1. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - I Could Be The One [Avicii vs Nicky Romero] - Nicktim - Radio Edit
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2. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Wake Me Up - Radio Edit
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3. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels - Radio Edit
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4. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels
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5. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Silhouettes - Original Radio Edit
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6. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - X You - Radio Edit
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7. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Wake Me Up
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8. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - LEVELS - Skrillex Remix
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9. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - I Could Be the One (Nicktim Radio Edit) [Avicii vs. Nicky Romero]
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10. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels (Skrillex Remix)
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11. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Superlove
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12. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels - Original Version
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13. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Fade Into Darkness - Vocal Radio Mix
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14. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Silhouettes
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15. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - UMF (Ultra Music Festival Anthem)
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16. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) mp3
Devastatingly honest and brutally real, this is extraordinary cinema.Send ringtone
2. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Wake Me Up - Radio Edit
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3. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels - Radio Edit
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4. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels
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5. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Silhouettes - Original Radio Edit
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6. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - X You - Radio Edit
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7. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Wake Me Up
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8. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - LEVELS - Skrillex Remix
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9. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - I Could Be the One (Nicktim Radio Edit) [Avicii vs. Nicky Romero]
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10. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels (Skrillex Remix)
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11. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Superlove
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12. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Levels - Original Version
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13. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Fade Into Darkness - Vocal Radio Mix
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14. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - Silhouettes
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15. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) - UMF (Ultra Music Festival Anthem)
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16. Avicii This Is So Good (New 2012!) mp3
MovieGuy_abc12327 October 2017
DJ's and music producers live a life which many wish they had. A life of private jets, money and fame. However, as Avicii: True Stories shows, that lifestyle comes at a cost, and for the man behind the biggest name in Dance music, that cost became far more damaging than any loss of money or fame.
Avicii: True Stories shows the story of Avicii from the beginning, with a superbly chronicled time-line, showing the rise of success from the early days of Tim Bergling to the worldwide chart domination of Avicii, it's all in there.
Highlighting the immense health struggles that Tim suffered over the years, it suddenly becomes so clear as to why Avicii had to stop. The machine had beaten itself, the light was no longer to outshine the darkness, the madness of it all had finally reached its peak, and it hit that peak in devastating fashion, as shown in this extraordinary up-close-and-personal telling of Tim's career as a DJ and music producer.
It's a hard-to-swallow reminder that what we hear in his music, tales of uplifting nature filled with such positivity and joy, is not at all accurate to how Avicii is as a human being, as Tim. The trailer for the documentary quoted Tim saying: 'Peoples perception of who Avicii is - isn't who Tim is' and it is that separation between artist and human being which proves to be so damaging, 'the picture doesn't represent the painter'.
The story-line of the documentary gives a sense of depth and shows the journey in a way that isn't too long to become uninteresting or too short to not be enough, it's perfectly shot and beautifully edited. We get to see it all, from the business aspects behind Levels to the incredible production process behind some of Avicii's biggest hits, Avicii: True Stories has everything and nothing is left unexplained, it's all there.
Avicii: True Stories is an emotional roller-coaster between pure euphoria and crushing struggle, with both shown in their most raw forms. The music brought so much joy to Avicii, but the lifestyle brought so much pain to Tim, it's an important lesson that what we see isn't always a true representation. This is a very unique piece of cinema, simply put - this is compulsory viewing.
Avicii: True Stories shows the story of Avicii from the beginning, with a superbly chronicled time-line, showing the rise of success from the early days of Tim Bergling to the worldwide chart domination of Avicii, it's all in there.
Highlighting the immense health struggles that Tim suffered over the years, it suddenly becomes so clear as to why Avicii had to stop. The machine had beaten itself, the light was no longer to outshine the darkness, the madness of it all had finally reached its peak, and it hit that peak in devastating fashion, as shown in this extraordinary up-close-and-personal telling of Tim's career as a DJ and music producer.
