In the world of electronic music today, very few names resonate as profoundly as Avicii. Tim Bergling, or as we know him, Avicii, was a Swedish DJ, producer and songwriter who left an incredible mark on the scene. You might know him from his hit track ‘Levels’ or his creative implementation of country music into electronic music with ‘Hey Brother’ or maybe even before he reached international acclaim with his classic ‘Seek Bromance’. Regardless of where you know him from Avicii shaped the landscape of genre in more ways than one despite only being with us on this planet for a short while.
Let’s delve into the lesser-known facets of Avicii’s discography. Here are six tracks that you probably have heard, but did you know Avicii produced them?
Coldplay – A Sky Full Of Stars
Released in 2014, ‘A Sky Full of Stars’ was co-wrote and co-produced by Avicii. The track marks Coldplay’s first dance track and was well received globally, reaching the top ten in over sixteen countries. Avicii was not only asked to collaborate on the production side of the track but also to play and record the piano parts. The synergy between Coldplay and Avicii not only demonstrated a seamless integration of electronic and rock elements but also showcased the versatility of both artists.
David Guetta – Lovers On The Sun
‘Lovers on the Sun’ is featured on David Guetta’s sixth studio album ‘Listen’ and is an eclectic mix of country, folk, and electronic music. Fun fact, Mike Einziger (from the band Incubus) who plays guitar on this track, was also the guitarist on Avicii’s hit ‘Wake Me Up’. This track blends together Guetta’s penchant for anthemic hooks meshed with Avicii’s signature sound of uplifting melodies and acoustics. This track breaks away from the conventional David Guetta sound and is certainly a hidden gem!
Madonna – Devil Pray
One of our favorite Avicii collabs has to be with the iconic Madonna. Madonna and Avicii met for the first time at Ultra Music Festival in 2012 for the premiere of Avicii’s remix of her single ‘Girl Gone Wild’. From that moment on two larger-than-life artists came together to produce multiple masterpieces. ‘Devil Pray’ blends together a little bit of techno, country, folk, and pop. The inspiration behind the track derives from Madonna’s desire to open up about her experience with substances in her quest for greater purpose. This collaboration marked a deviation from Madonna’s more traditional pop sound while simultaneously bringing Avicii deeper into the mainstream pop scene.
Conrad Sewell – Taste The Feeling
The intersection of vocal dexterity and electronic innovation emerged when Australian singer Conrad Sewell joined forces to create the uplifting anthem as part of Coca-Cola’s global marketing campaign. The track quickly became a commercial success. The fusion of Sewell’s pop sound with Avicii’s melodic electronic beats created a sonic landscape. When looking at Avicii’s timeline, this track released in 2016, showed that Avicii was now one hundred percent embedded into not only mainstream electronic music but into the larger pop music zeitgeist.
Coldplay – Hymn For The Weekend
Following the success of ‘A Sky Full of Stars’, Coldplay went to Avicii once again for another collaboration, ‘Hymn For The Weekend’. The track not only features Avicii but also includes vocals from Beyonce and quickly became an international hit reaching number six on the UK Singles Chart and the top twenty around the world. This track showcased that once again Avicii could make his mark in any genre working with some of the biggest artists in the world to produce hit after hit.
Santana & Wyyclef Jean – Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find A Way)
Released as the official anthem for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, ‘Dar Um Jeito (We Will Find A Way)’ brought the world together in the spirit of unity and football (or soccer depending on where you’re reading this from). The combined effect of Santana’s iconic guitar riff with Wyclef Jean’s vibrant hip-hop vocals weaved together through Avicii’s production and expertise birthed a unique tapestry of sounds that had everyone hype for the 2014 World Cup.
