Do You Remember All of the Events in “We Didn't Start the Fire?”

By: Gavin Thagard
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Do You Remember All of the Events in “We Didn't Start the Fire?”
Image: Corpus Christi Caller-Times / Associated Press via WikiCommons

About This Quiz

If one thing about history is true, it's that momentous events are always happening, no matter the era. Billy Joel proves that in his hit song "We Didn't Start the Fire," which details 117 events that played out between Joel's birth year in 1949 and the song's release in 1989. Have you heard the song, and do you know all of the events mentioned in it?

"We Didn't Start the Fire" received a lot of praise when it was released as part of the album "Storm Front," making its way to No. 1 in the charts and earning a nomination for the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. But the song's impact went well beyond the praise laid upon it. The song became a symbol for a generation who lived under the pressure of the Cold War while roaming the country as part of the counterculture movement. 

Here's your chance to see how well you identify with this generation and the historical experiences they went through. From the after-effects of WWII through the end of the Reagan years, you'll have to remember a variety of topics. 

Get started and see how long you can hold your feet next to the fire. 

Wladziu Liberace
Allan warren via WikiCommons
Do you remember what Wladziu Liberace was famous for?
Flying airplanes
First governor of Hawaii
Singing
Basketball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The musical talents of Liberace started at a young age when he was considered a child prodigy on the piano. He would go on to become a well-rounded performer, earning the nickname "Mr. Showmanship."

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Rebel Without a Cause
Warner Bros.
Which James Dean movie was released the same year that the young star died?
"Fixed Bayonets!"
"Rebel Without a Cause"
"Sailor Beware"
"Has Anybody Seen My Gal?"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

James Dean starred in "Rebel Without a Cause" beside actor Sal Mineo, who was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as John "Plato" Crawford. Like Dean, Mineo would also die an early death when he was stabbed in West Hollywood.

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Buddy Holly
Brunswick Records via WikiCommons
1959 saw the tragic death of Buddy Holly. How did it happen?
Plane crash
Car crash
Overdose
Gunshot wound
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before dying during a plane crash in 1959, Buddy Holly was an instrumental part of rock 'n' roll's development. Some of Holly's major hits included songs like "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue."

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Sputnik
Музей Космонавтики via WikiCommons
The space race started in 1957 when which artificial satellite was launched by the Soviet Union?
Vanguard
Skylab
Explorer
Sputnik
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Launched on October 4, 1957, Sputnik orbited the earth several times a day during its venture into outer space. It wasn't until January of the next year that the satellite returned to earth, deteriorating in the atmosphere.

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Rock Around the Clock
33Evenstar via YouTube
Are you familiar with the popular rock and roll song mentioned from 1954?
"Mr. Sandman"
"Earth Angel"
"Little Things Mean a Lot"
"Rock Around the Clock"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Songwriters Max Freedman and James Myers wrote the song "Rock Around the Clock" in 1952. However, the song didn't become a cultural phenomenon until it was performed in 1954 by Bill Haley & His Comets.

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Dodgers
historycomestolife via YouTube
Major League Baseball found its way to California when which team moved there in 1958?
Braves
Dodgers
Athletics
Padres
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before the move to California, the Dodgers won a single World Series while they were located in Brooklyn. That 1955 championship team had Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play Major League Baseball.

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Woodstock
James M Shelley via WikiCommons
The counterculture movement reached its height in 1969 when which concert took place?
Newport Folk Festival
Shea Stadium
Woodstock
Monterey Pop Festival
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Drawing over 400,000 young Americans, Woodstock promoted itself as an event filled with peace and music. While there were no acts of violence, two people did die: one from a drug overdose and one when he was run over by a tractor while asleep.

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Birth control
Don Farrall / Photodisc / Getty Images
Do you know which controversy surrounded the medical field in 1965?
Chemotherapy
Lobotomy
Birth control
AIDS treatment
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 1965 Supreme Court ruling in Griswold v. Connecticut provided married couples with the right to use birth control in private. Even with the ruling, 26 states refused to allow unmarried women access to it.