It's a hard-to-swallow reminder that what we hear in his music, tales of uplifting nature filled with such positivity and joy, is not at all accurate to how Avicii is as a human being, as Tim. The trailer for the documentary quoted Tim saying: 'Peoples perception of who Avicii is - isn't who Tim is' and it is that separation between artist and human being which proves to be so damaging, 'the picture doesn't represent the painter'.
The story-line of the documentary gives a sense of depth and shows the journey in a way that isn't too long to become uninteresting or too short to not be enough, it's perfectly shot and beautifully edited. We get to see it all, from the business aspects behind Levels to the incredible production process behind some of Avicii's biggest hits, Avicii: True Stories has everything and nothing is left unexplained, it's all there.
Avicii: True Stories is an emotional roller-coaster between pure euphoria and crushing struggle, with both shown in their most raw forms. The music brought so much joy to Avicii, but the lifestyle brought so much pain to Tim, it's an important lesson that what we see isn't always a true representation. This is a very unique piece of cinema, simply put - this is compulsory viewing.
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A dark story about the downside of being a famous artist in the cold music industryPermalink
oden-9775223 April 2018
This documentary is a warning example to everyone who works with music and shows the non glamorous side of being a famous artist and how cold and brutal the music industry can be. Tim, an insecure, naive and introvert young guy who really didn't liked to be in the center of attention, had to fight against his anxiety night after night and pushed himself so hard that it eventually destroyed him. Add free alcohol, sleep deprivation and bad people around you, and you're in for a disaster to come.
I hope this documentary will help people to wake up and realize what's important in the music industry and that some people have to say stop when people are pushed too hard.
I hope this documentary will help people to wake up and realize what's important in the music industry and that some people have to say stop when people are pushed too hard.
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This is a difficult watch
OohLaLlama1 May 2018
In light of, or in spite of, recent events-this is hard to watch. I actually find this heartbreaking. This is an excellent film, a litle unnerving in that some of the narrative is in the past tense(purely due to the timing), but very good. 'Fan' or not, and I wasn't as such, we've all heard his music.
The film was really informative and really well put together. You see how he worked and the love for the music. The struggles of the guy are almost palpable though throughout. I have experienced addiction, etc and I can get, in a small way, how difficult things must have become. I don't know how he did it, there really is only so much a person can take. I just imagine him hating the drinking, the lifestyle, but having to carry on. Night after night after night..All the way through, I felt stressed out and anxious myself and that's, what, an hour and a half
There's definitely a story there and a sad one at that
The film was really informative and really well put together. You see how he worked and the love for the music. The struggles of the guy are almost palpable though throughout. I have experienced addiction, etc and I can get, in a small way, how difficult things must have become. I don't know how he did it, there really is only so much a person can take. I just imagine him hating the drinking, the lifestyle, but having to carry on. Night after night after night..All the way through, I felt stressed out and anxious myself and that's, what, an hour and a half
There's definitely a story there and a sad one at that
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As a big fan of Avicii, I didn't know what he was going throughPermalink
jamiebuck-2934129 October 2017
Having loved and idolized Tim for nearly 8 years and seeing him live, i really didn't know what he was going through. Shows what he had to go through with growing into a huge icon and the downsides of touring 24/7. This film has really made me understand why Tim has retired from live shows as doing over 850 shows in the space of 9 years is incredible. I highly recommend this film to any avicii fan or any music fans as it really does show what was happening behind the scenes of his personal life. I even took my mum (whom is at the age of 50, and doesn't mind tims music) she enjoyed it. I really do hope this comes out on DVD, this needs to be seen and is a lesson in life in my opinion.
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From the highest high to the lowest lowPermalink
m-kortenhoeven28 December 2018
It has been a while since I saw this documentary, so some things might not be completely correct. I will give it a go anyway.
