LJ / DW Idol

[adoptedwriter]

 To the tune of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire:

George Bush, Nelson’s free, reunifying Germany 

Kurt Cobain, life of pain, Nirvana never plays again

Furby toys and Game Boys  bring the kiddies lots of joy

Hammer says “You can’t touch this”; Pop Rocks fizzle on your lips

Saddam Hussein, Desert Storm, Cammo print becomes the norm.

Freddie Mercury dies of AIDS, Big shopping Malls are all the rage  

 

We found the fires burning  

We try to fix it; opponents nix it.

We found the fires burning

We try to place the blame on who started the flame

 

Bill Clinton White House Bound, Chunnel Tunnel underground 

Diana’s tragic crash in France, J.K. Rowling gets her chance  

iMacs, PCs, Euros, cloning, Jobs and Gates get big tech growing 

Seinfeld, Simpsons, Technotronic, Ice-Ice Baby, Boy Bands iconic

 

We found the fires burning  

We try to fix it; opponents try to nix it.

We found the fires burning

We try to place the blame on who started the flame

 

Bush, Gore, Chads on the floor, Y2K fears never more  

September when the Towers fell; We thought the world would go to Hell. 

Taliban and then Katrina terrorize the world scene-a 

Columbine and next V-Tech; we fear for who will be the next

Obama wins; Facebook begins, Online social life is in

Sandy Hook, a Marathon; when will the war on guns be won?

 

Same sex marriage, Pulse nightclub; Do you believe that Love is Love? 

Vegas, Charlottesville, Parkland; Why is it that big guns aren’t  banned?

Donald Trump he spreads fake news, He’s orange, creepy and so rude 

He wants a wall he wants his way; I worry for the kids today.

Racial tensions, global warming; Issues growing most alarming

Now we have the vi-a-rus What is to become of us?

 

We found the fires burning  

We try to fix it; opponents try to nix it 

We found the fires burning

We try to place the blame on who started the flame

Billy Joel's original song can be found here: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFTLKWw542g  

 

 

 

Comments

[gunwithoutmusic]

You know, I thought this was really "silly and cute" when I first started it, but I think that was the point, because I was reading back through all of these things that reminded me of my childhood, and better times, and I was smiling and kind of moving my head to the beat. But then as you kept going forward into modern times, it was more and more terrifying, and my God it certainly feels that way sometimes. This was really clever and well-done.

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks so much!

[bsgsix]

This is intriguing - during my first read-through, I was singing, and thinking, "Wait, some things are out of order!" And then I realized how much that *did not matter* because the sense of nostalgia and fear overrode everything. I remember the "easy" days of Pop Rocks and Furbies. But I was a senior in high school during Columbine. And we're going through dark times right now (politically, with the virus, etc.). Capturing all of that is interesting to me, and you picked the right song to use!

I guess, in some way, the world has always been burning. Can we fix it? Is it too late? We all have to wonder.

Nice work. :)

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks so much!

[bleodswean]

Skillful - chilling entertainment.

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks!

[uselesstinrelic]

I wonder if we might be near the same age, because some of the things you mention in the beginning hit my nostalgia bone square on.

Admittedly, I wasn't sure what I was going to think of an entry that was a rewritten song. I don't think I've read many entries like that, but I read it with an open mind and decided pretty early on that maybe while some songs might feel like a mismatch, this song actually does seem like it could be rewritten to explore the issues of different generations in a way that's just as productive and artful as the original did. So I found I liked it. :>

The best part, to me, was the line in the chorus "we try to fix it; opponents try to nix it." I feel like that really sums up the deep frustration of the current political era the last few years. The people will clearly speak, even in overwhelming majority agreement (which can be so rare!) and yet there are still these few demagogues with their financial loyalties pointing out their few supporters to justify their actions. Of course, these actions are always somehow for the benefit of some jerks with financial stakes in things which benefit them, and not the majority, continuing.

A piece like this probably wouldn't have felt complete without pointing out the struggle between the voices of the masses, who still somehow have less power, than the few in the position to move the pieces. That it held a repeating place in the chorus feels appropriate to me since I feel like that's the root of so much of the continued 'fire' at this point in our history.

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks so much for your insights!

[adoptedwriter]

I’m 59 btw.

[uselesstinrelic]

Oh, well maybe I'm a little younger :> (37!) But it still was relatable!

[megatronix]

It's so interesting to take a song about significant world events from years past and update it. I like this version you did. It's much more interesting when it's stuff I personally remember and didn't just read about. And I like the Trump description, "orange, creepy, and so rude". I worry for the kids today too. Ugh. What a weird world we live in. Well done!

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks! Yes, walking that fine line between just getting laughs and being poignant is a challenge.

[murielle]

Brava!

I didn't know you could do this. Wonderful!

(Kicking myself because of course you can do this you're a brilliant writer.)

Brava!

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks so much!

[n3m3sis43]

I'm 44 and also found it super relatable. :)

[n3m3sis43]

This was a really creative take on the prompt! I like how you started out light(er) hearted in the 90s, when (at least to people my age), I think everything felt more innocent, and took it a bit darker toward the end. We do live in the darkest timeline now, after all.

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks! Yeah. Times are weirder every day.

[adoptedwriter]

PS: Happy Birthday!

[bsgsix]

Thank you! I just made my official birthday post, so - in 15 minutes from right now, I'll officially be 39! :) <3

[uselesstinrelic]

Well, this piece clearly has quite the multi-generational appeal, adoptedwriter! : >

[alycewilson]

I like the creativity of this piece and how you found a very different approach, which was both playful and serious.

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks so much!

[adoptedwriter]

My aim was to have something for everyone in this version as Villy Joel did with his original version.

[adoptedwriter]

Thanks Alyce!

[swirlsofpurple]

Wow, you convey important points here in such a fun way, much kudos for the concept and getting it to work so well with the tune!!

[adoptedwriter]

Thank you so much!

[flipflop_diva]

I love this! I've seen some other versions of it on twitter over the past few months, and the creativity that goes into it always is astounding. You are no exception! I love how each stanza goes through the decades and they get more and more horrifying.

Or, well, I don't like it, but you know what I mean!

[adoptedwriter]

I get ya! Thanks.

[halfshellvenus]

The good, the bad, and the scary in a retrospective of... someone about 10-15 years younger than me, at least in parts. ;)

He wants a wall he wants his way; I worry for the kids today.
Me too. Adults have always said that, but with voters growing increasingly cynical over time, too many people decided to torpedo the political process by electing Trump. And now his antics and his bloviating disregard for honor and justice and anyone besides himself have just increased that feeling of hopelessness and cynicism.

It's been a long four years, but the Hitlerian quantity of destruction he has caused to the soul of this country came faster than deeper than any of us probably feared. :(

[jamielyssa]

I never realized how much I've lived through until I read this

[adoptedwriter]

I felt that way about the original, and the original was from about 1949-1989. (Billy Joel's 1st 40 yrs...and I had experienced about 28 of those yrs.
I also realize how some things never change even if events differ.

[adoptedwriter]

From your other post, I think we are only a couple of yrs apart. (You are younger!) But, yes...This is why I could not vote either time for the guy...even if I agreed on a few points...He's worse than that misogynistic douche-bag popular high school dude all the kids look up to b/c he can get away with shit. The rest of us nerds, geeks, victims, and other under-represented parts of society have a chance to send this elitist effer a big fat "You're Fired!" message. I hope it happens...