"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, as the lead single of the soundtrack to the Netflix animated series Arcane, to which it also serves as the opening theme. The song was written by the artists alongside Justin Tranter and the producers Mattman & Robin. The song was also included on the band's fifth studio album Mercury – Act 1 (2021) and its reissue, Mercury – Acts 1 & 2 (2022). The song became JID's first song to reach the top 5 in the US, and became the band's first song to reach the top 5 since the 2017 song "Thunder". In 2023, for the 35th anniversary of Alternative Airplaywhere "Enemy" charted for 54 weeks, of which 9 were spent at the top spotBillboard ranked the song as the 14th-most successful in the chart's history.
Background "Enemy" was recorded for the Netflix animated 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. 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."
The opening title version, featuring a more orchestrated instrumental and slightly extended length, was released on November 23, 2024. It serves as the closing track of the album Arcane League of Legends: Season 2 (Soundtrack from the Animated Series).
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."
Music video An accompanying animated video was released alongside the song, and produced by Riot Games and Fortiche Production. 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".
Personnel Credits adapted from Tidal.
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 + Weekly chart performance for "Enemy" Chart (2021–2025) Peakposition Bolivia (Billboard) 17 Brazil (Top 100 Brasil) 100 Costa Rica (FONOTICA) 19 Denmark (Tracklisten) 21 Estonia Airplay (TopHit) 148 France (SNEP) 6 Greece International (IFPI) 3 Iceland (Tónlistinn) 5 India International (IMI) 5 Italy (FIMI) 25 Lebanon (Lebanese Top 20) 20 Lithuania (AGATA) 4 Luxembourg (Billboard) 3 Malaysia (RIM) 19 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 6 Norway (VG-lista) 5 Paraguay Streaming (SGP) 76 Peru (UNIMPRO) 23 Philippines (Billboard) 24 Romania (Billboard) 23 Russia (Billboard) 7 San Marino Airplay (SMRTV Top 50) 15 Singapore (RIAS) 8 Spain (PROMUSICAE) 45 Suriname (Nationale Top 40) 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 12 Turkey (Billboard) 24 Vietnam (Vietnam Hot 100) 44 + Chart (2026) Peakposition
Monthly charts + 2022 monthly chart performance for "Enemy" Chart (2022) Peakposition CIS Airplay (TopHit) 74
+ 2026 monthly chart performance for "Enemy" Chart (2026) Peakposition Ukraine Airplay (TopHit) 71
Year-end charts + 2021 year-end chart performance for "Enemy" Chart (2021) Position Hungary (Single Top 40) 65 Hungary (Stream Top 40) 38 +2022 year-end chart performance for "Enemy" Chart (2022) Position Australia (ARIA) 22 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 12 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 56 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 10 Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) 115 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 12 CIS Airplay (TopHit) 177 Denmark (Tracklisten) 46 France (SNEP) 27 Germany (Official German Charts) 18 Global 200 (Billboard) 9 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40) 16 Hungary (Single Top 40) 41 Hungary (Stream Top 40) 10 Italy (FIMI) 78 Lithuania (AGATA) 14 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 34 Netherlands (Single Top 100) 44 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 16 Poland (ZPAV) 25 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) 45 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 13 UK Singles (OCC) 60 US Billboard Hot 100 15 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 39 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 12 US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard) 3 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 20 US Rock Airplay (Billboard) 2 +2023 year-end chart performance for "Enemy" Chart (2023) Position Global 200 (Billboard) 164
Certifications
Release history +Release history for "Enemy" Region Date Format Label Various October 28, 2021 United States December 7, 2021 Alternative radio Interscope Italy December 10, 2021 Contemporary hit radio Universal United States February 1, 2022 Interscope
See also
List of best-selling singles in Mexico
References