What makes this documentary so great, is that it really captures all important moments of his career, from the very beginning to almost the very end. It is not focussed on Avicii's music, but rather on his mind and the people around him. You see how the people he spends the most time with, are trying to exploit him for personal gain and Tim not being able to tell them no. Now please don't get the wrong idea when I say this, but the fact that this documentary has been released before Tim's death, makes it that much more powerfull. It has not been made with the specific purpose of trying to show why Tim has ended his own life, but rather to show how tough his life IS as an artist and him taking his own life after the release of this documentary only makes this statement that much more powerfull. Yet again, I say this with the outmost respect and in no way mean anything bad by it.After seeing this film, I feel like I got to know Tim. I encourage anyone to see this, as it truly captures some of his highest highs and lowest lows of a persons life!
What makes this documentary so great, is that it really captures all important moments of his career, from the very beginning to almost the very end. It is not focussed on Avicii's music, but rather on his mind and the people around him. You see how the people he spends the most time with, are trying to exploit him for personal gain and Tim not being able to tell them no. Now please don't get the wrong idea when I say this, but the fact that this documentary has been released before Tim's death, makes it that much more powerfull. It has not been made with the specific purpose of trying to show why Tim has ended his own life, but rather to show how tough his life IS as an artist and him taking his own life after the release of this documentary only makes this statement that much more powerfull. Yet again, I say this with the outmost respect and in no way mean anything bad by it.After seeing this film, I feel like I got to know Tim. I encourage anyone to see this, as it truly captures some of his highest highs and lowest lows of a persons life!
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R.I.P Tim 'Avicii' BerglingPermalink
david-sundstrom21 April 2018
A giant has left us, we will never know exactly why, but this documentary comes real close to answering the question.
R.I.P Tim, you will be missed but never forgotten.
R.I.P Tim, you will be missed but never forgotten.
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Real and cruelPermalink
lpyax11 December 2018
Chances are that if you're watching this then you're a fan of Avicii, so get ready because this becomes emotional if you are. This documentary shows exactly what's the world of celebrities and DJ'S. It doesn't focus on how Avicii rose to fame (though it does shows it) but in what happened once he became the megastar he was. The tight schedules of touring and the pressure for releasing hit after hit changes everyone and in the case of Tim this was reflected in his health, both physical and mental. The hardest part of this is that it was night after night non-stop touring, barely sleeping and eating and working in making music.. this lasted for eight years. In the process he faced the consequences that were obviously coming and that made him quit touring.
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Real life dramaPermalink
webwizardbe24 April 2018
Even if your not familiar with dance music or don't like 'Ibiza'-sounds (I hate the sound), this docu is worth the watch. It's an as honest possible film about the drama of being the biggest superstar in a certain music scene, you have to do your thing..It's difficult writing a review for this docu without spoiling, but I promise you, there's a real life drama story behind it that unfolds. This ain't just a music docu, it's a drama docu about a human being influenced by his surroundings.I watched the movie just before the tragic news a few days ago, and those who wanna know why, well I think this docu gives a good hint what happened on that vacation in the resort.
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Tim, we miss you!Permalink
thomasball-1545815 May 2018
We get really close to him and his struggle to recover and try to figure out what really brings him joy. The movie also gives us insight into an often derided art form.
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A Sad Sad StoryPermalink
clintstevens21 April 2019
Before watching this documentary, i had no idea who Avicii was.
It was heartbreaking to watch this fragile soul rise to meteoric fame and not be able to survive it. He may have had emotional and mental issues, but that isn't what killed him. It was the leeches and hangers-on who saw him as a meal ticket and wrung every last dollar out of him before he just couldn't take it any more. I am sure none of them blame themselves and only feel sorry for the fact that they have lost their sources of income. They should all be ashamed of themselves.
It was heartbreaking to watch this fragile soul rise to meteoric fame and not be able to survive it. He may have had emotional and mental issues, but that isn't what killed him. It was the leeches and hangers-on who saw him as a meal ticket and wrung every last dollar out of him before he just couldn't take it any more. I am sure none of them blame themselves and only feel sorry for the fact that they have lost their sources of income. They should all be ashamed of themselves.
