Pink Martini declares 'I love you, Istanbul' at Harbiye Open Air concert

American music group Pink Martini expressed their love for Istanbul during a concert at the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre. The concert also featured the group's song 'Finnisma Di', inspired by the story of Palestinian-Jordanian refugees.

Scraper SystemJuly 23, 2026, 11:09 AM

Pink Martini declares 'I love you, Istanbul' at Harbiye Open Air concert

American music group Pink Martini performed for music lovers at the Harbiye Cemil Topuzlu Open Air Theatre.

The group's lead singer Storm Large greeted the audience by saying 'Sizi seviyorum İstanbul' (I love you, Istanbul) in Turkish as she took the stage. Throughout the concert, the musicians thanked the audience for the warm welcome they receive every year and expressed how much they love coming to Istanbul.

The concert also featured the story behind the group's early song 'La Soledad'. Lead singer Ari Shapiro said the song was adapted into Arabic by their close friend, Palestinian-Jordanian Iyad Qasim, who passed away a few years ago. Shapiro noted that while the song initially appears to be a lament for a lost love, it actually expresses a refugee's longing for a homeland they may never see again.

The song's new Arabic title, 'Finnisma Di', was inspired by a phrase frequently repeated by Iyad Qasim's Palestinian-Jordanian refugee parents: 'There is no wind more beautiful than the wind of the homeland.'

Throughout the night, songs in various languages were performed, including 'Sympathique', 'Amado Mio', 'Donde Estas Yolanda?', 'Splendor in the Grass', 'Una Notte a Napoli', 'Saeng Gak', 'Zundoko Bushi' and 'Bella Ciao'.

Pink Martini also performed 'Aşkım Bahardı' and 'Katibim' for Turkish listeners. The concert ended with the song 'Brasil'. After prolonged applause, the group returned to the stage for an encore of 'Pata Pata'.

About Pink Martini

Pink Martini was founded in 1994 by Thomas Lauderdale in Portland, USA. Known for a repertoire that blends jazz, classical music, Latin American and world music, the group performs songs in more than 20 languages.

The ensemble has released the albums 'Sympathique', 'Hang on Little Tomato', 'Hey Eugene!', 'Splendor in the Grass', 'Joy to the World', '1969', 'A Retrospective', 'Get Happy', 'Dream a Little Dream' and 'Je Dis Oui'. Pink Martini's works have been used in many TV series and films, including 'La Casa de Papel' and 'Desperate Housewives'.

Pink Martini declares 'I love you, Istanbul' at Harbiye Open Air concert