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Europe's Never Boring (a NationStates Europe parody of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire)
Europe's Never Boring (a NationStates Europe parody of Billy Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire)
Many thanks to Feria-Alkaline, Laver Island, The Poland-Lithuania Commonwealth, Regnum Italiae, South St Maarten, and St Scarlett who all helped me on this project, despite being unaware of what I was working on, as I very very slowly worked away at it over seven months.
This project has been a labour of love of mine, despite me frequently cursing the undertaking; it's something I've wanted to create for more than a year. Similarly to Billy Joel's original song, Europe's Never Boring explores significant people and events in Europe's history, or maybe more specifically, significant events during my time in Europe (which is almost three years). I have tried to be as inclusive and thorough as I can, however I couldn't include many events or people due to restrictions in the length of the song, the syllable counts of each line, and the rhyming schemes. If you're not mentioned in the song, I'm really sorry, but I did the best I could.
Now, before I start, I would like to point out that I have tried my best to keep Billy Joel's rhythm and often the rhyme-scheme and rhymes themselves. The parody should flow much like the original, and should hopefully sound like it as well. For your ease in enjoying it, I've included three columns in the table below: the parody's lyrics, the lyrics with phonetics and timing, and the original lyrics for comparison.
So, without further ado, here it is:
Here's an instrumental version of the song so you can pair it with the lyrics and enjoy the parody properly (the lyrics are meant to begin at 0:35 on the video)
Europe's Never Boring | Timing/Pronunciation | We Didn't Start the Fire |
Laver Island, ESA, Korasta, Mongol Plain | Laver Island, ee ess ay, Korasta, Mongol Plain | Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnny Ray |
Greifenburg, Naifon, Zombie Days, Arctic’s gone | Greifenburg, Nai-fon, Zombie Days, Arctic’s gone | Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom |
Europe's never boring | Europe's never boring | We didn't start the fire |
Dabarastan, Wombelland, Reichson unfairly banned | Dabarastan, Wombelland, Reichson unfairly banned | Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev |
Schultzheim, Regy, there are many Germanies | Schultzheim, Reh-jee, there are many Germanies | Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn's got a winning team |
Europe's never boring | Europe's never boring | We didn't start the fire |
Orient, Serb-Mac, never gonna have a map | Orient, Serb-Mak, never gonna have a map | Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac |
Eritei, Miharr, Pualo Country, Yahlia | Ee ree tee, Me-harr, Pwalo Country, Yahlia | Buddy Holly, "Ben Hur", space monkey, Mafia |
Europe's never boring | Europe's never boring | We didn't start the fire |
Galway, Edan, and it’s Great New Sealand | Gal-way, Ed-an, and it’s Great New Sealand | Hemingway, Eichmann, "Stranger in a Strange Land" |
Europe's never boring | Europe's never boring | We didn't start the fire |
Triple-post, Reiserland, EuroNews back again | Triple-post, Riserland, EuroNews back agan | Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again |
Europe's never boring | Europe's never boring | We didn't start the fire |
But what does the song reference?
Europe's Never Boring Lyric | Meaning (descriptions accurate as of 1 May 2020) |
Laver Island | Laver Island is the European RMB regular with the most RMB posts and likes recieved. He is popular in the region. |
ESA | The earth systems alliance was a former European. He is generally remembered in a negative light due to his unpopular opinions on a variety of matters that embroiled the region in debate |
Korasta | |
Mongol Plain | The mongol plain used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
Nukls-Andwicz | Nukls-Andwicz, pronounced "knuckle sandwich", is an ancient European known for their now infrequent bursts of incoherence |
Drew Durnil | Popular YouTuber Drew Durnil made a video about NationStates and the subsequent flood of his subscribers who joined the website lagged NationStates badly and massively increased the player-base |
No (Bo)homo | Bohomo, a member of the 'Old Guard' has recently had their name joked about due to it's phonetic similarity to the phrase "no homo" in internet culture |
Black Party | |
Adrien | Eurocord, the European Discord server, member adrien99 |
Cytadela | Cytadela used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
Foucaults garden | Foucaults garden was a former member of the 'Old Guard', their legacy is one of sarcasm |
Outer Sparta | Outer Sparta is an RMB regular and member of the 'Old Guard' |
Jenesia | Jenesia was a former delegate of Europe |
Saint Domingo | Saint domingo used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
Greifenburg | |
Naifon | Naifon used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive. He was one of the memeiest Europeans and the first member of the Commission |
Zombie Days | The annual Halloween NationStates event, Z-Day |
Arctic's gone | The arctic confederacy was banned from Europe for anti-Semitic remarks. Being a generally well-liked nation, the ban was vocally condemned |
Qroma | |
Lavlett line | The popular 'ship of Laver Island and St Scarlett evolved into a monarchical family tree featuring many other Europeans |