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Avicii So Much Better
beautifultomcomer-417516 May 2018
A fitting tribute to one of the worlds greatest djs with a hint of emotion, avicii true stories really nails the mark with sufficient plays by plenty of beautiful musicians and artists. A must watch to pay tribute to the one waas, greatest dj of all time
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A good film which has become a must-watch now. (Spoilers, but this is all in the news)Permalink
RareMovieCritic22 April 2018
Warning: SpoilersI watched this film 2 days after the announcement of Avicii's death, but we still don't know what the cause of death is. Avicii was 28 years old - way too young to die.
It is a story of too much too soon, but there is no way the filmmaker could've predicted this - Avicii wanted out, he wanted to quit touring, music, alcohol, the party-life, everything. We see it in the film, how little he cared for fame and fortune, how he lacked the maturity to understand the consequences of his actions (cancelling tours and concerts) and that he wasn't just a musician, but an employer whose employees depended on for their income.
This film is ominous without the benefit of foresight, it's a warning without being preachy, it is what it is because they did not know what was to happen next. It ends on a happy note, an optimistic one of Avicii finally getting his way. Shots of beautiful beaches where Avicii can relax and play in the sand, where he can make music and be himself and vacation, not work to make the music for someone else's vacation. The film was released in late October (2017) and six months later, while on vacation in sunny Oman, he passed away.
It is rare that real events (news) would elevate the rating of a film, but in this case it has. The death of Avicii shows that what was shown in this film was real, the stress experienced was real, not exaggerated by the film-maker, that the health consequences were real, not made up or exaggerated by either side (not Avicii trying to get out of obligations or by the director wanting to make the film better.)
The thing that this film has that other films (made after Avicii's death) won't have is that it wanted to capture the life of Avicii and tell a story, not a money-grab by people trying to capitalize on his death. There will be more documentaries about Avicii, surely, but their motives and the timing will be suspect.
I recommend this film for everyone, not just fans of Avicii/EDM.
It is a story of too much too soon, but there is no way the filmmaker could've predicted this - Avicii wanted out, he wanted to quit touring, music, alcohol, the party-life, everything. We see it in the film, how little he cared for fame and fortune, how he lacked the maturity to understand the consequences of his actions (cancelling tours and concerts) and that he wasn't just a musician, but an employer whose employees depended on for their income.
This film is ominous without the benefit of foresight, it's a warning without being preachy, it is what it is because they did not know what was to happen next. It ends on a happy note, an optimistic one of Avicii finally getting his way. Shots of beautiful beaches where Avicii can relax and play in the sand, where he can make music and be himself and vacation, not work to make the music for someone else's vacation. The film was released in late October (2017) and six months later, while on vacation in sunny Oman, he passed away.
It is rare that real events (news) would elevate the rating of a film, but in this case it has. The death of Avicii shows that what was shown in this film was real, the stress experienced was real, not exaggerated by the film-maker, that the health consequences were real, not made up or exaggerated by either side (not Avicii trying to get out of obligations or by the director wanting to make the film better.)
The thing that this film has that other films (made after Avicii's death) won't have is that it wanted to capture the life of Avicii and tell a story, not a money-grab by people trying to capitalize on his death. There will be more documentaries about Avicii, surely, but their motives and the timing will be suspect.
I recommend this film for everyone, not just fans of Avicii/EDM.
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FamePermalink
Documentary shows you that sometimes fame and working on entertaining people may have a negative effect on person especially at young age
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Good documentary. Sad outcome.Permalink
yannickmuls20 September 2018
Avicii gives you a honest look into his life. It's a sad story about a genious musician who cant handlle life in the spotlights. So sad if you know what happens shortly after. But still a really good documentary and worth to watch.
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Amazing,true and I recommend it to everybodyPermalink
mariosudic27 October 2017
Warning: SpoilersEverything in this movie is just awesome. Especially for someone who likes good, melodic EDM music and also for someone who has been into making and producing. On the other hand, the movie is just great for everyone else, who has no clue about anything in music industry. I don't wanna spoil anything, but getting Tiesto, David Guetta and other famous, and for Me, with Avicii himself, also the greatest DJs and producers into this story line is also amazing on so much levels. And at the very end, I just wanna say that, this life story, this amazing life path is something that everyone should see, no matter do they like this music genre or not. For Me (big EDM listener and fan) this movie is something I've been waiting for. I just don't like the end, because I think, this last concert should last longer.
