John Elliott Asks – Who Did Light Billy Joel’s Fire ?

Over the weekend I received from a friend of mine a very nostalgic and entertaining video film clip of Billy Joel’s well known song “We Didn’t Start The Fire” but  this video clip includes photos of each of the people/events named in his song (thanks to Google) covering the first 40 years of his life from 1949 to 1989.

I have watched it 3 times. A lot of history in 4 minutes and a great song.

The background of this incredible recording and video segment is covered in the email below. I suggest you read it before you view the video clip.

Email from my Latvian Friend  13/8/11 – “We Didn’t Light The Fire”

This song title was the answer to a recent Final Jeopardy – only one person got it right – question was (paraphrased) “What 1980′s song do history teachers praise for its educational value.”  Never could understand all the references on Billy Joel’s song – fortunately, with this VIDEO, given the picture(s), now can “see” what our “ears” couldn’t.

Anyway, checked to see purpose behind the song. Apparently, it’s Joel’s homage to the 40-years of historical headlines since his birth (1949).  Wish we could have appreciated the depths of this song when it was released.  Twenty years later, it’s amazing what Joel was able to put into music and lyrics lasting only a few minutes.

Here it is, set to pictures. It’s a neat flashback through the past half century. Turn up volume, sit back and enjoy a review of 50 years of history in less than 3 minutes! Thanks to Billy Joel and some guy from the University of Chicago with a lot of spare time and Google.

Bottom left shows the year.  The older you are, the more pictures you will recognise.  Anyone over age 65 should remember over 90% of what they see. But it’s great at any age.

[Click Here]:   We Didn’t Start The Fire

John D Elliott