The Anthem

Good Charlotte released "The Anthem" on February 28, 2003, as the second single from their sophomore album The Young and the Hopeless. Joel and Benji Madden wrote the track with composer John Feldmann for a film soundtrack that never came to fruition. The band kept the song for their record after the movie deal fell through, and it became an instant hit with early 2000s youth culture.

The song blends fast tempos and power chords into a classic pop-punk sound that champions authenticity over conformity. It peaked at number 44 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 19 in the UK. The track earned Platinum certifications in Australia and the United Kingdom along with Gold status in the United States.

Jesse Peretz directed the music video which shows the band performing in a warehouse setting with dynamic lighting. The clip has accumulated tens of millions of views since its release and remains a staple of the MySpace and YouTube era. Critics have consistently praised the polished production by Don Gilmore and the track's ability to capture youthful defiance. [edit]