9 Nostalgic Istanbul Songs

Istanbul is a global capital with its characteristics, but old Istanbul has much more distinctive futures as a blend of the East and the West. This list brings you some of the sweetest melodies of Istanbul between 1930's to 1960's.

1. Istanbul'un Kizlari (Istanbul Girls)

Dario Moreno's Istanbul Kizlari compliments on all the girls in Istanbul, but he insists that one of them is special. Dario Moreno is a famous singer, guitarist, pianist and actor, born in Aydin, Turkey, with Jewish descent. I think all of his songs are very good, but I had to choose the ones about Istanbul.

2. Istanbul pas Constantinople (Istanbul not Constantinople)

This song isn't an example of old Istanbul songs, but it is about old Istanbul and all the covers are good. Dario Moreno has also covered the song but I will share two other versions. First the nostalgic one:


And the newer one:

3. Uskudar'a Giderken (While Going to Istanbul)

This song is about a woman who songs a love song to her love who works as a clerk at Uskudar. The famous Turkish classical music performer Safiye Ayla has a silky voice, as you will hear below.

 3. Yangin Olur, Biz Yangina Gideriz (When There is Fire, We Go to Extinguish It)

This song is interestingly the anthem of Ottoman fire brigades. The version I will share is a recent one, but the melody is still catchy.

4. Bayan Bana Bak (Madame, Look At Me)

This song is a canto song, sung by a man and a woman. The man flirts with the woman, the woman feigns reluctance (in the end, she is convinced). The video is also remarkable, as a 2001 French animation film.

5. Kiz Sen Istanbul'un Neresindensin (Girl, Which Part of Istanbul Are You From)

This song is about a man who is taken guesses about his lover, such as which part of Istanbul she is from (and he almost counts every district), whether she is married or single. I will share the version that famous Emel Sayin sings. (Emel Sayin is a famous, talented, elegant and beautiful Turkish classical music performer.)

6. Kadikoylu (From Kadikoy)

This is also a love song written to a woman from Kadikoy. One of the best versions is the one sung by Deniz Kizi Eftelya (Mermaid Eftalia), who was especially famous at Galata cafes. Mustafa Kemal Ataturk also liked her songs after a performance and she gained reputation.

7. Bir Tatlı Huzur Almaya Geldik Kalamis'tan (We Came to Take Some Serenity From Kalamis)

This song is quite famous, if the place is a raki table (which song on this list isn't, though?) It is a serenade for Kalamis, which is on the Anatolian coast. Here we listen the song again with the voice of Emel Sayin.

8. Ada Sahillerinde Bekliyorum (I'm Waiting on the Island Beaches)

This song has some rumours about it. One rumour is that it is about a woman who is waiting for her lover to come back (from the waters he was lost?). Another rumour is that the woman wanted to open up to her lover and she wrote this song with the help of the residents of the island. The island is one of the Prince Islands, probably Buyukada, the biggest one. However, Sadiye Sultan, the daughter of Sultan Abdulhamit told that it was written for her by Ali Namik Bey, because he felt that she was becoming distant. Hamiyet Yuceses is one of the names who sings this song at best.

9. Biz Heybeli'de Her Gece Mehtaba Çıkardık (Every Night At Heybeli We Would Go For Walk In the Moonlight)

This song is a little big like the classical Turkish version of "Those were the days my friend". A couple of friends remember their good old days on Heybeli Island. Heybeli is the second biggest island of Prince Islands. Munir Nurettin Selcuk is one of the best performers of this song. If this song doesn't make you grab a bottle of raki, almost nothing will.