Enemy (Imagine Dragons and JID song)

“Enemy” is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons and American rapper JID. It was released through Interscope Records and Kidinakorner on October 28, 2021, from the soundtrack of the animated streaming television series Arcane. The song was written by the artists alongside Justin Tranter and the producers Mattman & Robin.^[2] The song was also included on the band’s fifth studio album Mercury – Act 1.

Background

“Enemy” was recorded for the animated Netflix series Arcane, which premiered on November 6, 2021. The inspiration behind the song was the video game League of Legends, with the band having previously recorded the song “Warriors” for the 2014 League of Legends World Championship.^[3] On Instagram, JID said “I wrote this verse a couple years ago but initially the opening lines were from a song I started with Mac [Miller], he told me it would fit better on this song and I’m glad he did.”^[4]

Content

In a press release, the band’s vocalist Dan Reynolds explained: “‘Enemy’ is about reconciling internal conflict in a world where it feels impossible to trust even yourself. In Arcane, two sisters’ lives take them on different paths and leads to a division that threatens to tear an entire city apart. Like the series, the song is meant to be both personal and a critique of a society that seems intent on creating division”.^[5]

Music video

An accompanying animated video was released on October 28, 2021, and produced by Riot Games and Fortiche Productions. It features the League of Legends character Jinx in a story about “the parts of her childhood that led her to a life of crime” and several scenes of “the falling out between Jinx and her sister Vi”.^[6]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.^[7]

• Mattman & Robin – producer, composer, lyricist, associated performer, background vocalist, bass, brass band, drums, guitar, programming, synthesizer
• Justin Tranter – composer, lyricist, associated performer, background vocalist
• Imagine Dragons – composer, lyricist, engineer, studio personnel
• John Hanes – additional engineer, mix engineer, studio personnel
• JID – associated performer, vocals
• Dan Reynolds – associated performer, background vocals
• Ben Sedano – engineer, studio personnel
• Serban Ghenea – engineer, mixer, studio personnel
• Randy Merrill – mastering engineer, studio personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Certifications

Certifications for “Enemy”

Certifications for “Enemy”
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[55]	Gold	35,000
Canada (Music Canada)[56]	Gold	40,000
France (SNEP)[57]	Gold	100,000
Italy (FIMI)[58]	Gold	50,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[59]	Platinum	30,000
Poland (ZPAV)[60]	Gold	25,000
Portugal (AFP)[61]	Gold	5,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[62]	Gold	30,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[63]	Silver	200,000
Streaming
Greece (IFPI Greece)[64]	Gold	1,000,000
Sales + streaming figures based on certification alone.
Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

Release history