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So TruePermalink
mihai_alexandru_chindris29 May 2018
Avicii, the one who shaped electronic music in unprecedented ways, has left us with the memory of his songs. Beyond being a legend in this industry, I've always admired his humbleness and sincerity. I know growing and living as an introvert is a hard task to endure, I am aware of this myself, cause I am an introvert too, but what striked me was the way he managed to overcome all the odds and rumors surrounding him, by pushing his limits and always pursuing the next level. His alcohol addiction looks so shocking to people, like he was the only one ever addicted to this kind of thing, but he did it for the reason to forget about the drama inside his head and enjoy the present moment while he was on stage. He may now be singing in heavens, but at least we are left with the remembrance of his everlasting music.
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Sad but TruePermalink
stretfordenders24 April 2018
Warning: SpoilersThis film reveals not only the true Avicii (Tim) but also what might have led to his untimely death and how warped the world has become with success and moneyRIP Avicci your music will live in peoples hearts forever. Goodnight and God Bless you absolute angel xxxxx :(
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More acces than insightPermalink
paul2001sw-125 April 2019
Avicii was a D.J. and artist, who achieved enormous success but who struggled under the immense workload he agreed to take on. He took to drinking heavily, retired, and eventually committed suicide. It's a tragic story, but this account of his life is not particularly interesting or insightful. For a start, there's no disection of his musical talents - indeed, I don't know if the licensing fees were too expensive, but unusually for a film about a musician, frustratingly little of his music is even heard. Secondly, most of the film comprises Avicii sitting around, miserable, complaining about life, something we are shown at excessive length. It's unclear why he agreed to be filmed having these conversations; moreover, the film cuts abruptly from his long-awaited retirement to a statement that he died, without any explanation of why the former evidently did not bring the release he craved. Having watched it, I can see how he grew tired of touring; but I still don't really know why he was considered great, or why he felt his life was no longer worth living. Perhaps someone else will one day make another film that answers these questions.
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Avicii may have retired from touring, he may have just announced a break with his long-time manager who helped make him a superstar and he may be one of the most media-shy DJs on the planet Earth, but the 27-year-old Swede is and will always be one of the most recognizable and omnipotent electronic dance producers the genre has ever seen.
Born Tim Bergling, Avicii is the only DJ who could mix Country-Western styles with EDM and not just get away with it but find smashing success. He took Etta James' already iconic 'Something's Got a Hold on Me' vocals on and turned them into a generational anthem for 'Levels.' He's released bunches of international hits, but even his deeper cuts resonate across the spectrum of listeners.
Even when he's being cheesy, it's the kind of cheese you wanna cover your fries in and just give yourself heartburn shoving down your own throat. You just can't really knock the guy for anything (unless your deadmau5, but he knocks everyone).
It's hard to argue with great, catchy pop music and he's made some of the dance world's best. Here’s a list of the 10 best Avicii songs to date.
10. Avicii - 'Street Dancer'
This 2011 tune isn't as famous as some other Avicii songs. It only charted in the Netherlands, but it's one of the producer's most unique pieces to date. It's got a harder edge than most of his compositions and a decidedly '80s tropical tinge, like neon palm trees on a Miami Vice set. It samples Break Machine's 1983 track “Street Dance,” which explains that retro flair. If you've never heard this deep cut, definitely give it a go.
9. Avicii - 'My Feelings For You' feat. Sebastian Drums
This track is a super disco inferno, hunk of burning dance floor glory. It might not have charted as strong as some other Avicii songs, but it's definitely a crowd favorite. Even hipster DJs were dropping this one every week when it came out. Maybe that's because it's technically a remix of a song from French band Cassius and, you know, hipsters love French music.
