"Cutthroat" is a song by American band Imagine Dragons. The song was released through Michelle Imagine Dragons, Imagine Dragons, and Kidinakorner on March 12, 2021, as one of the double lead singles from their fifth studio album Mercury – Act 1 alongside its A-side "Follow You".[1] It was written by band members Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, and Daniel Platzman and produced by Rick Rubin.
| "Cutthroat" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Imagine Dragons | ||||
| from the album Mercury – Act 1 | ||||
| A-side | "Follow You" | |||
| Released | March 12, 2021 | |||
| Length | 2:49 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Rick Rubin | |||
| Imagine Dragons singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Cutthroat" on YouTube | ||||
Background and release
editIn early March 2021, the band started teasing towards the release by posting various teasers before announcing the songs on March 8.[2] "Follow You" and "Cutthroat" mark the first solo releases from Imagine Dragons since their 2018 album, Origins.[3]
Composition and lyrics
edit"Cutthroat" is a song about self-pity and frontman Dan Reynolds' examining his own life. He describes the song's lyrics as "finding that I am beyond blessed and trying to rid myself of self-doubt and loathing." He also labeled it as the opposite, both sonically and thematically, of the song's A-side, "Follow You".[4] The song also references Reynolds' Mormon ancestry, with the lyrics "since I was young my ancestry was marching martyrdom across the Radadadadumbla plains of Utah", and Gethsemane, Jesus' last prayer site before being arrested and crucified.
Music video
editThe music video stars Olivia Munn and Adrian Martinez. In the video, Munn's character applies for a driving test at the DMV, spending much time waiting. She eventually starts her test with Martinez's character as her instructor. Because she fails the test, she drives out of the practice lot and into the desert where Martinez is kicked out of the car. She returns to the DMV to receive her license, it reading "Only one of us will make it out alive", the lyric in the chorus of the song.[5][6]
Track listings and formats
edit
- "Follow You" – 2:55
- "Cutthroat" – 2:49
Personnel
editCredits adapted from Tidal.[9]
|
Charts
edit| Chart (2021) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[10] | 20 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] | 28 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[12] | Gold | 20,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "Mercury – Act 1 by Imagine Dragons". Apple Music. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
- ^ Hill, Eliot (March 8, 2021). "Imagine Dragons Announce 2 New Songs 'Follow You' And 'Cutthroat'". IHeartRadio. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Legaspi, Althea (March 12, 2021). "Imagine Dragons Drop New Songs 'Follow You,' 'Cutthroat'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Stone, Megan (March 12, 2021). "Imagine Dragons' Dan Reynolds explains significance behind new songs "Follow You" and "Cutthroat"". ABC News Radio. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ Imagine Dragons - Cutthroat (Official Music Video). Retrieved April 15, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ Mamo, Heran (May 5, 2021). "Olivia Munn's DMV Trip Sends Her Into a Road Rage in Imagine Dragons' 'Cutthroat' Video". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
- ^ "Follow You / Cutthroat - Single by Imagine Dragons on Apple Music". Apple Music (US). Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ Physical releases for "Follow You/Cutthroat":
- "Follow You/Cutthroat 7" Dual Single". Imagine Dragons Official Store. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- "Follow You/Cutthroat CD Dual Single". Imagine Dragons Official Store. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ "Credits / Follow You / Cutthroat / Imagine Dragons - TIDAL". Tidal. Archived from the original on July 24, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Imagine Dragon – Cutthroat" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 20, 2024.