Kız Sen İstanbulun Neresindensin
Emel Sayın Lyrics

The lyrics to Emel Sayın's song "Kız Sen İstanbulun Neresindensin" express a sense of curiosity and wonder about the girl in question's origins, specifically from which district or area of Istanbul she comes from. The singer describes the girl's elegance and nobility through her "duruş" or posture, indirectly asking if she is from the the prestigious neighborhoods of Kuruçeşme or Hisar. The lyrics then proceed to pose questions that are more personal in nature, asking whether the girl is engaged, in love with an older man, or married to a young one. The questions continue to explore possible areas of origin, such as Sarıyer, Tarabya, Yeşilyurt, or Esentepe, and whether she is truly from Istanbul or has a mixed heritage. The chorus repeats the main question, asking the girl where in Istanbul she is from.

Throughout the song, the singer's tone is that of admiration mixed with curiosity. The lyrics illustrate the importance placed on social status and knowledge of a person's background, especially in Istanbul's deeply stratified society. It also exemplifies how location is intricately woven into one's identity and is an essential marker of social class.

Interestingly, this song is known as one of the most iconic Istanbul songs, being sung and beloved by generations of Istanbulites. It was written by Hakkı Yeten, a former footballer of the Istanbul powerhouse team, Galatasaray. The song was originally written as a poem to his daughter Devrim Yeten as a way to protect her from unwanted advances from young men. Emel Sayın, a legendary Turkish performer of folk, pop, and classical music, performed the song and is most closely associated with it. The song was first released in 1971 and has since been covered by many musicians, including İbrahim Tatlıses and Zeki Müren.