Whatever It Takes (Imagine Dragons song)

Last updated
"Whatever It Takes"
Whatever It Takes Imagine Dragons.jpg
Single by Imagine Dragons
from the album Evolve
B-side "Thunder" (official remix)
ReleasedOctober 6, 2017 (2017-10-06)
Genre
Length3:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Joel Little
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"Thunder"
(2017)		"Whatever It Takes"
(2017)		"Next to Me"
(2018)
Music video
"Whatever It Takes" on YouTube

"Whatever It Takes" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. The song was released on May 9, 2017, as a promotional single through Kidinakorner and Interscope. It later became the third single from the band's third studio album, Evolve , on October 6, 2017. It was also the official theme song for WWE's PPV event Battleground, in addition to its inclusion in the video game Madden NFL 18 . The song was sent to US contemporary hit radio on February 13, 2018.

Contents

Background

The song was announced alongside the name and album art of Evolve via Twitter on May 9, 2017. [3]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on October 12, 2017. It was directed by Matt Eastin and Aaron Hymes. Eastin had also previously directed the music videos for Imagine Dragons' songs "On Top of the World", "Roots", and "Believer". The video begins with lead singer Dan Reynolds swimming through a room filled with water. You can see matchbooks reading "The Overlook Hotel" and "Mt. Qualo, Colorado, references to 'The Shining'. It then cuts to a scene in which Reynolds and the band are playing in the same room; however, it is not filled with water in this scene. As they perform the chorus of the song, the roof crumbles and rain starts pouring in. Throughout the video, the rain persists and the room eventually fills completely with water. However, the band still plays. As Reynolds sings, objects such as boxing gloves and keys float by him along with two people who are seemingly sirens, tugging at him from both sides. Before the final chorus, the music stops and the band floats lifelessly on the water. When they break into song again, the stage has completely changed as the room is no longer underwater, but on fire as the band plays on it. As the video ends, everything is on fire and the music stops. [4] The video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Rock Video award. On February 12, 2025, the video surpassed one billion views on YouTube. [5]

Live performances

In October 2017, Imagine Dragons performed the song on Late Night with Seth Meyers . [6]

On May 30, 2018, they performed the song live before game two of the 2018 Stanley Cup Finals at T-Mobile Arena in their hometown of Las Vegas. [7]

Usage in media

In February 2018, Imagine Dragons asked Conservative Political Action Conference to stop using "Whatever It Takes" on their conference website. [8] [9]

The National Basketball Association (NBA)'s Utah Jazz frequently play the song prior to tip-off of every home game at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. [10]

Critical reception

The Guardian writes that "Whatever It Takes" was "written with a sports highlights package in mind ("I love the adrenaline in my veins", wails frontman Dan Reynolds, before chart pop's current obligatory chorus of "woah-ohs" enters)." [11]

Commercial performance

As of May 15, 2018, the song has peaked at number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100. [12] [13]

Track listing

Digital download [14]
No.TitleLength
1."Whatever It Takes"3:21
CD single [15]
No.TitleLength
1."Whatever It Takes"3:22
2."Thunder" (official remix)3:17

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [78] Platinum70,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria) [79] Platinum30,000‡
Belgium (BEA) [80] Gold10,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [81] Diamond250,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [82] 2× Platinum160,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [83] Platinum90,000‡
France (SNEP) [84] Diamond333,333‡
Germany (BVMI) [85] 3× Gold600,000‡
Italy (FIMI) [86] 3× Platinum150,000‡
Norway (IFPI Norway) [87] Gold30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV) [88] 4× Platinum200,000‡
Portugal (AFP) [89] Gold5,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [90] Platinum60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI) [91] Platinum600,000‡
United States (RIAA) [92] 7× Platinum7,000,000 [93]
Streaming
Sweden (GLF) [94] Platinum8,000,000†

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelRef.
Various [a] May 9, 2017 Digital download [14]
United KingdomOctober 6, 2017 Contemporary hit radio [95]
October 20, 2017Digital download [96]
United StatesNovember 14, 2017 Adult album alternative radio [97]
GermanyNovember 17, 2017 CD single
[98]
United StatesDecember 5, 2017Alternative radio
  • Kidinakorner
  • Interscope
 [99]
February 13, 2018Contemporary hit radio [100]

Notes

  1. ↑ Release as a promotional single.

References

  1. ↑ "Imagine Dragons brings its Evolve World Tour, with new music and big production, to Southern California". Orange County Register. 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  2. 1 2 August 2018, Dave Everley 14 (14 August 2018). "The 10 best Imagine Dragons songs". loudersound. Retrieved 2021-01-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Da'Shan Smith (May 9, 2017). "Imagine Dragons Are Ready to 'Evolve' With Upcoming Album & Tour, Share New Song 'Whatever It Takes'". Billboard . Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Imagine Dragons - Whatever It Takes". YouTube . October 12, 2017. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  5. ↑ Zwick, Hannah (2025-02-12). "Imagine Dragons' 'Whatever It Takes' Joins YouTube Billions Club". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  6. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Performs 'Whatever It Takes' on LATE NIGHT". Broadway World. October 31, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  7. ↑ "Imagine Dragons rock Cup Final before Game 2". NHL.com. NHL Enterprises, L.P. May 30, 2018. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Imagine Dragons asks conservative group to stop using "Whatever It Takes"". Q95. February 16, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Imagine Dragons asks conservative group to stop using "Whatever It Takes"". WIXX 101. February 16, 2018. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  10. ↑ Walden, Eric (January 19, 2019). "Utah Jazz sleepwalk past Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-99, for sixth straight victory". The Salt Lake Tribune . Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ Davies, Hannah J (June 22, 2017). "Imagine Dragons: Evolve review – lifeless electronic-tinged arena rock". The Guardian . Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  12. 1 2 "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 15, 2018.
  13. ↑ Trust, Gary (March 19, 2018). "Drake's 'God's Plan' Tops Billboard Hot 100 for Eighth Week". Billboard. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons on Spotify". Spotify . Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Whatever It Takes (2-Track)". Amazon. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
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  17. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  18. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 23, 2017.
  19. ↑ "Belarus Airplay Music Chart (общий ТОП 500) (07–13 декабря 2018 г.)" [Belarus Airplay Music Chart (overall top 500) (07–13 December 2018)]. top.eurofest.by. 13 December 2018. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
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  21. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 17, 2018.
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  27. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 17, 2017.
  28. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
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  32. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Lebanese Chart Top 20 History". The Official Lebanese Top 20. December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2017.
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  35. ↑ "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 22, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  36. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
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  41. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 05. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved February 6, 2018.
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  46. ↑ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2018-05-21." TopHit. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  47. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  51. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  52. ↑ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
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  55. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017". Billboard. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  56. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  57. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2018". Ultratop. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  59. ↑ "CIS Top Radio & YouTube Hits 2018". Tophit . Retrieved January 14, 2019.
  60. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2018" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved January 18, 2021.
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  63. ↑ "TÓNLISTINN – LÖG – 2018". Plötutíóindi (in Icelandic). Retrieved April 1, 2022.
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  75. ↑ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2018". Billboard. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
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  78. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2018 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved October 19, 2021.
  79. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
  80. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2018". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved January 19, 2018.
  81. ↑ "Brazilian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil . Retrieved February 8, 2024.
  82. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes". Music Canada . Retrieved May 31, 2018.
  83. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Whatever It Takes". IFPI Danmark . Retrieved December 20, 2022.
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  97. ↑ "Music Meeting for October 31". Play IGA. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017.
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