Enemy (from the series Arcane League of Legends)

"Enemy" delves into the complex themes of internal and external conflict, trust, and betrayal. Lead singer Dan Reynolds explained that the song is about “reconciling internal conflict in a world where it feels impossible to trust even yourself.” It was written specifically for the Netflix series Arcane: League of Legends and reflects the show's central narrative of two sisters, Vi and Jinx, who are driven apart by ideological differences and personal trauma, threatening to tear their world apart.

The lyrics express a profound sense of paranoia and isolation. Phrases like "I wake up to the sounds of the silence that allows for my mind to run around" and "when my back is to the world, that was smiling when I turned" paint a picture of a protagonist who feels constantly monitored and betrayed. The chorus, "Oh, the misery, everybody wants to be my enemy," serves as a powerful anthem for this feeling of being an outcast, rejected by a world that once seemed friendly.

The song is not just a lament; it's also a declaration of resilience. The protagonist is an underdog, aware of those "prayin' for my fall," but is biding their time to strike back. J.I.D.'s rap verse further explores this, expressing a mix of desperation ("hoping that somebody pray for me") and aggressive readiness ("ready to go whenever, just let me know"). Ultimately, "Enemy" serves as both a personal reflection on inner demons and a critique of a society that fosters division and conflict.

The song opens with a cautionary whisper, "Look out for yourself," immediately setting a tone of distrust and self-preservation. The narrator describes waking up to a profound silence that allows their mind to race, constantly vigilant and listening for hidden stories and threats. There's a palpable sense of paranoia, a feeling of being watched by a world that feigned friendship but was secretly waiting for a moment of weakness. This theme of betrayal is starkly captured in the lines that speak of being called "the greatest" to one's face, only to be hated the moment one's back is turned.

This leads into the explosive, recurring chorus: "Oh, the misery, everybody wants to be my enemy." It’s a declaration of isolation and perceived universal animosity. The singer doesn't want pity or "sympathy," instead embracing the role of the outcast. This refrain acts as the song's emotional core, a powerful expression of feeling targeted and alienated by everyone. The repetition emphasizes the overwhelming and inescapable nature of this feeling, a constant state of being at odds with the world.

The second verse builds on this foundation of defiance. The narrator is acutely aware of the negativity surrounding them—the critical words, the people praying for their downfall, the mocking laughter, and the insults. Instead of letting these attacks break them, they are methodically collected and stored away ("I stack it in my mind"). This is not passive suffering; it's a period of gathering strength, waiting for the perfect moment to retaliate and demonstrate their power, to show what it feels like to be "words spit in a mic."

J.I.D.'s rap verse introduces a new perspective while amplifying the song's themes. He starts with a plea for prayer and hope, revealing a vulnerability beneath the defiant exterior. He speaks of being in a dangerous, forbidden place, a "wreck of emotions" yet always ready for a fight. His lyrics are a whirlwind of action and determination—putting the "pedal to the floor," thinking outside the box like an "astronaut," and causing "catastrophe." He paints a picture of someone who has been underestimated and is now prepared to unleash chaos on his opponents. His lines about not panicking and being the "baddest" reinforce the song's message of unyielding resolve in the face of adversity.

The song concludes by circling back to the core message. A defiant bridge emerges where the narrator rejects the idea of being 'prayed away' or becoming a 'saint,' choosing to embrace their flawed, combative nature. The final repetition of "everybody wants to be my enemy" and the haunting whisper of "look out for yourself" leave the listener with a sense of unresolved tension. It's a narrative of eternal struggle, both internal and external, where trust is a liability and one's greatest defense is to be perpetually on guard, forever ready to face the enemy.

"Enemy" was created as a collaboration between the American pop-rock band Imagine Dragons and the American rapper J.I.D. The song was specifically written and recorded for the Netflix animated series Arcane: League of Legends, for which it serves as the opening theme song. The track was released on October 28, 2021, through Interscope Records and Kidinakorner. The writers include the members of Imagine Dragons, J.I.D, pop songwriter Justin Tranter, and the Swedish production duo Mattman & Robin (Mattias Larsson and Robin Fredriksson), who also produced the track. This team had previously worked together on the band's hit song "Believer".

