MK's gotta be one of the most underrated guitarists of the modern era. Nevermind all the crowd-pleasing stuff he did with the latter-day Dire Straits - his solo efforts since then speak of a truly gifted, open and original musician. Check out his collaborations with Chet Atkins and Emmylou Harris in particular...

Bands like this were the reason punk rock took over in the late 70's.

stop work. turn up volume. close eyes. lose myself into the song. revel in the power of music. yes.

The original is one of those bizarre juxtapositions of an upbeat and fun melody and arrangement applied to a dark and brutal current-events-related topic. And it works very well for me.
I'm a bit surprised to hear that the acoustic version also works for me.
Surprise is a nice feeling when accompanied by enjoyment. 
RP supplies a lot of that. : )

I may be the only one thinking this, but I believe Prince now owns this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y

TOTALLY not supposed to happen!  Pilot error...

this is how...

I used to think Elton John was a genius arranger as well as a great composer. The truth is that he recorded the piano and the vocal, handed the song off to Gus Dudgeon (1942-2002) and left the building (https://mixonline.com/recording/interviews/audio_gus_dudgeon/). According to an interview I read with Gus somewhere, Elton approved of every finished track but one. Here's to Gus, wherever he is. And here's to Bernie, who wrote some of the most poetic and evocative lyrics of his career on this album.