1001 Songs Challenge #937: Seven Nation Army (2003)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

 

The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army (2003)

We’re continuing in the US today, dear reader, but leaving Atlanta, Georgia, and heading instead to Detroit, Michigan. It’s a second appearance on our list from The White Stripes. Jack and Meg White previously appeared in 2001 with Fell in Love With a Girl. We join them two years later with the release of their fourth album, Elephant, and from there 1001 Songs have selected the lead single, Seven Nation Army. 

Written by Jack White, Seven Nation Army begins with a guitar that sounds like a bass before later hurling a stunning guitar riff at us, one that remains intoxicating with every listen. The song itself has a smidgen of good fortune about it. The story goes that when Jack White was a boy he misheard the name “Salvation Army” as “Seven Nation Army”. What was an unfortunate, maybe humorous, misunderstanding became the title for this song. White confirmed that the lyrics are based on media attention at celebrities, he and Meg in particular, and how people are constantly talking about you behind your back and making speculations about your life.

I owned a CD of Elephant back in the day and it was, and still is, a terrific album. Seven Nation Army is the best track by a long shot. Meg’s simple drumming, coupled with Jack’s stunning array of guitar work and sometimes distorted make this one a thrilling ride from start to finish. The group continued to record and perform until 2007 when they went on hiatus. Four years later an announcement was made that The White Stripes were no more, leaving us with nothing but wonderful memories such as this one.

 

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

The Doors – The End (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Tracy Chapman – Fast Car (1988)

U2 – One (1991)

Radiohead – Paranoid Android (1997)

Snow Patrol – Run