# Who was the original artist and/or composer of this TMBG song that is haunting me?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-original-artist-and-or-composer-of-this-tmbg-song-that-is-haunting-me/163303>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [March 22, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-original-artist-and-or-composer-of-this-tmbg-song-that-is-haunting-me/163303 "2003-03-22T05:24:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MissGypsy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@MissGypsy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissGypsy)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-original-artist-and-or-composer-of-this-tmbg-song-that-is-haunting-me/163303/1 "2003-03-22T05:24:17Z")

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“Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”

I have the lyrics, and my best friend’s mom even knows them, but we can’t figure out the original artist.

I CAN’T STOP SINGING IT!!! (Or dancing to it):eek:

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**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-original-artist-and-or-composer-of-this-tmbg-song-that-is-haunting-me/163303/2 "2003-03-22T05:29:57Z")

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IIRC, it was first recorded by The Four Lads in 1953.

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**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\
**Post date:** [March 22, 2003, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-original-artist-and-or-composer-of-this-tmbg-song-that-is-haunting-me/163303/3 "2003-03-22T05:32:03Z")

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More specifically, lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy and music by Nat Simon.

[http://www.elyrics4u.com/i/istanbul\_not\_constantinople\_four\_lads.htm](http://www.elyrics4u.com/i/istanbul_not_constantinople_four_lads.htm)

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**Author:** ![nogginhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5e9695/32.png) [@nogginhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nogginhead)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-was-the-original-artist-and-or-composer-of-this-tmbg-song-that-is-haunting-me/163303/4 "2003-04-18T15:37:03Z")

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I have the original recording; drop me an e-mail if you want to know more about it.

Nog