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Bay of Pigs Invasion
Rumlin via WikiCommons
The Bay of Pigs saw the United States plan a failed invasion of what country?
Argentina
Cuba
Vietnam
Russia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By 1961, the United States realized Fidel Castro, the dictator in Cuba, was a threat to U.S. security. In an effort to remove him from power, the CIA trained Cubans who had fled the country and sent them on an invasion that turned into a complete failure.

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Richard Nixon
Ollie Atkins via WikiCommons
Richard Nixon had to resign from the presidency after which political scandal?
Whiskey Ring
Watergate
Teapot Dome
Iran-Contra Affair
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Richard Nixon remains the only U.S. president to ever resign from office when he left in 1974. He was replaced by Gerald Ford, who finished out Nixon's term before losing the next election to Jimmy Carter.

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John F. Kennedy assassination
Walt Cisco, Dallas Morning News via WikiCommons
"We Didn't Start the Fire" discusses the assassination of which important figure in 1963?
Ngo Dinh Diem
Martin Luther King Jr.
Malcolm X
John F. Kennedy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prior to becoming president, John F. Kennedy published a book titled "Profiles in Courage," which details eight short biographies from senators who went across party lines to do what was right for the country. The book earned a Pulitzer Prize for Biography.

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Landing on the moon
NASA via WikiCommons
How did the United States gain the upper hand in the space race in 1969?
Orbiting the earth
Sending a person into space
Landing on Mars
Landing on the moon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

On July 21, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the moon. Armstrong was followed onto the moon soon after by Buzz Aldrin. The two men completed President John F. Kennedy's 1961 proclamation that the U.S. would land a person on the moon by the end of the '60s.

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AIDS
TIME via YouTube
Which disease almost became a pandemic in the 1980s despite being largely ignored by politicians?
Tuberculosis
AIDS
Smallpox
Camp fever
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though the disease wasn't known by the name AIDS at the time, cases of the disease were first reported in 1981 in the United States. The disease primarily affected minority and gay communities, which was a major reason it was ignored by politicians.

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Wheel of Fortune
Official Navy Page from United States of America Trevor Welsh/U.S. Navy via WikiCommons
Who was hired to host "Wheel of Fortune" in 1981?
Pat Sajak
Bob Barker
Richard Dawson
Bob Eubanks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pat Sajak's career began as a news host on a radio station in Chicago, where he worked the night shift. He continued to work in radio for years until he was hired onto "Wheel of Fortune" in 1981.

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homeless veteran
CatLane / E+ / Getty Images
The song mentions homeless veterans in the 1980s who served in which war?
WWII
Gulf War
Korean War
Vietnam War
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Support for the Vietnam War remained relatively high throughout the '60s, as Americans feared that if Vietnam fell to communism then so would the rest of Asia. It wasn't until news outlets began depicting the atrocities of the war that U.S. support faded.

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Psycho
Shamley Productions
Can you name the famous filmmaker who created the thriller "Psycho"?
Steven Spielberg
Stanley Kubrick
Alfred Hitchcock
Wes Anderson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Alfred Hitchcock added an entire new level of suspense to film when he started making movies. "Psycho" might be the best example of his ability to craft suspense, but he also created thriller films such as "Vertigo" and "North by Northwest."

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Elvis Presley
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc. via WikiCommons
RCA Records signed which singing legend to a contract in 1955?
Bob Dylan
Ray Charles
Dean Martin
Elvis Presley
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Born on January 8, 1935, Elvis Presley had a twin brother who was born shortly before him. However, his brother, Jesse, was stillborn, leaving Elvis an only child throughout his life.

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Sex Pistols
Koen Suyk via WikiCommons
Do you know which style of music the Sex Pistols helped usher in?
Heavy metal
Americana
Punk rock
Grunge
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Though it has roots that can be traced back to garage bands in the '60s, the first major punk rock scene began in New York in the mid-70s. The club CBGB in the Bowery District became the center of the movement.

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Studebaker
Greg Gjerdingen via WikiCommons
Can you remember the car company that is brought up in the song because it went out of business in the '50s?
Ford
Chevy
AMC
Studebaker
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before its downfall, Studebaker had a history of manufacturing that dated back to the company's founding in 1852. Obviously, there weren't motorized vehicles at the time, but the company did produce wagons used by farmers and miners.

