“We Built This City”, okay, that song is like a total time capsule of the ’80s – big synths, a super catchy chorus, and a message that’s both celebratory and a little bit controversial.
Whether you love it or hate it (and let’s be real, people have strong opinions about this one!), you can’t deny it’s an earworm.
Even if you weren’t around when it first came out, you’ve probably heard it everywhere.
- Writers: Bernie Taupin, Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, Peter Wolf
- Performed by: Starship
- Album: Knee Deep in the Hoopla (1985)
- Producer: Peter Wolf
📝 Background & Meaning:
“We Built This City” was written by Bernie Taupin (Elton John’s longtime lyricist), Martin Page, Dennis Lambert, and Peter Wolf.
Released as the lead single from Starship’s debut album, Knee Deep in the Hoopla in 1985, the song became a massive commercial success, reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topping charts in multiple countries.
The song is a celebration of rock ‘n’ roll culture and a protest against the commercialization and corporate control of the music industry. The lyrics express frustration with how radio stations and record labels were prioritizing profit over authentic artistic expression.
“We Built This City” symbolizes how rock music helped shape and define cultural and societal movements, yet the very industry it built seemed to be turning its back on its roots.
Despite its serious theme, the song is delivered with an upbeat, polished pop-rock sound, which was emblematic of the mid-1980s.
🎤 Key Themes:
- The Power of Rock ‘n’ Roll: The song celebrates rock music’s cultural and social significance.
- Corporate Greed: It criticizes the commercialization and exploitation of music by corporate interests.
- Nostalgia and Loss: The lyrics express a sense of longing for a time when music felt pure and uncompromised.
- Resilience: Despite the challenges, the song highlights the unyielding spirit of the music community.
🎧 Notable Lyrics:
“We built this city on rock and roll.”
- The anthemic chorus celebrates how rock music laid the foundation for cultural change.
“Someone’s always playing corporation games / Who cares, they’re always changing corporation names.”
- A sharp critique of corporate greed and its effect on the music industry.
“Listen to the radio, don’t you remember? / We built this city on rock and roll.”
- Reflects on how radio was once a beacon for discovering authentic rock music but became overtaken by commercial interests.
🎸 Musical Highlights:
- Polished Synth-Pop Sound: The glossy synthesizer hooks define the 1980s pop-rock style.
- Powerful Chorus: The anthemic, singalong chorus is bold and unforgettable.
- Layered Vocals: Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas deliver dynamic, commanding vocal performances.
- Upbeat Rhythm: The song has a driving beat and bright instrumentation, making it danceable and energetic.
- Radio Voiceover: The song includes spoken-word radio DJ excerpts, emphasizing its connection to radio culture.
🌍 Cultural Impact:
- “We Built This City” became one of Starship’s most recognizable hits and a defining anthem of the 1980s.
- The song topped charts in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, becoming an international sensation.
- Despite its commercial success, the song has been criticized over the years, even being labeled “one of the worst songs of all time” by some critics and polls.
- However, it remains a beloved guilty pleasure and an undeniable cultural touchstone.
- It has been featured in movies, TV shows, and commercials, symbolizing 80s excess and catchy pop-rock charm.
🎤 Fun Fact:
- Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics, originally intended the song to be more reflective and serious about the loss of rock’s original spirit.
- Grace Slick, who had been part of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship, was reluctant to sing the track initially, feeling it was too far removed from her earlier, more countercultural style.
- The radio DJ voiceover in the song was performed by Les Garland, co-founder of MTV and a radio veteran.
🔑 What It Represents:
“We Built This City” isn’t just a song—it’s a glitzy, ironic anthem about the intersection of art, commerce, and cultural nostalgia.
It represents:
- The transformative power of rock music in shaping culture.
- The tension between artistic authenticity and commercial success.
- A love letter to radio’s golden era and its decline into corporate control.
- An iconic piece of 80s pop-rock culture.
While often polarizing in critical reception, “We Built This City” remains an enduring anthem of an era defined by flashy synths, bold lyrics, and larger-than-life production. 🎶🏙️🎸
The Timeless Appeal 🕰️✨
So, why is “We Built This City” still such a… thing, even decades later?
It’s complicated. On one hand, it’s this big, anthemic celebration of rock and roll and the power of music.
A lot of bands and classic rock artists did the same.
On the other hand, it’s also a critique of how the music industry became all about money and corporations, losing touch with the real spirit of rock.
It’s kind of ironic, because the song itself is super polished and commercial-sounding!
The Final Note 🔚🎶🔥
“We Built This City” is a song that sparks debate – is it a cheesy guilty pleasure, or a surprisingly insightful commentary on the music industry?
Maybe it’s both!
It’s definitely a product of its time, with that super ’80s sound, but it also raises questions about art, commerce, and staying true to your roots.
It’s interesting to think of the history of classic rock artists.
Whether you love it or hate it, you have to admit – it’s a song that makes you think, and it’s definitely earned its place in pop culture history.
