The demo version of the song 'We Built This City' by one of the song's songwriters, Martin Page. Starship's version of 'We Built This City' went to #1 on the Hot 100 in 1985.
It brings into focus the point of this song---more a requiem than something to be shouted from the back of a parade float. We built this city on its music and its venues, and look what's being done to those place. Its a pretty sad ditty...
2 other writers got credit for adding additional music, but when I compare the two versions, I don't hear what. Both are in my Jefferson Starship playlist. Thanks for uploading! According to Bernie Taupin, the song is actually about the demise of the rock club scene in Los Angeles.
It’s completely missing the chorus, so that’s probably where the other credits come from. Kinda weird to hear it skip right from the pre-chorus to the next verse here.
The reconstruction of this is rather obvious. Dennis Lambert & Peter Wolf addressed the melody in several places and wrote a chorus. If anything, this is proof that the song was cheesy and bad from the very beginning. Dennis & Peter couldn't save it but the public ate it up so there's that.
Martin Page composed this song or at least this demo himself, according to him. I like this mellow twinkley version something was lost in the starship version they over egged the pudding
I definitely prefer this version, but even the Starship version is kinda dumb in a fun way. Sure it's cheesy, but I couldn't call it "the worst song ever."
The Starship version is way better than this. Can't stand this internet culture of someone saying something is bad and it catches on so people just jump on and say yeah it is bad. No, it's not, what most people don't understand is that it is overplayed but that doesn't make it a bad song. If you like it, then you like it.
yeah i mean this is way undercooked it sounds kind of like a chiptune which is why everyone is saying it's better. i like the over the top production of the released version, it takes a deceptive amount of skill
You don’t know what you’re talking about. This song was hated as soon as it came out in 1985, not because of the internet. Just because you love it (which is absolutely okay) doesn’t mean it has to be good. Starship’s version claims to be anti-corporate but represents exactly what killed rock and roll, it’s cheesy corporate pop rock sound and context. So no, it’s not because it’s been overplayed. Besides, it’s not just this song; the whole album it came from, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, had a negative reception.
@@curly_wyn "This song was hated as soon as it came out in 1985, not because of the internet." Hated so much that it went to #1 on the sales charts and got a Grammy nomination.
Wow, thanks for sharing this. Only today did I learn that this song was by the same guy from Q-Feel's "Dancing in Heaven." Both made a big impression on me when I was young.
Yes, but as a Peter Gabriel fan I also hear "Shock the Monkey" (which Martin Page has pointed out). Btw, some time after this Page co-wrote "Fallen Angel" for Robbie Robertson, which was done as a duet with Gabriel.
It’s also interesting to hear that, besides the tone selection, the final version by a completely different group contains most of the demo’s arrangement.
It’s ironic in the sense that the released version is talking about being all against big corporations but the song itself sounds over-produced as if it’s heavily controlled by a big corporation.
@@henrywallace7996 Taupin's usual M.O is to write the entire lyrics, then hand them to a composer (usually EJ but in this case Page) to set to music. I'd be willing to bet that the "writing" the others got credit for was minimal, and it's likely this is the version (possibly the same demo) that already existed as Lambert and Wolf first heard it, before they contributed anything.
@@janestewart9608 The writing credit for Peter Wolf and the other person had to be for the addition of the chorus which is missing here ... well, that and the weather report, I suppose.
i mean, to be fair, it's not really much different except its underproduced where the other is arguably overproduced i dont hear anything all that 'dark'
@@JustinEdwords The synths definitely sound a lot darker; less cheery and more chilly. This version has a rather sad, bittersweet tone that conveys the song’s nostalgic longing for a better, purer music, before the mass corporatization of everything in the 1980s.
Imagine if The Cars got their hands on this rather than Starship. Definitely wouldnt have the worst song of all time reputation it has now thats for sure. Worst case of Corporate Rock
If I had to drive 1,000 miles listening to this song over and over I would choose this version.
Same.
Can't believe this is on YT! I just took a chance in the old search box.
I was actually looking for his demo of "These Dreams" by Heart, but this is cool too! 😸
It brings into focus the point of this song---more a requiem than something to be shouted from the back of a parade float. We built this city on its music and its venues, and look what's being done to those place. Its a pretty sad ditty...
Exactly. Most people don't actually get the meaning or point of the song.
Totally 80s. I like it.
Love this, thank you for uploading it so we can hear it.
I like how Starship fused thier style with this without losing the songs core value, Magic!
Starship did lose the song’s core value. It became the very thing it was supposed to be against.
@@curly_wyn Totally...they ruined it.
This is not significantly better.
@@curly_wyn Still better than what we have today lol. The song's meaning and values is explains it all.
@carolinewoodward1016 Strongly disagree but that's how the world works. It's gonna be alright.
2 other writers got credit for adding additional music, but when I compare the two versions, I don't hear what. Both are in my Jefferson Starship playlist. Thanks for uploading! According to Bernie Taupin, the song is actually about the demise of the rock club scene in Los Angeles.
It’s completely missing the chorus, so that’s probably where the other credits come from. Kinda weird to hear it skip right from the pre-chorus to the next verse here.
@@stevecunningham4605 that’s good
The reconstruction of this is rather obvious. Dennis Lambert & Peter Wolf addressed the melody in several places and wrote a chorus. If anything, this is proof that the song was cheesy and bad from the very beginning. Dennis & Peter couldn't save it but the public ate it up so there's that.
