Levels (Avicii song)
"Levels" is a song by Swedish DJ Avicii. An early instrumental version of the song was first played by Avicii during an appearance on BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix in December 2010, while the final version with Etta James's vocals was first performed at the Ultra Music Festival in March 2011. "Levels" was officially released on 28 October 2011 and peaked at number one in Sweden and on the Dance music charts in the United States and became a top ten hit in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
"Levels" contains a vocal sample from the 1962 gospel-inspired song "Something's Got a Hold on Me" by Etta James, as written by Leroy Kirkland, Pearl Woods and James. It is the same sample previously used in Pretty Lights' 2006 song "Finally Moving" from his debut album, Taking Up Your Precious Time. Flo Rida's single "Good Feeling", which became a worldwide hit in late 2011, was primarily influenced by "Levels" and its Etta James sample. Several critics consider "Levels" to be Avicii's greatest song and one of the greatest EDM songs of all time, mostly due to its chart success and the recognizable synth riff. Following his death in 2018, a limited-edition vinyl of "Levels" sold for $563.
Background
"Levels", or rather, an early prototype, was first played in BBC Radio 1's Essential Mix on December 11, 2010, originally called "Unnamed." On May 12, 2011, Avicii linked to a preview version of the song on SoundCloud on Facebook, referring to it as "ID". The first time the final version was played was during the Ultra Music Festival on March 25, 2011, but still referred to as "ID". The first known referral of its official name, "Levels" was on May 15, 2011, when Avicii tweeted an acknowledgement of a leaked version of the song saying that it "...is NOT the final version of the track..." and is "...a version been using for livesets!"After the 2011 Ultra Music Festival, "Levels" played in many festivals and clubs around the world before its release. On October 27, 2011, Avicii posted on his YouTube channel a promo trailer of the song Levels, which featured clips of many of the pre-release performances of "Levels" and placed the release date to October/November 2011. "Levels" was released on iTunes on October 28, 2011 in Australia, Denmark, Ireland, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Sweden. On October 31, 2011, Universal Music Sweden posted a teaser trailer on YouTube which Avicii complimented on Facebook. It featured the album cover of "Levels" with added effects on it including the elevator door opening and the light flickering. The same day, "Levels" was released on iTunes in the United States, and on Amazon in Germany
Composition
"Levels" is a progressive house song produced in the key of C minor and a tempo of 126 BMP.It has simple but recognizable synth hook with background instruments that rise up and lower throughout the song, slowly building up for about a minute and 30 seconds until the drop with a simple chord progression of Cm–E–B–A.
After the drop, there is an dreamy interlude that samples the intro lyrics from Etta James's 1962 single, "Something's Got a Hold on Me", consisting of "Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah. Get a feeling that I never, never, never, never had before, no, no. I get a good feeling, yeah," described by Billboard as "a heavenly siren's call beaming down on the masses, a burst of sunlight after what feels like weeks of synth-storming."
It then does a second run of the synth hook, with the background instruments slowly playing again along with a "...briefly burbling whistle sound that augments the hook..." The music builds for up for another minute before dropping again.
The difference between the original version and the radio edit is that the original version has an one minute intro that is later used as one of the background instruments and after the second drop, the song ends with a 30 second drum beat.
Critical reception
Ever since its release, "Levels" has generated really positive reviews for its catchy and recognizable synth riff and has become known as one of the biggest EDM songs of all time.AllMusic critic, David Jefferies, has described "Levels" as a "...simple and effective EDM monster that launched Swedish producer Avicii to Swedish House Mafia, Afrojack, or Tiesto, erm, levels." Anje Riberra, on the Spanish news site, El Correo, calls "Levels" a "...very dancible tune that makes you enjoy it continuously," while on New York's subsidiary focused on pop culture, The Vulture, Emily Yoshida praised "Levels" for its "...central hook, stabbing, skyscraper-tall synth line, shiny and sleek and feeling like it could touch God..."
In Billboard's Avicii's 10 Best Songs: Critics' Picks, "Levels" was placed in number one and described as, "...quite possibly one of the biggest dance music songs ever recorded." Pitchfork ranked the song as the 200th best song of the 2010s, praising it for its "...monumental synths and jetstream whooshes..."
