About the song
“We Built This City” is an iconic rock anthem by the American band Starship, released in 1985. The song was penned by a talented team of songwriters: Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf. Featured on the album “Knee Deep in the Hoopla,” this track quickly rose to prominence, becoming one of Starship’s most defining hits.
The song captures the spirit of the 1980s with its bold and infectious energy. It speaks to the rise and struggles of musicians and the transformation of the music industry. “We Built This City” is celebrated for its catchy chorus and dynamic sound, driven by Grace Slick’s and Mickey Thomas’s powerful vocals. The production, characterized by synthesizers and a polished rock sound, epitomizes the musical style of its era.
Upon its release, “We Built This City” achieved significant commercial success. It reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States, and it also performed well internationally, topping the charts in Australia and Canada. The song’s popularity was bolstered by its widespread radio play and its resonant message about the music scene.
Despite mixed critical reception over the years, with some viewing it as overly commercial, the song’s undeniable catchiness and its representation of the 1980s rock landscape have cemented its status as a classic. It has become a nostalgic anthem for many who lived through the decade and remains a staple on classic rock radio stations.
The album “Knee Deep in the Hoopla” also benefited greatly from the success of “We Built This City,” helping to rejuvenate the band’s career and introduce them to a new generation of fans. The song’s legacy endures as a testament to the band’s resilience and adaptability in a rapidly changing music industry.
For many older listeners, “We Built This City” evokes memories of a vibrant and transformative period in music history. Its upbeat tempo and memorable lyrics continue to resonate, making it a beloved track that captures the essence of an era defined by its bold and innovative sounds.
Video
Lyrics
We built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
Built this city
We built this city on rock and roll
Say you don’t know me or recognize my face
Say you don’t care who goes to that kind of place
Knee deep in the hoopla, sinking in your fight
Too many runaways eating up the night
Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?
We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Someone’s always playing corporation games
Who cares, they’re always changing corporation names
We just want to dance here, someone stole the stage
They call us irresponsible, write us off the page
Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?
We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
It’s just another Sunday in a tired old street
Police have got the choke hold, oh, then we just lost the beat
Who counts the money underneath the bar?
Who rides the wrecking ball into our guitars?
Don’t tell us you need us ’cause we’re the ship of fools
Looking for America, coming through your schools
Don’t you remember? (Remember)
Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?
We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
We built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
Built this city, we built this city on rock and roll
We built, we built this city, yeah (Built this city)
We built, we built this city
We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)
We built, we built this city
We built, we built this city yeah (Built this city)
We built, we built this city (Built this city)