8. Avicii - 'Without You' feat. Sandro Cavazza
'Without You' arrives on Avicii's six-track EP Avīci (01) and sports a catchy melody with zippy synths reminiscent of his country-pop sound. The record features Swedish singer-songwriter Sandro Cavazza who Avicii also remixed and included on his EP.
7. Avicii - 'Hey Brother'
Avicii's album True was really out to show the world just how inclusive dance music could be. Endless space 2 population control. You've never heard such glistening country pop as you have on True, and “Hey Brother” is one of the twangiest dance floor favorites to ever grace the festival circuit. Singer Dan Tyminski brings the heavy bluegrass element over Avicii's four-on-the-floor and brightly glowing synths. Fair warning, the music video is liable to make you cry.
6. Tim Berg - 'Seek Bromance'
This classic jam is so old school that Avicii wasn't even called Avicii when it was released -- he was still known as Tim Berg. Yet, we all remember “Seek Bromance” as one of the best songs in Avicii's catalog. It charted in 20 countries and reached number one on the Billboard Dance Clubs Songs list. Now six years after its release, you can hear how influential its been to every damn feel-good house song that came after.
5. Avicii - 'Silhouettes'
There's something so undeniable about this pumping beat, this misty melody, and Swedish singer Salem Al Fakir's smoky vocals. It just gives us a warm, cozy feeling listening to it. Maybe it's also partially nostalgia for 2011 when everyone was first swept up in Avicii mania. This was one of those songs that, even if you acted like you didn't like it at the time, you find yourself fist pumping to in no time.
4. Avicii - 'I Could Be The One' feat. Nicky Romero
This hook became one of the most recognizable melodies of 2012 almost instantly. This song flickers between indulgently sweet and absolutely bangerific. Fun fact: the instrumental version once featured a sample of Justice's seminal anthem “D.A.N.C.E.,” though the sample was removed for the final version fans know and love. It was a total smash, charting in 22 countries and hitting four Billboard charts, peaking the US Dance Clubs list before it was finished.
3. Avicii - 'Fade Into Darkness'
Did you even realize “Fade Into Darkness” predates “Levels?” Sometimes we forget there was an Avicii before that song took over the whole world. Listening to this tune today, we can hear a lot of that country-western influence just begging to bubble up to the surface. Replace the piano with acoustic guitar and it could totally be one of those cross-genre hits.
2. Avicii - 'Wake Me Up'
We will never forget the collective head-scratch moment that hit Ultra Music Festival in Miami when Avicii first debuted this song. Digital pressure cooker vegetarian recipes. No one had ever even conceived of melding country music with electronic dance until Avicii showed people the way.
1. Avicii - 'Levels'
Does this Avicii song really need an explanation? It's quite possibly one of the biggest dance music songs ever recorded. It's the modern-day equivalent of “Sandstorm” or “Kernkraft 400.” It's immediately recognizable, and you will never get it out of your head until you are buried -- and maybe not even then. It gave a new generation a reason to mourn the loss of Etta James, was a top ten hit in 15 countries and topped the charts in both Avicii's homeland of Sweden and the United States. You could still drop it at any party and watch the place go off. “Levels” is timeless, it is universal, it is love.
The EDM smash set the standard for an entire generation of club anthems.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call 'Levels,' the career-making early signature song for Swedish superstar DJ Avicii, one of the most important pop songs of the 21st century. With its simple structure, booming hooks and soaring vocal sample, the song became a mainstream U.S. hit at a time that such EDM jams were still not generally considered potential crossover fare, proving the massive audience that already existed for dance music stateside, which would only get exponentially bigger in the years to come.
Though the song was copied -- often liberally and explicitly -- by hundreds of imitators to follow, the blinding shimmer of 'Levels' never dimmed, even through years of exhaustive overplay. Like 'Smells Like Teen Spirit,' 'Blitzkrieg Bop,' 'Nuthin' But a 'G' Thang' or any number of other iconic songs in rock and pop history, it remains the purest sonic distillation of a discrete moment in musical history, one that will never be watered down for anyone fortunate enough to have experienced it.
