We Didn't Start the Fire (Fall Out Boy song)

Last updated

"We Didn't Start the Fire"
Cover of Fall Out Boy's "We Didn't Start The Fire".jpeg
Single by Fall Out Boy
from the album So Much (for) Stardust (Digital Deluxe edition)
ReleasedJune 28, 2023 (2023-06-28)
Genre Alternative rock
Length3:35
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Neal Avron
Fall Out Boy singles chronology
"Hold Me Like a Grudge"
(2023)		"We Didn't Start the Fire"
(2023)		"So Much (for) Stardust"
(2024)

"We Didn't Start the Fire" is a 2023 single by American rock band Fall Out Boy. It is a cover of Billy Joel's 1989 song "We Didn't Start the Fire", updating the song's cultural references to span the years since the original was released. Critics reacted negatively to the song, panning the tone and content of its updated lyrics.

Contents

Composition

"We Didn't Start the Fire", like Billy Joel's original version released in 1989, is a catalog of major events in world history through a certain time period. Joel's original mainly centers around the events during and surrounding the Cold War, and Fall Out Boy's version continues where Joel's ends, covering the events from 1989 to 2023. Fall Out Boy's version includes references to Woodstock 99, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, the Oklahoma City bombing, the September 11 attacks, Brexit; [1] the Boston Marathon bombing, Bush v. Gore , [2] the assassination of Shinzo Abe; [3] the Death of Michael Jackson, the Arab Spring, the Fukushima nuclear accident and MySpace, which Stereogum notes was connected to the band's rise to fame. [4] In the chorus, the original lyric "we tried to fight it" is replaced with "we're trying to fight it", and in the bridge, "will it still burn on and on…" is replaced with "it will still go on and on…".

In a deviation from the original, Fall Out Boy's updated lyrics abandon chronological ordering, at one point referencing Rodney King next to deepfakes. [2] [5] Pete Wentz explained the choice in an interview with Zane Lowe:

Listen, we did our best. It's very, very, very difficult. His is not totally in chronological order, but it's more in chronological order than ours. We just wanted the JFK blown away line, and clearly, I think that the World Trade one was a little more… that was probably… People probably felt a similar way. You remember where you were or whatever. So it's just a little bit out of order, but it is what it is. Listen, we wanted the Internet to still have something to complain about. [6]

The COVID-19 pandemic is notably absent from the song; [1] [7] Wentz cites the event's ubiquity and the need for rhyme space for Bush v. Gore in explaining why it was not included. [6]

Critical response

"We Didn't Start the Fire" was met with a mocking and negative reaction from critics. Chris DeVille with Stereogum wrote "Well, this is happening."; [4] the staff of Slate wrote "Move over, Gal Gadot's 'Imagine'!"; [8] and Alexandra del Rosario with the Los Angeles Times wrote "sugar, it isn't goin' down well with some fans". [7] James Rettig with Stereogum described the song as "abominable" [6] and Owen S. Good with Polygon described it as "tasteless", the latter with the respect to the song's rhyming of "George Floyd" with " Metroid ". [2] Reviewers also criticized the song's omission of several notable events and people; Lyndsey Parker with Yahoo! Entertainment noted the lack of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Hillary and Bill Clinton; [9] the staff of Slate brought up the film Titanic and O. J. Simpson as missing elements. [8] Morgan Hines with USA Today and del Rosario described reaction on social media as mixed and controversial. [1] [7]

Charts

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We Didn't Start the Fire</span> 1989 single by Billy Joel

"We Didn't Start the Fire" is a song written and published by American musician Billy Joel. The song was released as a single on September 18, 1989, and later released as part of Joel's album Storm Front on October 17, 1989. A list song, its fast-paced lyrics include brief references to 119 significant political, cultural, scientific, and sporting events between 1949 and 1989, in mainly chronological order.

<i>From Under the Cork Tree</i> 2005 studio album by Fall Out Boy

From Under the Cork Tree is the second studio album by the American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on May 3, 2005 by Island Records as the band's major label debut. The music was composed by lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, with all lyrics penned by bassist Pete Wentz, expanding the band's songwriting approach they took for some songs on their debut album, Take This to Your Grave (2003). Neal Avron served as the album's producer. Commenting on the record's lyrical themes, Wentz said the lyrics were about "the anxiety and depression that goes along with looking at your own life." In support of its release, the group headlined tours worldwide and played at various music festivals. For their Black Clouds and Underdogs tour, the album was re-released as From Under the Cork Tree , featuring new songs and remixes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete Wentz</span> American musician

Peter Lewis Kingston Wentz III is an American musician who is the bassist and lyricist for the rock band Fall Out Boy. Before the band's formation in 2001, Wentz was a fixture of the Chicago hardcore scene and was the lead singer and songwriter for Arma Angelus, a metalcore band. During Fall Out Boy's hiatus from 2009 to 2012, Wentz formed the experimental, electropop and dubstep group Black Cards. He owns a record label, DCD2 Records, which has signed bands including Panic! at the Disco and Gym Class Heroes.

