Fall Out Boy updates Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” name drops Pokémon and Metroid

“We Didn’t Start the Fire” is a song written and published by Billy Joel, and it was released all the way back in 1989. Those familiar with the song know that it tells a story through 118 significant political, cultural, scientific, and sporting events between 1949 (the year of Joel’s birth) and 1989, in mainly chronological order.

While everything mentioned in the original song is certainly still relevant and important, there’s no modern-day equivalent of the tune…until now. In a new video from Fall Out Boy, we see that the band has covered Billy Joel’s classic, but updated it with all-new lyrics.

The 2023 version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire” makes mention of things today’s generation will certainly know of, or have at least heard in passing. There’s definitely a heaping helping of serious topics mentioned, but there’s also some surprising topics. For example, throughout the song you’ll hear both Pokémon and Metroid brought up.

The original “We Didn’t Start the Fire” wasn’t without its pop culture references, but something about this 2023 version seems considerably less serious. That’s not to say it’s good/bad/wrong because of it, but it’s an interesting take at the least.