Martin Page composed this song or at least this demo himself, according to him. I like this mellow twinkley version something was lost in the starship version they over egged the pudding
I definitely prefer this version, but even the Starship version is kinda dumb in a fun way. Sure it's cheesy, but I couldn't call it "the worst song ever."
Thanks for this! Martin is my favorite solo vocalist. Great to hear this demo!
The Starship version is way better than this. Can't stand this internet culture of someone saying something is bad and it catches on so people just jump on and say yeah it is bad. No, it's not, what most people don't understand is that it is overplayed but that doesn't make it a bad song. If you like it, then you like it.
yeah i mean this is way undercooked it sounds kind of like a chiptune which is why everyone is saying it's better. i like the over the top production of the released version, it takes a deceptive amount of skill
You don’t know what you’re talking about. This song was hated as soon as it came out in 1985, not because of the internet. Just because you love it (which is absolutely okay) doesn’t mean it has to be good. Starship’s version claims to be anti-corporate but represents exactly what killed rock and roll, it’s cheesy corporate pop rock sound and context. So no, it’s not because it’s been overplayed. Besides, it’s not just this song; the whole album it came from, Knee Deep in the Hoopla, had a negative reception.
@@JustinEdwords Starship’s version is fun, enjoyable, and lovable, but as a song it’s not good and I would never defend it as such.
@@TechAngelx Even as a demo, it’s astounding how little Starship changed the arrangement.
@@curly_wyn "This song was hated as soon as it came out in 1985, not because of the internet."
Hated so much that it went to #1 on the sales charts and got a Grammy nomination.
Wow, thanks for sharing this. Only today did I learn that this song was by the same guy from Q-Feel's "Dancing in Heaven." Both made a big impression on me when I was young.
surprised how similar it is
Sounds like a Gary Numan song.
Yes, but as a Peter Gabriel fan I also hear "Shock the Monkey" (which Martin Page has pointed out).
Btw, some time after this Page co-wrote "Fallen Angel" for Robbie Robertson, which was done as a duet with Gabriel.
@@JeansWebbTv Yeah that intro I can hear shock the monkey.
It’s also interesting to hear that, besides the tone selection, the final version by a completely different group contains most of the demo’s arrangement.
This is the only version of the song that anyone should hear.
Agreed!
This is fantastic
Never knew this existed. But it fits in pretty good with Martin Page's recording career up to that point with Q-Feel.
I wish this was the version that got released! It’s much darker and amazing compared to the cheap corporate pop sounding cheese we got!
Kinda ironic when you think about it
No it's not, the vocals blow
@@Alix777.
So they don’t suck then?
It’s ironic in the sense that the released version is talking about being all against big corporations but the song itself sounds over-produced as if it’s heavily controlled by a big corporation.
@@Alix777.the vocals on the finalized song are cheesy and terirble
This is way better than the version we got imo
Even though I like the Starship version. I kinda prefer this version too.
Wow. Humble beginning.
I really like the start of this song rather than the acapella chorus on Starship.
Yeah same.
Would buy on iTunes
If they could add a matching chorus, then this song would feel more complete.
No way, the best songs are chorusless
Which is what demo means. Incomplete.
Apparently Starship originally recorded it like this and their producer told them they needed to add a chorus.
except for the British accent, it's almost IDENTICAL to the actual song! Congrats! (or as they say in the UK, cheers!)
How
this version is more electronic
Yes, it’s got that very British new wave/synth-pop feel.
The way it was supposed to be
@@henrywallace7996 well hello there
More analog synth sounding too. The Starship studio version used digital synths like DX7's and Fairlight samplers.
The “worst song”? No…one of the best.
Agreed.
It was written by Bernie Taupin.
AND Martin Page too.
Bernie Taupin was the lyricist and Martin Page wrote the music. They wrote “These Dreams” in the same time period.
I think I hear the robot Johnny 5 singing the solo parts lol
This is way better than Star release..
Even though I like the Starship version. I kinda prefer this version too.
Bernie Friggin’ Taupin, Elton John’s Brother, wrote this!
Martin Page
@@henrywallace7996 bernie taupin wrote (some? i dont know how much) of the released versions lyrics
@@henrywallace7996 Taupin's usual M.O is to write the entire lyrics, then hand them to a composer (usually EJ but in this case Page) to set to music. I'd be willing to bet that the "writing" the others got credit for was minimal, and it's likely this is the version (possibly the same demo) that already existed as Lambert and Wolf first heard it, before they contributed anything.
@@janestewart9608 The writing credit for Peter Wolf and the other person had to be for the addition of the chorus which is missing here ... well, that and the weather report, I suppose.
So much better that the crap that was released. SO MUCH BETTER!!!!
i mean, to be fair, it's not really much different except its underproduced where the other is arguably overproduced i dont hear anything all that 'dark'
@@JustinEdwords The synths definitely sound a lot darker; less cheery and more chilly. This version has a rather sad, bittersweet tone that conveys the song’s nostalgic longing for a better, purer music, before the mass corporatization of everything in the 1980s.
Definitely, 100% better and darker!
Imagine if The Cars got their hands on this rather than Starship. Definitely wouldnt have the worst song of all time reputation it has now thats for sure. Worst case of Corporate Rock
Yes, but on the other hand, it could have also killed The Cars career.
@@RobGa66I think it probably wouldn’t have killed their career any worse than Door to Door did