The Four Lads vs. They Might Be Giants | Face Off

In the 14^th edition of Face Off (2026), The Four Lads and They Might Be Giants face off for the best rendition of “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).”

Ah, let the Face Off begin! The sun has set on Head 2 Head (2021 – 2025), but the musical competition has “only just begun”, Karen Carpenter! In Face Off, musicians compete to determine who delivered the best version of a song. In most cases, the musicians are performing the same song or a remix, rearrangement, or variation of the song.  Each performance will be evaluated for vocal or instrumental performance, production, and so forth. After blurbing about each performance, I will briefly deliberate and deliver a verdict about who wins the Face Off.  Draws and ties are acceptable, but in most cases, one band, group, or musician will get the edge. In the 14^th edition of Face Off (2026), The Four Lads and They Might Be Giants face off for the best rendition of “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).” May the best musician win!

 

Table of Contents
1.The Four Lads, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”	2.They Might Be Giants, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”
Deliberation	Verdict

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1. The Four Lads, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”

16 Most Requested Songs » SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT » 1953

Those lyrics are 100% correct: the ancient Constantinople is now modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. Canadian traditional pop quartet The Four Lads earned a top 10 hit in the US (pre-Billboard Hot 100) with “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”, a unique novelty song that dates back to 1953.  It was written by Irish songwriter Jimmy Kennedy (1902 – 1984) and Nat Simon (1900 – 1979).

“Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” features gorgeous orchestration with plenty of playful sounds. The Turkish music cues are fitting – it is about 📍 Istanbul, after all! The percussive groove and string bass line add to the instrumental excellence.  Beyond the instrumental, The Four Lads deliver sensational vocals.  When they sing in unison, they are locked in, showcasing a celestial, incredibly refined tone.  Expectedly, the collective also sounds great when they break into harmonies and sing solo parts.  Beyond the vocals, the melodies are tuneful, and the lyrics are quite memorable. They are also tongue-in-cheek and silly: “So, if you’ve a date in Constantinople, / She’ll be waiting in Istanbul.” Yep.  Constantinople no longer exists.  Also, The Four Lads give us a history lesson about New York: “Even old New York was once New Amsterdam / Why they changed it, I can’t say / People just liked it better that way.” The Four Lads conclude the irresistible “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” with a big ole shout out to ‘stanbul as in Istanbul!

Appears in:

The Four Lads, Istanbul (Not Constantinople): Throwback Vibez No. 35 (2026)

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2. They Might Be Giants, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”

Flood » Elektra Entertainment » 1990

They Might Be Giants (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) are renowned for the song “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”, a song about the ancient Constantinople that is now modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. BUT, it should be noted, they weren’t the first to record it. “Istanbul” dates back to 1953, when it was originally recorded by the Canadian traditional pop quartet The Four Lads.  This novelty classic appears as the second single and fourth track from They Might Be Giants’ platinum-certified 1990 album, Flood.

They Might Be Giants put in work on their renowned rendition of “Istanbul (Not Constantinople).”  The novelty song remains short, running only about two-and-a-half minutes long. Even so, it is sweet.  Also, it runs slightly longer than the original, which is slower in tempo. The ears perk up as you hear Mark Feldman’s sweet violin playing.  The violin is one of many key instruments.  Another key instrument is the accordion, which is a common instrument in Turkish music. John Linnell handles the accordion duties masterfully.  With the Turkish music cues firmly planted and an exceptional groove, “Istanbul” cooks musically.  The sound is as playful as the original from the 1950s, while updated to fit the bill in the 1990s.  It is less jazzy than the original, embracing alternative and Turkish folk. Beyond the instrumental triumphs, the vocals are superb, too.  The novelty doesn’t wear off even the slightest in the hands of John Flansburgh.  There are fewer voices and harmonies, but no drop-off whatsoever in quality. It is hard to top a classic, but They Might Be Giants make “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” their own, and it never grows stale!

Appears in:

They Might Be Giants, Istanbul (Not Constantinople): Covers No. 11 (2026)

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Deliberation

Ah, we’ve arrived at the deliberation! To Deliberate is “to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully.” With that definition courtesy of my go-to, Merriam-Webster, briefly break down these two distinct performances with some notes!

1. The Four Lads, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”

2. They Might Be Giants, “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)”

The Four Lads earned a top 10 hit in the US (pre-Billboard Hot 100) with this novelty song. The Four Lads’ rendition is shorter and slower in tempo compared to the cover by They Might Be Giants. One of the biggest selling points is the gorgeous orchestration with plenty of playful sounds. The Turkish music cues are fitting given this song is about Istanbul, Turkey. The Four Lads deliver sensational vocals when singing in unison or in harmony; their synergy is marvelous. This original is jazzier than the cover.

They Might Be Giants (John Flansburgh and John Linnell) are renowned for this cover, which appears as a single from their platinum-certified 1990 album, Flood. TMBG’s cover of “Istanbul” didn’t reach the pop charts like the original from 1953 did. The novelty song remains short, running only about two-and-a-half minutes long; it runs slightly longer than the original, and is faster in tempo. The violin (Mark Feldman) and accordion (John Linnell) stand out in this cover. The sound is as playful as the original from the 1950s, while updated to fit the bill in the 1990s. The cover embraces alternative and Turkish folk music. There are fewer voices and harmonies compared to the original, but no drop-off  in quality.

 

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Verdict

After much deliberation, yo boi, The Musical Hype, has reached a verdict. In the case… I mean, in the Face Off between The Four Lads and They Might Be Giants, it’s a TIE! In this Face Off, I just can’t decide between the two performances because both versions of “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” bring special things to the table. The original is jazzier and experienced commercial success for its time. I grew up more with the They Might Be Giants cover thanks to its appearance in Tiny Toon Adventures. But TMBG didn’t carve out pop success with the song, though the album was certified platinum, probably because of the song.  Regardless, there is room for both versions of this infectious, irresistible novelty gem in your playlist.  You can’t go wrong with either! And with that said, stay tuned for the next Face Off!

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The Four Lads vs. They Might Be Giants: Face Off No. 14 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Elektra Entertainment, SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT; fotografoedsonj ed, Marlon Schmeiski from Pexels; Clker-Free-Vector-Images, Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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