# They Might Be Giants - BOYYYYY! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 25, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596 "2001-10-25T17:59:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/1 "2001-10-25T17:59:13Z")
I love this band’s album “ **Flood** ”. Less impressed by their others. Now, let’s drop some knowledge if ya got any. Was discussing with friends last night and we came up with a few questions no one knew the exact answer to. On “ **Flood** ” there is a song called “**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 Now, I pointed out that this was done to the tune of that cheesy (but cool) 80’s song “Puttin’ on the Ritz”. Some Debate ensued and after everyone hummed each tune without the words it was agreed, they are very similar. But one girl seemed to think that TMBG’s “**Istanbul (Not Constantinople)**” was a remake of a song called “ **Constantinople** ” or some such thing. Then someone else pointed out that the “ **Puttin’ on the Ritz** ” song was itself a remake of an old jazzy number from the 40’s or so. A few questions: Which song did TMBG’s remake? Who did the 1980’s version of “ **Puttin on the Ritz** ”? Who did the original “ **Puttin’ on the Ritz** ”? Who did the original “ **Constantinople** ”, if such a song even exists? Dalovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/2 "2001-10-25T18:12:10Z")
[**Istanbul (not Constantinople)**](http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Academy/3225/Older_Stuff/The_Four_Lads/Istanbul_Not_Constantinople.txt) was originally a US hit for The Four Lads in 1953. [**Puttin’ on the Ritz**](http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Puttin.on.the.Ritz+Irving+Berlin&hl=en&start=10&sa=N) was written by Irving Berlin in 1928, I think. [The 1980s version](http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=Bonkmu3u5an6k) may have been performed by **Taco** , but I don’t know for sure since I’ve never heard it (that was from an AllMusic search). I think it’s a lot more likely that TMBG covered an existing hit song with the same lyrics than came up with an entirely new – but amazingly similar – version based on ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’. ---
**Author:** ![aegypt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/76d3ee/32.png) [@aegypt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aegypt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/3 "2001-10-25T18:17:06Z")
Yes, it was by Taco. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/4 "2001-10-25T18:19:11Z")
Just to confirm – the 80’s version was by **Taco**. The TMBG version was a cover of the Four Lads’. And Flood is probably their best album. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Green\_Fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Fool)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/5 "2001-10-25T18:42:57Z")
In my opinion ‘Flood’ is their most friendly albulm. John Henry or Lincoln are far superior albulms in terms of song quality and re-plqay value. I listened to Flood all through High School (every kid in Drama had to own it), and now every song annoys me except Sapphire Bullets and Road Movie to Berlin. Fingertips and Spy are two of my favorite songs of all time. ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/6 "2001-10-25T18:54:32Z")
Interestingly, we find [here](http://users.bestweb.net/~foosie/rio.htm) (about a quarter way down - search for “Ritz”) that **The Four Lads** were inspired by a song made by **Paul Whiteman/Bing Crosby** played to the “ **Puttin’ on the Ritz** ” notes. Hmmmmm. . . So: TMBG’s did a remake of a **Four Lads** song which was inspired by a **Bing Crosby** song which was sung to the tune of “ **Puttin on the Ritz** ”? _Learnin’!!!_ Cool. Wait till I see my pals. . . Dalovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/7 "2001-10-25T19:11:03Z")
FWIW, the new TMBG album, “Mink Car,” is pretty interesting. I got it a couple of months ago by downloading an advanced copy from [eMusic.com](http://eMusic.com). It’s got a wide variety of styles on it, maybe a little wider than some of their past albums. One of the songs, however, is already on a commercial. I think it’s for Chrysler, or some car company in any event. It’s the commercial where the guy is driving one of those trams through a parking lot and keeps coming to a quick halt in order to look at the cars. The song is called, “Yeah Yeah.” ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/8 "2001-10-25T19:23:41Z")
I would definitely agree that _Flood_ is the best of the albums I’ve heard, but I haven’t followed their recent work… Nothing after _Apollo 18_. And I do find that it has replay value… Oddly enough, “Sapphire Bullets” is one of the ones I like less, but most of them I don’t find tiresome at all. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/9 "2001-10-25T19:37:31Z")
Apollo 18 is their best album, especialy with the short songs at the end that work if you play the cd in random order. Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/10 "2001-10-25T19:44:23Z")
I’ve always wanted to kill Jason off, along with countless screaming argonauts. ---
