thats good.
Konstantinoupoli what beautiful name
ANKARA IS THE CAPITAL OF TURKEY, BUT ISTANBUL IS THE CAPITAL OF THE WORLD, AND IT BELONGS TO EVERYONE IN THE WORLD.
I loved this song on Bunheads. The dancing was amazing too!
I was a counselor at a Christian summer camp for several years, and we had a kind of line-dance routine for a bunch of different songs, including this one, that we did to keep the kids occupied for break or just before worship in the morning. So now every time I listen to this song I start doing the movements, I can't help myself! LOL it's tons of fun, though. Not to mention great exercise! =D
Byzantium. That's all I've got to say.
er mah gerd focking peeple
istanbul
not fucking constantinople
now turn your brain OFF and listen to the Song!!! -__-
oh yeah and has any1 seen this song on itunes?? :D
ITS CONSTANTINOPLE NOT ISTANBUL
Scroll down for some traditional Greek-Turkish hate posts.
This song is awesome. Everything else doesn't matter.
I doubt Constantine the Great would have approved of TMBG's cover version.
I love this song. Whatever you idiots say concerning it using dumb words - "stupid," "pointless," "annoying" - go die in a ditch, because you probably don't even understand the meaning... LOL
It was Constantinople THEN Islambul THEN Istanbul.
It's so annoying, but I can't stop listening!
Well said, right to the point! Long live Turkey! Death to Serbs and Greeks! They always fantasize about war and conquering other people's lands.
"Because let's face it, modern day man stereotypes muslims as hairy guys with plastic strapped around their waist."
That's why it's called a stereotype. And that's why people who think that way are called racists. So what's your point? That, just because racists think that all Muslims are terrorists, it means that Istanbul is a haven of terrorism? Haha...
"What is funny is if the West wanted to, we could take back Constantinople in a matter of minutes. I wouldn't be calling for a fight when the outcome would not be in doubt."
Yes, you could, if all the EU and USA fought with you. But if Greeks fought alone against Turks, Greeks would be destroyed.
"To all you turks out there, thats right you always conquer and invade that's why you are FUCKED right now and cannot get Istanbollocks into Europe right now, as you so desperately want to get in.Too bad as no country in Europe would have such a pakistani style country enter gracious Europa.
Greece, Spain, Italy and the rest of europe still call it Constantinople a much cooler european name. Turkey can stay in Asia. We don't want or need mongolians in Europa. Muslims out!! Head east to Iran and Pakistan where you belong. Your Turkish delight song was shit you Sap and you are not wanted."
Greece ruined that gracious Europe. Europe regretted accepting Greece into EU and euro-zone. Obviously it doesn't belong there. And like that Spanish girl told you, nobody in Europe calls Istanbul Constantinople anymore. Only Greeks do. As long as you keep trying to get Muslims out of Europe, your a*s*s will be kicked. Understand?
"Too bad as no country in Europe would have such a pakistani style country enter gracious Europa.
Greece, Spain, Italy and the rest of europe still call it Constantinople a much cooler european name. Turkey can stay in Asia. We don't want or need mongolians in Europa. Muslims out!! Head east to Iran and Pakistan where you belong."
Greece ruined that gracious Europe. Europe regretted accepting Greece into EU and euro-zone. You obviously don't belong there. Like that Spanish girl told you, no one in Europe calls Istanbul Constantinople anymore, and no one doubts it's Turkish. Only Greeks do. As long as you keep trying to get Muslims out of Europe, your a*s*s will be kicked.
To that Dutch guy near the top, go Dutch!
TINY TOONS
The 3 evils: Serbia, Russia and Greece.
I love this song :3
why dont we call it constanbul, and get it over with?
I cant belive that they are playing the TECHNO verson now
First of all, it was Constantinopal under the ROMANS. Second of all, you Turkish people need to cry me a river, build a bridge, and get over it. That goes for the rest of you too. It's just a song that was never ment to be taken serriously. (I mean that as in stop trolling)
Wow, they changed New Amsterdam to New York cause the brits took it, not just cause people liked it better.
The Turks overran & settled most of Anatolia in the late 11th Century. They completed their conquest of Anatolia & expanded into Europe under the Ottoman Dynasty in the 14th Century. They conquered Constantinople in 1453, under Mehmet II, who made it his capital, although Mustafa Kamal Attaturk tranferred the capital to Ankara in the early 20th century to get away from traditionalist influences, and because Ankara is well away from the border & therefore safer from foreign attack. Irredentionist Greeks should get over it. They should concede Istanbul & Anatolia are, & should be, Turkish, until such time as humanity begins to come to its senses, giving up the historical anachronism of separate languages & nationalities in favor of world unity. But Greece should have been allowed to annex Cyprus, since that has been mainly Greek from the mid second millenium BC to the present day
I sing this song in the middle of class all the time. Haters can fuck off.
I sing this song in the middle of class all the time.