EuroFounder is a spy | Many Europeans believe our founder, EuroFounder, wielded unprecedented executive power during the EuroFounder Crisis to assist the Pacific during a war, because he is operated by someone who is influential in the other region |
Bathera | Bathera used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
Twente | Twente is an ancient European and the most populous nation in Europe |
Utop's prey for TNP | Former European Utopicican was hounded by many The North Pacificers after moving to our region from theirs as he was unpopular in TNP |
Slavakino | Slavakino is a former European who was banned from the region after making repeated homophobic and transphobic remarks. He is generally remembered negatively due to his unpopular opinions on a variety of matters that would embroil the region in debate |
Apabeossie | Apabeossie is a current RMB regular |
Terminus did you die? | Terminus lambda, a beloved former RMB regular. He disappeared after alluding to being diagnosed with a terminal illness |
Dabarastan | Dabarastan is a former European who left the region after being derided for his regional political views |
Wombelland | Wombelland is a largely inactive European who has accidentally assumed the delegacy more than once |
Reichson unfairly banned | Imperial reichson was wrongfully banned from Europe after The canadian-american federationalleged Reichson sent him porn in a telegram. This claim was proven false and Reichson returned to Europe |
Kaspinia | Kaspinia used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
Black Yahlia | The Black Yahlia is a short story, inspired by the real-life murder, novel, and film about the Black Dahlia, written by Laver Island. Featuring many Europeans, it was immensly popular |
CAF's found out | The canadian-american federation, after falsely accusing Imperial reichson of sending him pornography, was outed by the NationStates moderators as the infamous European troll Ragula |
Alba-Nord | Alba-nord used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
ModCom | Europe's Moderation Committee which deliberates over internal moderation affairs |
New Nordic Union | The New Nordic Union is a current RMB regular |
Worst Nation Possible | The worst nation possible is a nation that systemically declared war on most of Europe with short personalised declarations to many RMB regulars |
"Knock it off, NOW!" | This phrase has gained infamy after being used by NationStates moderators after they were unreasonable |
Schultzheim | Schultzheim was a former RMB regular. He was also known as Schultzhafen |
Regy | Regnum Italiae is an RMB regular and popular member of the Commission |
there are many Germanies | Europe has many nations that are inspired by and based off of Germany |
Lib or Krest? | An RMB regular has two equal nations: Libertandonien and Krestonien |
Like-spam | Many nations in Europe have been prone to like-spamming |
Dizgovzy | Dizgovzy is a current RMB regular |
Satherland | Republic of satherland used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
Alsted | Alsted is an ancient European, formerly having served as delegate |
MSF | |
"Hail Norta!" | This quotation is a popular phrase of former RMB regular Nort alliance |
Dutch Riv | Rivierenland, current RMB regular, is Dutch |
prison breaks | Galway-Dublin, an RMB regular before growing more inactive, created a parody of the common 'International Relations [Friendship Level]' factbook about who she would participate with in a hypothetical prison break/bank heist |
no roleplays | Roleplaying is forbidden on Europe's RMB |
governmental ostriches | Rivierenland sparked regional drama when he likened Europe's Home Secretary, Feria-Alkaline, to an ostrich for "sticking her head in the sand" during trolling crises. The analogy is now memed by the RMB regulars |
Orient | The Oriental Empire is a current RMB regular |
Serb-Mac | |
never gonna have a map | Despite many requests and queries, Europe will never have a regional map due to the large number of nations and impractality of creating one |
Scarlett | St Scarlett is a current RMB regular and the longest-serving Commission member in European history |
fierce gay pride | During an altercation with Slavakino, many RMB regulars changed their flags to various LGBT pride flags in an act of solidarity in the face of Slavakino's homophobia |
Feria-Alkaline | Feria-Alkaline is a current RMB regular and is currently serving as Europe's Home Secretary |
Novgorod | Novgorod-Pskov is a current RMB regular |
Baska's nuggs | Kalifer and baska is a current RMB regular who regularly posted about chicken nuggets |
the high horse is Samog's | Samog, a former European troll, posted a message that read: "Get off your high horse, 3rd grader", it has since been memed among RMB regulars |
Commissar | The Commissar position in Europe was created by EuroFounder during the EuroFounder crisis. Forgotton Warriors was appointed to the position, originally called 'Advisor'. When Europeans passed legislation to remove the position of Advisor, it was renamed by EuroFounder to 'Commissar', rendering the legislation invalid |
Herbshire tried | Of herbshire has run several campaigns for the Commission without much luck |
Christmas countdown genocide | As a parody of other RMB regulars' trivia countdowns to Christmas, former European Madagasikyara created a countdown that discussed various historical genocides. The parody was widely condemned by the community as insensitive and it was discontinued. Yahlia, in support of Madagasikyara's freedom of speech, continued the coutdown for him |
Eritei | Eritei is a current RMB regular |
Miharr | |
