“It Took Me 11 Years”: Dan Reynolds’ Unscripted Confession on Original Me Exposes a Decade of Pain and Perseverance

In 2019, Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds and genre-bending British artist YUNGBLUD joined forces for “Original Me,” a defiant anthem of self-acceptance and imperfection. But amid the track’s raw energy and industrial rock chaos lies one moment that stands above all others — an unscripted, eight-word confession that transformed the song from rebellious to revelatory.

During the recording session, Reynolds suddenly shouted:
“It took me 11 years to accept myself!”

That moment, entirely spontaneous, wasn’t in the song’s lyrics or even part of the plan. It was an eruption — a cathartic release of the decade-long emotional struggle he’d carried, making it the emotional centerpiece of one of the most powerful collaborations in modern alternative music.

A Song About Embracing the Flaws

“Original Me,” featured on YUNGBLUD’s 2019 EP The Underrated Youth, was written and recorded in just one day. The song’s premise — that imperfection is not a weakness but a source of power — resonated deeply with both artists, who have long used their platforms to speak openly about mental health and identity.

YUNGBLUD described the collaboration as “two misfits connecting through honesty.” For Reynolds, however, it became something even more personal. The track’s lyrics — “I’m so sick of me, wake up and hate to breathe” — mirror the themes he’s explored throughout Imagine Dragons’ career: battling depression, self-doubt, and the search for authenticity in a world obsessed with perfection.

It was during the recording of the song’s bridge that Reynolds’ now-famous outburst occurred. Emotionally overwhelmed, he blurted the eight words that would later define the track: “It took me 11 years to accept myself.” The line was kept in its raw form, unedited — a rare glimpse into the artist’s private reckoning made public.

The Meaning Behind the Confession

Reynolds has spoken openly about his lifelong struggle with depression and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the spine and causes severe pain. Diagnosed in his early 20s, the illness not only impacted his physical health but also deepened his internal battles with self-worth.

For years, he said, he masked his pain behind his music and relentless touring schedule. The confession — “It took me 11 years to accept myself” — was not only about mental illness but also about finally coming to terms with the complexities of who he was: an artist, a father, a human being learning to embrace imperfection.

That single, unscripted moment became one of the most quoted lines in the duo’s collaboration, resonating with fans who saw in Reynolds’ outburst a mirror of their own struggles for self-acceptance.

A Collaboration That Transcended Generations

While “Original Me” didn’t dominate mainstream charts, it became a defining cultural statement within the alternative music community. The music video, which has since amassed over 32 million views on YouTube, features Reynolds and YUNGBLUD literally battling their past selves — a striking visual metaphor for internal conflict and self-destruction.

The collaboration also symbolized a passing of the torch. YUNGBLUD, who represents a younger, more chaotic wave of modern alt-rock, found a creative ally in Reynolds, a veteran of emotional transparency in mainstream music. Their partnership bridged generations, united by the same mission: to remind listeners that being “broken” doesn’t mean being beyond repair.

The Broader Legacy: From Confession to Advocacy

Reynolds’ unscripted confession fits into the broader arc of his career as a mental health advocate. Beyond Imagine Dragons’ global success, he has become a vocal supporter of emotional wellness and inclusivity.

In 2017, he founded the LoveLoud Festival, a non-profit event dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth and promoting open dialogue about self-acceptance and belonging. The festival has since raised millions for suicide prevention and mental health organizations.

The same ethos that drives LoveLoud also fuels “Original Me” — the belief that acknowledging pain and imperfection is the first step toward healing.

A Moment of Pure Honesty

In an era of carefully polished pop personas, Dan Reynolds’ raw confession remains one of the most genuine moments captured on record. Those eight words — “It took me 11 years to accept myself” — carry the weight of years of silence, struggle, and survival.

What began as an impromptu scream became a defining statement — not just for Reynolds, but for anyone who has ever felt trapped inside their own doubts.

Through “Original Me,” Reynolds and YUNGBLUD turned pain into power, proving that vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s the truest form of strength.