We Built This City [On Rock an' Roll]

Very grudging respect for that one. But who remembers the part in the video where the guy made up like the Lincoln Memorial stands up and pumps his fist and mime-shouts along to the chorus?

just think, a slight change in cultural history and the quintessential prepunk anthem would have been "marconi on!"

"you turn me on I'M a marconi"

(sounds like a porn film for those with a fetish for italians)

Suckas on my jock when I walk down the block
I really don't care if you're jealous or not
Cos I make the songs, you sing along
And your marconi's def when my record's on
So get off the wall, become involved
All your marconi problems have now been solved
My treacherous beats make ya ears respond
And my marconi's loud like a fire alarm
The floor vibrates, the walls cave in
The bass makes my eardrums seem thin
Def sounds in my ride, yes the front and back
You would think it was a party, not a Cadillac
Cos I drive up to the ave, with the windows closed
And my bass is so loud, it could rip your clothes
My stereo's thumpin' like a savage beast
The level on my power meter will not decrease
Suckas get mad, cos the girlies scream
And I'm still gettin' paid while you look at me mean
I'm the leader of the show, keepin' you on the go
But I know I can't live without my marconi
I'm the leader of the show, keepin' you on the go
And I know I can't live without my marconi

Don't touch that dial, I'll be upset
Might go into a fit and rip off your neck
Cos the marconi's thumpin' when I'm down to play
I'm the royal chief rocker LL Cool J
Let your big butt bounce from right to left
Cos it's a actual fact this jam is def
Most definitely created by me
Goin' down in marconi history
I'm good to go on your marconi
And I'm cold gettin' paid cos Rick said so
Make the woofers wallop and your tweeters twitch
Some jealous knuckleheads might try to dis
But it's nuthin', ya frontin', ya girl I am stuntin'
And my marconi's loud enough to keep you gruntin'
My name is Cool J, I'm from the rock
Circulating through your marconi non-stop
I'm lookin' at the wires behind the cassette
And now I'm on the right, standing on the eject
Wearin' light blue Pumas, a whole lotta gold
And jams like these keep me in control
I'm the leader of the show, keepin' you on the go
And I know I can't live without my marconi

Your energy level starts to increase
As my big beat is slowly released
I'm on the marconi and at the jam
LL Cool J is who I am
Imma make ya dance, boogie down and rock
And you'll scratch and shake to my musical plot
And to expand my musical plan
Cut Creator, rock the beat with your hands

That's right, so don't try to front the move
As you become motivated by the funky groove
You can see me and Earl chillin' on the block
With my box cold kickin' with the gangster rock
See people can't stop me, neither can the police
I'm a musical maniac to say the least
For you and your marconi I made this for
Cool J's here to devastate once more
Pullin' all the girls, takin' out MCs
If ya try to disrespect me, I just say Please!
Here to command the hip-hop land
Kick it live with a box inside my hand
I'm the leader of the show, keepin' you on the go
But I know I can't live without my marconi

Yes, compared to shroomadelica (but it's early days yet)

well, this explains why the lyrics are so effing awful then

i was in an urban outfitters (i know, right) and they were playing this!!! i don't even know any more. maybe carles can explain.

I appreciate this song completely and unironically.

Owned the cassingle!

Bernie Taupin's lyrics, and songwriting input from that guy who wrote "In The House Of Stone And Light," "These Dreams" by Heart and "King Of Wishful Thinking" by Go West. .. A winning combination.

Taupin also write the lyrics for "These Dreams!" I had no idea..

We Built This City On REALLY BAD 80's SONGS

Wait - what? Taupin wrote the lyrics for These Dreams? Ha, what a trip. I didn't know that.

The great Kenny Loggins anthem to the 80s action-comedy that never was.

back when it came out i always professed to hating this song, while secretly kinda liking it.

Family Guy was funny the other night when Chris was complaining about the rock station bragging about how they play the greatest rock songs of all time before segueing into "We Built This City".

There were two versions of the single, one with the DJ patter in San Francisco and one without. I guess radio listeners outside of the Bay Area were just getting too confused.

Owned the cassingle!

These were already on sale in 1985? Wow.

I appreciate this song completely and unironically.

― Johnny Fever, Sunday, May 3, 2009 11:04 PM (3 days ago) Bookmark

Me too.

As somebody who grew up in Marin County in the 80's, there is not a single song by Journey or Starship that doesn't set my teeth on edge. I think I went to high school w/Slick's daughter but I can't recall her name.

Oil Slick.

I think her name was China. I shall, of course, name one of my daughters China, too.

Starbucks version for the win

Was Grace's daughter's first initial R?

No, her name is China. I looked it up.

i really like the album cover

http://wtf.juhe.ee/wp-content/uploads/2007/01/b000002w8q01lzzzzzzzgif.jpg

would look better if they had omitted the bottom text and just called the album "Starship", though

This is actually pretty great, isn't it?

This song makes me want to murder people

It is wonderful and djp agrees case closed.

"Hey guys, I've been thinking...remember how we appeared in The Star Wars Holiday Special? I actually think we have it in us to do something more embarrassing and potentially damaging to our already-shaky legacy! Whaddya say?"

Wait, there's no Ma Coney on the internet (vs. Marconi or even Mascone).

mascarpone lady mumble, obv

wretched song. a friend brought it up the other day as a guilty pleasure, and i was utterly appalled.

I used to love it as a kid. Now I hate it.

The defunct magazine Blender's ranking of the song as the worst song ever was in conjunction with a VH1 Special of The 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs...Ever.[7] In order to qualify for the distinction, the songs on the list had to be a popular hit at some point, thus disqualifying many songs that would by consensus be considered much worse. Blender editor Craig Marks said of the song, "It purports to be anti-commercial but reeks of '80s corporate-rock commercialism. It's a real reflection of what practically killed rock music in the '80s."[8]

However, an article in the Sydney Morning Herald pointed out that "Blender's list - compiled via an arbitrary and anecdotal data collection process and ranked by Marks - included several whimsical criteria. One was to go easy on novelty songs." In a discussion with the band's manager, Bill Thompson, he was surprised at the ranking, but also "thrilled" because of the other high-profile groups on the list, saying, "I wish Blender had called us for a group shot. I'd love to have my picture taken with Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney."[9] Mickey Thomas, one of the singers of Starship, stated in regards to the review from the, by then folded, Blender magazine, "From what I heard, they got so much flack about it that they sort of retracted their statements in a way about the song. And not only that, but Blender's folded, and we're still here."[10]

ah sixties survivors:

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/5/18/1305716093730/We-built-this-city-on-roc-007.jpg

Stay gold, Jefferson Wheelchair

I really want to hear the whole track of the version they did for Milken - "We built this city - on high yield bonds!"

WE BUILT THIS CITY ON FEED YOUR HEAD

The only thing missing from that picture is Pat St. John.

(For reference: Can we be shown weirdos + Mike Love?)

http://static.nme.com/images/gallery/StarshipWeBuiltThisCityGb071011.jpg