Pualo Country | Pualo country was a former European troll |
Yahlia | Yahlia is a current RMB regular and writer of Europe's Never Boring [hi :P] |
Shongbao | Shongbao was a former RMB regular, he is not remembered fondly due to allegations of baiting |
Kiro | Kirostan was a former RMB regular, he was banned from Europe for making repeated sexual comments to minors |
let's play Baptist Bingo | Jim the Baptist sparked mass argument in Europe when he proposed a shake-up of the region's politics. His ideas, which were largely derided, were often telegrammed to Europe in lengthy messages. The mongol plain eventually made a bingo sheet for Europeans to play with when reading Jim's correspondences to see if they got bingo |
We hate CCD | The region Confederation of Corrupt Dictators is generally hostile to the entire community of NationStates and the World Assembly, however, a large about of their attention is giving to Europe. Given their obsession for slandering our region, the dislike is now mutual |
there are many football leagues | Roleplay football leagues make popular community events in Europe, and subsequently many exist |
Apple cider | Former regular Schultzheim created the nation Ukcss mother to annoy Ukcs/Korasta. The mother nation would often offer the RMB drinks of apple cider |
Suo | |
Ragula had to go | Ragula is Europe's most infamous troll. It is often joked that one should not say his name, similar to Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter series |
Galway | Galway-Dublin is a current RMB regular, she is known for her innuendoes |
Edan | |
and it's Great New Sealand | |
Nardin | Nardin is an old European who has somewhat recently become an RMB regular |
Maarten | South St Maarten is a current RMB regular |
tabby cat invasion | Operation Tabby Cat was a successful, though short-lived, invasion of the region to depose Imperium Anglorum of his delegacy for allegedly making a mockery of the World Assembly |
Deng of Central Africa | Unpopular people, a nation which supported Jim the Baptist's reform efforts, and proved so with repeated telegrams and RMB posts, claimed to be named Deng and from the Central African Republic |
British Calradia | British calradia was an RMB regular untill he was banned for making racist posts |
Potus | Potus branada used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
Aweland | Aweland was a former RMB regular. He is remembered poorly due to his toxic behaviour |
weeb-hunting telegrams | During a contentious election for a place in the Commission, Ubitarium released a vicious telegram condemning Moravian-silesian federation, one of the candidates, for like anime |
Short shorts | Short shorts was an ancient European. They hold the honour of possessing the first recorded RMB message |
there's cocaine in pretend Hunger Games | Galway-Dublin found an online Hunger Games simulator with customisable events. Many European regulars participated in cocaine-orgies in the simulation |
Imperium Anglorum's absolute dominion | Europe's delegate, Imperium Anglorum, has held his position for many years and remains one of, if not the, most powerful and influential nations in European history |
Triple-post | Triple-posting is forbidden on Europe's RMB |
Reiserland | |
EuroNews back again | EuroNews, Europe's leading newsletter died for many months before being revived once again |
Temperate | In one of St Scarlett's regional polls, she asked Europe what the main climate of our nations was. She made a grevious error when she didn't include 'temperate' as an option and was subsequently teased, light-heartedly, for not including it. To make it up the region, another poll was made which included at least one 'temperate' option |
mods wack | RMB regulars generally think that the NationStates mods are bad at their jobs |
PoLiet | The Poland-Lithuania Commonwealth is a current RMB regular and is currently serving as Europe's Foreign Secretary |
NSAC | The north states of america and canada was a former RMB regular |
Madagasikyara | |
Pilipinas Malaya | Pilipinas and Malaya is a current RMB regular |
ANZACs in Iran | During the uncertainty in the world after the United States assasinated Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Yahlia, a New Zealander, convinced Dizgovzy that he had been drafted to and was currently fighting a war in Iran |
Bonza hates Italians | Bonza was a troll who had a personal vendetta against Italians. Italian nations, such as Regnum Italiae, were harrassed by Bonza, and his puppets, until their banjection |
Tricuitoon | |
DfC | Diamonds from cardverse used to be an RMB regular before growing more inactive |
choccy milk | There's a recurring joke that Yahlia urinates in people's chocolate milk [-_-] |
KoD | The Kingdom of Denmark is a current RMB regular |
parties of nationalists | For a brief time on the RMB, many puppet nations revolving around nationalist parties were prolific |
foot-fetish cultists | For a brief time on the RMB, many nations revolving around feet were prolific |
Anti-technocratic war | Europe went through a phase of technocratic governments. To counter this alleged threat, an alliance was created to oppose the ideology. A roleplay war ensued |
Commission loses Gor | After being apparently wrongly ejected from the Word Assembly for WA-multying, then-recently elected Gor Kebab was removed from the Commission (WA-membership is a requirement of sitting on the Commission) |
Jasper banned for porn | Jasperium, also known as Overmorrow, was banned from Europe for sending porn to a minor |
every single day there's more | Europeans keep posting |