Fall Out Boy's Epic Spin on Billy Joel's Classic: Unveiling the Genius Behind 'We Didn't Start the Fire' Remix

Pete Wentz and Billy Joel. Shutterstock (2)

Fall Out Boy gave a contemporary touch to a timeless rock anthem, reworking the lyrics of Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" over three decades after its initial release in 1989.

Released on Thursday, June 28, the Grammy-nominated group unveiled their updated rendition, replacing the original song's references to popular culture and politics with significant events from the last 30 years. These include the passing of Michael Jackson, the impeachments of former President Donald Trump, the issue of climate change, the Black Lives Matter movement, the highly publicized feud between Taylor Swift and Kanye West, and more.

Bassist and lyricist Pete Wentz, in an interview with Apple Music 1's Zane Lowe, discussed the process behind the band's decision to create a new version of the song. Wentz revealed that he had been pushing for this for a while and it finally materialized with the approval of bandmate Patrick Stump.

Wentz, 44, shared his personal connection to the original song, recalling how he listened to it as a child and struggled to understand certain parts. This curiosity led him to research various aspects of the song. He also discussed the challenge of deciding which elements to include in the new version, as some aspects of the original had become obscure with time. Despite these considerations, the band proceeded with the project, resulting in a fun and lighthearted rendition.

Fall Out Boy's reimagined version encompasses various topics ranging from the passing of Queen Elizabeth II to the September 11 terrorist attacks. However, it's worth noting that the band wasn't too concerned about adhering to a chronological order. "It may be slightly jumbled, but that's just the way it is," Wentz mentioned in an interview with Apple Music. "We purposely wanted to give the Internet something to complain about."

Interestingly, the band deliberately opted to exclude any references to the COVID-19 pandemic in their new lyrics. Wentz clarified that it was because the pandemic dominated discussions extensively. "It felt like there were certain topics that were too obvious," he explained. "On the other hand, there were instances like Bush V. Gore where we needed the words to rhyme."

Patrick Stump, Andy Hurley, Pete Wentz, and Joe Trohman of Fall Out Boy. Hahn Lionel/ABACA/Shutterstock

Fall Out Boy's rendition of "We Didn't Start the Fire" may not resonate with listeners, but Wentz expressed his satisfaction with their creation. In today's music and art industry, the advantage lies in releasing something and seeing how it is received. If it doesn't connect, it simply fades into obscurity. However, if it strikes a chord with people, it becomes something significant. The ability to release numerous creations and have them either gain traction or fade away is a byproduct of the current artistic landscape. As for Joel, who is 74 years old, there has been no commentary regarding the cover. In a previous episode of the "We Didn't Start the Fire: The History Podcast," aired in October 2021, Joel had discussed his thoughts on people's opinions of his iconic song, which was originally included on his 1989 album, Storm Front.

On the series, he disclosed that the only feedback he received about the song was people saying, "I despise that song!" This show devotes an episode to dissecting all the references in the song's lyrics. "There are some individuals who really dislike that song. It's one of the most hated things I've ever written! And I can't understand why."

At the time, Joel mentioned that he "only wrote about things he wanted to hear" and that it was merely "dumb luck" that the song became popular. "I didn't even select the singles; the record company decides what will be released as a single," he elaborated. "I give them an album with a bunch of songs and say, 'Here you go, now it's your turn. You figure it out.'"