Seventeen years ago today, Fall Out Boy dropped Infinity on High, an album that pushed them from pop-punk heroes to full-fledged rock stars. Leading the charge was “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race,” a slick, gospel-tinged anthem packed with sharp wit and industry cynicism.
Patrick Stump’s powerhouse vocals drive the track, delivering lines like, “I'm a leading man, and the lies I weave are oh so intricate,” with theatrical flair. It’s a song about fame, hype, and the absurdity of it all—wrapped in a hook that was impossible to ignore.
Even after years of reinvention, “This Ain’t a Scene” remains one of Fall Out Boy’s most iconic tracks, capturing a moment when they went from Warped Tour favorites to chart-topping heavyweights. So whether you're blasting Infinity on High in celebration or just revisiting a classic, one thing’s for sure—seventeen years later, this song still dominates the stage.