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.…