While Avicii -- who was tragically found dead today (Apr. 20), at the age of just 28 -- would go on to enjoy bigger top 40 hits, it's the singular rapture of 'Levels' that will undoubtedly soundtrack the late DJ's introduction to the great cosmic rave in the sky, an anthem so naturally in tune with the most visceral forms of musical and physical connection that it absolutely should have the power to cross realms. Here are ten of the biggest reasons why.
1. It earned its full-length edit. The version played on radio that helped propel it to a No. 60 peak on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 2012 -- excellent for a dance near-instrumental, though hardly reflective of the place the song held in '10s pop culture -- ran a scant 3:20. But for the full impact of 'Levels,' all 5:39 of its full-length version was needed, with peaks that rose and crested throughout in near-perfect symmetry, as majestic as the mountains cartoonishly superimposed in the background of the song's music video.
2. The ringtone-of-the-Gods hook. Like Orbital's 'Chime' or Darude's 'Sandstorm' before it, Avicii's 'Levels' uncovered a synth hook of unnerving simplicity and unthinkable potency. No math to explain this thing's power: Trying to unpack the brilliance here would be like asking Keith Richards to explain why the 'Satisfaction' riff still whips Boomers into a frenzy a half-century later. But it was epochal essentially from first listen, a hook that fills your head until it runs out of room, then seeps its way through your entire bloodstream and just keeps going. That it might not even be the most memorable refrain of 'Levels' is about the only thing you need to know about the song's greatness.
3. The clouds-parting break. After the synth melody and skipping beat drop get their first extended workout, the hook dissipates into a ghostly repeating echo and the drums drop out entirely, as the skies open up a distant voice appears to arrive from on high. You don't know what's coming, but you know it's going to be big.
4. The euphoric vocal sample. No, Avicii wasn't the first major DJ to lift Etta James' inimitable voice from the 1962 R&B classic 'Something's Got a Hold on Me': Colorado downtempo maven Pretty Lights got there back in 2006, and hell, even Christina Aguilera had resurrected the song just a year prior for the Burlesque soundtrack. But this was always the way the vocal was meant to be reappropriated: a heavenly siren's call beaming down on the masses, a burst of sunlight after what feels like weeks of synth-storming.
5. The rising synth whistle on the second go-round. After 'Levels' finishes off round one with the James sample, it gears back up for a second time through, virtually identical to the first time -- except for a briefly burbling whistle sound that augments the hook at around the 4:10 mark, rising to the top of the song like carbonation in a glass of Coke. It sets the second run through apart, allowing the song to reach another.. well, another level.
6. The title. Indeed, 'Levels' doesn't appear in the song's lyrics -- all two lines of them -- but remains an inspired title for Avicii's signature composition, which is very clearly all about elevation, in all of its many forms. The literal elevators on the single cover are a little on the nose, but forgivable -- few songs this decade brought listeners higher.
7. It mashes up with everything. There was a two-year period after the song's 2011 release where you could search 'Avicii Levels [Random Contemporary Hit Song]' into YouTube and be all but guaranteed to get at least a couple results of amateur DJs trying to mash the songs up. Some of them worked better than others, maybe -- a blend of 'Levels' and Gotye's 'Somebody That I Used to Know' was a particular fixture of star DJ sets for a while -- but none of them sounded totally unlistenable, with the instrumental's power always managing to carry the day.
8. It sounded amazing at festivals.. It was a cheap crowd-pleaser for less-adventurous DJs, sure, but it still felt like a moment whenever whoever was spinning deigned to drop it -- even though you knew that every time, the music was gonna be cut at the vocal break for the audience to belt it out entirely on their own. Needless to say, they were usually up to the task.
