Simon! Glad you finally made it to the new board.

yeah, but weren't the lyrics different?

i don't know. i never heard the original.

wasn't it originally that song Putin' on the Ritz?

or does it just sound similar.

does anybody know what I'm talking about?

I'm pretty sure "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" are entirely different songs, but they DO sound quite similar... I don't know if it's because they came out of the same time period (I know "Istanbul" originally came out in the early '50s, but I'm not sure about the other one), or if they were written by the same people or what...

Good. So I'm not entirely crazy

no, they're 2 different songs. if i'm not mistaken (it wouldn't be the first time ) Istanbul was written by N. Simon. (at least that's what it sez in the song credits) i think the words are the same.

i think i'll look it up...

ok, here's what i found...

Istanbul (Not Constantinople)

-Artists: The Four Lads
-peak Billboard position # 10 in 1953
-Words by Jimmy Kennedy and Music by Nat Simon

Istanbul was Constantinople
Now it's Istanbul not Constantinople
Been a long time gone
Old Constantinople's still has Turkish delight
On a moonlight night

Evr'y gal in Constantinople
Is a Miss-stanbul, not Constantinople
So if you've 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)

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'

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)

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'

Istanbul!!

Transcribed by Robin Hood

here's the page... http://www.elyrics4u.com/i/istanbul_not_co...e_four_lads.htm

so there you go then.

Hmm, I was in Galsgow when they played this. And in Manchester the day after. Life on the road is tough, ehh?

I'm glad you enjoyed the show, and I'm trying to get a friend who was at this one to sign up. I haven't *actually* met her, but I sent her some TMBG MP3s and she went to see them 'cause of it.

yeah, it is.

you were having fun though, right? so that makes up for it some. they'll be back, & i'll always be around to remind you, if not here, then by email. (like when yer off at Uni & not online much)

WOHOOOO and guess who met them and got their ticket signed before the gig??!! No-one was there early enough to actually meet the guys cept me nd the others i was with ... along with some guy from Bristol! i so happy

Welcome Becky! Lucky thing!

I only got to meet Dan M and Corn Mo, but I don't mind. The gig was awesome!

Post lots and often!

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BigJohn
"Countereit Faker"

becky! good for you!!!

to the board. i hope you have fun here. let me know what title you'd like. it can be anything you like, as long as someone else doesn't already have it.

becky, and to the group. I'm GR. That's pretty cool that you got to meet them before the show.