Uska Dara

"Uska Dara" ("A Turkish Tale") is a 1953 song made famous by Eartha Kitt, and also recorded by Eydie Gormé.

[1] It is based on the Turkish folk song "Kâtibim" about a woman and her secretary traveling to Üsküdar.

[2] Kitt first heard the song "Kâtibim" at a local bar when she was in Istanbul as a member of the Katherine Dunham Company, and began performing it herself; the song received abundant play in Ankara Radio and became a hit.

[3] She then recorded "Uska Dara" with Henri René and his orchestra at Manhattan Center, New York City, on March 13, 1953.

The 1978 disco song "Rasputin" by Boney M uses part of the melody of "Kâtibim", and mimics the line "Oh!