The creation was a deep collaboration with Riot Games, the creators of League of Legends and Arcane. Riot approached Imagine Dragons years before the show's release with early conceptual work. The band, which had previously created the anthem "Warriors" for the 2014 League of Legends World Championship, was drawn to the show's themes of conflict and the underdog spirit. In a TikTok video, it was revealed that an early working title for the song was "Celebrity".

J.I.D mentioned that he had written his verse a couple of years prior, and that the opening lines were originally part of a song he started with the late Mac Miller, who suggested it would be a better fit for "Enemy".

The song was also included on the reissue of Imagine Dragons' fifth studio album, Mercury – Act 1.

The rhyme and rhythm of "Enemy" are meticulously crafted to enhance its themes of conflict and relentless tension. The song is set in a driving, moderate tempo that gives it an anthemic, marching feel.

Rhyme Scheme: The rhyme scheme is generally straightforward, contributing to its catchy and memorable quality. In the first verse, an AABB-like pattern can be observed: "allows"/"ground" (slant rhyme) and "told"/"turned" (slant rhyme). The band often uses rhyming words to punctuate the end of each bar, such as "sounds/silence/allows" and "run/around/ground". The pre-chorus uses a couplet ("greatest"/"hate us"), a powerful partial rhyme that creates an unsettling feeling before the chorus. The chorus itself relies heavily on the repetition of the word "enemy" and the assonance of the short 'e' and long 'e' sounds in "misery," "everybody," and "sympathy".

Rhythm and Meter: The song's rhythmic structure is dynamic and plays a key role in its emotional arc. The verses feature a distinct pattern of quick semiquavers (sixteenth notes) that create a sense of urgency and restlessness, mirroring the narrator's racing mind. This contrasts sharply with the pre-chorus, where the rhythm slows down and the words are elongated, building suspense. The chorus explodes with a more forceful, punctuated rhythm, driven by synthesized bursts and a strong drum beat. J.I.D.'s rap verse introduces rhythmic complexity, with a fast, syncopated flow that contrasts with the more regular rock beat, adding another layer of energy and aggression. The interplay between the steady musical pulse and the varied lyrical rhythms creates a compelling sense of push-and-pull, embodying the song's core conflict.

"Enemy" employs a range of musical and literary techniques to create its tense and defiant atmosphere.

• Musical Arrangement: The song is notable for its minimalist harmonic structure, using only two chords throughout: F# minor and G major 7 in the key of B minor. This limited palette, combined with the fact that the root B minor chord is never actually played, creates a feeling of unresolved tension and unease, mirroring the show's cliffhangers and the characters' perpetual distress. The song builds energy through rhythmic and melodic variation, with a distinct rhythmic pattern of semiquavers in the verses and a slower, more drawn-out pre-chorus that builds anticipation.
• Vocal Delivery: Dan Reynolds' vocal performance shifts from a tense, almost paranoid whisper in the verses to a powerful, anthemic cry in the chorus. J.I.D.'s rap verse provides a stark contrast with its rapid-fire, aggressive flow, adding a layer of hip-hop grit to the pop-rock foundation.
• Literary Devices: The lyrics utilize alliteration, especially in the chorus with the repetition of the 'm' and 's' sounds in "misery," "everybody," "my enemy," and "sympathy." There is also use of partial rhymes like "greatest" and "hate us," which adds to the unsettling feeling. The song is structured as a battle cry or an underdog anthem, using direct address and a confrontational tone ("I show you what it's like to be words spit in a mic").
• Instrumentation: The track blends Imagine Dragons' signature alt-rock sound—heavy drums, guitar, and powerful vocals—with synthesized bursts, a prominent bassline, and electronic effects that give it a modern, aggressive edge. This fusion of genres helps the song appeal to a wide audience and fits the futuristic, grimy aesthetic of Arcane.