9. ..But it also sounded amazing at weddings. What really made 'Levels' such a special song was that it wasn't just club kids and festivalgoers who were privy to its power -- the thing crossed over to the most mainstream corners of American culture as well. (It was helped, of course, by Flo Rida's eventual top 5-charting 'Good Feeling' single, essentially a less-formidable hip-hop vocal edit of the Avicii banger.) In particular, there was nothing quite like hearing it emerge between Rihanna and Pitbull smashes at a wedding, a clarion call for the last remaining stragglers still nursing a drink at the bar or futzing with their appetizers to stop stalling and get on the damn dance floor already.
10. The sentiment. Anyone who's ever fallen in love with dance music won't need explanation as to why 'Ohhhh, sometimes, I get a good feeling, yeah/ I get a feeling that I never, never, never had before..' is the exact sentiment to express at the center of an ecstatic 4/4 anthem such as this. But a quick extra second's attention to the 'yeah' at the end of the first line, tossed off by Etta after a pause as a sort of self-confirmation, like wow, this is really happening, huh? Listening to 'Levels,' sometimes you couldn't help but wonder.
Posted by29 days ago
So, Avicii's posthumous album 'TIM' is finally out. Feel free to share your thoughts and feelings in this thread.
Universal:
AVICII created groundbreaking performances that became the gold standard for timeless electronic music and defined the sound and structure of the global EDM movement. When announcing his retirement from touring, he wrote: “I will however never let go of music. I will continue to speak to my fans through it.” And most assuredly, that is what he is doing on TIM.
Bergling’s new music is as fresh and inventive as ever and continues his legacy as one of the most beloved and respected figures in music. Before his untimely passing last year, Bergling had completed several of the 12 tracks on TIM, including “Heaven”. Tim and Chris Martin wrote and recorded “Heaven” in 2014, with Tim producing the final version in 2016 – it hasn’t been touched since. With the exception of the last verse which was added after Bergling’s death, “Heart Upon My Sleeve (feat. Imagine Dragons)” was also finished.
Other tracks were 90% complete and final work on them was performed by a trio of production teams who had collaborated with Bergling through his career, co-wrote many of the new songs with him, and closely followed the detailed instructions he had left behind.
Avicii’s net proceeds from the album will go to the nonprofit Tim Bergling Foundation which benefits organizations that support mental health issues, suicide prevention and education, wildlife conservation and other issues that Bergling had an interest in and passion for.
Listen to the album on:
Reviews:
For an artist whose music aimed for maximum accessibility, often to a fault, Avicii may well be remembered as an innovator. Sadly, this record feels like he was just getting started.
The release of Tim Bergling’s posthumous ‘Tim’ album is inevitably bittersweet in the extreme. Whilst we’ve been gifted 12 tracks of pure, peak Avicii, the fact that he’s no longer with us infuses the music with a deep melancholy. His chords and melodies seem more yearning and lyrics like “Can you hear me SOS, help me put my mind at rest” and “You’ll lose your mind, standing on the battle line” are now heavy and poignant with meaning.
'TIM' is the culmination of Avicii's song-based flair that incorporates elements outside EDM. Unlike other DJs, his songs aren't rushed. He lets them breathe. The predictable tricks his rivals use are absent here. The songs feel organic, not processed.
There is no other dance music act who has broken into the global commercial scene like Avicii has and he was the reason many became enchanted with modern electronic music. The success never changed him. He was always a down to earth humble human who had a passion for making incredible music, always his priority.
There are no words to describe the beauty of ‘TIM’. The recurring theme of the album is that of someone who is coming back to life and escaping the past. With the lyrics in several songs, we can see this theme which is very fitting for Tim and his past. Furthermore, we hear a unique contrast in some of the songs which contain dark and sad lyrics with a happy musical composition.
While ‘TIM’ is unlikely to win any existing EDM-deniers over, its addition to Avicii’s back catalogue will come as great comfort to both the fans and family of the late DJ.
A lyric video for 'Heaven' has also been released. You can watch it on Avicii's official YouTube channel.
In addition, each song has a 'Story Behind' video. Feel free to check them out:
More news to follow!
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