The band's single "It's Time", which previously appeared on the "It's Time" and "Continued Silence" EPs in addition to appearing on "Night Visions", is the group's biggest hit, reaching #33 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In a dark kitchen in the middle of a sweaty night in Las Vegas, all 6’4” of Dan Reynolds is hunched over a laptop, slapping beats on the table and crooning lyrics into a tiny microphone. Before long, he and the other three members of indie rock band Imagine Dragons would be playing “It’s Time,” that same laptop-demo-turned-supersized-anthem, from the roof of a parking garage to a wave of thousands of screaming fans. This song title to the single from their 2012 debut KidInaKorner/Interscope release “Continued Silence EP” is an all too apt descriptor of the band’s hard-earned success—but it’s also emblematic of the deep-seated anxiety Reynolds and the rest of the band experienced leaving behind any realistic expectation of a normal job to do the thing they love most.
A third-generation Las Vegas native, Reynolds is no stranger to the adage “the house always wins,” choosing to pave his musical career with a near obsessive work ethic and hundreds of unused demos rather than roll the dice with the first songs that sprung from his mouth. It’s no surprise, then, that he was drawn to guitarist Wayne Sermon, another founding member of Imagine Dragons. Having practically grown up in a recording studio and graduated Berklee College of Music, Wayne had been practicing his guitar through meals and other socially inappropriate situations as long as he could remember; he challenged Dan in a way that was both uncomfortable and exactly what they both needed. When they began writing songs together and recognized something special was happening, Wayne called up his Berklee friend Ben McKee, who promptly dropped out of school with only a few credits left, moving across the country to play bass for the band. This sort of reckless/genius behavior is typical for Ben, who has an uncanny penchant for spicy food and a suitcase full of unbelievable road stories. More recently, the band was joined by drummer Daniel Platzman, another Bostonian schoolmate who seems way too nice to be playing rock and roll until you actually see him in action.
Several tours and three self-released EPs later, Imagine Dragons had made a serious name for itself, particularly in the west coast circuit. Although their songs vary from nearly whimsical and light to brooding and powerful, listeners are drawn to the inherent honesty in the music. The only rule of thumb for the band, it seems, is to write from a true place; the result is songs that literally run the spectrum of human emotion. Attend a concert, and it becomes clear that the live performance of deeply personal songs has a real effect on people. And the band itself is not immune, as demonstrated when Dan literally passed out into the drum set during a finale song, sending cymbals and drum stands crashing while the rest of the band played on until the close.
Great songwriting is bound to be noticed eventually. As proof that the harder you work, the luckier you get, one of those people who noticed was Grammy winning producer Alex da Kid (Eminem, Rihanna). Alex and Dan began collaborating on projects, and soon the band had developed a relationship with Alex and his team. The alchemy resulting from Alex’s hip hop sensibilities and Imagine Dragons’ anthemic rock is nothing short of explosive. The byproduct of this creative collision is “Continued Silence,” a six song in-your-face sonic grenade that breaks musical boundaries and yet is strangely relatable by its improbably diverse audience.
Despite it all, on any given day when they aren’t on the road playing shows, you can still find Imagine Dragons huddled away in a rehearsal room somewhere, banging out song after song in search of the next perfect track. Like most things in Vegas, the band is angled at going big or going bust. For the sake of those who love great music, we hope it’s the former.
Friction
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We both know you need them
You're stuck in the middle
Of all irrelevance
And your heart is beating
'Cause you know that you gotta
Get out of the middle
And rise to the top now
When you've made it
Won't ya tell me what to do
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
When you made it, when you made it
Won't ya tell me what to do
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
You can't fight the friction
So ease it off
Can't take the pressure
So ease it off
Don't tell me to be strong
Ease it off
You can't fight the friction
So ease it off
And get into the system
We both know you need one
The tip of the needle
Is taking over you
And your heart is beating
'Cause you know that you gotta
Get out of the middle
And rise to the top now
When you've made it
Won't ya tell me what to do
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
When you made it, when you made it
Won't ya tell me what to do
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
You can't fight the friction
So ease it off
Can't take the pressure
So ease it off
Don't tell me to be strong
Ease it off
You can't fight the friction
So ease it off
Oh why can't you let go
Like a bird in the snow
This is no place to build your home
You can't fight the friction
So ease it off
Can't take the pressure
So ease it off
Don't tell me to be strong
Ease it off
You can't fight the friction
So yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah
The song "Friction" by Imagine Dragons is an upbeat and energetic piece that is open to interpretation based on the listener's perspective. The chorus "You can't fight the friction, so ease it off" can be seen as a call to action to navigate the challenges that arise in life by accepting them and adapting accordingly. The line "get down with the victim, we both know you need them" suggest that the singer may have a tendency to get stuck in a rut or feel like a victim, highlighting the importance of seeking change and rising to the top.
Additionally, the line "don't tell me to be strong, ease it off" speaks to the idea that it can be counterproductive to push oneself too hard or to ignore the need for rest or relaxation. Instead of striving for unrealistic levels of strength or productivity, it is important to strike a balance and ease off the pressure.
As a whole, the song promotes the importance of resilience and finding the right balance to overcome obstacles without burning out. The use of a fast-paced and energizing beat reinforces this message and creates a sense of momentum towards progress and success.
Line by Line Meaning
Get down with the victim
Join the group of people who are negatively affected by the circumstances
We both know you need them
You and I are aware that you require them to overcome the situation
You're stuck in the middle
You find yourself in a difficult or confusing situation with no obvious way out
Of all irrelevance
The whole issue seems meaningless, of no importance or value
And your heart is beating
You feel excited or nervous about the prospect of getting out of the middle
'Cause you know that you gotta
You are aware that you must take action to get out of the situation
Get out of the middle
Remove yourself from the difficult position
And rise to the top now
Do everything possible to attain success at once
When you've made it
When you have achieved your objective
Won't ya tell me what to do
Kindly advise me on what steps I should take next
'Cause I'm playin' it all wrong
Because I am currently doing everything the wrong way
You can't fight the friction
It is futile to resist the forces that impede your progress
So ease it off
Slow down or reduce your efforts for a while
Can't take the pressure
The tension, stress, or demands are too much to bear
Don't tell me to be strong
Do not encourage or force me to be resilient or courageous at the moment
And get into the system
Assimilate yourself into a prescribed pattern of behavior or control
We both know you need one
You and I are aware that you require a system to function normally
The tip of the needle
The fine end of the instrument that injects a substance directly into the bloodstream
Is taking over you
You are gradually falling under the influence or control of something
Oh why can't you let go
Why do you find it difficult to release or detach yourself from the situation
Like a bird in the snow
Similar to a bird that is trapped or struggling to fly in a snowstorm
This is no place to build your home
This is not the right environment or situation to establish a stable and secure residence
You can't fight the friction
You cannot win against the resistance that is hindering your progress
So yeah, yeah, yeah
An exclamation of frustration, disappointment, or surrender
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BENJAMIN ARTHUR MCKEE, DANIEL COULTER REYNOLDS, DANIEL JAMES PLATZMAN, DANIEL WAYNE SERMON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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