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Hula-Hoops
Unknown via WikiCommons
Billy Joel brings up what popular toy whose sales soared in the late '50s?
Toy red rifles
Hula hoops
Jump ropes
Slinkies
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

First marketed by Wham-O in 1958, Hula-Hoops were finally patented in 1963 by Arthur Melin, a co-founder of the company. The toy was so popular that around 25 million were sold in the first four months.

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Berlin Wall
spreephoto.de / Moment / Getty Images
In which major European city was a wall erected dividing the east from the west?
Berlin
Paris
London
Moscow
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Following WWII, Berlin was divided between communist Russia in the East and the democratic states in the West, becoming a symbolic representation of the Cold War. The Berlin Wall was erected to keep East Germans from fleeing to West Germany due to economic woes.

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Joseph Stalin
Mikhail Mikhaylovich Kalashnikov via WikiCommons
Billy Joel mentions the death of a famous world leader in 1953. Who is the leader?
Winston Churchill
Hirohito
Joseph Stalin
Philippe Petain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After the death of Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin was able to eliminate his political rivals to seize full power in Russia, making him the dictator of the Soviet Union. During his reign, he transformed the country into an industrial powerhouse but at the cost of many lives.

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Disneyland
Uncredited via WikiCommons
Are you familiar with the famous theme park brought up in the song?
Disneyland
Six Flags
Universal Studios
SeaWorld
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Built in Anaheim, California, the original Disneyland was built on 160 acres to entertain fans, adults and children alike. Though success would come, the first day was a disaster after thousands of counterfeited invitations were given out.

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Monkey
NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center via WikiCommons
Can you identify the animal that the United States first sent into space on flight Jupiter AM-18?
Dog
Cat
Lizard
Monkey
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Two monkeys, Able and Baker, were sent into space aboard Jupiter AM-18, becoming the first official American astronauts. Both monkeys returned safely to earth after a 16-minute mission that carried them over 300 miles into the air.

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The Catcher in the Rye
Raptis Rare Books via YouTube
Billy Joel brings up which controversial novel published in 1951?
"Lolita"
"The Catcher in the Rye"
"The Color Purple"
"Ulysses"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The author of "The Catcher in the Rye," J.D. Salinger, was a veteran of WWII, where he served in Europe during the advancement on Berlin. The theme of alienation depicted in the book is often thought to have been influenced by his time at war.

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Joe DiMaggio
Sporting News via WikiCommons
Do you know which famous player from the New York Yankees is mentioned in the song?
Babe Ruth
Joe DiMaggio
Lou Gehrig
Yogi Berra
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Joe DiMaggio played his entire MLB career with the New York Yankees from 1936 until 1951, though he did miss three years to serve in the military during WWII. The winner of nine World Series, his most famous accomplishment was his 56-game hitting streak that set an MLB record.

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Ho Chi Minh
Stratigraphy via WikiCommons
What's the name of the Vietnamese leader mentioned in the song?
Ho Chi Minh
Ngo Dinh Diem
Chiang Kai-shek
Park Chung-hee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While living in France during WWI, Ho Chi Minh tuned into the Bolshevik Revolution taking place in Russia, where he would later travel. His travels eventually carried him back to Vietnam, where he founded the Viet Minh in 1941.

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1982 Jackson Pepsi commercial
PepsiCo
What did Coke and Pepsi use to promote their products to younger consumers as they engaged in a marketing war in 1989?
Toys
Wrestling
Rock 'n' roll
Sports
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The increased popularity of rock 'n' roll in the 1980s can largely be credited to the rise of MTV, which went on air in 1981. The television station was created to promote music and also incorporated music videos that launched the careers of many bands.

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Round 1
ABC
During what round of the 1962 boxing match between Sonny Liston and Floyd Patterson was Patterson knocked out?
Round 1
Round 6
Round 12
Round 15
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Known for his speed and agility, Floyd Patterson is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. However, Sonny Liston proved to be his weakness, knocking him out not once but twice in the first round.

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Trouble in the Suez
United States Army Heritage and Education Center via WikiCommons
Where is Bill Joel referring to with "Trouble in the Suez"?
Egypt
China
Panama
Vietnam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The crisis at the Suez Canal was the result of Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalizing the canal for Egypt. The move angered the Israelis, who were backed by French and British forces.

