Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
 

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

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS RULE!

Anyone have a recommendation of what CD to buy of theirs? Is there a greatest hits CD? I LOVE CD'S!

I'm a fan of OLDER myself :) but Istanbul is awesome!

They have a box set.

I've always loved Flood.

OMG i KNOW this song :) LOLOL now i have it stuck in my head...

about 2 years ago me and a few sisters went on a road trip and i brought this song...and it was so annoying to them that it was hillarious for me..they have me on video singing in in this get-up that i made from a lil of everyons clothes (imagine bras over shirts etc..very silly)

to this day those sisters still ask me how constantiople is... LOL
:D thanks for the funny memory Arya!!!

lol... good to know the words. I usually can't follow along the whole way.

I LOVE that song. Wow Arya my bro you so made my day!!!! Strangely enough one of my best friends (who's from Istanbul) is going home for a few weeks starting July 3rd. I got a lesson in Turkish history yesterday. Such interesting stuff!!!!

We had to know stuff about the Constantipole Council for my Theology final and I had that song stuck in my head the whole time. :p

I think I might ask for the box set for my B-day...I love TMBG.

I love TMBG!!

Every time I hear Particle Man, I think of Tiny Toon Adventures where they sing it and Dizzy Devil is playing the accordian.

Did they do one for Constantinople? I think so, but I can't remember.

..........
 

I think of Tiny Toons too AGDPrincess. I love TMBG!!! Flood is a great cd.

BIG TMBG fan here - and Boy is an even bigger one.

Flood, which is considered their "breakthrough" CD is an amazing disc. It's just one of those CDs that's so well crafted and put together.

Mink Car, one of their latest is really great too.

Right now, I'm into their Apollo 18 disc.

Warning Re: the box set - its not all as mainstream as "Istanbul" There is some wierd wierd wierd stuff on there. It's very "experimental." But its a good investment nonetheless.

Bottom line: If you're just a fan of "Particle Man" and "Istanbul", dont' get the Box Set. Ease into some other Giants stuff before getting it.

psst, that song is WAAAAAAYYY older than TMBG, considering my mom knew the words to it.

This song was written by Jimmy Kennedy (lyrics) and music by Nat Simon. This song was in the top 10 on Billboard in 1953 when recorded by the Four Lads. :)

Boy and I got another TMBG disc tonight 1996's Factory Showroom. Good stuff!

Lincoln is one of my favorite cds of theirs. I'm a big fan, but my brother is even bigger. He's gotten their signatures many times, and he even saw them in London once! He also quoted them in his high school graduation speech.

We tried to get their sigs after a (free!!) concert they played at LSU in 01, but the Johns were rushed off stage.

One of my fiance's and my good friends has one of their original records...as in on vinyl. He's a huge fan.

My only issue with the concert is that John Linnell looks at me. A lot. But they're still cool

One time I heard my mom sing that song and I recognized it immediately. She asked me how I knew it and I told her that it was by TMBG. I asked her the same and she told me that it was an old song. Sometimes generation gaps can be bridged. it takes just one moment!

http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmili.../pinkieone.gif http://burns.thefinaldimension.org/o...k/smily012.gif http://smilies.crowd9.com/contrib/bl...milecrunch.gif

We Greeks have never gotten over that Constantinople is now Istanbul. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung...smiley-024.gif

Bring on the Triangle Man!!!

Particle man, particle man
Doing the things a particle can
What’s he like? it’s not important
Particle man

Is he a dot, or is he a speck?
When he’s underwater does he get wet?
Or does the water get him instead?
Nobody knows, particle man

Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates particle man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man

Universe man, universe man
Size of the entire universe man
Usually kind to smaller man
Universe man

He’s got a watch with a minute hand,
Millenium hand and an eon hand
When they meet it’s a happy land
Powerful man, universe man

Person man, person man
Hit on the head with a frying pan
Lives his life in a garbage can
Person man

Is he depressed or is he a mess?
Does he feel totally worthless?
Who came up with person man?
Degraded man, person man

Triangle man, triangle man
Triangle man hates person man
They have a fight, triangle wins
Triangle man

Re: Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
 

The original (?) version was in the movie Mona Lisa Smile . I just thought of that. Are TMBG the original ones to sing that song? I know it wasn't them singing it in the movie.

I just got NO! for Christmas-now the only CDs I'm missing is Lincoln and TMBG-Then and Now. NO! rocks, but my favorite TMBG CD is Apollo 18.
Favorite song is "Man, It's So Loud in Here" off of New Mink Car.

Oh wow. Both of those bring me back to HS speech competitions.

I love TMBG! Apollo 18 is one of my favorite albums, as is Lincoln. (My friend had APOLO 18 as her license plate for a while!)

A friend of mine and I used to do a mean duet to "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" back in the day.

This made me go find the MP3 on my computer and play it -- I'd never understood what the 2nd verse was before!

So has anyone else here seen the documentary of TMBG? It was just released on dvd, and I thought it was pretty good. I didn't know much about them in the 80s. Also interesting as to why their label dropped them. I had never understood that.

I haven't seen it, but now that I know its on DVD, I'll have to pick it up.

I think I'm mildly obsessed with Factory Showroom. A very impressive disc. I need to pick up Mink Car, too.

"NO!" was their first CD specifically for kids, and my kids (ages 6 and 3) love it. They have a new kids' CD out -- can't think of the name, though.

i LOVE they might be giants. they are definitely my fave music group.

i saw the documentary "gigantic" in the theatre it was really cute and told their story while capturing their unique sense of humor. An added bonus was john and john made a quick appearance before the movie started.

as for the second kids album i think they have a cd with a couple of songs to go with their new children's book.

Re: Re: Istanbul (Not Constantinople)
 

TMBG is not the original artist - I can't remember who is, it might be the version from that movie.