The band's second studio album Smoke + Mirrors (2015) reached number one in the US, Canada, and the UK. This was followed by their third studio album Evolve (2017), which resulted in three chart-topping singles, "Believer", "Thunder", and "Whatever It Takes", also making them the artist with the most weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart. The album reached the top five in many countries. The band's fourth studio album Origins (2018) featured the single "Natural", which became their fifth song to top the Hot Rock Songs chart. The band has since released Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 (2022), a double album featuring the US top 5 hit "Enemy", and Loom (2024), their first album without longtime drummer Daniel Platzman. Despite their popularity and commercial success, the band's music has been consistently met with mixed critical reception.
Imagine Dragons won three American Music Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, one Grammy Award, one MTV Video Music Award, and one World Music Award. In May 2014, the band was nominated for 14 Billboard Music Awards, including Top Artist of the Year and a Milestone Award, which recognizes innovation and creativity of artists across different genres. In April 2018, the band was nominated 11 more times for Billboard Music Awards.
Imagine Dragons have sold more than 74 million albums and 65 million digital songs worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling music artists. They have also earned 160 billion streams across music platforms. They were the most streamed group of 2018 on Spotify, the first rock act to have four songs, "Radioactive", "Demons", "Believer", and "Thunder", to surpass one billion streams each, and the only group in RIAA history to have four songs certified higher than Diamond. According to Billboard, "Believer", "Thunder", and "Radioactive" were the three best performing rock songs of the 2010s.
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
@mariarocker802
The vibe of this song is excellent, the bass and percussion make an impression when played on high end car audio/subs. It turns into an "experience", and it's hard to match Imagine Dragons! Love them so much!
@AndreaWhite-or8it
2:38
@abbyssalhere
I heard this song for the first time and i knew this will be one of my most favourite songs
@4HStudios
same cant lie
@physioneha169
Imagine dragons makes brilliant songs, and friction is one of the best!
@ar1a.luvs.nirv4na.
Imagine Dragons can never make a bad song!!❤
@AdamBendadi
it is sur
@texugolindo7001
digital
@akiraphantom5
I remember hearing this in the Ghost Recon Wildlands trailer.
@sniperelite7293
same