"Who's that?" I queried the hubby, who was playing something new to my ears. "E--fi Gji---ka," he emphasized the name, probably for me not to ask "what?" afterwards, lol! So I checked, and discovered it was a cover of another artist's song. My curiosity was piqued, not for Efi, but for Avicii, who released the original version in 2014.
Avicii (Tim Bergling in real life) is a Swedish DJ, remixer, songwriter, and record producer credited for pioneering Electronic Dance Music and crafting emotional, melodic tracks, some of which I'm sharing today in the Three Tune Tuesday initiative by Ablaze.
This uplifting electro-house track was released in 2015 as the lead single of Avicii's second studio album, Stories. The track features a pulsating, melodic synth hook, aggressive piano chords, a catchy and emotional vocal performance (by Simon Aldred), and an upbeat, danceable melody.
The song has done quite well, topping the charts (#1) in Sweden, and peaked at #7 on the US Billboard Hot Dance/Electronic Songs chart. As of this writing, the music video has garnered over 1.3 billion views on YouTube since its release.
Anyway, the next tune was the track that became Avicii's breakout hit and signature song, one of the first commercially successful songs released as EDM was going mainstream in the United States in 2010. ¹
Oh, I love the energetic club vibe of this track. It has that bright, high-pitched synthesizer melody that sounds like a playful ringtone, which instantly sticks in the head on first hearing. It made me want to dance.
According to critics, this is an EDM masterpiece, an important pop and electronic hit of the 21st century. They also credit it with helping bring EDM into the mainstream in the US, paving the way for artists like Marshmello and The Chainsmokers.
And tune 3 is also one of Avicii's earlier releases (2013)
A blend of traditional bluegrass country music with high-energy European electronic dance music. It is quite an emotional song, yet energetic enough for a party and sentimental enough for a quiet day. The warm acoustic guitar and a steady, stomping drum beat give it a folk-song feel.
The soulful vocals were performed by Dan Tyminski. Accordingly, Avicii chose him specifically because he wanted an honest and human voice to contrast with the electronic production, making the song feel raw and authentic.²
The track topped the UK Dance Chart in 2013, peaked at #16 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming the singer's final hit before his unfortunate death (suicide) in 2018. He did leave a profound legacy as a pioneering DJ who revolutionized EDM by blending melodic house with acoustic elements, taking it mainstream radio.
For more of his timeless arrangements, check out his official YT Channel.
Smile... laugh often... love more... be grateful always!
Lead image was a screenshot from a tribute video. No copyright infringement intended. 21042026/10:25ph
