The Making of Wake Me Up by Avicii @avicii

Avicii ”It’s so far away from anything I’ve ever done before musically, so it’s obviously a weight off my shoulders that everything went the way it did” — Tim ’Avicii’ Bergling.

June 17th marks one decade since the release of Wake Me Up – a song that came to change EDM music forever. As a key part of the album True, Wake Me Up was one of the songs where Avicii showed the world his ability to blend different genres — transcending the boundaries of ages, music preferences, and cultures worldwide.

Every song begins with a note. This is the story behind Wake Me Up by Avicii, Aloe Blacc, and Mike Einziger.

In loving memory of Tim Bergling (1989-2018).

Music: https://Avicii.lnk.to/Channel

updated 3 years ago

The Making of Wake Me Up by Avicii

Avicii 2023-06-17 | ”It’s so far away from anything I’ve ever done before musically, so it’s obviously a weight off my shoulders that everything went the way it did” — Tim ’Avicii’ Bergling.

June 17th marks one decade since the release of Wake Me Up – a song that came to change EDM music forever. As a key part of the album True, Wake Me Up was one of the songs where Avicii showed the world his ability to blend different genres — transcending the boundaries of ages, music preferences, and cultures worldwide.

Every song begins with a note. This is the story behind Wake Me Up by Avicii, Aloe Blacc, and Mike Einziger.

In loving memory of Tim Bergling (1989-2018).

Music: https://Avicii.lnk.to/Channel

A decade has passed since the release of Wake Me Up #shorts

Avicii 2023-06-18 | “Tim's energy and effort in producing my vocal performance and other instrumentation really shows the passion he had for creating." — Aloe Blacc

This is the story behind the song that came to change EDM music forever.

Today marks 10 years since the release of Wake Me Up. This is the story behind the song #shorts

Avicii 2023-06-17 | With this song, Avicii showed the world his ability to blend different genres — transcending the boundaries of ages, music preferences, and cultures worldwide.

”It’s so far away from anything I’ve ever done before musically, so it’s obviously a weight off my shoulders that everything went the way it did” — Tim ’Avicii’ Bergling.

The debut performance of Addicted To You at Ultra Music Festival (Miami, 2013-03-22) #shorts

Avicii 2023-03-22 | Today, a decade has passed since the debut performance of Addicted To You (feat. Audra Mae) at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, 2013. A moment that changed EDM music forever.

Avicii - Addicted To You ft. Audra Mae and Dear Boy ft. MØ, Ultra Music Festival, Miami, 2013-03-22

Avicii 2023-03-22 | A decade has passed since this debut performance of Addicted To You (feat. Audra Mae) and Dear Boy (feat. MØ) at Ultra Music Festival (Miami, 2013-03-22).

In this groundbreaking concert, Avicii invited musicians to play live on stage — showing his brave way of mixing EDM music with other genres and elements. A moment that changed EDM music forever.

In loving memory of Tim Bergling (1989-2018)

More music: https://Avicii.lnk.to/Channel

Live performance of Dear Boy at Ultra Music Festival (Miami, 2013-03-22) #shorts

Avicii 2023-03-22 | A decade has passed since Avicii’s legendary concert at Ultra Music Festival in Miami, 2013.

Avicii - Addicted To You (Live In Ibiza, 2016)

Avicii 2023-02-04 | Live version of ”Addicted To You” at Avicii’s final performance (Ibiza, 2016-08-28).

In loving memory of Tim ”Avicii” Bergling (1989-2018).

Avicii – Addicted To You (Live In Ibiza, 2016) #shorts

Avicii 2023-02-04 | 'Addicted To You' live from Avicii’s final performance at Ushuaïa, Ibiza, 2016.

Avicii - Levels (Live In Ibiza, 2016)

Avicii 2021-10-28 | Live version of “Levels” at Avicii’s final performance (Ibiza, 2016-08-28).

avicii.lnk.to/levels10yrs

In loving memory of Tim “Avicii” Bergling (1989-2018).