<i>Infinity on High</i> 2007 album by Fall Out Boy

Infinity on High is the third studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on February 6, 2007, by Island Records. Recorded from July to October 2006 at Pass Studios in Los Angeles, California, its music was composed by lead singer and guitarist Patrick Stump and the lyrics were penned by bassist Pete Wentz. The album features collaborations with new producers and guest artists, such as Babyface and Jay-Z, and sees the band experimenting with genres including R&B, soul, and flamenco. Fall Out Boy also utilized instruments such as horns, violins, and pianos, which had not been used on previous releases.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race</span> 2006 single by Fall Out Boy

"This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the second single from their commercially successful third studio album Infinity on High (2007). The song officially debuted on November 21 at the American Music Awards and impacted US radio on December 5. The music was composed by vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump and the lyrics were penned by bassist Pete Wentz, following the band's songwriting approach which first began with some songs on their 2003 album Take This to Your Grave. Production was handled by Neal Avron, who also produced the band's previous From Under the Cork Tree album. Commenting on the band's decision to pick the track as the first single, Wentz said "There may be other songs on the record that would be bigger radio hits, but this one had the right message."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thnks fr th Mmrs</span> 2007 single by Fall Out Boy

"Thnks fr th Mmrs" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy. The song debuted on radio on March 20, 2007, and was released on March 27 as the third single from their third studio album, Infinity on High. With music composed by Patrick Stump and the lyrics penned by bassist Pete Wentz, the song was one of the two tracks produced by Babyface for the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall Out Boy discography</span>

The American rock band Fall Out Boy has released eight studio albums, two live albums, two compilation albums, one remix album, one mixtape, nine extended plays, 39 singles, and 53 music videos. Since their formation in 2001, Fall Out Boy have sold over 8.5 million albums worldwide and some estimates are around 30 million. The band was formed in Wilmette, Illinois by friends Joe Trohman and Pete Wentz, who had played in local Chicago hardcore punk and heavy metal bands; Patrick Stump was soon recruited as the band's lead singer. They debuted with the split EP Project Rocket / Fall Out Boy (2002) and the mini-LP Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend (2003), both released on Uprising Records. After the release of the latter, drummer Andy Hurley joined Fall Out Boy and Stump picked up guitar, forming the band's current lineup. After signing to indie-label Fueled by Ramen, Fall Out Boy released their first full-length studio album, Take This to Your Grave, in May 2003. Following the album's release, the band signed with major label Island Records. Their second studio album From Under the Cork Tree was released in May 2005 to great commercial success, peaking at number nine on the United States Billboard 200 and being certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album's popularity was aided by the success of its first two singles, "Sugar, We're Goin Down" and "Dance, Dance", which both became top ten hits on the US Billboard Hot 100 and eventually sold over two million downloads each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fall Out Boy</span> American rock band

Fall Out Boy is an American rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley. The band originated from Chicago's hardcore punk scene and was formed by Wentz and Trohman as a pop-punk side project; Stump joined shortly thereafter. The group went through a succession of drummers before Hurley joined. Their debut album, Take This to Your Grave (2003), became an underground success and helped the band gain a dedicated fanbase through heavy touring. Take This to Your Grave is cited as influential on pop-punk music in the 2000s.

<i>Folie à Deux</i> (album) 2008 studio album by Fall Out Boy

Folie à Deux is the fourth studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on December 10, 2008, by Island Records. As with their previous two albums From Under the Cork Tree (2005) and Infinity on High (2007), its music was composed by lead vocalist and guitarist Patrick Stump, with lyrics penned by bassist Pete Wentz. Regarding the writing process, the band considered Folie à Deux to be their most collaborative record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Don't Care (Fall Out Boy song)</span> 2008 single by Fall Out Boy

"I Don't Care" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy and the lead single from the group's fourth studio album Folie à Deux in 2008. It was first available for listening on the band's website on September 3, 2008. The song impacted radio on September 16. It is its album's best known song, being certified two-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of two million units, with over 500,000 sales in its first four months alone. In the United States, the song reached No. 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, placing lower than the No. 2 lead single, "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race", of the band's previous 2007 album Infinity on High. It received radio play at Modern Rock and Pop stations, charting at No. 21 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks and No. 22 on Pop Songs.

