Bad Liar (Imagine Dragons song)

"Bad Liar" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons. It was released through Interscope and Kidinakorner records on November 6, 2018, as the fourth single from the band's fourth studio album, Origins (2018). The song was written by Wayne Sermon, Daniel Platzman, Dan Reynolds, and Ben McKee, along with Aja Volkman and Jorgen Odegard, with the latter handling production.

"Bad Liar"
Single by Imagine Dragons
from the album Origins
Released	November 6, 2018
Genre	Electropop[1]
Length	4:21
Label	Interscope Kidinakorner
Songwriter(s)	Imagine Dragons Aja Volkman Jorgen Odegard
Producer(s)	Odegard
Imagine Dragons singles chronology
"Machine" (2018) "Bad Liar" (2018) "Birds" (2019)
Music video
"Bad Liar" on YouTube

"Bad Liar" peaked at number 56 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It topped the charts in Czech Republic and Latvia, and reached the top 10 in Belgium, Finland, Slovakia and Switzerland; as well as the top 20 in Australia, Austria, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Singapore and Sweden. On May 31, 2019, a "stripped" version titled "Bad Liar – Stripped" was released.^[2]

Background

The song was co-written by Imagine Dragons lead vocalist Dan Reynolds and his wife Aja Volkman shortly before they separated. However, Reynolds has said the couple did not end up going through with the divorce.^[3]

The Norwegian progressive rock band Maraton pointed out that the cover image for their single "Blood Music" is the same as Imagine Dragons’ cover image for "Bad Liar", with only the coloration being different. Maraton's single was released in February 2018, while Imagine Dragons’ song dropped nine months later in November 2018. Despite the undeniable shared artwork, Maraton released a statement revealing they had purchased the artwork from the artist Beeple, but had no deal giving them exclusive rights to the photo.^[4][5][6][7]

Critical reception

Idolator called the song a "brutally honest breakup anthem", and described it as "raw and stripped back".^[8] Billboard compared the song's lyrical heaviness to the band's track "Demons".^[9]

Music video

A music video for the song was released on January 24, 2019. It was directed by Ryan Reichenfeld and was filmed at Green Valley High School, in Henderson, Nevada. The video features dancer Autumn Miller with choreography by Marissa Osato.^[10] As of February 2023, the music video has received 421 million views and 4.3 million likes.

Live performances

The song was first performed live at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, Nevada.^[11] It was also performed at the 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship halftime show.^[12]

Personnel

• Dan Reynolds – lead vocals, keyboards
• Wayne Sermon – guitar, backing vocals
• Daniel Platzman – drums, viola, backing vocals
• Ben McKee – bass guitar, synthesizer, backing vocals
• Jorgen Odegard – production

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Bad Liar" Chart (2018–2019) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 20 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 10 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[16] 3 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[17] 50 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[18] 1 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[19] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[20] 10 France (SNEP)[21] 41 Germany (GfK)[22] 16 Germany Airplay (BVMI)[23] 1 Hungary (Single Top 40)[24] 31 Hungary (Stream Top 40)[25] 5 Ireland (IRMA)[26] 36 Italy (FIMI)[27] 16 Lithuania (AGATA)[28] 6 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[29] 9 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[30] 36 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[31] 16 Norway (VG-lista)[32] 17 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[33] 2 Portugal (AFP)[34] 18 Scotland (OCC)[35] 82 Singapore (RIAS)[36] 18 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[37] 1 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[38] 2 Slovenia (SloTop50)[39] 9 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[40] 80 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[41] 17 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[42] 4 UK Singles (OCC)[43] 44 US Billboard Hot 100[44] 56 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[45] 11 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[46] 2 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[47] 21 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[48] 9

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Bad Liar" Chart (2019) Position Australia (ARIA)[49] 66 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[50] 31 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[51] 33 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[52] 21 France (SNEP)[53] 101 Germany (Official German Charts)[54] 32 Iceland (Tónlistinn)[55] 77 Italy (FIMI)[56] 50 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[57] 55 Poland (ZPAV)[58] 15 Portugal (AFP)[59] 62 Slovenia (SloTop50)[60] 15 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[61] 13 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[62] 41 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[63] 5 US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[64] 43

Certifications

Certifications for "Bad Liar"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[65]	Platinum	70,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[66]	Platinum	30,000‡
Belgium (BEA)[67]	Gold	20,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[68]	2× Diamond	320,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[68] Stripped Version	Gold	20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[69]	Platinum	80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[70]	Platinum	90,000‡
France (SNEP)[71]	Platinum	200,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[72]	Platinum	400,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[73]	2× Platinum	100,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[74]	Gold	15,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[75]	4× Platinum	200,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[76]	2× Platinum	20,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[77]	Platinum	60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[78]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[79]	2× Platinum	2,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release history and formats for "Bad Liar"

Country	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Various	November 6, 2018	Digital download	Kidinakorner Interscope	[9]
Italy	January 25, 2019	Contemporary hit radio	Interscope	[80]
United States	January 29, 2019	Alternative radio		[81]
	February 5, 2019	Contemporary hit radio		[82]

