Demons (Imagine Dragons song)


"Demons" is a song by American rock band Imagine Dragons. It was written by Imagine Dragons and Alex da Kid, and produced by Alex da Kid. The song appears on their major-label debut extended play, Continued Silence, and also makes an appearance on their debut studio album, Night Visions, as the fourth track. "Demons" was solicited to American triple-A radio stations on January 28, 2013 and to modern rock stations on April 1 and serves as the album's overall fifth single and was released as the third single from Night Visions in the United States, and was later released to contemporary hit radio stations on 17 September 2013 as an official single. The lyrics portray the protagonist warning the significant other of his or her flaws.
The song was a commercial success, becoming their second top ten single after "Radioactive". It spent twelve weeks in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, four of which were spent at its number six peak. It is Imagine Dragons' second song to stay more than one year on the Hot 100. Within two years of its release, more than 4.1 million copies were sold in the United States, making it the eighth most downloaded song in rock history. It has also been a moderate commercial success worldwide, charting in several countries. The song won a MuchMusic Video Award for International Video of the Year – Group and an iHeartRadio Music Award for Alternative Rock Song of the Year.

Composition

The song is written in E-flat major with a slow-moderate tempo.

Music video

An MTV report on the "Demons" music video stated that it would "fit nicely with the artful imagery of 'It's Time' and the thoroughly out-there puppet grappling of 'Radioactive'." Released on May 7, 2013 and shot in Las Vegas, Nevada at the band's performance at The Joint on February 9, 2013, the video features a mix of live footage of the band and a companion narrative. Various characters with personal hardships are depicted, including a grieving daughter, a man with Marfan syndrome who stares at himself in a mirror, a victim of parental abuse and a military veteran. The meaning imposed is that most don't see beyond the face that everyone puts on for the public. The clip ends with a dedication to Tyler Robinson, a fan of the band who died at the age of 17 in March 2013 following a battle with cancer.

Cover versions

Latvian-born American singer Masha covered "Demons" on her YouTube channel. Ryan Seacrest's official website described her cover as "a soulful ballad by replacing the studio version's heavy rock beats with the soft, resonating sound of a piano — showcasing her powerful vocals and truly capturing the powerful meaning behind the cryptic lyrics."
In March 2016, Chris Daughtry and Jencarlos Canela performed a cover of the song during the Fox television special The Passion. It was sung in the story where Judas Iscariot betrays Jesus and gives his reasons, and Jesus seems to be sympathetic to Judas; the lyrics are modified to alternate between first-person and second-person as they sang.

Track listing

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Austria 36
Canada 17
Germany 57
Italy 7
Netherlands 28
Netherlands 52
Poland 16
Russia Airplay 14
Slovenia 30
Sweden 18
Switzerland 27
Ukraine Airplay 39
UK Singles 87
US Billboard Hot 10023
US Adult Contemporary 21
US Adult Top 40 22
US Hot Rock Songs 6
US Mainstream Top 40 35
US Rock Airplay 13

Decade-end charts

Certifications

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRank
Nielsen SoundScanUnited StatesThe 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History20158

Release history

Personnel