Seven Nation Army

Infobox Single
Name = Seven Nation Army


Artist = The White Stripes
from Album = Elephant
Released = May 13, 2003 (UK)
Format = CD, 7"
Recorded = Toe Rag Studios, London
April 2002
Length = 3:52
Label = XL Recordings
V2 Records (CD radio promo)
Writer = Jack White
Producer = Jack White
Chart position =

• #3 (Italy)#7 (UK)#17 (Australia)76 (USA)#1 (U.S. Modern Rock Tracks)#12 (U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks)
  Reviews =
  *"All Music Guide" Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:4s4gtq8zzu42~T0 link]
  Last single = "Candy Cane Children"
  (2002)
  This single = "Seven Nation Army"
  (2003)
  Next single = "I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself"
  (2003)
  

  "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 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. [cite web|url=http://bostonphoenix.com/boston/music/top/documents/02827372.htm|title=True believers: The White Stripes live out their rock-and-roll fantasy|publisher=Boston Phoenix|date=April 17, 2003|accessdate=2008-01-07]

  In March 2005, "Q" magazine placed "Seven Nation Army" at number 8 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. [cite web| author = RockList.net | title = "Q" magazine - 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever! | url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm#Guitar%20Tracks | year = 2005 | accessdate = 2007-06-27 | publisher = rocklistmusic.co.uk ] In September 2005, "NME" placed "Seven Nation Army" at number 5 in its list of the 50 Greatest Tracks Of The Decade. [cite web| author = RockList.net | title = The Greatest Tracks Of The Decade 1996 – 2006 | url = http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/nme_writers.htm#Tracks%20Of%20The%20Decade | year = 2005 | accessdate = 2007-06-27 | publisher = rocklistmusic.co.uk ] In May 2008, Rolling Stone placed this song at number 21 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time. [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/20947527/page/11 Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time] ]

  Music video

  The video, directed by Alex and Martin, consists of one seemingly continuous shot through a tunnel of mirrored black, white and red triangles, each containing a picture of either Jack or Meg playing. During the video, when the song begins to intensify, lights flash. Images of walking skeleton soldiers also appear regularly. An elephant (referring to the name of their album) appears once near the end.As the pace of the song speeds up, the speed that one "passes" through the tunnel speeds up, and as it slows, the speed through the tunnel slows. Jack's head also seems to set on fire in one triangle.

  Cover versions

  "Seven Nation Army" has been covered or remixed by numerous acts, including Ron Fleeger & The Stranger, A Perfect Circle, Audioslave, HARD-Fi, No Remorse, Joss Stone, Jamie Cullum, Frankie Hi-NRG MC, Apathy, The Flaming Lips, Amp,The Hives, Metallica (as part of a jam), Living Colour, The Veronicas, C.L.T., AFI, Nostalgia 77 featuring Alice Russell on the 2005 album "The Garden", Vyvienne Long, Benny Benassi, Vivek Shraya, Foo Fighters, Kate Nash, K.I.Z., Fat Freddy's Drop,The Vitamin String Quartet, Digitalism, N*E*R*D and Tomer G. The song was used, in part, by Rihanna at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards.

  porting usage

  The song is popular in sporting venues.

  The song was probably first used as a football anthem on October 22nd 2003 by the so-called "Blue Army", the fans of FC Bruges, when Andres Mendoza scored the first and only goal in the UEFA Champions League match against AC Milan.

  Italian football fans picked the song up when AS Roma played in and against Club Brugge for the UEFA Cup ["Sports Illustrated" staff writer (2006). [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/gabriele_marcotti/06/16/italy/ "Totti's time"] SportsIllustrated.com (accessed July 11, 2006)] . They often chant the song's signature guitar riff ever since, most notably during Italy's victory in the FIFA World Cup 2006. About 10 million Italians were supposedly singing the song "Across the Nation" the night following the final.

  The song was also played at the opening of every game in the UEFA Euro 2008 Football Tournament, although not in its entirety. [ [http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/06/is_seven_nation_army_the_indie.html Seven Nation Army: the indiest football anthem ever?] , "The Guardian", June 18, 2008] and was adopted by fans attending the tournament as a terrace chant. Liverpool fans use the riff of the song in chanting 'Javier Mascherano', while Tottenham Hotspur fans chant for Giovani Dos Santos. Association football Heart of Midlothian F.C sing 'oh the hibees are gay' to there city rivals [Hibernian F.C] . Fans of Australian A-League side Melbourne Victory also sing this chant after their team scores a goal. The song plays through the club's home stadium, Telstra Dome, speakers just after the home side score a goal. The song is also very prevalent at Penn State Nittany Lions sporting contests, especially for football and basketball games. Spectators first chant the chorus, then the band joins in after a couple verses. It is also a popular chant in the beer tents at the Oktberfest beer festival in Munich.

  References

  External links

  * [http://www.whitestripes.net/releases-singles.php White Stripes.net] . Retrieved September 9, 2005.
  * [http://www.whitestripes.net/faq.php#sevennationcdpromo White Stripes.net FAQ] Retrieved September 17, 2005.

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