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Avicii was certainly not the first
EDM DJ to come on the scene, with people like Daft Punk and David Guetta making
some waves early on, but he was definitely the first one to legitimize the
genre. His 2011 hit “Levels” made a massive impact on the
music industry, showing people that dance music was not only viable, but
something that people found exciting and fun. From then on, Avicii pumped
out hit after hit, creating two excellent albums in True and Stories and
putting out successful singles periodically. Combined with worldwide tours and
work with other artists, Avicii’s star was rapidly rising and it
didn’t seem like anything could stop him.
Unfortunately, this rise
didn’t come without its problems. In 2016, Avicii announced that he
would stop touring, tiring of the scene and
wanting to try and reclaim some of his life. This followed complications that
he was having with pancreatitis, complicated by his
excessive drinking. While we don’t know the exact cause, his death came as a
shock because most people probably assumed that everything had been going fine,
as he dedicated his time to working in the studio. Whatever the reason, his
loss is very tragic, and I just want to take a moment here to talk about
my top seven favorite songs of his. Hopefully I can show you all,
especially the people who detest EDM or look down on it, the talent he had and
why I enjoyed his music so much.
7. Without You (ft. Sandro Cavazza)
In his last EP, Avicii tried taking a different approach to his music, being more upbeat, smooth and happy without sacrificing his ability to create toe-tapping tunes. This song, featuring frequent collaborator Sandro Cavazza, just makes you feel really good listening to it. And that was Avicii’s M.O., and the driving force behind all EDM: to make people enjoy themselves and have fun. While many of his other hits might be more popular at a dance club, this one sticks with me as a toe-tapper that always brightens my day when I hear it.
6. Lay Me Down (ft. Adam Lambert and Nile Rodgers)
From the opening seconds of this song you know you’re in for a good time, with the excellent guitar work from legend Nile Rodgers leading into a funky, fast-paced joyride of a song. One of Avicii’s greatest talents as a DJ was taking elements of other genres of music and turning them into dance tracks, with this being his best foray into funk music. Pairing his electronic production with real guitar and applying Adam Lambert’s excellent vocals on top, he created a package unlike any other and a standout on his album True.
5. Somewhere in Stockholm (vocals unknown)
Stories, Avicii’s second album, is notable in that all the songs tell some sort of story. “Somewhere in Stockholm” is undoubtedly the most personal of the bunch. Detailing a young man reflecting on his hometown of Stockholm, this song represents Avicii’s struggle with fame and how close he came to losing himself to it, and it has a lot more impact as we try to figure out what led to his death. It's a somber subject, and the song creates a melancholic feeling despite the marching band-sounding chorus beat and rhythm that still makes you want to move. A lot of these songs aren’t lyrical masterpieces, but this one combines excellent production with a truly heartfelt look into our beloved DJ, and is one of my favorites for this very reason.
4. The Nights (ft. Nicholas Furlong)
Co-written by Furlong, this song plays to both of Avicii’s major strengths: creating upbeat vibes and using elements of Western-style music. Constructed as a mix of dance and folk-type music, this song is a reflection on the lessons Furlong learned from his father, and his devotion to living a full life with no regrets. It’s an inspiring track, if a little short compared to its opposite “The Days,” and in the wake of Avicii’s death it even brings a few tears to my eyes listening to it. It takes a lot for a song meant to make you dance like a fool to elicit such strong emotions, but Avicii made it look easy. Pay attention to the lyrics on this one, it contains some good life advice.
3. Heart Upon My Sleeve
While there is a version featuring vocals from Imagine Dragons’ Dan Reynolds, it’s the instrumental that you really want to listen to. This song is a true example of Avicii’s production talent, starting with a simple guitar bit, leading to a more intense violin, then a pounding drum, and so on. As my Discoverography co-host Jonathan said in our episode on True, it sounds like the best action movie music that was never put on a film. It also is a killer dance track, always guaranteed to get you dancing all the way from the beginning to the more EDM-sounding drop near the end, which makes it one of my favorites of his without a doubt.
2. Waiting for Love (ft. Simon Aldred)
A collaboration with fellow DJ and friend Martin Garrix, “Waiting for Love” kicks off Stories with a bang, delivering a soulful song with a killer beat about a man searching for love and surviving a bad week. Starting off sad and ending in ecstatic joy, Avicii and Garrix deliver a masterclass in construction, songwriting and production, with Aldred’s vocals carrying us along the journey. It’s got all the great elements of an EDM song (banging music, great singing and expert production) along with Avicii’s best qualities (melding a genre with EDM, evoking strong emotions). It’s a great single and one of my favorite EDM songs of all time.
1. Hey Brother (ft. Dan Tyminski)
The number one thing that surprised me about Avicii is that this Swedish born young man was absolutely in love with country and bluegrass music, and served as his primary inspiration. While “Wake Me Up” and “Broken Arrows” among others dabble in this territory, it’s “Hey Brother” that always pops to mind. Going to the purest bluegrass roots, Avicii crafts a truly unique and powerful song about family that hits the heart as much as it does the ears, especially when you watch the music video. I always criticize country music and appear to trash it, but I have always loved the genre and constantly hunger for good songs from it. Hearing Tyminski (best known for The Soggy Bottom Boys of O Brother, Where Art Thou?) sing these words and the old school guitar work takes me back to the country music I love, with the EDM production making me want to dance like a happy idiot. Avicii was truly a talented guy, unafraid to let his influences show and push boundaries, and this is the perfect introduction song to anyone looking to dive into his music.
While it’s too early to say whether or not Avicii will join the high ranks of other “gone too soon” artists like Biggie, Kurt Cobain or Tupac, I think it’s safe to say that he has more than left a mark on the music industry. Electronic dance music would not be anywhere near as popular without him, and the DJs following in his wake would never be as bold as they are if he didn’t pave that trail. “The Nights” has a lyric that says “One day, you’ll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember.” Avicii lived that life, following his passions and serving as an example for all young people who wish to fulfill their dreams, and I thank him for that. He’s a true inspiration, and will never be forgotten.
Thanks for all the great tunes, man. Rest in peace, knowing that you made the world a better place while you were here.
All of Avicii's music is available wherever music is sold, and I highly urge that you get his two albums True and Stories ASAP.
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