References

1. Nattress, Katrina (6 November 2018). "Dan Reynolds Confesses He's a 'Bad Liar' in New Imagine Dragons Song". iHeartRadio. Retrieved 29 April 2020. "Bad Liar" is a soaring electro-pop ballad
2. "Bad Liar- Stripped- Single by Imagine Dragons on Apple Music". Itunes. 30 May 2019. Retrieved 30 May 2019.
3. "Dan Reynolds about Imagine Dragons' Bad Liar (Beats1 interview 11/06/18)" – via YouTube.
4. "Norwegian band addresses Imagine Dragons' artwork similarities". Tone Deaf. 2019-03-14. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
5. Krol, Charlotte (2019-03-13). "Prog band Maraton point out how Imagine Dragons' artwork is very, very similar to theirs". NME. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
6. "Norwegian band point out Imagine Dragons artwork similarities". Alternative Press. 2019-03-13. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
7. Louder, Scott Munro2019-03-13T14:48:48Z (13 March 2019). "Prog pop band Maraton and Imagine Dragons share cover confusion". loudersound. Retrieved 2019-05-24.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
8. "Imagine Dragons' "Bad Liar" Is A Brutally Honest Breakup Song". idolator. 6 November 2018.
9. "Imagine Dragons Attempt to Mask Pain On New Song 'Bad liar'". Billboard.
10. "Imagine Dragons Unleash 'Bad Liar' Video: Watch". billboard. 1 January 2019.
11. "Imagine Dragons Setlist at Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas, Las Vegas". setlist.fm.
12. "Imagine Dragons and Lil Wayne Team Up For National Championship Halftime Show Performance: Watch". Billboard.
13. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
14. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
15. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
16. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 12, 2019.
17. "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
18. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 5. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved February 4, 2019.
19. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
20. "Imagine Dragons: Bad Liar" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
21. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés + Streaming – SNEP (Week 14, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 2019-10-18. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
22. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
23. "Airplay Charts Deutschland Woche 14, 2019" [Airplay Charts Germany Week 14/2019]. Germancharts.de (in German). Hung Medien & MusicTrace on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
24. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
25. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Stream Top 40 slágerlista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
26. "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
27. "Top Singoli – Classifica settimanale WK 16" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
28. "2018 46-os SAVAITĖS (lapkričio 9-15 d.) SINGLŲ TOP100" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 16, 2018. Archived from the original on October 9, 2019. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 3, 2019" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
30. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
31. "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
32. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". VG-lista. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
33. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
34. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
35. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
36. "Singapore Top 30 Digital Streaming Chart – Week 49" (PDF). Recording Industry Association (Singapore). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 13, 2018.
37. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 26. týden 2019 in the date selector. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
38. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 46. týden 2018 in the date selector. Retrieved December 29, 2018.
39. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
40. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
41. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". Singles Top 100. Retrieved December 22, 2018.
42. "Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 14, 2019.
43. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 17, 2018.
44. "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 2, 2019.
45. "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
46. "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
47. "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
48. "Imagine Dragons Chart History (Rock Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
49. "ARIA End of Year Singles Chart 2019". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
50. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2019". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 1, 2020.
51. "Jaaroverzichten 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
52. "Rapports Annuels 2019". Ultratop. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
53. "Top de l'année Top Singles 2019" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 15, 2020.
54. "Top 100 Jahrescharts 2019". mtv.de (in German). Retrieved December 6, 2019.
55. "Tónlistinn – Lög – 2019" (in Icelandic). Plötutíðindi. Retrieved November 29, 2021.
56. "Top of the Music FIMI/GfK 2019: Un anno con la musica Italiana" (Download the attachment and open the Singoli file) (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
57. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2019". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
58. "Najpopularniejsze albumy i single 2019 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
59. "Top AFP - Audiogest - Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
60. "SloTop50 – Letne lestvice" (in Slovenian). SloTop50. Archived from the original on March 1, 2020. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
61. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2019". hitparade.ch. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
62. "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
63. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
64. "Rock Airplay Songs – Year-End 2019". Billboard. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
65. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2019 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
66. "Austrian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
67. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2019". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
68. "Brazilian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
69. "Canadian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". Music Canada. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
70. "Danish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
71. "French single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
72. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Imagine Dragons; 'Bad Liar')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
73. "Italian single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
74. "New Zealand single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
75. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 21, 2024. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Bad Liar in the search box.
76. "Portuguese single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
77. "Spanish single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
78. "British single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
79. "American single certifications – Imagine Dragons – Bad Liar". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
80. "Imagine Dragons - Bad Liar (Radio Date: 25-01-2019)". EarOne.
81. "Future Releases on Alternative Radio Stations, Independent Artist Song Releases". All Access. January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
82. "CHR Available For Airplay - FMQB". FMQB. January 24, 2019. Archived from the original on June 20, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2019.