"Enemy" achieved significant cultural impact, largely due to its prominent feature as the opening theme for the critically acclaimed Netflix series Arcane: League of Legends. The song's release was perfectly timed with the show's massive popularity, allowing it to reach millions of viewers and gamers worldwide. It became inextricably linked with the show's themes and characters, with many fans considering it an essential part of the Arcane experience.

The song was a commercial success, reaching the top 5 on the US Billboard Hot 100, a first for J.I.D and Imagine Dragons' first since their 2017 hit "Thunder". It also performed well internationally, charting in numerous countries. Billboard ranked "Enemy" as the 14th most successful song in the history of its Alternative Airplay chart.

Imagine Dragons has a history of creating music intertwined with gaming culture, having previously produced the song "Warriors" for the 2014 League of Legends World Championship. "Enemy" solidified their status as a band whose sound resonates deeply within the gaming community. The track's success is a prime example of effective transmedia strategy, where a song amplifies the narrative of a show, and the show, in turn, propels the song to global popularity.

The song "Enemy" is rich with symbolism that ties directly into the narrative of the series Arcane. The central theme of a perceived "enemy" is a multifaceted metaphor.

• The Internal vs. External Enemy: Dan Reynolds stated the song is about reconciling "internal conflict," suggesting the 'enemy' can be oneself—your own doubts, fears, and self-destructive tendencies. This mirrors the struggles of characters like Jinx, who battles her past trauma and her created persona. The 'enemy' is also external, representing the societal forces, rival factions (Piltover vs. Zaun), and personal adversaries that the characters face.
• Two-Faced World: The lyric "Tell you you're the greatest / But once you turn, they hate us" is a direct metaphor for the duplicitous nature of relationships and society depicted in Arcane. Characters who are allies one moment become bitter enemies the next, reflecting the shifting loyalties and betrayals that drive the plot.
• Silence and Paranoia: Waking "to the sounds of the silence" symbolizes the paranoia and isolation felt by the protagonists, particularly Jinx. The silence is not peaceful but a breeding ground for anxiety, where one must always be listening for unseen threats.
• Animated Music Video Symbolism: The official music video, produced by Fortiche Production, visualizes these themes. It depicts a younger version of Jinx (Powder) literally fighting against the image of her future self, symbolizing her hatred for what she becomes. In another scene, the stronger Jinx persona is shown protecting the weaker Powder from threats, representing the creation of this new identity as a defense mechanism. The video powerfully illustrates the idea that the new, hardened identity doesn't erase the underlying sadness and torment.

Several key phrases and motifs recur throughout "Enemy," anchoring its themes and enhancing its anthemic quality.

• "Look out for yourself": This phrase opens the song and is repeated after the chorus, acting as a constant, cautionary refrain. It encapsulates the song's core message of self-preservation in a hostile world where trust is a luxury. Its repetition serves as a stark reminder of the protagonist's isolation and the need for constant vigilance.
• "Oh, the misery / Everybody wants to be my enemy": This is the song's most powerful and memorable lyrical hook. Repeated as the chorus, it functions as the emotional centerpiece of the track. It's a declaration of the protagonist's worldview—a feeling of being universally targeted and alienated. The repetition drills this sense of overwhelming opposition into the listener's mind, making it a defiant, sing-along anthem of anguish and resilience.
• "Tell you you're the greatest / But once you turn, they hate us": This couplet serves as the pre-chorus, a recurring setup for the emotional explosion of the chorus. It crystallizes the theme of betrayal and duplicity, a motif central to the song's meaning and the plot of Arcane. Its repetition highlights the cyclical nature of praise and condemnation that the protagonist endures.
• "Pray it away" / "Never be a saint": In the song's outro, the repeated rejection of being "prayed away" or becoming a "saint" serves as a final, defiant motif. It's a refusal to conform or be cleansed of the flaws and anger that have become survival tools, reinforcing the embrace of a morally ambiguous, combative identity.