Legends Never Die (Against the Current song)

"Legends Never Die"
Single by Against the Current
ReleasedSeptember 15, 2017 (2017-09-15)
Genre
Length3:55
LabelRiot Games
Songwriters
Producers
  • Mako
  • Oliver
  • Riot Games Music Team
Against the Current singles chronology
"Young & Relentless"
(2016) 		"Legends Never Die"
(2017) 		"Almost Forgot"
(2018)
League of Legends singles chronology
"Burning Bright"
(2016) 		"Legends Never Die"
(2017) 		"As We Fall"
(2017)
Music video
"Legends Never Die" (feat. Against the Current) on YouTube

"Legends Never Die" is a song by American pop rock band Against the Current. Written by Sebastian Najand, Justin Tranter, Alex Seaver, Alexander Temple, Edouard Brenneisen, Jason Willey, and Kyle Casey Hicks and produced by Seaver, Oliver, and the Riot Games Music Team, the song was designed as the official theme song for the 2017 League of Legends World Championship. It was released on September 15, 2017, under the Riot Games label, after being revealed on the League of Legends YouTube channel the day prior. It is a rock and metal ballad with lyrics about the emotional struggle and grit to become a legend.

The official music video was released on the League of Legends YouTube channel; it is an animation that shows League of Legends champions consistently persisting through setbacks. Alan Walker produced a remix of the song upon its release. The song was well-received upon its release and has since been certified Gold in several countries, as well as Silver in the United Kingdom. Retrospectively, it is widely considered one of the best World Championship songs. Chrissy Costanza, the lead singer of Against the Current, has said that its success changed her career.

Background and composition

Before "Legends Never Die", League of Legends had previously collaborated with Imagine Dragons to make "Warriors" for the 2014 World Championship, Nicki Taylor to make "Worlds Collide" for the 2015 World Championship, and Zedd to make "Ignite" for the 2016 World Championship. Continuing the tradition, they collaborated with Against the Current for "Legends Never Die", which served as the official song for the 2017 World Championship. "Legends Never Die" was written by Sebastian Najand, Justin Tranter, Alex Seaver, Alexander Temple, Edouard Brenneisen, Jason Willey, and Kyle Casey Hicks and produced by Seaver, Oliver, and the Riot Games Music Team. The song was revealed on the League of Legends YouTube channel on September 14, 2017 via an audio, and officially released as a single on September 15, 2017, the day afterwards, under Riot Games.[1][2][3] The single cover art shows the League of Legends characters Ashe and Lee Sin in a "very ambiguous player".[4]

"Legends Never Die" is stylistically a rock and metal ballad[5][6] with a duration of three minutes and 55 seconds.[3] According to the sheet music published to Musicnotes.com by Songs by Riot Games Music Publishing, it is in the key of F major with a moderate tempo of 70 beats per minute. Lead singer Chrissy Costanza's vocals range two octaves from F3 to F5 throughout the song.[7] The lyrics are about the emotional struggle and grit to be a legend.[8] The song has also been described as an "inspiring epic about never giving up". Lyrics include "When the world is calling you" and "Can you hear them screaming out your name?"[9]

Reception

Upon its release, "Legends Never Die" gained a positive response.[4] Aaron Mickunas of Dot Esports said that the song "just plain rocks" and "certainly builds up enough hype for [the 2017 World Championship]".[1] For Polygon, Julia Lee said that the song "truly encompasses how epic Worlds is" and that it is "extremely catchy".[4] Commercially, the song was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in February 2022, representing over a half-million confirmed units being sold in the United States.[10][11] It is also certified Gold in Denmark,[12] Italy,[13] New Zealand,[14] and Spain,[15] whereas in the United Kingdom, it is certified Silver.[16]

Retrospective reception

Retrospectively, "Legends Never Die" has become one of the highest-regarded World Championship songs. In a 2024 ranking of the World Championship songs, Cecilia Ciocchetti of Dot Esports ranked "Legends Never Die" fourth, praising its "passionate" crescendos and "explosive" chorus.[17] Esports.gg administrator Lawrence "Malystryx" Phillips ranked the song as the best World Championship song to date in 2025, saying it "has everything you'd ever want from a League of Legends Worlds anthem" and is a "unanimous #1" that "never fails to inspire".[8]

