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.
Tokyo
Imagine Dragons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It don't seem to matter, it don't seem to matter
Bought a ticket to the mid west, just for business
But dismissed it from the interest
It was a risk just for a mistress
Who was a hostess on the West Coast
Don't you see it in my eyes tonight?
Baby's got a lot of baggage
Where do I have to go
To find a honey with a little soul?
Tokyo, Tokyo
Turn off the lights and let it go
Oh, it's nice to meet you
Kimi tanoshimu
Tokyo, Tokyo
Pay in the palms of the rock and roll
Get that dynamite
Chick-a-boom on the town tonight
I never seem to get it right
But you can show me so politely
Now don't you see it in my eyes tonight?
Get that dynamite
Where do I have to go
To find a honey with a little soul?
Tokyo, Tokyo
Turn off the lights and let it go
Oh, it's nice to meet you
Kimi Tanoshimu
Tokyo, Tokyo
Pay in the palms of the rock and roll
Hey
I come back to where you are
Hey
I come back to where you are
Give that dynamite
Where do I have to go
To find a honey with a little soul?
Tokyo, Tokyo
Turn off the lights and let it go
Oh, it's nice to meet you
Kimi Tanoshimu
Tokyo, Tokyo
Pay in the palms of the rock and roll
Where do I have to go
To find a honey with a little soul?
Tokyo, Tokyo
Turn off the lights and let it go
Oh, it's nice to meet you
Kimi Tanoshimu
Tokyo, Tokyo
Pay in the palms of the rock and roll
Hey
I come back to where you are
Hey
I come back to where you are
Tokyo
Tokyo
Tokyo
The lyrics of Imagine Dragons' song Tokyo tell the story of someone who has a lot of baggage and is looking for something different, preferably a person with a little soul. The singer mentions having a ticket for the mid-west that was dismissed for the interest of a mistress who was a hostess on the West-Coast, implying that he is willing to take risks for love. Despite his struggles, he finds himself drawn to Tokyo, a city associated with bright lights, cutting-edge technology, and a vibrant culture.
The song is also an ode to the music scene in Tokyo, popularly known for being a hotbed of rock and roll music. The chorus features the lyrics, "Pay in the palms of the rock and roll", which is a reference to the city's incredible rock scene. The song's combination of electronic beats, hard-hitting rock riffs, and infectious pop melodies is a reflection of Tokyo's diverse, cutting-edge music scene. Tokyo is a city that celebrates individuality and embraces change, which is also reflected in the song's lyrics.
Overall, Tokyo is a reflection of the singer’s search for love and purpose, set against a backdrop of Tokyo's vibrant music scene. The song suggests that no matter how heavy the emotional baggage one carries or how lost and confused one may feel, there is always a place where one can find solace and inspiration, particularly in the music, culture, and unique vibe of a city like Tokyo.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby's got a lot of baggage
The person being sung about has a lot of unresolved emotional issues
It doesn't seem to matter, it doesn't seem to matter
Despite the baggage, it doesn't deter the singer
Got a ticket for the mid-west, just for business
Received a travel permit for a work-related event in the Midwest
But dismissed it for the interest
Gave up the opportunity due to disinterest
It was a risk just for a mistress that was a hostess on the West-Coast
The risk was not worth taking for a woman who only worked as a hostess and lived on the West Coast
Don't you see it in my eyes tonight
The singer's deep emotions can be seen in their eyes
Where do I have to go
To find a hottie with a little soul?
The singer is searching for a partner who is both physically attractive and has strong values
Tokyo, Tokyo, Turn off the lights and let it go
The singer suggests a trip to Tokyo for a night of passion and freedom
Always nice to meet you
Kimi Tanoshimu
The singer greets their Japanese partner and enjoys their shared experience
Tokyo, Tokyo, Pay in the palms of the rock and roll
The singer continues to emphasize the freedom and excitement Tokyo can offer
Get that dynamite
The singer desires something explosive and thrilling
Chick-a-Boom on the down tonight
The singer is ready for a wild and spontaneous experience
I never seem to get it right
The singer has struggled with finding the right partner in the past
But you can show me so politely
The singer is open to learning from their partner and believes they can help guide them
Hey I come back to where you are
Give that dynamite
The singer will return to be with their partner and is looking forward to the explosive energy they share
Too-ookyyooo-oo-ooo
Too-ookyyooo-oo-ooo
Tokyo!
The repetition of the word Tokyo reinforces the idea of traveling there for a thrilling and unforgettable experience
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Benjamin Arthur McKee, Daniel Coulter Reynolds, Daniel Wayne Sermon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ryn4286
This is one of my absolute favorite old ID songs. So happy they re-released it
@Milou9998
It's so fun to see that they're re releasing old songs, Tokyo is like one of my favorite older songs, included curse and cover up
@IRREVERTGAMER
I wish they played "pistol whip" is such a strange energy song like church carnivaleske song
@JustGrant25
Are all these songs they just uploaded old ones?
@IRREVERTGAMER
@@JustGrant25 most of all yes, but I personally havent ever heard "bubbles" and "love of mine"
@Milou9998
@@IRREVERTGAMER yeah, they made bubble and love of mine 10 years ago but never released them
@Ikemo4
Curse is fire
@user-cb8se7cp1e
Las canciones de Imagine Dragons nunca decepcionan
@ignaciozavala2224
Concuerdo ✌🏻
@Tnioss
Esta canción tiene tiempo, estaba en el la version Deluxe del Album si no recuedo mal