Cobra Starship

Initially launched as an emo side project of former Midtown singer Gabe Saporta, Cobra Starship quickly morphed into a full-fledged outlet for Saporta’s hooky blend of pop, hip-hop, and dance-rock. Cobra Starship burst through the zeitgeist with “Bring It (Snakes on a Plane),” the cheeky anthem to the 2006 horror/actioner Snakes on a Plane and the lead single from the band’s Fueled by Ramen debut, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets. With 2007′s Patrick Stump-produced ¡Viva La Cobra!, they further solidified their pop-savvy credentials and chart success followed. Buoyed by the Top 40 hit “Good Girls Gone Bad” with Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester, 2009′s Hot Mess cracked the Top Five of the Billboard 200. They again hit the Top 40 with “You Make Me Feel…” (featuring Sabi) off 2011′s Night Shades before disbanding, with Saporta moving into music management. Two previously unreleased singles, “Beautiful Life” and “Party with You,” arrived in 2021 as part of Fueled by Ramen’s 25th anniversary.
Formed in 2005, New York’s Cobra Starship was originally the solo project of singer/bassist Gabe Saporta. Following the end of his punk-pop outfit Midtown, he spent time in Arizona rethinking his next move. He began working on songs, bringing together his love of hip-hop, dance music, and synthy emo-pop. Saporta posted tracks online, including “Hollaback Boy” (a satirical take on Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl) that caught the attention of Fall Out Boy bandmates Patrick Stump and Pete Wentz, who quickly signed Cobra Starship to their Fueled by Ramen imprint Decaydance.
In 2006, the group broke through with their über-catchy single “Snakes on a Plane (Bring It),” which featured Saporta alongside guest vocalists Maja Ivarsson (the Sounds), Travis McCoy (Gym Class Heroes), and William Beckett (the Academy Is...). The track served double duty, working as both the theme to the comedic horror/action film Snakes on a Plane starring Samuel L. Jackson and as the lead single off the band’s debut album, While the City Sleeps, We Rule the Streets. Released in October 2006, the record hit number seven on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart, after which Saporta and an expanding lineup toured with with Gym Class Heroes.
In 2007, Cobra Starship returned with their sophomore full-length, ¡Viva la Cobra! Produced by Patrick Stump, the album saw Saporta joined by guests Travis McCoy and Philadelphia trio V.I.P. as he further embraced his love of synthy dance-pop, hip-hop, and emo-rock. It reached number 80 on the Billboard 200 and 19 on the Top Modern Rock Albums chart.
The group’s profile grew even wider with 2009′s saucy, party-ready Hot Mess. Included on the album was the clubby single “Good Girls Gone Bad,” a Top 40 hit co-penned by Kara DioGuardi and sung by Saporta and Gossip Girl actress Leighton Meester. The album hit number four on the Billboard 200, paving the way for the band’s first-ever European tour, as well as a co-headlining tour with 3OH!3. They kept the party going in 2011 with the release of their fourth full-length, Night Shades. The album featured production/songwriting contributions by DioGuardi, Ryan Tedder, Steve Mac, and others. It spawned a Top Ten hit with “You Make Me Feel…” (featuring Sabi) and debuted at number 50 on the Billboard 200.
After taking some time off working on life and other projects, Cobra Starship came back in late summer of 2014 with the single “Never Been in Love,” which featured vocals by Icona Pop and the piano sample from Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You.” The group broke up in 2015, with Saporta retiring from making music to move behind the scenes into artist management. Fast-forward to late 2021, and Cobra Starship reappeared, debuting the previously unreleased tracks “Beautiful Life” and “Party with You.” Released as part of Fueled by Ramen’s 25th anniversary celebration, the tracks were also included on an expanded reissue of Hot Mess. ~ Matt Collar