Remixes
The song has been remixed by several artists, including Cazzette and Skrillex. It has been used in a mashup with "Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra titled "Levels That I Used to Know" and another mashup with "Good Feeling" by Flo Rida titled "Good Levels" which has been played on some club radio stations. George Monev made a popular edit to this song which reverses the track. The song was re-worked to feature vocals from South Korean K-pop singer Seulong of 2AM. The single was released in South Korea on 5 May 2013 via digital music outlets. Another version was made in collaboration with Indian singer Sonu Nigam, titled "Indian Levels". It was released in 2012.Live performances
Before the its release, "Levels" was first played by Avicii in a live performance during the 2011 Ultra Music Festival, on March 25, 2011. It was then played during the Summerburst Festival on June 4, 2011 On June 23, 2011, Avicii played "Levels" during the 2011 Electric Daisy Carnival. It was then played by Avicii during the music festival, Tomorrowland, on July 23, 2011A month after its release, "Levels" was performed by Avicii as part of his repertoire during the 2011 Stereosonic Festival. From 2012-2015, Avicii played "Levels" during the Tomorrowland festival. It was played by Avicii during the music festival, T in the Park 2015, on July 12, 2012.
After Avicii's death, the 2018 Tomorrowland Festival has many famous DJs play tracks produced by Avicii. One of them was DJ Hardwell playing "Levels." On December 5, 2019, a 30 piece concert, known as the Avicii Tribute Concert took place as part of a mental awareness campaign, known as Tim Bergling Foundation. One of the songs they played was "Levels."
Music video
Background
According to director Petro Papahadjopoulos' website, he was approached by Universal Music Group for a concept of a music video for Avicii that would get him famous. Petro contacted Avicii to understand the symbolism behind the song "Levels" and to create a concept that would match the song. He created an Office-space like concept of a that he described as, "...about a man who wakes up to realize he is living in hell. Everyone around him just thinks he's crazy. But his craziness is infectious." Avicii later received the concept of the music video from his production manager, Arash Pournouri, and showed support for it. He posted the concept on his official website on December 8, 2011. Petro collaborated with Richie Greenfield for direction and choreography of the music video. It was then released on YouTube on November 29, 2011Synopsis
The music video depicts a weary businessman walks into an office holding some files through the elevator. He sits down in front of his computer with pictures next to them with people that have faces similar to Avicii's. The music video then cuts to the businessman talking to a female co-worker in a different room when the businessman starts dancing and writing "Avicii" on the tables and walls. The co-worker walks out of the room in confusion and brings the boss over to see the businessman dancing. After the boss and the co-worker leave, the businessman jumps into the office and briefly pauses and then starts dancing again, amusing his co-workers and leaving the boss shocked. A security guard walks into the office, brings out an Electroshock weapon and stuns the businessman unconscious. During the interlude with a sample from "Something's Got a Hold on Me", the man is dreaming of pushing a big boulder up a mountain. The music video then cuts to him being restrained to a table in the hospital. A flower blossoms from his mouth. Two hospital workers who were in the same room as him notice and walk towards the businessman. One of them pick up a piece of the flower, eats a part of it, and then touches it to the other hospital worker. As both of them are walking away, the businessman swallows the flower and he and the two hospital workers start going into a seizure. A nurse notices and goes into the nearest room and starts dialing on a phone, 911. She then notices the two hospital workers recovering and starting to dance. She starts dancing with them and running rampantly throughout the hospital. The music video cuts between the businessman dancing in the hospital room and everyone starting dancing against their own will. The music video ends with everybody dancing in front of the camera.Symbolism
The intended symbolism of the music video was described in an early concept page on Avicii's website that has since been subject to link rot.The concept describes the idea that "...we are already in Avici, and that maybe we at times are aware of this and the existence of other levels." It goes on to describe that reality is "... an infinite loop of reality. Day in and day out. The reality looks just like our own, but shot through a gritty and unsaturated lens." The concept page then describes in a short summary of the original concept story, how the symbolism ties into the music video. "We watch as the man’s reality implodes, he’s experiencing awareness of other levels and his entire reality all around him transforms to something new."
Awards
The music video was nominated for the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Electronic Dance Music Video" and "Best Choreography"In popular culture
"Levels" was featured in the pilot of American action-adventure TV series Arrow. It is also in the repertoire of the University of Southern California Spirit of Troy marching band, including being used at USC Trojans football games whenever an opponent is penalised."Levels" was used as the theme in the 2012 Miss Universe swimsuit competition. "Levels" is available as a song in Disney's dancing game,.
The song was used at full time after the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool F.C. and Real Madrid CF in Kiev.
Track listing
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
| Chart | Peak position |
Year-end charts
| Chart | Position |
| Australia | 76 |
| Austria | 23 |
| Belgium | 24 |
| Belgium | 29 |
| Hungary | 3 |
| Hungary | 11 |
| Germany | 23 |
| Netherlands | 77 |
| Netherlands | 100 |
| Russia Airplay | 13 |
| Sweden | 3 |
| Switzerland | 19 |
| UK Singles | 59 |
| US Dance Club Songs | 32 |
| US Dance/Mix Show Airplay | 11 |
| Chart | Position |
| Sweden | 43 |
| Chart | Position |
| Sweden | 54 |
| US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs | 58 |