Seven Nation Army (3:51)
4,072,265 plays (624,909 listeners)
“Seven Nation Army” is the first track on the album Elephant by American alternative rock band The White Stripes. It was released as a single in 2003, and is one of the best-known songs from the band. Seven Nation Army reached #1 on the modern rock Tracks for three weeks and won 2004’s Grammy Award for Best rock Song. The song is known for its underlying riff, which plays throughout most of the song. Although it sounds like a bass guitar (an instrument the group had famously never previously used), the sound is actually created by running Jack White’s semi-acoustic guitar (a 1950s style Kay Hollowbody) through a whammy pedal set down an octave. The riff was composed at a sound check before a show at the Corner Hotel in Melbourne, Australia, according to the set notes in the booklet which accompanied the Under Blackpool Lights DVD. The riff was inspired by the main theme of the Fifth Symphony composed by Anton Bruckner.
The song shows a rare example of the Phrygian Half Cadence in popular music. It is also a rare example of a popular song with a wholly instrumental refrain.
According to White, “Seven Nation Army” was what he used to call the Salvation Army as a child.
In March 2005, Q magazine placed “Seven Nation Army” at number 8 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In September 2005, NME placed “Seven Nation Army” at number 5 in its list of the 50 Greatest Tracks Of The Decade. In May 2008, Rolling Stone placed this song at number 21 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.
The song shows a rare example of the Phrygian Half Cadence in popular music. It is also a rare example of a popular song with a wholly instrumental refrain.
According to White, “Seven Nation Army” was what he used to call the Salvation Army as a child.
In March 2005, Q magazine placed “Seven Nation Army” at number 8 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. In September 2005, NME placed “Seven Nation Army” at number 5 in its list of the 50 Greatest Tracks Of The Decade. In May 2008, Rolling Stone placed this song at number 21 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.
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The White Stripes - 7 Nation Army Music Video
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Albums featuring this track
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Elephant
The White StripesBuy- Download Album
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Seven Nation Army
The White StripesBuy- Download Album
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Live at the Orpheum, Boston
The White StripesBuy- Download Album
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Under Blackpool Lights
The White StripesBuy- Download Album
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- Buy Album
- Amazon Search
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Shouts
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mikcsa wrote:
i feel hypnotized while im listening to this
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Czeeesio wrote:
♥ ♥ ♥
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llaella wrote:
aww the greatest!
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richysig7 wrote:
man oh man this is such a cool song
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cockpunchking wrote:
jesus christ they are great!
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sbros89 wrote:
Great song...0.0 seizure alert from the video!
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baaaaa_urie wrote:
my favorite song from them!
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serenasattar wrote:
good song! i like chris cornell's version also.
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sarahmcneil wrote:
lovelovelove
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serenasattar wrote:
cool tune!
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TamerlanRM wrote:
that's the greatest song i've ever heard!!!
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jennica_med_c wrote:
What a fantastic riff, and such a trippy video to go with it!
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Teddy_Faceless wrote:
прикольна пісенька... )
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HahaLily09 wrote:
AWESOME!
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hellyeacowboy wrote:
video is tripppy. good song though
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Anna7ti wrote:
good good goood....
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HALOGBW17 wrote:
love this band my broter chris told me about them !!!
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Raredrum wrote:
i think thats a bass.
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sandycheeks123 wrote:
ha i remembered this song from back when I was in 5th grade!
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Sprogbaby wrote:
gr8 song
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