On Top of the World (Imagine Dragons song)

"On Top of the World"
Single by Imagine Dragons
from the album Night Visions
Released March 18, 2013
Format Digital download
Recorded 2011–12
at Westlake Recording Studios
(Los Angeles, United States)
Genre Folk rock
Length 3:12
Label
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Ben McKee
  • Dan Platzman
  • Dan Reynolds
  • Wayne Sermon
  • Alexander Grant
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"Demons"
(2013)		 "On Top of the World"
(2013)		 "Monster"
(2013)

"On Top of the World" is a song written and recorded by American rock band Imagine Dragons for their major-label debut extended play Continued Silence (2012), where it appears as the third track. The song also appears on their debut studio album Night Visions (2012) as the fifth track. "On Top of the World" was released digitally as a single on March 18, 2013.

Composition
"On Top of the World"
"On Top of the World" is a sharp contrast to the darker, thematic songs on Night Visions.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

"On Top of the World" primarily features guitar and piano instrumentation, with vocals performed by lead singer Dan Reynolds.[1] Originally published in the key of C major,[1] the song itself expresses a celebration of accomplishment for the band after striving for years to become successful.[2] The song itself incorporates the chords C, F, Dm, and G, with the pre-chorus using G and Am to create a different break in the song.[3] The song "On Top of the World" is found to be a positive, upbeat track, unlike other songs found on Night Visions, including "Bleeding Out" and "Hear Me".

The song is built on a sample of minimalist composer Steve Reich's "Clapping Music" from 1972.

Usage in media

Imagine Dragons performed the song live on the Australian version of The X Factor in 2013.[4]

"On Top of the World" was licensed for inclusion on the soundtrack of EA's FIFA 13.[5] The band, longtime fans of the FIFA video game series, reacted positively to its inclusion in the game and stated that it would be "a lot of fun hearing the track play while we are doing bicycle kicks and screaming at the screen."[5] It also served as the opening theme of the short-lived CBS comedy series Partners.[6] "On Top of the World" was performed by the PS22 Chorus during Barack Obama's second United States presidential inauguration.[7] It also featured in FIFA's rival game Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 as well as being used in a Samsung Galaxy Note 8.0 advert. It was also featured in the film The Incredible Burt Wonderstone several times.

The song is featured in the Liv and Maddie episode "Twin-a-Rooney", performed by Dove Cameron in the title role of Liv Rooney. Dove Cameron's version appears on the compilation album Disney Channel Play It Loud.

Hunter Hayes covered the song live on his US tour.[8]

The song was used by ESPN for their coverage of the NBA for the 2013-14 NBA Season

The song was used in trailers for the films The Croods (2013) and Island of Lemurs: Madagascar (2014).

WPVI-TV in Philadelphia uses the song to promote their morning news, Action News Mornings.

The song is used in the Coca-Cola promotional video "Moments of Happiness", shown exclusively at the World of Coca-Cola in Atlanta.

The song was featured in the soundtracks of Alpha and Omega: The Legend of the Saw Tooth Cave and The Angry Birds Movie.

In the fall of 2016, Ford used this song in their year-end event sales commercial.[9]

Music video

The official music video satirizes a popular conspiracy theory that the Apollo moon landings were faked with the help of director Stanley Kubrick (pictured)

As a part of the Palladia documentary Imagine Dragons: The Making of Night Visions, which originally aired on November 7, 2012, the band filmed a video of themselves performing "On Top of the World" and subsequently uploaded it to YouTube.

On November 13, 2013 the band released an official music video for the song.[10] The video satirizes a popular conspiracy theory that the 1969 Moon landings were faked, the footage having been directed by Stanley Kubrick, and that Kubrick then made references to the fakery in various of his subsequent films. In the video, a rock band similar to the Beatles (played by the members of Imagine Dragons) pretend to be astronauts for the faked moon landing. The taping goes awry as fans of the band stream into the sound stage and turn the event into a rock concert, much to the chagrin of Kubrick and President Richard Nixon, who is also on hand; the crowd might be discovering by being there, that the landings were fake or just be happy to be at the concert. The people at home might be agreeing now that the conspiracies were real, though just how many people are aware or not is not exactly shown.[10] The video also briefly references another popular conspiracy theory from around the same time, that Beatles member Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a look-alike.[10]