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Camp David Accords
Unknown via WikiCommons
Do you know which year the Camp David Accords were negotiated by Menachem Begin, the Prime Minister of Israel?
1971
1973
1975
1978
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

U.S. President Jimmy Carter brought together Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat at Camp David. The Camp David Accords that resulted initiated peace between the two nations for a time, though it wouldn't last.

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syringe on beach
Picavet / Photographer's Choice RF / Getty Images
Known as the syringe tide, where did medical waste illegally dumped at sea wash up on American shores in the late '80s?
New Jersey
Florida
California
Oregon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

New Jersey wasn't the only state affected by the syringe tide, as illegally dumped medical waste also found its way to shores across New York and Connecticut. The event played a major role in the support for environmentalism that arose by the end of the '80s.

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Crack
Psychonaught via WikiCommons
Many Americans faced jail time as what drug mentioned by Billy Joel devastated communities?
Heroine
Crack
Meth
Opium
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The crack epidemic in the 1980s caused soaring crime rates across the United States, particularly in inner cities. The epidemic resulted in policies supported by the Ronald Raegan administration that were tough on crime and drugs.

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Korean War
U.S. Army Korea - Installation Management Command via WikiCommons
In 1950, the United States was pulled into a foreign war in what Asian country?
Vietnam
Japan
China
Korea
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Korean War started on June 25, 1950, when soldiers from North Korea crossed the 38th parallel. It took less than a month for the United States to enter the war on the side of South Korea, beginning the first military engagement of the Cold War.

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Joseph McCarthy and Roy Cohn
United Press International telephoto via WikiCommons
A prominent lawyer, who did Roy Cohn work for?
Robert McNamara
Richard Nixon
Joseph McCarthy
Robert F. Kennedy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Prior to his death from AIDS, Roy Cohn served as the advisor and lawyer to future Republican president Donald Trump. The end of his life and death are depicted in Tony Kushner's famous play "Angels in America."

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Alabama
History via YouTube
"We Didn't Start the Fire" calls out the bus boycotts in which southern state?
Georgia
Tennessee
Alabama
Mississippi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Buses in Alabama, along with other parts of the South, held tight segregated seating requirements, forcing African Americans to the back of the bus. Boycotts began in response to these requirements after the arrest of Rosa Parks, who refused to abide.

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Jack Kerouac
Tom Palumbo via WikiCommons
"On the Road" was written by which member of the Beat Generation?
Allen Ginsberg
William Burroughs
Jack Kerouac
Gary Snyder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For many Americans post WWII, the United States was viewed more as a country to explore than to settle in. Jack Kerouac decided to share his travels around the country in his novel "On the Road," which became a defining work of the Beat Generation.

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Hiroshima
George R. Caron via WikiCommons
The first line in the song references which U.S. president known for authorizing the bomb dropped on Hiroshima?
Harry S. Truman
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower
John F. Kennedy
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Harry S. Truman identified the next major concern following WWII as the spread of communism, which was particularly prevalent in Asia, Eastern Europe and South America. To combat this, Truman issued the Truman Doctrine, giving any country facing suppressive regimes access to U.S. aid.

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South Pacific
Unknown via WikiCommons
The widely acclaimed musical "South Pacific" is mentioned in the song. When did it premier on Broadway?
1949
1955
1962
1974
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The music for "South Pacific" was created by the famous duo Rodgers and Hammerstein. The two creators also worked on several other musicals together, including "Carousel," "Oklahoma!" and "The Sound of Music."

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St. Valentine's Day Massacre
NBC
"Sugar" Ray Robinson fought Jake LaMotta in 1951 in a match given which title?
Rumble in the Jungle
St. Valentine's Day Massacre
The Fight of the Century
The Moment
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The boxing match between "Sugar" Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta was named after the St. Valentine's Day Massacre that took place in Chicago in 1929, when members of the North Side Gang were slain by men dressed as police officers. The fight received the name because it took place in Chicago on February 14.

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You Got:
/40
Corpus Christi Caller-Times / Associated Press via WikiCommons