We didn't start the fire, medieval and Renaissance version

[selenak]

Okay, this is one of the geekiest things I've ever seen, and I love it. Also, am somewhat proud a getting most of the references. Though I have to say having spent the last year listening to the History of Byzantium podcast helped, because the references aren't all anglocentric but really try for European (and part of Asian) history. And everlasting kudos to the lyricist(s) for coming up with this gem: "Few things here to read but the Nibelungenlied"!

Watch on YouTube

Now I want to do a Frederician or 18th Century Enlightenment version, hmm..... When I have time! Whenever that will be! But I want to do it!

Comments

[vivdunstan]

Yup it’s fab :) I adored it as a historian too. And shared it on my Facebook the other night.

[selenak]

The only thing I found weird was the Thomas More line - as he denied not the Church but the Royal Supremacy - but hey, everything else is so wonderful!

[mildred_of_midgard]

Okay, so I'm not the only one who spent several iterations of the song thinking, "He denied what, now?"? Eventually I convinced myself that if you squint, you could see that as denying the Church of England, but I was still rather uncertain. Thank you for confirming it struck you as weird too.

Still a great song, and I look forward to our salon productions!

[vivdunstan]

I was wondering if they'd muddled up their Thomases ...

[selenak]

Thomas Cromwell doesn’t fit, either, though, since he died for the entirely unreligious reason of Henry VIII being unable to cope with the Cleves marriage, the principal mover of which he’d been. And William Tyndale, who died in between Thomases for actual line fitting reasons, was a William, not a Thomas.

(Even going back to Thomas Becket makes no sense - that one died for representing the Church in a very medieval Church versus State showdown, too, not for denying it.)

[vivdunstan]

I was thinking of Cranmer.

[selenak]

By Jove, I think you've got it! That WOULD make sense. I'll have to rewatch and check which illustration they use in the background for this verse, since the depiction of Cramner getting burned is pretty iconic.

[sovay]

"Few things here to read but the Nibelungenlied"!

That is pretty terrific. Mostly because it mirrored the rhyme scheme of the original, I was also fond of "Seven papal regicides!"

[selenak]

Seven Papal Regicides: Sex isn't the only thing the Pornocracy era was famous for!

[ffutures]

I saw these blogged by someone before the pandemic, they're a lot of fun

I particularly like a couple by Hildegard von Blingin'

Bad Romance - https://youtu.be/i2zpbcW-h-c?si=Nnqaz1Al2tg_M8RQ

and

Holding Out for a Hero - https://youtu.be/Nx-x_1lIXh4?si=iwTu50-HWkuvS6xX

which has very nice animated graphics

[selenak]

These are adorable, too, as is their take on Jolene.

[mildred_of_midgard]

That's awesome! I'm also proud of recognizing most of the references (though I'd be reluctant to be quizzed on the details of some).

It also introduced me to the Billy Joel version, which I wasn't familiar with. And hilariously, the proportion of references I recognize is about the same.

ETA: Also, yes, let us do both the Frederician and 18th century versions!

[selenak]

In similar irony, I had heard the Billy Joel song often on the radio, but the first time I actually took notice of the lyrics was when chaila did a great Battlestar Galactica vid set to it. :)

It is an inspiring ear worm, isn't it.

[mildred_of_midgard]

It reminds me of Neil Diamond's "Done Too Soon", with the difference that I like this one better.

It's an evil ear worm that causes you to not get other things done! :D

[trobadora]

Oh wow, this is cool!

[makamu]

That's brilliant - thanks for sharing.

[selenak]

You're welcome!

[lynnenne]

LOLOLOL! I haven't seen this before, thanks for sharing it.

[selenak]

You're welcome!

[cahn]

omg that's AMAZING. and so well put together -- i love all the little details, like the medieval-rock instrumentation and the graphics in the background. and also "Few things here to read but the Nibelungenlied"! :D

YES to Frederician/Enlightenment version!!

[redfiona99]

Hildegard of Blinging is one of my favourite Youtubers, she's just so good, both musically, and the way she adapts the song to her style.

Youtube has failed and not notified me of this one, so thank you so much!!!!

[itsnotmymind]

As someone who loves the Billy Joel song, to the point of memorizing the lyrics, this is delightful!

[watervole]

That was great!

[kathyh]

That was brilliant. I was quite pleased with myself for recognising most of the references. Off to find more of the creator’s work. Many thanks for sharing.

[bobbiewickham]

Ok, I loved this, though I only got about half the references. Panic it's the Mongols!