# Demons (Imagine Dragons song)

"Demons" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was written by Alex da Kid, Ben McKee, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Josh Mosser and produced by Alex da Kid. The song appears on their major-label debut extended play, Continued Silence, and also makes an appearance on their debut studio album, Night Visions, as the fourth track. "Demons" was solicited to American triple-A radio stations on January 28, 2013, and to modern rock stations two months later, on April 1, 2013. It serves as the album's overall fifth single and was released as the third single from Night Visions in the United States, later released to US contemporary hit radio stations on 17 September 2013 as an official single. The lyrics portray the protagonist warning the significant other of his or her flaws.
The song was a commercial success, becoming their second top ten single after "Radioactive". It spent twelve weeks in the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, four of which were spent at its number six peak. It is Imagine Dragons' second song to stay more than one year on the Hot 100 (61 weeks). Within two years of its release, more than 4.1 million copies were sold in the United States, making it the eighth most downloaded song in rock history at the time. It has also been a moderate commercial success worldwide, charting in several countries. The song won a MuchMusic Video Award for International Video of the Year – Group (2014) and an iHeartRadio Music Award for Alternative Rock Song of the Year (2014).

## Composition

The song is written in E flat major with a slow-moderate tempo.

## Music video

An MTV report on the "Demons" music video stated that it would "fit nicely with the artful imagery of 'It's Time' and the thoroughly out-there puppet grappling of 'Radioactive'." Released on May 7, 2013, and shot in Las Vegas, Nevada at the band's performance at The Joint on February 9, 2013, the video features a mix of live footage of the band and a companion narrative. Various characters with personal hardships are depicted, including a grieving daughter, a man with Marfan syndrome who stares at himself in a mirror, a victim of parental abuse and a military veteran carrying his wounded comrade. The meaning imposed is that most do not see beyond the face that everyone puts on for the public. The clip ends with a dedication to Tyler Robinson (1995–2013), a fan of the band who died at the age of 17 in March 2013 following a battle with cancer. The music reached the one billion view milestone on July 18, 2022.

## Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Demons" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 6× Platinum | 420,000$^‡$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Platinum | 30,000$^*$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | 4× Diamond | 1,000,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 8× Platinum | 640,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | 3× Platinum | 270,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | 3× Gold | 450,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | 5× Platinum | 250,000$^‡$ |
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | Platinum+Gold | 90,000$^*$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | Platinum | 15,000$^*$ |
| Norway (IFPI Norway) | 2× Platinum | 20,000$^*$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | 4× Platinum | 80,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | 4× Platinum | 240,000$^‡$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | 4× Platinum | 160,000$^‡$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 15,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 4× Platinum | 2,400,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 12× Platinum | 12,000,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | 2× Platinum | 5,200,000$^†$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Accolades

| Year | Ceremony | Award | Result |
| 2014 | Billboard Music Awards | Top Rock Song | Nominated |
| 2014 | iHeartRadio Music Awards | Alternative Rock Song of the Year | Won |
| 2014 | MTV Video Music Awards | Best Rock Video | Nominated |
| 2014 | MuchMusic Video Awards | International Video of the Year – Group | Won |
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
| Nielsen SoundScan | United States | The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History | 2015 | 8 |

## Release history

Release dates for "Demons" :
| Country | Date | Format | Label |
| United States | January 28, 2013 | Adult album alternative radio | Interscope Records |
| United States | April 1, 2013 | Modern rock radio | Interscope Records |
| United States | September 16, 2013 | Hot adult contemporary radio | Interscope Records |
| United States | September 17, 2013 | Contemporary hit radio | Interscope Records |
| Mexico | October 22, 2013 | Digital download (remixes) | Interscope Records KIDinaKORNER |
| United States | October 22, 2013 | Digital download (remixes) | Interscope Records KIDinaKORNER |
| Italy | November 29, 2013 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal Music |

## Personnel

* Dan Reynolds – lead vocals
* Daniel Wayne Sermon – guitars, backing vocals
* Ben McKee – bass, keyboards, backing vocals
* Daniel Platzman – drums, backing vocals

### Additional musicians

* J Brownz – additional guitar, additional bass.