The Meaning Behind The Song: We Built This City by Starship
“We Built This City” is a classic rock song by Starship that was released in 1985. It became an instant hit, topping the charts in the US, Canada, and Australia. However, the song’s lyrics have been the subject of controversy and confusion over the years. In this article, we explore the meaning behind the song and what it represents for Starship and the music industry as a whole.
The Inspiration Behind The Song
The song was written by Dennis Lambert, Martin Page, Bernie Taupin, and Peter Wolf. According to Page, the song was inspired by his experience of moving from his hometown in the UK to Los Angeles to pursue a career in music.
In an interview with Songfacts, Page said, “I felt like I was building something for my future, and I was proud of being a part of this group of people, who were like-minded and shared the same dream.” He added that he wanted to capture that feeling in a song that would inspire others to follow their dreams.
The song was also inspired by the theme of urban renewal, which was a hot topic in the mid-1980s. Many cities in the US were undergoing major redevelopment, and there was a sense of excitement and optimism about the future.
The Lyrics
The lyrics of “We Built This City” are often misinterpreted as an anthem to rock and roll. The chorus, which goes, “We built this city on rock and roll,” has been criticized as being cheesy and shallow.
However, a closer look at the lyrics reveals a more complex meaning. The song speaks to the idea of creating something from nothing, and the sense of pride and accomplishment that comes with it.
The opening lines of the song set the tone: “Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio, don’t you remember?”
These lines reference Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian inventor who is credited with inventing the radio. The song suggests that Marconi’s invention made it possible for people all over the world to listen to the same music, creating a sense of community and shared culture.
The chorus, with its iconic line “We built this city on rock and roll,” speaks to the idea that music can be a unifying force that brings people together. The song celebrates the power of music to inspire and uplift, and to create a sense of identity and belonging.
Criticism and Legacy
Despite its popularity, “We Built This City” has been criticized by some as being a cheesy, commercialized song that is more about selling records than making art.
In a 2011 survey by Rolling Stone magazine, the song was voted the worst song of the 1980s, with readers describing it as “truly awful,” “a nightmare,” and “a terrible stain on musical history.”
However, the song’s legacy endures to this day. It has been featured in numerous movies, TV shows, and commercials, and has become a staple of classic rock radio. In 2013, Starship released a new version of the song, featuring the line “We built this city on steel and coal,” in tribute to the workers who built America’s industrial cities.
In conclusion, “We Built This City” is a song that has endured for over three decades, despite its controversial lyrics and commercialized sound. It speaks to the power of music to inspire and uplift, and to create a sense of identity and belonging. Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that “We Built This City” has had a significant impact on the music industry and popular culture.
