In 1989 Billy Joel released a song called We Didn't Start the Fire. Its lyrics are a rapid-fire catalog of the significant people and events that influenced history during Joel's lifetime—and the quasi-melodic list veers indiscriminately from pop culture to world politics, from Marilyn Monroe to the Congo Crisis. The point: There's been a helluva lot of history in just 40 years.

Following Joel's lead, Dan Meth and Micah Frank created The Meth Minute 39: Internet People to underscore the Internet's viral potential. Among the online darlings making an appearance:

• The Spirit of Christmas was commissioned in 1995 by a Fox executive who sent the video to 80 friends as his holiday card. Known informally as Jesus vs. Santa, the lewd and crude cartoon by Trey Parker and Matt Stone evolved into a little series you might know: South Park. (Watch this one at home, not work.)
• Ten years later, Andy Samberg and Chris Parnell of Saturday Night Live channeled their inner Beastie Boys for Lazy Sunday, a rap about two guys on their way to see The Chronicles of Narnia. The video—viewed more than five million times at YouTube—made SNL newbie Samberg a household name and inspired countless tributes and responses.

Internet People earns the Marketing Inspiration seal of approval by compressing a decade of viral breakouts into a three-minute song. We dare anyone to walk away without a renewed appreciation for the power of broadband.

More Inspiration:
Paul Barsch: Frivolous Facebook Fridays?
Paul Williams: Problem Solving with a Ghoti?
Gavin Heaton: Join Me or Sponsor Me This Movember

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