Avicii: From Bedroom Beats to Global Anthems
Tim Bergling, better known as Avicii, was a Swedish DJ and songwriter whose talent bridged genres and broke international boundaries. His mother, actress Anki Lidén, later married singer and Swedish national treasure Tommy Körberg—making Avicii’s family tree a blend of music and film.
Avicii first found success online, posting mixes and original tunes that caught the attention of the EDM world. The breakthrough came with Levels in 2011, a track that famously sampled Etta James‘ Something’s Got A Hold On Me and paired it with polished house production.
The following year saw I Could Be The One, a collaboration with fellow DJ Nicky Romero featuring Swedish singer Noonie Bao. It climbed into the top 10 across 17 countries, confirming Avicii’s mainstream appeal.
Then came his debut album, True, which delivered his biggest tune: Wake Me Up. Co-written with Aloe Blacc (who also provided vocals) and Mike Einziger of Incubus (on acoustic guitar), the song blended acoustic pop with EDM in a way that felt fresh yet familiar—its guitar line clearly nodding to Save Tonight by Eagle-Eye Cherry.
Wake Me Up became a worldwide hit, reaching #1 in 33 countries and selling around 15 million copies. It remains the defining Avicii tune—a track that captured the spirit of a generation.
The Global Reach of Avicii Tunes—And the Legacy They Left Behind
Another standout single from True was Hey Brother, which topped the U.K. Dance Chart until Rather Be by Clean Bandit came along to claim the top spot. The fourth single, Addicted To You, proved just how far-reaching Avicii’s dance-pop appeal was, breaking into the top 10 in 18 countries.
The final single from the album, Lay Me Down, didn’t quite match the success of its predecessors—despite a guest appearance from funk legend Nile Rodgers.
As a whole, True reached the top 10 in ten countries, with its singles and videos propelling Avicii to global fame. It was clear by this point: Avicii’s tunes had become a worldwide phenomenon.
Two years later, his follow-up album Stories was released, though it didn’t achieve the same impact. The most talked-about tune from the album was For A Better Day, mainly due to its controversial video depicting a plot around child sex trafficking.
Following Avicii’s death in 2018 while in Oman, conspiracy theories began to circulate. Online rumours falsely claimed that Avicii, along with Chester Bennington, Chris Cornell, and Anthony Bourdain, had been murdered due to their alleged involvement in an upcoming documentary on child trafficking called The Silent Children. These claims were later debunked: the documentary was shelved, and its creators confirmed that none of the artists had ever been involved.
In 2021, the Stockholm Globe Arena—nicknamed the “golf ball”—was officially renamed Avicii Arena, a tribute to the DJ whose tunes left an indelible mark on modern music.
Avicii Tunes | Related Pages
Wake Me Up | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Wake Me Up by Avicii using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Bm G5 | D5/A | Bm G5 | D5/A |
Feeling my way through the darkness, guided by a beating heart…
Want to master this song? Check out the full TAB lesson here: Wake Me Up (Avicii) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Avicii on the web