Directed by: Levan Tsikurishvili
Produced by: Black Dalmatian Films

Avicii Arena - For A Better Day

Avicii 2021-05-19 | As of today, Avicii Arena is the new name of the iconic globe shaped arena in Sweden. Avicii Arena becomes a symbol and meeting place for an initiative focused on young people's mental health. In celebration of the renaming, The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra has recorded a symphonic version of the Avicii song "For A Better Day", sung by 14-year-old Ella.
#ForABetterDay

Title: For A Better Day - Avicii Arena Version
Performed by: Ella Tiritiello & The Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra
Written by: Tim Bergling, Alex Ebert
Symphonic version produced by: Erik Arvinder, Stefan Olsson
Symphonic version arranged and conducted by: Erik Arvinder

Video produced and directed by: Daniel Edvardsson, Sarah Schomaker Elofsson, Ebba Lindqvist

Avicii Tribute Concert - Blessed (Live Vocals by Dorothy & Andy Sherman and Hedvig Eleonora Gospel)

Avicii Tribute Concert - You Make Me (Live Vocals by Vargas & Lagola)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Friend Of Mine (Live Vocals by Vargas & Lagola and friends of Tim)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Addicted To You (Live Vocals by Audra Mae)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Lonely Together (Live Vocals by Rita Ora)

Avicii 2019-12-13 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with +50,000 fans from all over the world. Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

Avicii - Lonely Together (feat. Rita Ora)
Live Vocals by: Rita Ora
Written by: Tim Bergling, Magnus August Hoiberg, Brian Lee, Benjamin Levin, Alexandra Leah Tamposi, Andrew Wotman

Avicii Tribute Concert - Waiting For Love (Live Vocals by Simon Aldred)

Avicii Tribute Concert - I Could Be The One (Live Vocals by Johanna Söderberg)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Heaven (Live Vocals by Simon Aldred)

Avicii 2019-12-13 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with +50,000 fans from all over the world. Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

Avicii - Heaven
Live Vocals by: Simon Aldred
Written by: Tim Bergling, Chris Martin

Avicii Tribute Concert - Sunset Jesus (Live Vocals by Gavin DeGraw)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Silhouettes (Live Vocals by Vargas & Lagola)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Bromance (Live Vocals by Amanda Wilson)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Wake Me Up (Live Vocals by Aloe Blacc)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Bad Reputation (Live Vocals by Joe Janiak)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Fade Into Darkness (Live Vocals by Andreas Moe)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Dear Boy (Live Vocals by Audra Mae)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Lay Me Down (Live Vocals by Adam Lambert)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Without You (Live Vocals by Sandro Cavazza)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Fades Away (Live Vocals by MishCatt & Speech by Carl Falk)

Avicii 2019-12-13 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with +50,000 fans from all over the world. Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

Avicii - Fades Away (feat. Noonie Bao)
Live Vocals by: MishCatt
Written by: Tim Bergling, Joakim Berg, Carl Falk, Joe Janiak

Avicii Tribute Concert - Hey Brother (Live Vocals by Dan Tyminski and Vargas & Lagola)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Heart Upon My Sleeve (Live Vocals by Lucas Krüger)

Avicii 2019-12-13 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with +50,000 fans from all over the world. Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

Avicii - Heart Upon My Sleeve (feat. Imagine Dragons)
Live Vocals by: Lucas Krüger
Written by: Tim Bergling, Dan Reynolds, Wayne Sermon, Ben McKee, Daniel Platzman

Avicii Tribute Concert - The Nights (Live Vocals by Nick Furlong)

Avicii 2019-12-13 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with +50,000 fans from all over the world. Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

Avicii - The Nights
Live Vocals by: Nick Furlong
Written by: Tim Bergling, Gabriel Benjamin, John William Feldmann, Nicholas Furlong, Ash Pournouri, Jordan Suecof

Avicii Tribute Concert - Ten More Days (Live Vocals by Zak Abel)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Tough Love (Live Vocals by Agnes, Vargas & Lagola)

Avicii Tribute Concert - SOS (Speech & Live Vocals by Aloe Blacc)

Avicii Tribute Concert - Levels

Avicii Tribute Concert - A Sky Full Of Stars (Live Vocals by Simon Aldred)

Avicii 2019-12-13 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with +50,000 fans from all over the world. Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars
Live Vocals by: Simon Aldred
Co-produced by: Avicii
Written by: Chris Martin, Tim Bergling, Guy Berryman, Jonathan Buckland, William Champion

Fades Away (Tribute Concert Version at Friends Arena, Stockholm / 2019)

Avicii 2019-12-06 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with 58,000 fans from all over the world.

Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

Avicii Tribute Concert: In Loving Memory of Tim Bergling

Avicii 2019-12-05 | Avicii Tribute Concert celebrates the life and music of Tim Bergling - AVICII - live at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden together with +50,000 fans from all over the world. Click here to make a donation to mental health awareness: aviciitributeconcert.com/stream

01:10 Avicii - Without You ft. Sandro Cavazza
05:45 Avicii - Tweet It
08:03 David Guetta & Avicii - Sunshine
10:03 Avicii - Bromance (Live Vocals by Amanda Wilson)
15:19 Avicii - SOS ft. Aloe Blacc
18:30 Avicii - Blessed (Live Vocals by Dorothy Sherman, Andy Sherman and Hedvig Eleonora Gospel Choir)
23:38 Avicii - Fade Into Darkness (Live Vocals by Andreas Moe)
28:04 Avicii - Ten More Days (Live Vocals by Zak Abel)
32:53 Avicii - Silhouettes (Live Vocals by Vargas & Lagola)
37:03 Avicii & Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One (Live Vocals by Johanna Söderberg)
43:07 Avicii - Dear Boy (Live Vocals by Audra Mae)
47:17 Avicii - Addicted To You (Live Vocals by Audra Mae)
52:17 Avicii - Bad Reputation ft. Joe Janiak
57:45 Avicii - Friend Of Mine ft. Vargas & Lagola
01:01:54 Avicii - You Make Me (Live Vocals by Vargas & Lagola)
01:05:52 Avicii - Tough Love ft. Agnes, Vargas & Lagola
01:09:53 Avicii - Sunset Jesus (Live Vocals by Gavin DeGraw)
01:14:40 Avicii - Lay Me Down (Live Vocals by Adam Lambert)
01:20:47 Avicii - Heart Upon My Sleeve ft. Imagine Dragons (Live Vocals by Lucas Krüger)
01:26:22 Avicii - Fades Away ft. Noonie Bao (Live Vocals by MishCatt)
01:29:39 Avicii - Lonely Together ft. Rita Ora
01:34:00 Avicii - The Nights (Live Vocals by Nick Furlong)
01:38:00 Avicii - Hey Brother (Live Vocals by Dan Tyminski)
01:43:43 Avicii - Heaven (Live Vocals by Simon Aldred)
01:48:30 Avicii - Waiting For Love (Live Vocals by Simon Aldred)
01:53:27 Avicii - Wake Me Up (Live Vocals by Aloe Blacc)
01:57:43 Coldplay & Avicii - A Sky Full Of Stars (Live Vocals by Simon Aldred)
02:04:16 Avicii - Levels

Avicii - Fades Away (Tribute Concert Version / Audio) ft. MishCatt

Avicii 2019-12-05 | ”Fades Away” (feat. Noonie Bao), the finishing track on the Avicii posthumous album ”TIM” (lnk.to/TIMAlbum ) released earlier this year and written by Avicii (Tim Bergling), Carl Falk, Joakim Berg and Joe Janiak – is being released in a new version.
Featuring the artist MishCatt, the new version (https://Avicii.lnk.to/FadesAway ) will be performed at the Avicii Tribute Concert for Mental Health Awareness at Friends Arena in Aviciis’s hometown of Stockholm, December 5th.
“Fades Away - Tribute Concert Version” is available on all platforms 2PM CET, December 5th.

“This was the first song that came out of the sessions with Tim, Carl Falk, Joe Janiak and me in the spring of 2018. Tim and Joe met for the first time this day, and Tim just loved Joe’s voice and vibe from the start.
We talked briefly about 60s & 70s bands and artists being quite comfortable working in pop but still having this otherworldly weirdness about their songs. How they made giant leaps in mood and feel within just one song.
This conversation unintentionally seeped into Fades Away.
Carl started toying around with a climbing chord sequence on a synth with a piano sound and Joe sang along with Tim directing the rhythm. That became the verse and the rest was very fast. I had some chords and the beginning of the melody to the fades away part before the drop and it has a very 60's feel chord/melody-wise and is kind of weird but pretty. Tim and Joe finished the melody and came up with the words.
The drop part with the staccato strings was originally played by Joe and Carl on two acoustic guitars, Tim had the stacc melody down on keys and then he was making Carl play a super fast, very specific rhythm with hard accents that was really difficult to play but sounded quite amazing and was hilarious to watch.
Tim just loved the "don't you love it, how it all just fades away" part of the lyric.
It may now come across as a sad song, but for us in the studio, writing it, we felt it was uplifting and light hearted.
We wrote it in a bright mode, sort of carefree, and there were lots of laughing and joking, so for me Fades Away will always be a positive song, a simple message about accepting changes, the passing of time and making the best of what you have.”
– Joakim Berg