The video was filmed in Provo, Utah, Imagine Dragons' original hometown, and includes cameos from various celebrities associated with Provo or Brigham Young University, including Jon Heder, the cast of the TV show Studio C, guitarist Robbie Connolly, and members of The New Electric Sound. Whit Hertford plays Kubrick, and singer Aja Volkman, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds' wife, appears as Reynolds' character's wife.[11]

Track listing

Digital download[12]
No. Title Length
1. "On Top of the World"   3:12
Promotional CD
No. Title Length
1. "On Top of the World"   2:58

Commercial performance

The song peaked at 79 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 10 on the Hot Rock Songs charts. It has also charted in the top ten in Australia (No. 10), Austria (No. 6), Netherlands (No. 10), New Zealand (No. 10), Poland (No. 7), and Portugal (No. 1). Despite having not yet been released to mainstream radio, it has received airplay on contemporary hit stations, such as 97.1 ZHT in Salt Lake City.

The song reached a million copies sold in the U.S. in April 2014. It's the fourth million seller from the Night Visions album.[13]

Personnel

Adapted from Night Visions liner notes.[14]

Imagine Dragons
  • Dan Reynolds – vocals
  • Wayne Sermon – guitar
  • Ben McKee – bass
  • Daniel Platzman – drums
Additional musicians
  • J Browz – guitar
Additional personnel
  • Alexander Grant – co-writer, producer
  • Charlie Stavish – recording
  • Josh Mosser – engineering
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Joe LaPorta – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2012–14) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 10
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[16] 6
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[17] 11
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] 43
Canada AC (Billboard)[19] 30
Canada Hot AC (Billboard)[20] 37
Colombia (National Report Top Rock)[21] 5
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[22] 21
France (SNEP)[23] 35
Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 13
Hungary (Single Top 40)[25] 36
Ireland (IRMA)[26] 24
Italy (FIMI)[27] 10
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 14
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 10
Portugal Digital Songs (Billboard)[31] 1
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[32] 7
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[33] 29
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[34] 37
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[35] 21
South Africa (EMA)[36] 4
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[37] 40
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[38] 14
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[39] 34
US Billboard Hot 100[40] 79
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[41] 10
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[42] 22
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 19

Year-end charts

Chart (2013) Position
Germany (Media Control AG)[44] 79
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[45] 26
Chart (2014) Position
Italy (FIMI)[46] 57
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[47] 23
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[48] 37

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Australia (ARIA)[49] 3× Platinum 210,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[50] Platinum 100,000^
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[51] Gold 15,000^
Italy (FIMI)[52] Platinum 30,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[53] Platinum 0*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[54] 2× Platinum 20,000*
Sweden (GLF)[55] 2× Platinum 80,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[56] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[57] Silver 200,000double-dagger
United States (RIAA)[58] 2× Platinumdagger 2,000,000[13]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
double-daggersales+streaming figures based on certification alone

dagger Since May 2013 RIAA certifications for digital singles include on-demand audio and/or video song streams in addition to downloads.[59]

Accolades

Year Ceremony Award Result
2014 Teen Choice Awards Choice Rock Song Nominated
VEVO Hot This Year Awards Best Alternative/Rock Video Nominated

Release history

Region Date Format Label
Portugal[12][60] March 18, 2013 Digital download
Australia[61] Streamed audio
United Kingdom[61]
United States[61]
Spain May 27, 2013 Contemporary hit radio Interscope Records
Australia August 22, 2013
United States[62] October 21, 2013 Triple A radio
  • Interscope Records
  • KIDinaKORNER
United Kingdom[63] November 18, 2013 Contemporary hit radio
Australia[64] Digital download (RAC remix)
Germany[65]
United Kingdom[66]
Italy[67] May 30, 2014 Contemporary hit radio Interscope Records

