Thunder (Imagine Dragons song) explained

Thunder
Cover:Imagine Dragons Thunder.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Imagine Dragons
Album:Evolve
Genre:
Length:3:07
Label:
Producer:
  • Alex Da Kid
  • Jayson DeZuzio
Prev Title:Believer
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Whatever It Takes
Next Year:2017

"Thunder" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was released by Interscope Records and Kidinakorner on April 27, 2017, as the second single from their third studio album, Evolve (2017).[5] Written by band members Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman, and its producers Alex Da Kid and Jayson DeZuzio, "Thunder" peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song became the band's fourth single in that country to reach the top ten after "Radioactive", "Demons" and "Believer". It also reached the top 10 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

Music video

The official music video for the song was released on Imagine Dragons' YouTube channel on May 2, 2017. The video was shot in Dubai, filmed in black and white.[6] It features the band's lead vocalist, Dan Reynolds, singing and dancing among extraterrestrials, portrayed by dancers Haroon Al Abdali, Mamadou Bathily, and Gianna Gi, around Downtown Dubai and the Burj Khalifa. It was directed by Joseph Kahn.[7] [8]

As of July 2024, the video has over 2 billion views on YouTube, making it the group's second most viewed video, only behind Believer. It also has over 12 million likes.

Live performances

Imagine Dragons performed the song at the 2017 American Music Awards, in a medley with singer Khalid's "Young Dumb & Broke", with Khalid joining them for the performance.[9] A little over a month later, on December 20, a studio version of the mash-up was released.[10]

Chart performance

"Thunder" peaked at number four on the US Billboard Hot 100.[11] [12] The single has also reached number one in Belarus, the Czech Republic and the top ten in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Paraguay, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, and Switzerland. It topped the Billboard Hot Rock Songs chart for 21 weeks,[11] [13] Alternative Songs (three weeks),[14] Adult Top 40 (seven weeks), and the Mainstream Top 40 (for one week) charts.[15]

It became the ninth best-selling song of 2017 in the United States, with 1,189,000 copies sold in the year.[16]

Critical reception

Critics from Billboard magazine placed it number 84 on its list of best songs of 2017, stating "'Thunder' is relatively stripped down, and between its soldierly cadence and a bouncy, helium-inflated, one-word hook, it makes for a curious pop gem".[17] In a review of the band's live performance at London's O2 Arena, The Guardian wrote of the song: "...the irresistible, hiccupping electro-pop of Thunder, a tune that could sit equally happily in a set by Pink or Rihanna".[18]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2017–2023)Peak
position
El Salvador (Monitor Latino)[19] 17
Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20)[20] 12
Malaysia (RIM)[21] 15
Mexico Airplay (Billboard)[22] 12
Paraguay (Monitor Latino)[23] 8
Philippines (Philippine Hot 100)[24] 24
Slovenia (SloTop50)[25] 5

Medley version

Year-end charts

Chart (2017)Position
Australia (ARIA)[26] 6
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[27] 3
Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[28] 18
Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] 34
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[30] 80
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[31] 43
France (SNEP)[32] 61
Germany (Official German Charts)[33] 4
Hungary (Single Top 40)[34] 23
Hungary (Stream Top 40)[35] 4
Italy (FIMI)[36] 12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 27
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 42
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 6
Poland (ZPAV)[40] 67
Portugal (AFP)[41] 15
Slovenia (SloTop50)[42] 41
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[43] 88
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[44] 19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 11
UK Singles (OCC)[46] 100
US Billboard Hot 100[47] 51
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[48] 47
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[49] 4
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[50] 11
Chart (2018)Position
Australia (ARIA)[51] 50
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[52] 18
Hungary (Single Top 40)[53] 32
Portugal (AFP)[54] 38
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[55] 99
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[56] 77
US Billboard Hot 100[57] 22
US Radio Songs (Billboard)[58] 14
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[59] 10
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[60] 7
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[61] 1
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 34
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[63] 21
Chart (2019)Position
Portugal (AFP)[64] 156
Chart (2022)Position
Global 200 (Billboard)[65] 196
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[66] 47
Chart (2023)Position
Global 200 (Billboard)[67] 173
Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[68] 46

Medley version

Decade-end charts

Chart (2010–2019)Position
Australia (ARIA)[69] 50
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[70] 2

