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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

The DJ/Announcer in this is Les Garland, who was an executive at MTV at the time. After appearing on this song, he got China Kantner a gig on MTV, making her the youngest VJ they ever had. China is the daughter of Jefferson Starship members Grace Slick and Paul Kantner.

This was the first single released under the name Starship. They were previously known as Jefferson Starship, and before that, Jefferson Airplane. When original member Paul Kantner left the group, Jefferson Starship changed their name to Starship to further distance themselves from Jefferson Airplane. At this point, Grace Slick was the only original member. (thanks, chet - saratoga springs, NY)

Elton John's songwriting partner Bernie Taupin co-wrote this song. He gave the lyrics to Martin Page, who put the music to the words and made a demo. There were no takers. After Taupin consented to a change of chorus, producers Dennis Lambert and Peter Wolf took it to Starship, who made further revisions in the song and set it in San Francisco. Starship based it on an incident in 1977 when the band (then Jefferson Airplane) was not allowed to play a free concert in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.

This was the first hit Bernie Taupin wrote without Elton John.

The original lyrics were a cry of rebellion against a corporation trying to ban rock and roll in an imaginary future. (thanks, Brad Wind - Miami, FL, for above 3)

Taupin and Page wrote another hit later the same year: "These Dreams" for Heart. Page also helped Go West write "King of Wishful Thinking," featured on the Pretty Woman soundtrack. (thanks, Eric - Salt Lake City, UT)

In 2004, Blender magazine named this the worst song of all time.

When this hit #1, Grace Slick was the oldest woman to sing the lead vocal (shared with Mickey Thomas) on a #1 single. The title had been previously held by Tina Turner for "What's Love Got To Do With It," and was later claimed by Cher for "Believe." (thanks, Paul - Detroit, MI)

Comments:

I think a part of America died a little when this song was released. Ranks right up there with 'The Night Chicago Died', anything Brittany Spears 'sings', the first time I ever heard, "Kiss My Grits!!!!" and anything Danielle Steele ever wrote. I could vomit on a piece of loose-leaf and be more profound. Someone once commented on the 'banality of evil'. This is Dante's Seventh Circle in that case....to steal from John Cusack in "1408".
- Mike, Matawan, NJ

Jefferson Airplane rocked! Jefferson Starship up to "Spitfire", rocked, but in a more 70's mellow way. Once Balin left and Mickey Thomas stepped in, questionable (especially when Slick was in or out of the band). Starship....Jump the shark!
- Drew, Bloomfield, NY

Kevin Witt from Haymarket, Virginia: By "surpass" you mean "get crazier and weird us out too much"? "Disco Duck" is actually cool! I don't, however, listen very often to "Feelings" b/c it's a tragic song. I haven't heard "Achy Breaky Heart" by Billy Ray Cyrus, but I know of it. I don't know the other two you mentioned. It's metal, but not heavy metal. That's how I like it. Thank you, Starship, for not ruining the metal with with heavy metal. You fellas rock!
- Andy, B'ham, AL

My dad is a music snob, But he likes this song. I like it too.
- Matthew, Melbourne, Australia

Gavin - they were called Starship in the 80s - check your facts man http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starship_%28band%29 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_Starship
- Liam, Wexford, Ireland

Ok, this may be the worst song ever. But I love it anyway. It's so catchy haha
- Melanie, Seattle, WA

This song was originally about Los Angeles when it was first written, back in the early 1970's, but was changed to San Fransisco when it was released. This is known for being chosen by Blender Magaine for being "the most awesomely awful song." Most think that's an overstatement, but it's certainly unworthy of the talent involved.
- Mike, santa barbara, CA

This song was a point of demarcation. After it, Rock'n'Roll died. That is to say, after this song, Rock'n'Roll, Starship and other rock'n'roll performers had audiences only of listeners who came to their concerts and bought their albums to hear the stuff they'd done earlier: in other words, what listeners remembered from their youth. It's kind of ironic that a group that made so much good music during the '60's and '70's put the final nail in the coffin of a genre the helped to expand and refine.After this song, all of the innovative and creative pop music was being made by rap and hip-hop artists.
- MusicMama, New York, NY

To call this the worst song of all time is laughable. I think we can all think of a few that far surpass this song (I actually like this song). Remember Feelings? Muskrat Love? Achey Breaky Heart? Disco Duck? MacArthur Park? I could go on and on.
- Kevin Witt, Haymarket, VA

This is the lamest song ever recorded. I grew up in SF Bay Area, and this song is embarrassing to any local from there. Combine with this song with almost any Styx song sung by Dennis DeYoung, and you have the makings of a puke-a-thon!
- Bill, Peoria, IL

A very egotistical song, it's no small boast to claim that you "built a city", but I still enjoy it.
- Erik, Bloomfield Hills, MI

I love this song anyway despite the votes and stuff. And I don't think the videos all that bad either. Isn't it ironic? If you search threw the songs alphabetically this song is JUST before a Jeffreson's Airplane song!
- Mjn Seifer, Not listed for personal reason, England

Never mind. I found out for my self what city it is. I will try to add both this and another thing I found out as a song fact.
- Mjn Seifer, Not listed for personal reason, England

To the people who said "No way is this Rock and Roll!!" Well... Did Starship ever say this song was rock and roll? No! This song is about rock and roll but they never claimed it was rock and roll. Anyone know what city they're on about? Also regarding the video, wouldn't it make more sense for them to use JEFFERSON'S statue and not Lincolns, seeing as they are JEFFERSON'S Starship. (Or Jefferson's Airplane)
- Mjn Seifer, Not listed for personal reason, England

