In 2003, The White Stripes released a track that would become an anthem known for hyping arenas full of people around the world to this day. Now, “Seven Nation Army” has been ranked by Rolling Stone as the second “Greatest Rock Song of the 21st Century,” surpassing several timeless hits. The track’s lofty ranking is yet another reason that it is astonishing to learn that it almost wasn’t released as a single.
Why ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes Was Ranked as the No. 2 ‘Greatest Rock Song of the 21st Century’
On October 27, 2026, Rolling Stone released its ranking of the “200 Greatest Rock Songs of the 21st Century.” The stacked list was topped by “Maps,” the 2003 song from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Just below that, The White Stripes were ranked at No. 2 with “Seven Nation Army.” Remarkably, the song was listed above beloved tunes like The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Paramore’s “That’s What You Get,” and Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These.“
“Seven Nation Army” has a driving beat that gets people on their feet and makes it one of those rare songs that appeals to people on an instinctual level. It is also blessed with a powerhouse guitar riff that helped turn it into a sporting event staple that feels nearly universally recognized. Of course, the lyrics, which focus on being unstoppable, also empower listeners. Those elements and more combine to make it a song that feels like it will continue to inspire generations of new rock fans long after the 21st century is over.
Because it truly is a special track, it is easy to see why Rolling Stone ranked “Seven Nation Army” at No. 2. In fact, there are strong arguments that it should have topped the list, which makes its release history fascinating to explore.
Why ‘Seven Nation Army’ by The White Stripes Almost Wasn’t Released as a Single
In a 2010 interview with XFM (later reported by NME), Jack White recalled how the record’s iconic track was almost passed over as a single. As The White Stripes’ songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist remarked, the band’s record labels in America and Europe were against releasing “Seven Nation Army” as a single.
“I can think back to when Elephant came out. I wanted to put ‘Seven Nation Army‘ out as a single. The label in England and the label in America both didn’t want to. They wanted to put ‘There’s No Home For You Here‘ [out], can you imagine not putting ‘Seven Nation Army‘ out as a single?”
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