The Problem is that Grecos were slaves of the Turks for more then 500 Years. Many Grecos became Muslim other Grecos remain as Christians but adopted turkish as their first Language. The ancient Grecos were white nordic People - today Grecos have more Turkish and Slavic Blood thats why Grecos look so different. They are inferior. They have inferiority complex.
Me, as a Turk can just say; stay tall. My Grandfathers probably fuck you Grandmothers too so you are related to me. Me as you Father, i cant be sad. I will always be proud of you.
In the Year 1600/1700 there were no Human Rights. Between you Greco Grandmother and my Turkish Grandfather were just God and a 8 inch Cock. ;)
This Song^
To "Simply The Best": Exactly!
Great song ^_^ I like it
My teacher played this song in class and now my friends are obsessed with it! I kinda am to now...NOOOO!!!
I can't believe people are still fighting about Constantinople and Istanbul. Just shut the fuck and listen.
Why you still fighting over this, greeks? Fighting on a website over a simple song will not change the name of a historical city! So stop it and enjoy the song. If you are uncomfortable with Istanbul then fuck off and listen your greek march or something
Wow, I came to this site because my mother said there was a song about the names of this city and I was hoping it was going to be all the names it ever had. I am also kind of disappointed in how repetitive the lyrics are; I shouldn't read song lyrics, they're never as good as I hope for. I can't believe I spent 2 hours reading all these comments.
Wow, 5 years of this nonsense.
I was directed here for the lyrics. I'm away to listen to the song on YouTube.
Get a life folks.
Lol I dance to this song on my Xbox. XD
It's been in my head two days... Can't get the tune, nor the Daffy Duck cartoon its used in out of my mind... I'm screwed...
My World History Teacher will randomly sing this while we are taking a test...Then I will randomly sing it while doing my homework... So now my sister is randomly singing it in the shower. LOL
I love the song, but I hate anything associated with islam and the terrorism that springs forth from allah.
I like the song, but will you stop trolling, please? I think Greeks, Turks and whoever, can call it what they want, Istanbul, Constantinople, Byzantine, whatever, just so long as it is G rated. Neither history, nor the present, can rule our hearts or mouths, and no man should be denied the freedom to call a city what he or she wants to call it.
Your lyrics for Istanbul are wrong in several parts. Check it out on youtube. Search for Istanbul by Four Lads.
There's a lot of comments on here. EVERYBODY, LET'S ADD MORE!!!
Ya'll motherfuckers are as stupid as hell thinking it was always Constantinople. Greece had Byzantium. Then Constantine of Rome renamed it to Constantinople cause he as self-centered as fuck, that prick. Then finally it was Istanbul after the Ottomans took it and named it one of their silly Muslim city names. I should know I was there cause I'm Jesus.
jesus christ people, It's a song thats based on real facts, and it's nobody's business but the turks, who live in the city of Istanbul
exactly
If anyone claims stanbul,We Turks should claim half of Europe,north Africa,middile east..etc. and turn Mediterranean into Turkish lake as it is called before?
I love Istanbul because it has silly words in it :]
i love you guys
.
I'm going on 80, and also "homebound", so, with Kindle I hand, I like to look up stuph.. so suddenly I get a "head song" but I can't remember how the words went. Well, not only did I get all the word but comments that go all the way back to 5/2015! Tons of ridiculous, sarcastic, rude, nasty, childish, arrogant, immature comments about a silly limerick from yesteryear, before some of these nuts were born.
Anyone remember Danny Kaye? He was a tap dancer/comedian in the old black/white movies, in the 40's.
For goodness sake, people, GROW UP. It's just a silly limerick of days looking gone.
I'm going on 80, and also "homebound", so, with Kindle i hand, I like to look up stuph.. so suddenly I get a "head song" but I can't remember how the words went. Well, not only did I get all the word but comments that go all the way back from '98 to 5/2015! Tons of ridiculous, sarcastic, rude, nasty, childish, arrogant, immature comments about a silly limerick from yesteryear, before some of these nuts were born.
Anyone remember Danny Kaye? He was a tap dancer/comedian in the old black/white movies, in the 40's.
For goodness sake, people, GROW UP. It's just a silly limerick of days looking gone.
Love it!
i am irish born 1934 and adore music and also reading about you guys debating about naming a city. have you nothing better to do? I remember hearing a pop group singing this song way back anyone know the name of the guys/girs who sang it?
Istanbul's still Constantinople
Not Istanbul, it's Constantinople
It's not long gone, Constantinople
When will Constantinople start to work?
When the Greeks sock it to the Turks.
Seriously...nobody wants another war. Most Greeks understand the lessons of 1922, and we also understand that the average Turk on the street doesn't want war either. But we don't trust your leaders, particularly the wannabe sultan Erdogan, and particularly given recent events in the Aegean and near Cyprus. If Erdogan is stupid enough to provoke another war, well, then everything is on the table. We pushed our luck too far in 1922 and paid for it. If Erdogan pushes his luck too far, maybe he will be learning the lesson this time.