League of Legends band Imagine Dragons makes their mark in the animated series Arcane with a captivating intro, taking the final say in its music.
In the realm of popular music, Imagine Dragons have made a significant impact, gracing various forms of media, from car commercials to movie trailers, and CW shows. Their music has found a unique home in the world of video games, particularly in Riot Games' productions, marking a pivotal collaboration that has expanded into transmedia ventures, including League and the hit series Arcane.
Back in 2014, Imagine Dragons created "Warriors" to promote League's first-ever Worlds championship. This partnership set the stage for future collaborations, with the band returning to contribute to Arcane's soundtrack in 2021. Their song "Enemy," originally released in 2021, served as the intro song for the hit series. However, the version in Arcane underwent a transformation, with orchestral strings and trumpets replacing the original's drums and plucky bass strings, giving it a distinct "League of Legends" energy.
The collaboration between Imagine Dragons and Riot Games wasn't without its challenges. Initially, record labels were hesitant to associate their artists with Arcane due to its association with a niche game and an unknown studio. But Imagine Dragons fought to be included, and their persistence paid off, as "Enemy" became a "massive" streaming hit and the band even performed it at the 2021 Game Awards.
Arcane co-creator Christian Linke actively courted artists for the show's soundtrack. Alongside Imagine Dragons, Pvris and Denzel Curry contributed to the soundtrack through their songs "Burn It All Down" and its remix, respectively. Alexander "Mako" Seaver, a composer for the series, first appeared in Arcane's soundtrack in 2017 and 2018 with "Legends Never Die" and "Rise."
As Arcane continues to captivate audiences, a new leading band may be needed to contribute its music for the next show. Meanwhile, another band, Only The Poets, is setting the musical prelude for the next show with their "Experience the Future" special shows starting early 2025 and a subsequent big European tour, including multiple concerts in Germany in April and May 2025.
The reborn Linkin Park's "Heavy is the Crown" served as a season two needle drop for Arcane and the song for Worlds 2024. This demonstrates the ongoing relationship between Riot Games and the music industry, a relationship that shows no signs of slowing down.
Despite the success of Arcane and its soundtrack, the release dates for upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe films and TV shows, and future plans for Doctor Who were not mentioned in the text. Nonetheless, with the continued collaboration between Riot Games and the music industry, fans can look forward to more exciting musical journeys in the world of video games.
