Whatever It Takes

The harmony in 'Whatever It Takes' is intentionally minimal — a repeating natural-minor cycle that stays out of the way of Joel Little's production momentum. The VII chord (G major) instead of a leading-tone vii° keeps the progression open and propulsive rather than resolved, which suits the song's adrenaline-first lyrical stance. The song's impact is entirely a function of arrangement, dynamics, and performance rather than harmonic sophistication, which is characteristic of Imagine Dragons' Evolve-era approach.

Reynolds announced the song on May 9, 2017 via Twitter, simultaneously revealing the title and cover art for Evolve. All four band members — Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, and Daniel Platzman — share writing credits alongside producer Joel Little, making it one of the most collaborative efforts on the album.

Released in May 2017 as the lead preview for Imagine Dragons' third album Evolve, 'Whatever It Takes' became the band's defining statement of grit. Joel Little's production layers synth-driven rhythms under Reynolds' charged delivery, landing the track at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning the MTV VMA for Best Rock Video. Its placement as the WWE Battleground theme and in Madden NFL 18 cemented it as arena-ready rock built for highlight reels.