Natural (Imagine Dragons song)
"Natural" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Imagine Dragons | ||||
from the album Origins | ||||
Released | July 17, 2018 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 3:09 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Mattman & Robin | |||
Imagine Dragons singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Natural" on YouTube |
"Natural" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons, whose members co-wrote the song with Justin Tranter, Klinsmann Lucas S. Bernardo and their producers Mattman & Robin. It was released by Kidinakorner and Interscope Records on July 17, 2018, serving as the lead single from the band's fourth studio album, Origins (2018), as well as the seasonal anthem of the 2018 ESPN College Football. It became their fifth number one song on the US Hot Rock Songs chart.
Background
Lead singer Dan Reynolds noted that "Natural" is about "finding yourself and being willing and able to stand up to whatever adversity comes your way". He said in a press release announcing the song: "Living in a dog-eat-dog world can bring out the worst in you, and sometimes, the best. It would be a lie to tell you I haven't become somewhat skeptical about some things in the last decade of my life. However, I believe that when you truly learn to love yourself, the judging eyes and hateful words become meaningless."[1]
The song was chosen by ESPN as the anthem of the 2018 College Football season.[2][3] It is the second time that an Imagine Dragons song was chosen, the first being "Roots" in 2015.[4] "'Natural' embodies the energy, spirit and drama of each team's journey to the College Football Playoff, and that is why it was chosen as this year's anthem," said Emeka Ofodile, ESPN vice president of sports marketing.[5][6] It is also part of the soundtrack for EA Sports' NHL 19.
Composition
"Natural" is a pop rock song which features a "mix of explosive drums and inspiring lyrics",[7] with "stadium-rocking instrumentation" over the chorus.[8]
Critical reception
Markos Papadatos of Digital Journal regarded "Natural" as a "well-crafted and well-produced song", writing that "Reynolds' voice is impressive, raw and powerful", and that the song "garners two thumbs up".[9] Sam Tornow of Billboard described the song as "ferocious" and "smash-mouth".[8] Mike Wass of Idolator named the song a "radio-ready anthem", expecting it to be "another smash" following the success of the band's third studio album Evolve (2017).[10] Tiana Timmerberg of Radio.com called the song "energetic and inspiring", deeming it "a feel-good jam with positive and empowering lyrics".[11]
Music video
A music video for the song was released on August 24, 2018. It depicts frontman Dan Reynolds as the apparent owner of a spooky house including shots of a woman in a bathtub, the same woman being pursued by other inhabitants of the house and an abnormally tall man resembling Slenderman, a supposed funeral for the woman, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee and Daniel Platzman fading into dust, Reynolds digging a grave and burying the woman alive, and other shots of the house and its inhabitants, along with a clip of a lion mauling a zebra.[12] Its music video has received over 410 million views and 4 million likes as of March 2021.
Live performances
On July 19, 2018, Imagine Dragons made a live television debut of the single on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[13] The performance featured a guitar solo by lead guitarist Wayne Sermon that expanded on the studio recording.[14]
Personnel
Credits adapted from Tidal.[15]
- Mattman & Robin – production, engineering
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
Charts
Weekly charts |
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Austria (IFPI Austria)[91] | Gold | 15,000‡ |
Belgium (BEA)[92] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
Canada (Music Canada)[93] | Platinum | 80,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[94] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
France (SNEP)[95] | Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI)[96] | Gold | 200,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI)[97] | Platinum | 50,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[98] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Poland (ZPAV)[99] | 4× Platinum | 200,000‡ |
Portugal (AFP)[100] | Platinum | 10,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[101] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[102] | 4× Platinum | 4,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Release history
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | July 17, 2018 | [15] | ||
United States | July 31, 2018 | Alternative radio | [103] | |
August 28, 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | [104] |
References
- ^ Flaherty, Kevin (July 17, 2018). "ESPN picks pump-up song for the 2018 college football season". 247Sports. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Joseph, Andrew (July 17, 2018). "ESPN chooses 2018's college football anthem". USA Today. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Powers, Christopher (July 17, 2018). "ESPN unveils new college football anthem by Imagine Dragons so get ready to hear it 8 million times this fall (rough estimate)". Golf Digest. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Gartland, Dan (July 17, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Made Another ESPN College Football Anthem to Get Stuck in Your Head". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Yang, Angela (July 20, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Headline ESPN and Interscope's Collaboration for the 2018-19 College Football Season" (Press release). ESPN MediaZone. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ O'Brien, Kyle (July 20, 2018). "Imagine Dragons hypes the upcoming college football season for ESPN with anthemic 'Natural'". The Drum. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Driver, Richard (November 15, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Hope to Eliminate Solitude in Our Modern Existence on 'Origins'". PopMatters. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Tornow, Sam (July 17, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Release Pump-Up ESPN College Football Season Anthem 'Natural': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Papadatos, Markos (July 17, 2018). "Review: Imagine Dragons back with spitfire 'Natural' song". Digital Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Wass, Mike (July 17, 2018). "Another Smash: Imagine Dragons Unleash New Single "Natural"". Idolator. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Timmerberg, Tiana (July 17, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Release Explosive New Song "Natural"". Radio.com. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Ginsberg, Gab (August 24, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Bring the Horror With Zany 'Natural' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
- ^ Timmerberg, Tiana (July 20, 2018). "Imagine Dragons' "Natural" Makes Live TV Debut". Radio.com. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ Tornow, Sam (July 20, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Hit 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Stage for Powerful Performance of 'Natural': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ a b "Natural / Imagine Dragons TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
- ^ "Argentina Hot 100 – Semana del 20 de Octubre del 2018". Billboard Argentina (in Spanish). Retrieved October 18, 2018.
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- ^ "Bolivia General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Retrieved July 17, 2019.
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- ^ Imagine Dragons — Natural. TopHit.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
- ^ "Croatia ARC TOP 100". HRT. Retrieved December 20, 2018.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 40. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 36. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
- ^ Nestor, Siim (November 20, 2018). "EESTI TIPP-40 MUUSIKAS Queenil läheb väga hästi!". Eesti Ekspress (in Estonian). Retrieved November 20, 2018.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
- ^ "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 36/2018". Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 23, 2018.
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- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Imagine Dragons". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons – Natural". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 47, 2018" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
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- ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons – Natural". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- ^ "Puerto Rico General" (in Spanish). Monitor Latino. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ "Airplay 100 – 13 ianuarie 2019" (in Romanian). Kiss FM. January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
- ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2018-10-15." TopHit. 2018-10-15. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201905 into search. Retrieved January 5, 2019.
- ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201837 into search. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
- ^ "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
- ^ "Gaon Download Chart – Issue date: 2018.10.07 – 2018.10.13". Gaon Chart. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
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- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
- ^ "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2019-0-27." TopHit. Retrieved March 28, 2020.
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- ^ "Ö3 Austria Top 40 Jahrescharts 2018: Singles". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
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- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Imagine Dragons; 'Natural')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 1, 2019. Select "2019" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Natural" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
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External links
- 2018 singles
- 2018 songs
- Imagine Dragons songs
- Pop rock songs
- Song recordings produced by Mattman & Robin
- Songs written by Ben McKee
- Songs written by Dan Reynolds (musician)
- Songs written by Daniel Platzman
- Songs written by Justin Tranter
- Songs written by Mattias Larsson
- Songs written by Robin Fredriksson
- Songs written by Wayne Sermon
- Kidinakorner singles
- Interscope Records singles