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United StatesApril 27, 2017Digital download
ItalyMay 26, 2017Contemporary hit radioUniversal[71]
United StatesSeptember 8, 2017Digital download – official remix
September 11, 2017Hot adult contemporary radio[72]
September 19, 2017Contemporary hit radio[73]
December 20, 2017Digital download – medley

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2018-03-01. Imagine Dragons review – fun, but as shallow as a paddling pool. 2021-01-01. the Guardian. en.
  2. Web site: It Is Time to Talk About Imagine Dragons. The Ringer. Harvilla. Rob. June 23, 2017.
  3. Web site: 2017-09-20. Imagine Dragons brings its Evolve World Tour, with new music and big production, to Southern California. 2021-01-01. Orange County Register. en-US.
  4. Imagine Dragons JID Enemy five burning questions. Billboard. March 29, 2022.
  5. Web site: Imagine Dragons Debut New Song 'Thunder'. CBS Radio. April 27, 2017. May 5, 2017.
  6. News: Anieka. Sequeira. Imagine Dragons unveil 'Thunder' video shot here in Dubai. Gulf News. May 3, 2017. May 5, 2017.
  7. Web site: Imagine Dragons -Thunder. YouTube. May 2, 2017.
  8. News: WATCH: New Video for Imagine Dragons' 'Thunder'. Tom. Littrell. May 3, 2017. Hot Press. May 5, 2017.
  9. Khalid & Imagine Dragons Team Up for 'Young, Dumb & Broke' & 'Thunder' Performance at 2017 AMAs. Billboard. Lamarre. Carl. November 19, 2017. December 25, 2017.
  10. Web site: Thunder / Young Dumb & Broke (Medley) – Single by Imagine Dragons & Khalid on Apple Music. iTunes. 20 December 2017. December 25, 2017.
  11. Post Malone's 'Rockstar' Tops Hot 100, Camila Cabello's 'Havana' Is Top Seller & Imagine Dragons Rule Radio. Billboard. Trust. Gary. November 20, 2017. November 21, 2017.
  12. Imagine Dragons – Chart history (Billboard Hot 100). Billboard. May 27, 2017.
  13. Ed Sheeran & Beyonce's 'Perfect' Tops Billboard Hot 100. Billboard. Trust. Gary. December 11, 2017.
  14. Imagine Dragons' 'Thunder' Rolls to No. 1 on Hot Rock Songs Chart. Billboard. November 20, 2017.
  15. Imagine Dragons' 'Thunder' Hits No. 1 on Pop Songs Chart. Billboard. Trust. Gary. November 20, 2017. November 21, 2017.
  16. Ed Sheeran's 'Divide' Is Nielsen Music's Top Album of 2017 in U.S.. Billboard. Caulfield. Keith. January 3, 2018. January 15, 2018.
  17. Best Songs of 2017: Billboard's Top 100 Picks. Billboard. December 13, 2017. December 29, 2017.
  18. Web site: Imagine Dragons review – fun, but as shallow as a paddling pool. TheGuardian.com. March 2018.
  19. Web site: El Salvador General. es. Monitor Latino. May 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180510082034/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/El%20Salvador/General/20171002. May 10, 2018.
  20. Web site: Imagine Dragons Lebanese Chart Top 20 History. The Official Lebanese Top 20. September 11, 2017. September 11, 2017.
  21. Web site: Top 20 Most Streamed International & Domestic Singles in Malaysia. Recording Industry Association of Malaysia. July 14, 2017.
  22. Mexico Airplay: Sep 23, 2017. Billboard. May 16, 2018. subscription .
  23. Web site: Paraguay General. es. Monitor Latino. May 9, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180509181104/http://charts.monitorlatino.com/top20/Paraguay/General/20171016. May 9, 2018.
  24. Web site: BillboardPH Hot 100. Billboard Philippines. December 18, 2017.
  25. Web site: SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart. SloTop50. sl. October 23, 2017. October 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171023174423/http://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Tedenske-lestvice/?year=2017&week=42. dead.
  26. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles 2017. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 5, 2018.
  27. Web site: Ö3 Austria Top 40 – Single-Charts 2017. oe3.orf.at. December 29, 2017. December 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230060411/http://oe3.orf.at/charts/stories/2886107/. dead.
  28. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 2017. Ultratop. December 21, 2017.
  29. Web site: Rapports Annuels 2017. Ultratop. December 21, 2017.
  30. Web site: Top 200 faixas em streaming - 2017. pt. Pro-Música Brasil. 16 July 2021. 6 March 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200306125559/https://pro-musicabr.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/TOP200_STREAMING2017.pdf. live.
  31. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2017. Billboard. December 17, 2017.
  32. Web site: Top de l'année Top Singles 2017. SNEP. fr. August 13, 2020.
  33. Web site: Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. December 29, 2017.
  34. Web site: Single Top 100 – eladási darabszám alapján – 2017. Mahasz. February 17, 2018.
