Viral-videologist Debbie Saslaw on the Creative Process
Billy Joel’s “We Didn’t Start the Fire” commented on decades worth of cultural and political events. But Brooklyn-based writer, producer, and director Debbie Saslaw’s lyrics for her cover of the famous track spanned just one year. Saslaw shrewdly recognized that 2017 alone contained enough political absurdities and newsworthiness to fill even the most lyrically-packed arrangement.
We at TimeTravlr had the great pleasure of helping produce the song’s music video, which has 23,000 views and counting on YouTube. We recently caught up with with Debbie to discuss her creative process, how this idea came to be, and if we can expect a 2018 version. Read that below and enjoy the video, too.
This video is hilarious and sharp. How did you come up with the idea?Well, it’s not a very original idea. It’s been referenced dozens of times in various television shows. There was a meme going around when Twitter increased its character limit from 140 to 280 characters — people started turning whatever socio-political monstrosities happened that week into verses — and I figured someone else like SNL would do it at the end of 2017. I wanted to beat them to it.
What was the process like for coming up with the lyrics? How did you decide which events to include?
I use CNN as white noise while I’m working on other things, and I have a Tumblr where I’ve been chronicling all the absurd news Chyrons of the Trump Administration (a quick plug!). So I actually used a lot of that, and used Billy Joel’s exact rhyme scheme, which limited the amount of syllables I could use. Unfortunately, Melania got put on the chopping block.
How long did the process take — from idea, to lyrics, to production?
Just over a month. I finished the lyrics around Thanksgiving and we shot in early December. I had a bunch of vignettes planned — protesters, white supremacists, a disconsolate Hillary supporter — which were supposed to be a nod to the original music video, but there was a huge snowstorm that day so people had to pull out. I still feel terrible for not having included those who did, and I never properly apologized. (I’M SORRY!!!!!)
How important do you think it is to poke fun in times like these and at those in power? What role does comedy play?
It’s the residual effect of electing a pop-culture president. I wish we’d focus less on Trump’s rhetoric and more on the socioeconomic repercussions of why he won, but that’s sort of depressing, isn’t it? The president is comedy, which means we need more imaginative comedies out in the world.
What’s the reception to the video been like?
It’s so surprising. It doesn’t have a ton of views by YouTube standards, but I still get so many kind comments. I can see why some people vlog or make videos every day — I never comment on anything unless I know the person IRL, but the people who do are so complimentary. I wish I was able to get some press placement last year, but I also admit to not having tried hard enough.
You say you watch a lot of YouTube videos. What work on the platform (or beyond) inspires your own?
Oh man, you don’t want to know. The algorithm makes it a lot harder to find the great absurdities, so I find myself going back and watching old classics like JK Entrance wedding dance, which sent me into a flash-mob-proposal rabbit hole. I also love this guy Coindaddy who does spiritual affirmations on cryptocurrency, but I get down with School of Life and a lot of other philosophy channels. You should see my watch history. It’s a minefield.
Is there a 2018 version in the works?
I wrote some lyrics in the shower a few weeks ago, so we’ll see!