Ranking "Legends Never Die" second out of the first six World Championship songs, Victoria Rose wrote for Fanbyte that "[She] was a bit cold to it at first, but [she] absolutely warmed up to it", calling the song "really, incredibly powerful" as an anthem and saying "it's hard to not have [the song] grow on you".[5] In a 2025 ranking, Antonia Haynes placed "Legends Never Die" third on her ranking of the World Championship anthems, saying that the lyrics "are the kind of cinematic, heroic and inspirational lyrics that a LoL anthem needs for fans, players and pros to truly feel those high stakes".[18] ONE Esports placed the song fourth in their 2024 ranking, praising its rhythms, buildup, and Costanza's "sweet but firm" vocals.[19]

For GameRant, Joe Grantham ranked "Legends Never Die" as the second-best World Championship anthem, calling it one of "few songs capable of giving League fans around the world chills", highlighting its titular line as "hit[ting] harder than any other, especially as it ties into the name of the popular MOBA".[9] Upon Against the Current releasing "Wildfire", another collaboration with League of Legends for their 2022 European Championship, NME writer Ali Shutler called "Legends Never Die" an "incredible, stadium-sized anthem".[20]

In an interview with Ciocchetti on Esports Insider, Costanza, who also performed in the 2019 World Championship theme song "Phoenix", spoke out about "Legends Never Die"'s success, saying that it changed her career. She said that she was "stunned" by its success and said "I have friends in my life that knew Legends Never Die, but that didn't know anything about League of Legends, that found League of Legends because of the song."[21]

Music video

On October 18, 2017, the music video for "Legends Never Die" was released on the League of Legends YouTube channel.[22] It cuts short of the entire song.[5] The animated music video includes League of Legends champions such as Ashe, Lee Sin, and Garen journeying on survival after consistently struggling as they train to become champions. It is also different from previous World Championship music videos due to more focus on champions than players, as well as its different animation style.[9][23] By 2021, the music video had received over 190 million views, making it the third-most-viewed World Championship song after "Warriors" and "Rise",[24] and as of July 2025, it has over 297 million views.[25]

Live performances

Against the Current performed the song at the Beijing National Stadium to open the 2017 World Championship ceremony; almost 50,000 people attended the performance. The concert included an augmented reality dragon flying in the crowd before taking the stage and growling at the audience. The performance earned Riot Games received a Sports Emmy in Outstanding Live Graphic Design.[11][26]

Against the Current performed the song in December 2022 as an opening act for a Pierce the Veil concert at the 02 Forum Kentish Town in London.[27] Costanza also opened the 2025 World Championship with a medley performance of "Warriors", "Phoenix", and "Legends Never Die".[21]

Remix and covers

Norwegian DJ and producer Alan Walker produced a remix of "Legends Never Die". His production changed the song from "anthemic and exciting" and "bright and bouncy" with a "tropical" sound.[6]

In April 2023, the Dark Side of the Moon covered "Legends Never Die", supported with an original music video, for their debut album Metamorphosis. They released it ahead of the album itself "to shorten the waiting time [of the album]" according to themselves. The band said in promotion of it that "[We] invite you into the gaming world of League of Legends!"[28] In November 2025, N.Flying released a medley cover of "Legends Never Die" and the 2023 World Championship anthem, "Gods" by NewJeans.[29]

Credits and personnel

Adapted from Apple Music.[3]

Against the Current

Other

Certifications

Certifications for "Legends Never Die"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[12] Gold 45,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[13] Gold 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[14] Gold 15,000‡
Spain (Promusicae)[15] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[16] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[10] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. ^ Apple Music specifically credits Sebastian Najand, Alexander Temple, Edouard Brenneisen, and Jason Willey as songwriters; all of them are part of the Riot Games Music Team.[30]