I am surprised to learn that so many dislike this song. Personally, every time it comes on, especially with Les' comments included, I am very, very happy to hear it. Not only because I like Starship (or Jefferson Starship), but because the song reminds me of home, having grown up in the SF Bay Area. And having been the President of the Elton John Section on CompuServe (many, many years ago), it is only an added pleasure to learn that Bernie co-wrote the lyrics. (Probably another reason I enjoy it, subconsciously.)
- Sue, Bellefontaine, OH

This is a great tune to listen to when you feel down!! It has a good beat and I like the vocals ROCK ON Les!!!
- Mike, Erie, PA

Mickey Thomas' best work is on Elvin Bishop's "Fooled Around and Fell in Love". Now THAT is great rock (southern rock to be exact).
- Jay, Atlanta, GA

This is a great song, those who say this song is horrible does not know anything about rock. It has a very catchy tune and it talks about rock and roll with cool add on additions. It may not be a really hard rock song but it's different and is a fun song. Plus DJ Les Garland is freaking awesome.
- Kevin, Erie, PA

I love this song, but yeah, I'd feel pretty uncomfortable living in a city where my house was a guitar and an amp or 2.
- Jesse, Haddam, CT

What I don't understand is how Grace Slick could be associated with this drek....I just don't understand.
- Kelli, Cedar Rapids, IA

One of my favorite songs from the 1980's (which no doubt puts me in the minority). Les Garland is well-known from his radio days at KFRC in (you guessed it) San Francisco. Other radio stations substituted their own DJ for Les' patter in the middle of the song, and the record label provided an alternate version with an instrumental bridge to accomplish this purpose.
- Clarke, Pittsburgh, PA

I don't care that it's lame, I love this song. It's so fun!
- Kim, Calgary, Canada

It's not the worst song of all time... Not even close compared to the crap that gets played now adays. I think pretty much everyone can agree on that, but since maxim magazine is pure garbage it decides to give the token of "worst song of all time" to this.
- bob, Kelowna, Canada

This song blows. The video, lyrics, everything. Ranting against corporations,... and then claiming that "Rock and Roll" ever built anything.
- Terry, Ocean Springs, MS

I hate this song every time i hear it i want to puke
- Richard, Versailles, KY

This song blows beyond reason..as did this group in the 80's. How pitiful they became... after their days of glory in the 60's/70's.
- Julie, Marquette, MI

This is QUALITY eighties! It was traditionally played at the local rollerskating rink as the lights went down and the coloured lights came on.
- Paul, Woop-woop, Australia

Gavin, calm down.
- craig, madison, WI

The video director seemed to take the song as a challenge. How could he make a video worse than this song. Simple: have the band at the Lincoln Memorial, Lincoln's statue arises...and sings. The band watches, bored. Then there's the pastels, pastels on pastels, horrible blue screen effects, Grace Slick's hair battling her jumpsuit for most offensive to the eye, the mere presence of the lead singer guy. It's a 4 minute summary of everything that was wrong with the 80's.
- craig, madison, WI

Actually, Grace Slick was NOT an original member of Jefferson Airplane. The lineup for the first JA album was: Marty Balin, Jack Casady, Jorma Kaukonen, Paul Kantner, Skip Spence, and Signe Anderson.
- Chris, Bluffton, SC

Anyone know what the lyrics "Marconi plays the mamba,listen to the radio" is supposed to mean...if anything at all, I doubt it has to do with the Marconi who invented the radio...right? thanks -Scott
- Scott, NYC, NY

I personally like this song. I don't knwo what it is trying to mean. I would not call this rock and roll but more of pop. Maybe 80's pop rock.
- Mike, Winnipeg, Canada

I agree that this is one of the most horrible songs ever.
- Savannah, Salem, IN

well in Australia they're known as Starship, its a great song , love the DJ bit .....Built This City.... golly gosh yeah GREAT SONG
- pete, nowra, Australia

This song is painfully tolerable...and then comes that f***ing traffic report and that's when I kick my stereo and listen to Led Zeppelin for hours to atone for my sins.
- Matt, Millbrae, CA

This song proves that the 80's sucked! What the hell was happening to music at that time?! Oh dear God...This song...is soooo not rock n' roll!! And we don't need all these wankers going around saying that rock n' roll is going to be banned or it's dead, dying...whatever...if that ever happens, somebody PLEASE put me out of my misery!
- Loreena, Rio Negro, Argentina

Actually, Gavin, they released three original albums under the name Starship: Knee Deep in the Hoopla, No Protection, and Love Among the Cannibals. Check www.allmusicguide.com if you don't believe me. According to the site, they were "created by the settlement of a lawsuit."
- Mike, Huntsville, AL

Gavin, in the '60s they were Jefferson Airplane, then in the '70s they regrouped as Jefferson Starship. They changed their name to just Starship inth 1980s but only had three big hits under this name ("Sara", "We Bulit This City" and "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"), so all songs recorded under the name 'Starship' are simply included on compilation albums as effectively being Jefferson Starship releases because the band did not change their line-up when they changed their name second time round.
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales

Jefferson Starship NEVER changed their name to just starship!! I don't know what you people are talking about, but even after the drummer left, they were still known as JEFFERSON Starship!! They are still Jefferson Starship!! This can be proved because there is NO RECORD of a band named just "Starship", and their official website labels them as Jefferson Starship.
- gavin, hampden, MA

the video for this is horrible,no question.
- Scott Baldwin, Edmonton, Canada

I cannot believe Taupin wrote this!
- Cadence, Sacramento, CA

I think this song is a lame attempt at associating Starship with other artists who had been demonized by the PMRC in the US Senate one year earlier.
- john, seattle, WA

apparently the DJ Les Garland just happened to be at the studio at the time of recording, the guys asked himm did he want to do a bit of DJ talk for the song , did it all in 1 take , Go Les
- pete, nowra, Australia