<i>Save Rock and Roll</i> 2013 studio album by Fall Out Boy

Save Rock and Roll is the fifth studio album by American rock band Fall Out Boy. It was produced by Butch Walker and released on April 12, 2013, through Island Records. On October 15, the album was re-released with PAX AM Days, an extended play the band recorded shortly after Save Rock and Roll's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Phoenix (Fall Out Boy song)</span> 2013 single by Fall Out Boy

"The Phoenix" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy for their fifth studio album Save Rock and Roll (2013). The song was written by the band in collaboration with Butch Walker, who handled production. After being released to digital outlets on March 24, 2013, in advance of the album's release, "The Phoenix" impacted radio on July 16, 2013 as an official single. The song charted for 1 week then fell off. An accompanying music video was also released as part of the ongoing series The Young Blood Chronicles, serving as a prequel to the video of the album's lead single "My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark ".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alone Together (Fall Out Boy song)</span> 2013 single by Fall Out Boy

"Alone Together" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy from their fifth studio album Save Rock and Roll (2013). It was released to American mainstream radio as the album's third overall single and second mainstream radio single on August 6, 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Centuries (song)</span> Fall Out Boy song

"Centuries" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released September 9, 2014 as the lead single from their sixth studio album, American Beauty/American Psycho (2015). Co-written by Fall Out Boy members and producers J. R. Rotem and Omega, the single reached number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100, the band's fourth top ten hit and first in eight years, since "This Ain't a Scene, It's an Arms Race" in 2007, and was certified quadruple Platinum by the RIAA. It reached number one on the UK Rock and Metal Chart. A gladiator-themed music video was created for the song. In 2015, "Centuries" was nominated for the Kerrang! Award for Best Single. Fall Out Boy has played the song numerous times on televised performances, and it was used as ESPN's official theme song for sports coverage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immortals (song)</span> 2014 single by Fall Out Boy

"Immortals" is a song written and recorded by American rock band Fall Out Boy for the 2014 Walt Disney Animation Studios film Big Hero 6. An alternative version appears on the band's sixth studio album American Beauty/American Psycho (2015).

"The Kids Aren't Alright" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy. It was released as a promotional single from their sixth studio album, American Beauty/American Psycho, as a digital download with pre-orders of the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uma Thurman (song)</span> 2015 song by Fall Out Boy

"Uma Thurman" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released digitally on January 12, 2015. The song prominently features sampled theme music from the television series The Munsters (1964–66) and lyrics celebrating the actress Uma Thurman, famous for films such as Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill.

"Young and Menace" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on April 27, 2017, through Island Records and DCD2. It was released as the lead single from the band's seventh studio album, Mania. The music video was released simultaneously with the single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Champion (Fall Out Boy song)</span> 2017 single by Fall Out Boy

"Champion" is a song by American rock band Fall Out Boy, released on June 22, 2017 in the US and on June 23 worldwide through Island Records and DCD2. It was released as the second single from their seventh studio album, Mania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Knock the Hustle (Weezer song)</span> 2018 single by Weezer

"Can't Knock the Hustle" is a song by the American rock band Weezer, released on October 11, 2018 as the lead single for their self titled album, also called the Black Album. A music video was released on the same day.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hines, Morgan (June 29, 2023). "Fall Out Boy covers Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' and people have mixed feelings". USA Today . Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Good, Owen S. (June 28, 2023). "Somehow, Fall Out Boy made an all-time bad song even worse". Polygon . Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  3. ↑ Times, Alexandra Del Rosario Los Angeles (June 30, 2023). "Fall Out Boy updated Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire.' Fans say it's 'unhinged'". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
  4. 1 2 DeVille, Chris (June 28, 2023). "Fall Out Boy update "We Didn't Start The Fire" with events from the past 30+ years". Stereogum . Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  5. ↑ Minsker, Evan (June 30, 2023). "Fall Out Boy update Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' with lyrics about news from 1989 to 2023". Pitchfork . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 Rettig, James (June 28, 2023). "Pete Wentz explains why Fall Out Boy's updated 'We Didn't Start The Fire' isn't chronological and doesn't mention COVID". Stereogum . Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 del Rosario, Alexandra (June 29, 2023). "Fall Out Boy updated Billy Joel's 'We Didn't Start the Fire'. Fans say it's 'unhinged'". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  8. 1 2 "The 33 things wrong with Fall Out Boy's updated 'We Didn't Start the Fire'". Slate . June 28, 2023. Retrieved June 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Parker, Lyndsey (June 28, 2023). "Fall Out Boy references 9/11, Cobain, 'Tom DeLonge and aliens,' Fyre Fest in updated 'We Didn't Start the Fire'". Yahoo! Entertainment . Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  10. ↑ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 3 July 2023". The ARIA Report. No. 1739. Australian Recording Industry Association. July 3, 2023. p. 9.
  11. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of July 12, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Fall Out Boy Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  22. ↑ "Hot Rock & Alternative Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  23. ↑ "Rock & Alternative Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.