References

  1. ^ a b Mickunas, Aaron (September 15, 2017). "The 2017 Worlds theme song is here—"Legends Never Die" feat. Against the Current". Dot Esports. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  2. ^ Jang, Minyoung; Hyun, Woo (September 14, 2017). "The Release of 'League of Legends 2017 World Championship' Theme Song: "Legends Never Die"". Inven Global. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Legends Never Die - Song by League of Legends Music & Against the Current". Apple Music. September 15, 2017. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Lee, Julia (September 15, 2017). "'Legends Never Die' is the Worlds theme song players have been waiting for". Polygon. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  5. ^ a b c Rose, Victoria (July 11, 2022). "League Worlds Championship Anthems So Far, Ranked By A League Hater". Fanbyte. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Bein, Kat (October 31, 2017). "Alan Walker Brings Victorious Sound to 'Legends Never Die' Remix for League of Legends: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  7. ^ "Digital Sheet Music – League of Legends feat. Against the Current – Legends Never Die". Musicnotes.com. Songs by Riot Games Music Publishing. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  8. ^ a b Phillips, Lawrence (August 29, 2025). "Best League of Legends Worlds Songs ranked (2014–2024)". Esports.gg. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Grantham, Joe (September 24, 2024). "The Best Worlds Songs for League of Legends". GameRant. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  10. ^ a b "American single certifications – League of Legends and Against the Current – Legends Never Die". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Wilson-Taylor, James (February 25, 2022). "Against The Current's 'Legends Never Die' Is Now Certified Gold". Rock Sound. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Danish single certifications – League of Legends, Against the Current – Legends Never Die". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Italian single certifications – League of Legends feat. Against the Current – Legends Never Die" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  14. ^ a b "New Zealand single certifications – League of Legends feat. Against the Current – Legends Never Die". Radioscope. Retrieved September 22, 2025. Type Legends Never Die in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  15. ^ a b "Spanish single certifications – League of Legends / Against the Current – Legends Never Die". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  16. ^ a b "British single certifications – League of Legends – Legends Never Die". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 7, 2022. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Legends Never Die League of Legends in the "Search:" field.
  17. ^ Ciocchetti, Cecilia (September 24, 2024). "Every League of Legends Worlds song ranked". Dot Esports. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  18. ^ Haynes, Antonia (October 19, 2025). "Every League of Legends Worlds anthem, ranked". Esports Insider. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  19. ^ Tuting, Kristine (September 24, 2024). "Ranking every Worlds song in League of Legends". ONE Esports. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  20. ^ Shutler, Ali (February 17, 2022). "Against The Current: the pop punk band who found a home in gaming". NME. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  21. ^ a b Ciocchetti, Cecilia (November 28, 2025). "How music has amplified League of Legends esports, featuring an interview with Chrissy Costanza". Esports Insider. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  22. ^ "Legends Never Die (ft. Against The Current) | Worlds 2017 - League of Legends". YouTube. October 18, 2017. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  23. ^ Lee, Julia (October 18, 2017). "'Legends Never Die' music video shows classic champions training". Polygon. Retrieved February 23, 2026.
  24. ^ Tan, Amanda (September 25, 2024). "Why 'Warriors' by Imagine Dragons is still the best Worlds song ever". ONE Esports. Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  25. ^ "Legends Never Die (ft. Against The Current) | Worlds 2017 - League of Legends". YouTube. October 18, 2017. Archived from the original on July 7, 2025. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  26. ^ Erzberger, Tyler (November 9, 2019). "League of Legends World Championship final opening ceremony a spectacle like Super Bowl halftime show". ESPN. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  27. ^ Warby, Louise (December 2022). "Against The Current: the pop punk band who found a home in gaming". Rock Sins. Retrieved January 7, 2026.
  28. ^ Weaver, James (April 13, 2023). "The Dark Side of the Moon release new music video for 'Legends Never Die'". Distorted Sound. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
  29. ^ Daniels, Tom (November 10, 2025). "N.Flying releases cover of two League of Legends esports anthems". Esports Insider. Retrieved December 6, 2025.
  30. ^ "Riot Games Music Team - Relationships". MusicBrainz. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
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