Imagine Dragons achieved their fifth billion-view milestone on YouTube this week with their 2017 single “Whatever It Takes.” The rock anthem, which peaked at No. 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the summer of that year, is featured in a visually striking video co-directed by the band’s frequent collaborator, Matt Eastin.
The video begins with lead singer Dan Reynolds swimming through a flooded room filled with curiosities reminiscent of the Overlook Hotel from Stanley Kubrick’s “The Shining.” The scene then shifts abruptly to Reynolds performing the song’s rapid-fire first verse in the now dry room, singing lyrics that convey a sense of urgency and determination.
As the rest of the band joins Reynolds and the lights illuminate the space, the video initially appears to be a standard performance-style production. However, chaos soon ensues as the ceiling collapses, debris falls, and the band continues to play amidst the turmoil. Reynolds passionately delivers the chorus, emphasizing the theme of perseverance.
The video takes a dramatic turn as rain begins to fall, escalating into a downpour that floods the room. The water rises to the musicians’ knees, then chests, and eventually to their chins, as sirens appear in the floodwaters. Despite the deluge, the band members continue to play until they are submerged, with Reynolds singing underwater as the sirens tug at his sleeves.
After a silent scene depicting the band floating in the water, the directors, Eastin and Aaron Hymes, transition to a desert setting where the room’s contents are engulfed in flames. This fiery backdrop includes Reynolds’ microphone stand, the drum kit, and Dan Sermon’s guitar. The video, from the group’s third album “Evolve,” won the Best Rock Video award at the 2018 MTV Video Music Awards.
Watch the “Whatever It Takes” video below.