Demons (Imagine Dragons song)

"Demons"
Single by Imagine Dragons
from the album Night Visions
Released January 28, 2013
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011–12,
Westlake Recording Studios, West Hollywood, California
Genre
Length 2:57
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s) Alex da Kid
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"Hear Me"
(2012)		 "Demons"
(2013)		 "On Top of the World"
(2013)

"Demons" is a song recorded 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,[1][2][3] and was later released to contemporary hit radio stations on 17 September 2013 as an official single.[4] The lyrics portray the protagonist warning the significant other of his or her flaws.

The song has been 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 (61 weeks). The song has sold over 4.1 million copies in the United States as of January 2015, making it the eighth most downloaded song in rock history.[5] 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 (2014) and an iHeartRadio Music Award for Alternative Rock Song of the Year (2014).

Composition

The song is written in E-flat major with a slow moderate tempo. [6]

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'."[7] 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.[3] Various characters with personal hardships are depicted, including a grieving daughter, a man with marfans syndrome who stares at himself in a mirror, a victim of parental abuse and a military veteran.[3][8]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 (1995-2013), a fan of the band who died at the age of 17 in March 2013 following a battle with cancer.[3]

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 February 2014, The Voice season 6 contestant Christina Grimmie performed a piano version of the song and uploaded the video on her YouTube channel.

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 (Daughtry) betrays Jesus (Jencarlos) and gives his reasons, and Jesus seems to be sympathetic to Judas; the lyrics are modified to alternate between first-person and second-person tenses as they sang.

Track listing

Digital download
No. Title Length
1. "Demons" (Imagine Dragons Remix) 3:16
2. "Demons" (KIDinaKORNER Remix) 3:19
3. "Demons" (Dzeko & Torres Remix) 3:51
4. "Demons" (Acoustic Live in London) 3:07
5. "Demons" (Music Video) 3:56
US promotional single
No. Title Length
1. "Demons"   2:57

Credits and personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013–14) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[9] 11
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[10] 7
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[11] 2
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[12] 5
Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)[13] 5
Brazil (Hot Pop Songs)[13] 3
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[14] 4
Canada AC (Billboard)[15] 3
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[16] 3
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[17] 1
Canada Rock (Billboard)[18] 7
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[19] 9
France (SNEP)[20] 15
Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 15
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 11
Italy (FIMI)[23] 5
Latvia (European Hit Radio)[24] 1
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[25] 27
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[26] 12
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[27] 5
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[28] 11
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[29] 7
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[30] 23
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] 26
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 8
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[34] 13
US Billboard Hot 100[35] 6
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[36] 11
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[37] 2
US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[38] 17
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[39] 2
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[40] 1
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[41] 34
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[42] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[43] 54
Denmark (Tracklisten)[44] 43
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[45] 39
US Billboard Hot 100[46] 62
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[47] 14
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[48] 50
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[49] 5
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[50] 8
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[51] 6
Chart (2014) Position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[52] 17
Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 57
Italy (FIMI)[54] 7
Poland (ZPAV)[55] 16
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[56] 87
US Billboard Hot 100[57] 23
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[58] 21
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[59] 22
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[60] 23
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[61] 6
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 35
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[63] 13
Chart (2015) Position
US Billboard Rock Digital Songs[64] 18
US Billboard Rock Streaming Songs[65] 9

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[66] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[67] 5× Platinum 400,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[68] Platinum 30,000^
Italy (FIMI)[69] 4× Platinum 120,000*
Mexico (AMPROFON)[70] Platinum+Gold 90,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[71] Platinum 15,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[72] 2× Platinum 20,000*
Sweden (GLF)[73] 4× Platinum 160,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[74] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[75] Platinum 600,000^
United States (RIAA)[76] 5× Platinum 4,100,000[77]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone

Accolades

Year Ceremony Award Result
2014 Billboard Music Awards Top Rock Song Nominated
iHeartRadio Music Awards Alternative Rock Song of the Year Won
MTV Video Music Awards Best Rock Video Nominated
MuchMusic Video Awards International Video of the Year - Group Won
Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Nielsen SoundScan United States The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History[78] 2015 8

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States January 28, 2013 Adult album alternative radio[79] Interscope Records
April 1, 2013 Modern rock radio[80]
September 16, 2013 Hot adult contemporary radio[81]
September 17, 2013 Contemporary hit radio[82]
Mexico October 22, 2013 Digital download (remixes)[83][84]
  • Interscope Records
  • KIDinaKORNER
United States
Italy November 29, 2013 Contemporary hit radio[85] Universal Music

