Natural (Imagine Dragons song)

"Natural"
Single by Imagine Dragons
from the album Origins
Released July 17, 2018 (2018-07-17)
Format
Length 3:09
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Mattman & Robin
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"Born to Be Yours"
(2018)		 "Natural"
(2018)		 "Zero"
(2018)
Music video
"Natural" on YouTube

"Natural" is a song by American band Imagine Dragons, whose members co-wrote the song with Justin Tranter and its producers Mattman & Robin. It was released by Kidinakorner and Interscope Records on July 17, 2018, serving as the lead single from the band's upcoming 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]

Composition

"Natural" features a "mix of explosive drums and inspiring lyrics", with "stadium-rocking instrumentation" over the chorus.[7]

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".[8] Sam Tornow of Billboard described the song as "ferocious" and "smash-mouth".[7] 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).[9] Tiana Timmerberg of Radio.com called the song "energetic and inspiring", deeming it "a feel-good jam with positive and empowering lyrics".[10]

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.[11]

Live performances

On July 19, 2018, Imagine Dragons made a live television debut of the single on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.[12] The performance featured a guitar solo by lead guitarist Wayne Sermon that expanded on the studio recording.[13]

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[14]

Charts

Chart (2018) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 28
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 35
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[17] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[18] 50
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[19] 21
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[20] 36
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[21] 21
Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[22] 2
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[23] 2
France (SNEP)[24] 55
Germany (Official German Charts)[25] 54
Greece (IFPI International Digital Singles)[26] 22
Hungary (Single Top 40)[27] 10
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[28] 5
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 35
Italy (FIMI)[30] 55
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[31] 8
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[32] 17
Norway (VG-lista)[33] 9
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[34] 4
Portugal (AFP)[35] 5
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[36] 44
Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[37] 47
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38] 4
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[39] 86
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[40] 67
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[41] 3
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[42] 54
US Billboard Hot 100[43] 14
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[44] 28
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[45] 7
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[46] 11
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[47] 1

Release history

Region Date Format Label Ref.
Various July 17, 2018 [14]
United States July 31, 2018 Alternative radio [48]
August 28, 2018 Contemporary hit radio [49]

References

  1. ↑ Flaherty, Kevin (July 17, 2018). "ESPN picks pump-up song for the 2018 college football season". 247Sports. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  2. ↑ Joseph, Andrew (July 17, 2018). "ESPN chooses 2018's college football anthem". USA Today. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  3. ↑ 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.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ 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.
  6. ↑ 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.
  7. 1 2 Tornow, Sam (July 17, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Release Pump-Up ESPN College Football Season Anthem 'Natural': Listen". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ Papadatos, Markos (July 17, 2018). "Review: Imagine Dragons back with spitfire 'Natural' song". Digital Journal. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ Wass, Mike (July 17, 2018). "Another Smash: Imagine Dragons Unleash New Single "Natural"". Idolator. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  10. ↑ Timmerberg, Tiana (July 17, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Release Explosive New Song "Natural"". Radio.com. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  11. ↑ Ginsberg, Gab (August 24, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Bring the Horror With Zany 'Natural' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  12. ↑ Timmerberg, Tiana (July 20, 2018). "Imagine Dragons' "Natural" Makes Live TV Debut". Radio.com. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  13. ↑ Tornow, Sam (July 20, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Hit 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!' Stage for Powerful Performance of 'Natural': Watch". Billboard. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  14. 1 2 "Natural / Imagine Dragons TIDAL". Tidal. Retrieved July 22, 2018.
  15. ↑ "ARIA Australian Top 50 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 20, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  22. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201840 into search. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  23. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201836 into search. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved August 3, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Imagine Dragons – Natural". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Official IFPI Charts - Digital Singles Chart (International) - Week: 36/2018". Archived from the original on September 17, 2018. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Kanye West edges in on Calvin Harris & Sam Smith for Irish Number 1". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 37" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 2018" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Imagine Dragons – Natural" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  33. ↑ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single uke 37, 2018". VG-lista. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Imagine Dragons – Natural". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  37. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201837 into search. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  38. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201837 into search. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Top 100 Canciones – Semana 37: del 7.9.2018 al 13.9.2018" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Sverigetopplistan – Sveriges Officiella Topplista". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved September 21, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Imagine Dragons – Natural". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot Rock Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 21, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on July 29, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Top 40/M Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved August 16, 2018.
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