For the third time in four years, Imagine Dragons will try to give a sold-out concert on the Plains of Abraham on Friday. Let’s hope it works because the return of the American group is sure to draw a huge crowd. Here are 4 things to know about the creators of Believer.
• Read also: Weezer at the Summer Festival: Eternal Teenagers on the Plains
• Read also: Billy Talent at the Festival d’été de Québec: indestructible and empathetic rockers
Defeat the Plains Guigne
In 2019, a violent thunderstorm interrupted the dragons’ performance after just two songs, but not before Dan Reynolds pleased his fans by singing shirtless in the rain. In 2020, COVID-19 put an end to hopes of an early reunion at the Summer Festival. The third attempt, the good one? For the moment, Environment Canada forecasts showers, but in the afternoon. Should they avoid singing Thunder ? You can never be too careful…
A success machine
If Mother Nature collaborates, Imagine Dragons can shower us with a shower of…success. Since the 2012 release of the album Night Visionsthe formation of Las Vegas has taken its ease in the heights of the charts. Radioactive, Believer, Thunder, Whatever It Takes And Natural have all been number 1s. In the age of online music, the quartet of singer Dan Reynolds, guitarist Wayne Sermon, bassist Ben McKee and drummer Daniel Platzman can claim to have sold 75 million copies of his albums.
Hard to pop
Like many other artists who have had great popular success, Imagine Dragons has its share of detractors. In an interview with Billoboard, Dan Reynolds recalled that creating good pop music is “quite complex”. “It amuses me when people tell me: I could have done pop, but I chose another style. Big pop? Songs that last? For real, it is difficult.”
Dan’s Big Heart
He has the world at his feet, but his heart is in the right place, Dan Reynolds. A proof? Present at a show in a Hollywood bar a few weeks ago, the singer heard that a 16-year-old girl in remission from cancer was in the crowd with her loved ones. He went on stage, asked the comedian to pass him the microphone and sang to him Whatever It Takes. “I’m proud you’re here tonight. […] May your life be long and healthy. Lots of love to you,” Reynolds then told the 16-year-old girl, moved by this gesture of great generosity.