Brigitte Bardot’s death at age 91 marks a subtle but striking shift in pop culture history, especially for fans of Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” With her passing, only three people named in Joel’s rapid-fire chronicle of postwar history—Bob Dylan, Chubby Checker, and Bernie Goetz—are still alive. The rest, nearly six decades of world-shaping personalities, have become part of the past, underscoring the remarkable sweep of time since the song’s 1989 release.
“We Didn’t Start the Fire” was more than just a chart-topping hit; it was a whirlwind history lesson, referencing 59 famous names from politics, sports, science, and entertainment. Joel never prioritized their importance, instead capturing the relentless pace and breadth of modern history. Brigitte Bardot’s inclusion in the song highlighted her status as a global icon. In the 1950s and 60s, Bardot’s performances in films such as “…And God Created Woman” and “La Vérité” helped define a generation of European cinema. She later dedicated her life to animal rights advocacy, cementing her legacy far beyond the silver screen.
The dwindling number of living figures referenced in the song has renewed interest in both Bardot’s impact and the song’s enduring power. It’s a reminder of how quickly history moves and how the icons of one era eventually become the legends of another. With Bardot’s passing, the cultural time capsule Billy Joel assembled becomes even more poignant—each name now a chapter closed, save for the last three living references, themselves now elderly.
Reflecting on the song’s origins, Billy Joel once described it as a response to younger generations who underestimated the significance of the 1950s. His lyrics became a testament to the dramatic changes and enduring personalities of the era. Brigitte Bardot, with her cinematic influence and lifelong activism, remains one of the most vivid symbols of that time, her legacy now even more firmly etched in history as “We Didn’t Start the Fire” continues to echo through the decades.