Personnel

Additional musicians

References

  1. ↑ Waddell, Ray (July 12, 2013). "Imagine Dragons: The Billboard Cover Story". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – 'On Top Of The World'". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Kaufman, Gil (August 4, 2013). "Imagine Dragons Exorcise 'Demons' On New Single". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ...". All Access.
  5. ↑ Christopher Polk (January 31, 2015). "The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  6. ↑ Imagine Dragons "Demons Sheet Music musicnotes
  7. ↑ Montgomery, James (February 22, 2013). "Imagine Dragons Reveal Details Of New 'Demons' Music Video". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  8. ↑ Imagine Dragons - Demons (Official). YouTube. 7 May 2013.
  9. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Imagine Dragons – Demons". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Imagine Dragons – Demons" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Imagine Dragons – Demons" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Imagine Dragons – Demons" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  13. 1 2 "Hot 100 Billboard Brasil – weekly". Billboard Brasil. April 30, 2014. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Canada CHR/Top 40 for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  17. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  18. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Canada Rock for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  19. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201423 into search. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Imagine Dragons – Demons" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Musicline.de – Imagine Dragons Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 07, 2014". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Top Digital Download – Classifica settimanale WK 5 (dal 27-01-2014 al 02-02-2014)" (in Italian). FIMI.
  24. ↑ "EHR top 40". European Hit Radio. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Imagine Dragons – Demons" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Imagine Dragons – Demons". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-03-01". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  29. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201418 into search. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  30. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201428 into search. Retrieved July 15, 2014.
  31. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Imagine Dragons – Demons" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  32. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Imagine Dragons – Demons". Singles Top 100. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  33. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Imagine Dragons – Demons". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 24, 2014.
  34. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2014-03-01" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved February 23, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  36. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  37. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Dance/Mix Show Airplay for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  39. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Rhythmic Songs for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  42. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  44. ↑ "Single top 50 2014". hitlisten.nu. Retrieved 2015-02-02.
  45. ↑ "End Of Year Charts 2013". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  46. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  47. ↑ "Triple A Songs: 2013 (Year-End)". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013. (subscription required (help)).
  48. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  49. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  50. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.
  51. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  52. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  53. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  54. ↑ "FIMI - Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 19 January 2015.
  55. ↑ "Utwory, których słuchaliśmy w radiu – Airplay 2014" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  56. ↑ "The Official Top 100 Biggest Songs of 2014 revealed". officialcharts.com.
  57. ↑ "Hot 100 Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  58. ↑ "Adult Contemporary Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  59. ↑ "Adult Pop Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  60. ↑ "Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  61. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  62. ↑ "Pop Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  63. ↑ "Rock Airplay Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  64. ↑ "Rock Digital Songs : Dec 31, 2015 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  65. ↑ "Rock Streaming Songs : Dec 31, 2015 | Billboard Chart Archive". Billboard. billboard.com. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  66. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2015 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  67. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Demons". Music Canada. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
  68. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Demons". IFPI Denmark. Retrieved May 5, 2014. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  69. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Demons" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 9, 2015. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Imagine Dragons in the field Filtra. The certification will load automatically
  70. ↑ "Certificaciones – Imagine Dragons" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved December 9, 2015.
  71. ↑ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – 26 August 2013". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  72. ↑ "Norway Awards". International Federation of the Norwegian Phonographic Industry. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  73. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2014" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Type Imagine Dragons in the top right search bar. Click on "Sok" and select Demons and see certification.
  74. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Imagine Dragons; 'Demons')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  75. ↑ "British single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Demons". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 30, 2015. Enter Demons in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  76. ↑ "American single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Demons". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 6, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  77. ↑ Polk, Christopher (January 31, 2015). "The 15 Most Downloaded Rock Songs In History". Chart Watch. Yahoo! music. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
  78. ↑ "The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History". yahoo.com. 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-02-03.
  79. ↑ "Future Releases on Triple A (AAA) Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on January 18, 2013. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  80. ↑ "Available for Airplay Archive – Modern Rock". FMQB. Archived from the original on April 24, 2013. Retrieved May 18, 2013.
  81. ↑ "Hot AC". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on September 1, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2013.
  82. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  83. ↑ "Demons (Remixes) – Single de Imagine Dragons". iTunes Store (MEX) (in Spanish). Apple. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  84. ↑ "Demons (Remixes) – Single by Imagine Dragons". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  85. ↑ Aldi, Giorgia. "Imagine Dragons – Demons (Universal)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. Retrieved February 6, 2015.
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