40 Years Ago, Starship Released the Synth-Rock Hit That Became Rock’s Most Hated Song

Forty years ago, Starship was all over the radio with their debut single, “We Built This City.” Listeners from that era — in the 1980s, to be exact — practically heard it everywhere. To be fair, the song is catchy and easy to digest, packed with a soaring melody and glossy production. It even reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, was nominated for a Grammy, and enjoyed significant radio play. It was, indeed, a career-defining moment for the American rock band. Despite that, the synth-rock track would go on to become one of the most polarizing songs of the decade. In fact, many publications named it one of the worst in all of rock history.