Istanbul (Not Constantinople) by They Might Be Giants
This catchy tune is more than just a history lesson set to music. It uses the renaming of cities—specifically Constantinople to Istanbul and New Amsterdam to New York—as a metaphor for change and the passage of time. The song suggests that these changes, while sometimes confusing or frustrating, are inescapable and often come about due to popular consensus ("People just liked it better that way"). The repeated line "That's nobody's business but the Turks" implies a respect for cultural sovereignty and the right of societies to shape their own identities. Ultimately, this song reminds us that change is constant, inevitable, and often beyond our control. #Change #TimePasses #CulturalIdentity