**Author:** ![dalovindj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/65b543/32.png) [@dalovindj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalovindj)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/11 "2001-10-25T19:59:29Z")
> [@](#): > > I’ve always wanted to kill Jason off, along with countless screaming argonauts. I’d be fired if that was my job. . . .\ **Minimum Wage!!!** DaLovin’ Dj ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/12 "2001-10-25T20:32:38Z")
Strangely enough, my favorite TMBG album, by a longshot, is the live collection they released a few years ago, _Severe Tire Damage_. The live tracks seem to have more energy than the studio cuts. You can’t go wrong, though. Dr. J ---
**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/13 "2001-10-25T20:55:46Z")
I had a discussion about this with **Czarcasm** at our recent Portland Dopefest. It went like this: Atreyu: “I keep hearing about (TMBG), but all I’ve ever heard is the Malcolm in the Middle theme song. What’s their best album for me to check out?” Ferrous: “Lincoln.” Czarcasm: “Flood.” Ferrous: “Lincoln!” Czarcasm: “Flood!” Ferrous: “_Lincoln!_” Czarcasm: “_Flood!_” Ferrous: “LINCOLN!!” Czarcasm: “FLOOD!!.” …it kinda went downhill from there. But yeah, they’re all good. I love this, from “John Henry”: > [@](#): > > _from the song “Destination Moon”_ > Thank you for the card with the cartoon nurse > But you see there’s nothing wrong with me > You think, “That’s what you think.” > “That’s what they all say,” > Before I blow you away ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/14 "2001-10-25T21:08:02Z")
I’m not a real doctor, but I am a real worm. TMBG played in my town, only a 15 minute walk from where I work (and a 30 minute walk from where I live.) I’m ticked off that I couldn’t go. But they tend to come through town in spring, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for their next swing through in April or May. Unfortunately, they have this knack for showing up when I have exams. Feh. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/15 "2001-10-25T21:33:52Z")
You know, as much as I enjoy Istanbul (Not Constantinople) it also bugs me that they never mention that even before that it was called Byzantium. ---
**Author:** ![Sapphire\_Bullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Sapphire\_Bullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapphire_Bullet)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/16 "2001-10-25T21:43:48Z")
[QUOTE] \*Originally posted by Green Fool \* I listened to Flood all through High School (every kid in Drama had to own it), and now every song annoys me except **Sapphire Bullets** and Road Movie to Berlin. [QUOTE] Why thank you. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![susan\_foster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@susan\_foster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan_foster)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/17 "2001-10-25T21:43:57Z")
I’ll vote for Lincoln as the best - one of my favorite songs, “Lie Still, Little Bottle”, is on there; also like “Shoehorn With Teeth” - but I haven’t met anyone who doesn’t like this song. I own all their CD’s, but my favorites are definitely their first four (not counting Misc. T). Susan ---
**Author:** ![Mogwei22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@Mogwei22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mogwei22)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/18 "2001-10-25T22:28:45Z")
Does anyone remember the episode of Animaniacs where they used Particle Man and Istabul? TMBG was the very first concert I attended way back when I was in 9th grade. It was at Avalon in Boston and I was smooshed up against the stage. People were moshing. I still don’t know if moshing to TMBG is a good thing. Favorite album: tempted to say Flood, but then there’s Lincoln, but Flood has so many good songs, but so did Lincoln, but Flood had minimum wage, but Lincoln had AnaNg…I will say both Now I must dig out my video to watch the giant heads bounce. ---
**Author:** ![Ross](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@Ross](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ross)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/19 "2001-10-25T22:31:29Z")
A girl I was trying to “get next to” gave me a tape with Flood on one side and Apollo 18 on t’other. Till then I’d only heard “Birdhouse in my Soul”, which of course remains a fine song, but is nothing without its brothers. “Dinner Bell”. “Minimum Wage”. And that one made out of lots of little clips: “I found a new friend underneath my pillow”; “What’s that blue thing doing here?” etc. During my tortured adolescence, and I flatter myself that my adolescence was on the slightly more tortured side, I wandered around our neighbourhood after dark - literally “endless nights I walked alone/narrow streets of cobblestone”, with both albums repeating on my personal stereo, like two fingers gently massaging my temples. I. Love. Them. And they seem to go strangely well alongside The Smiths. Just a bit more cheerful is all. Interesting point: British television magician and all-round small bloke Paul Daniels sounds not unlike wotsisface off TMBG when he sings. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596/20 "2001-10-25T23:33:23Z")
_Flood_. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-might-be-giants-boyyyyy/89596.md?page=2)