References

  1. 1 2 "Imagine Dragons 'On Top of the World' Sheet Music". Universal Music Publishing Group. MN0112551. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Continued Silence EP". AbsolutePunk. July 25, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  3. ↑ "On Top of the World Chords". ultimate-guitar.com. Retrieved 3 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "- Watch The X-Factor Clips - Official site".
  5. 1 2 "'On Top of the World' to be featured in FIFA 2013!". Imaginedragonsmusic.com. Interscope. Archived from the original on August 24, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ Kyte, Kathryn (October 4, 2012). "Debut Spotlight: Imagine Dragons". Shaw Media. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ Gomez, Luis (March 10, 2013). "Interview: Imagine Dragons singer savors flight on the wings of success". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ "REVIEW: Hunter Hayes rocks Savannah".
  9. ↑ "Ford Year End Event TV Commercial, 'Pumpkin Patch' Song by Imagine Dragons". iSpot.tv. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  10. 1 2 3 "Imagine Dragons Reveal 'Subliminal' Secrets Of New 'On Top Of The World' Video".
  11. ↑ Tribune, Jim Dalrymple Ii The Salt Lake. "Imagine Dragons' new Utah video secrets revealed, mapped out".
  12. 1 2 "On Top of the World – Single by Imagine Dragons". iTunes Store (POR). Apple. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  13. 1 2 Paul Grein (April 30, 2014). "Chart Watch: Pharrell Steps Up". Yahoo Music.
  14. ↑ Night Visions (Deluxe Edition) (liner notes). Imagine Dragons. Interscope Records. 2013.
  15. ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved October 26, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Canada AC for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Canada Hot AC for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  21. ↑ "ROCK" (in Spanish). National Report. 27 April 2015. Archived from the original on 7 May 2015.
  22. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201439 into search.
  23. ↑ "Lescharts.com – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World" (in French). Les classement single.
  24. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 23, 2013.
  25. ↑ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 23, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Chart Track: Week 45, 2013". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 16, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale WK 32 (dal 04-08-2014 al 10-08-2014)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 August 2014.
  28. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Imagine Dragons search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Portugal Digital Songs for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  32. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  33. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2013-04-06". Scottish Singles Top 40. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  34. ↑ "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201428 into search. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
  35. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  36. ↑ "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2014-01-14". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved September 16, 2015.
  37. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 20, 2013.
  38. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". Swiss Singles Chart.
  39. ↑ "Archive Chart: 2013-04-13" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  40. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved February 27, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
  42. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Rock Airplay for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  43. ↑ "Imagine Dragons – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Imagine Dragons. Retrieved April 3, 2014.
  44. ↑ "Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 2013" (in German). VIVA. Viacom International Media Networks. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  45. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  46. ↑ "FIMI - Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  47. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2014.
  48. ↑ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  49. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2014 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association.
  50. ↑ "Canadian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". Music Canada.
  51. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". IFPI Denmark. Click on næste to go to page if certification from official website
  52. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 21, 2014. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Imagine Dragons in the field Filtra. Select 2014 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
  53. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 25, 2013.
  54. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway.
  55. ↑ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2014" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Type Imagine Dragons in the top right search bar. Click on "Sok" and select On Top of the World and see certification.
  56. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Imagine Dragons; 'On Top of the World')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  57. ↑ "British single certifications – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". British Phonographic Industry. Enter On Top of the World in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Silver in the field By Award. Click Search
  58. ↑ "American single certifications – Imagine Dragons – On Top of the World". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
  59. ↑ "RIAA Adds Digital Streams To Historic Gold & Platinum Awards". Recording Industry Association of America. May 9, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2013.
  60. ↑ "On Top Of The World de Imagine Dragons". 7digital (PT). Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  61. 1 2 3 "On Top Of The World by Imagine Dragons". Spotify. Retrieved June 23, 2013.
  62. ↑ "AAA". Interscope Records. Archived from the original on October 11, 2013. Retrieved October 11, 2013.
  63. ↑ "On Top of the World" (single) (Media notes). Imagine Dragons. Interscope Records/KIDinaKORNER. 2014. OTOTW1.
  64. ↑ "On Top of the World (RAC Remix) – Single by Imagine Dragons". iTunes Store (AU). Apple. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  65. ↑ "On Top of the World (RAC Remix) – Single von Imagine Dragons". iTunes Store (DE) (in German). Apple. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  66. ↑ "On Top of the World (RAC Remix) – Single by Imagine Dragons". iTunes Store (GB). Apple. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  67. ↑ Aldi, Giorgia. "Imagine Dragons – On Top Of The World (Interscope Records)" (in Italian). Radio Airplay SRL. Retrieved May 30, 2014.

External links

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