Imagine Dragons do not make songs for small venues, but anthems intended to be roared along by tens of thousands of people.
Their sound is a modern mix of rock, pop, and electronic beats, with lyrics that often touch on personal struggles, depression, and overcoming your demons. Frontman Dan Reynolds sings with a passion that you feel straight through your soul.
Here are the ten best songs by Imagine Dragons.
10. It’s Time
The song where it all began. The mandolin in the intro and the handclaps give it a folky, optimistic character. The lyrics are about staying true to yourself, even as the world changes around you. “I’m never changing who I am” sounds like a promise. It is an uplifting song that feels like the start of a new day.
9. Bad Liar
An honest and vulnerable ballad. It is about the moment in a relationship when you stop pretending everything is fine. The production is quieter than what we are used to, placing the focus on Reynolds’ voice. You can hear the exhaustion and sadness in his delivery. It is a painfully relatable song about failing in love.
8. On Top of the World
Pure, undiluted joy. This song sounds like summer. The cheerful whistling and playful percussion make it impossible not to smile. It is about reaching your goals after a long road. The euphoria radiates from it. It is music you put on when you have just received good news and feel invincible.
7. Natural
Dark, threatening, and powerful. The beat is slow and heavy, and the chorus explodes with aggressive energy. The lyrics are about becoming hardened to survive in a cold world. Reynolds sings with a raw edge to his voice, as if he is pushed into a defensive stance. It is a battle song for everyone who has to swim against the current.
6. Thunder
Minimalistic and catchy. The beat mainly consists of finger snaps and a heavy bass drum, with those striking, distorted high voices in the chorus. It is a “look at me now” song, aimed at everyone who didn’t believe in them before. The simplicity is exactly what makes it so powerful; it stomps through like an unstoppable march.
5. Whatever It Takes
This song is full of adrenaline. The verses are almost rapped, the delivery is that fast. It is about ambition and the will to give everything for your dream. The production is busy and hurried, underlining the textual urgency. The chorus breaks open like a victory. Music for running or pushing your limits.
4. Demons
Perhaps their most emotional hit. It starts with a soft guitar and builds up to a grand, stadium-filling chorus. The lyrics are about hiding your dark side from the people you love to protect them. That vulnerability strikes a chord. Reynolds sings it with an intense sincerity that gives you goosebumps.
3. Enemy (with JID)
Known from the series Arcane, and you can hear that cinematic quality. The atmosphere is tense and paranoid. “Oh, the misery,” Reynolds sings, and you feel the pressure of the world on his shoulders. The addition of JID’s rap gives the song extra sharpness. It is a modern anthem for the misfits who feel misunderstood.
2. Believer
Turning pain into strength, that is what this song is about. The rhythmic, almost tribal drums in the intro grab you immediately. Reynolds sings every word with fierce precision. The chorus is an explosion of energy. It is about accepting that suffering is part of life and that it makes you stronger. A song that gives you a huge boost of self-confidence.
1. Radioactive
The song that defined a new genre. The mix of dubstep basses, rock guitars, and apocalyptic drums was unheard of. It sounds like the end of the world, or perhaps a new beginning. The heavy breathing in the intro sets the tone. When the beat drops, you feel the ground shake. It is grand, dangerous, and monumental. The definitive Imagine Dragons track.