  35. Web site: Stream Top 100 – 2017. Mahasz. February 17, 2018.
  36. Web site: Classifiche annuali dei dischi più venduti e dei singoli più scaricati nel 2017. FIMI. it. January 9, 2018. Click on "Scarica allegato" and open the "Classifica annuale 2017 Singoli digital" file. January 8, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180108233439/http://www.fimi.it/news/top-of-the-music-2017-lalbum-piu-venduto-in-italia-e-divide-%c3%b7-di-ed-sheeran. dead.
  37. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2017. Dutch Top 40. November 2, 2019.
  38. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 2017. Hung Medien. December 23, 2017.
  39. Web site: Top Selling Singles of 2017. Recorded Music NZ. December 22, 2017.
  40. Web site: Airplay 2017 – w pierwszej trójce Sheeran, Tiësto i Hyży. pl. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. January 22, 2018.
  41. Web site: Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 100 Singles 2017. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. August 11, 2020.
  42. Web site: SloTop50 – Slovenian official Year-End singles chart. SloTop50. January 8, 2018. December 30, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171230225934/http://www.slotop50.si/Glasbene-lestvice/Letne-lestvice/?year=2017. dead.
  43. Web site: Top 100 Songs Annual 2017. Productores de Música de España. es. May 9, 2022.
  44. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2017. Sverigetopplistan. sv. January 16, 2018.
  45. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2017 – hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. December 31, 2017.
  46. Web site: End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2017. Official Charts Company. January 10, 2018.
  47. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2017. Billboard. December 12, 2017.
  48. Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2017. Billboard. September 3, 2019.
  49. Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2017. Billboard. January 5, 2019.
  50. Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2017. Billboard. January 19, 2022.
  51. Web site: ARIA End of Year Singles 2018. Australian Recording Industry Association. January 10, 2019.
  52. Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018. Billboard. December 4, 2018.
  53. Web site: Single Top 100 - eladási darabszám alapján - 2018. April 1, 2020. Mahasz.
  54. Web site: Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 200 Singles 2018. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. August 11, 2020.
  55. Web site: Årslista Singlar – År 2018. Sverigetopplistan. sv. January 15, 2019.
  56. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2018 – hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. December 31, 2018.
  57. Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. December 4, 2018.
  58. Radio Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. December 4, 2018.
  59. Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. September 3, 2019.
  60. Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. September 3, 2019.
  61. Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 5, 2019.
  62. Pop Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. December 5, 2018.
  63. Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2018. Billboard. January 19, 2022.
  64. Web site: Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais. Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. pt. August 11, 2020.
  65. Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2022. Billboard. December 2, 2022.
  66. Web site: Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2022. Mahasz. hu. February 4, 2023. February 3, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230203044628/https://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/radios/2022. live.
  67. Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2023. Billboard. November 22, 2023.
  68. Web site: Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2023. MAHASZ. January 26, 2024. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20240125133848/https://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-slagerlistak/radios/2023. January 25, 2024. hu.
  69. Web site: 2019 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart. ARIA. January 2020. January 16, 2020.
  70. The Decade in Rock Charts: Imagine Dragons On Fire, High-Flying Twenty One Pilots & More. . November 14, 2019 .
  71. Web site: Imagine Dragons - Thunder RadioDate. Radioairplay.fm. May 26, 2017. August 29, 2017.
  72. Web site: Hot/Modern/AC Future Releases. All Access Music Group. September 8, 2017.
  73. Web site: Top 40/M Future Releases. All Access Music Group. August 29, 2017.

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