All of the troubled times that we have overcome
All of the trials to find somewhere that we belong
All I know is that with you I'm holding on
Cause all of the days out
All of the days out on the run

Don't you love it how it all just fades away
When your clothes don't feel the songs of yesterday
And I can't go back
And I can't go back
Don't you love it
How it all
It all just fades away

It all just fades away

All of the tracks we traced, we raced to reach the sun
All of the lights to find a place where we belong
All I know is that with you I'm moving on
Cause all of the days out
All of the days out on the run

And I can't go back
And I can't go back
Don't you love it
How it all
It all just fades away

It all just fades away
it all just fades away
It all just fades away

And I can’t go back
And I can’t go back
Don’t you love it
How it all
It all just fades away

The Story Behind The David Guetta & MORTEN Tribute Remix of Heaven

Avicii 2019-10-22 | Description:

Listen to the remix here: https://Avicii.lnk.to/HeavenGuettaMORTENRemixID

Listen to TIM: lnk.to/TIMAlbumID

The interview with David Guetta was filmed and edited by Creative Labs, Sweden

The Story Behind Tiëstos Remix of Tough Love

Avicii 2019-07-04 | Music video by Avicii performing The Story Behind Tiësto's Remix of "Tough Love". © 2019 Avicii Recordings AB, under exclusive license to Universal Music AB

http://vevo.ly/lc4g5U

Avicii, Aloe Blacc - SOS - Avicii Tribute (Good Morning America, New York / 2019)

Avicii 2019-06-28 | Aloe Blacc performing SOS by Avicii on Good Morning America
Stream/Buy SOS here: avicii.lnk.to/SOS

http://vevo.ly/MnxSXB

Avicii - Heaven (Tribute Video)

Avicii 2019-06-24 | Listen to TIM: lnk.to/TIMAlbum
In Dolby Atmos: https://Avicii.lnk.to/DolbyAtmosID

Tim and Chris Martin wrote and recorded “Heaven” in 2014, with Tim producing the final version in 2016.

About the tribute video: My name is Levan Tsikurishvili and I have been working with Tim since about 2013. During these years, we made 8 music videos, 3 concert movies and 2 documentaries together. In 2016, right after his last show, Tim, Tim’s childhood friend Awat, and I spent 19 beautiful days in Madagascar, ll Saint Marie. We spoke about everything, laughed, played monopoly, hung out with lemurs, and explored the entire island together. Now, two-and-a-half years later, I returned to the island to remember Tim, to honor his legacy, and to recreate the memories that will stay with us forever.

Note: This video is a collection of my smartphone videos plus some parts of unused material from the documentary Avicii: True Stories and newly shot footage. I also did some 3D animations in order to recreate the moments that I did not have any video material from.

Line Producers
Francois-Xavier Mayer (Fifou) (2016-2019)
Jonathan Waldefeldt (2016)
Tomas Kollder (2019)
Rouglan Guillaume (2019)
Tatiana Brouers (2019)

Location Manager (2016-2019)
Sergio Botou

Driver (2016-2019)
Senga Botovangaindrano

Coordinators (2016-2019)
Florielle Bevahoaka
Dina Mampionona
A-J Hamilton (2019)

D.O.P (2019)
Albin Sjödin

D.O.P (2016)
Levan Tsikurishvili

Editor
Nils Moström

Composing, 3D Animation, Retouching
Volodymir Kolisnyk (KPP)

Modelling, Texturing
Alex Zaremsky

VFX Producer
Vlada Kiseleva

Colourist
Olga Korzhinskaya

Directed And Produced By
Levan Tsikurishvili

Management
Christopher Thordson

Lyrics:

Step out into the dawn
You pray ’til, you pray ’til the lights come on
And then you feel like you’ve just been born
Yeah, you come to raise me up
When I’m beaten and broken up
And now I’m back in the arms I love

And I think I just died
I think I just died
Yeah, I think I just died
I think I just died
And went to heaven
(Ooh)
And went to heaven
(Ooh)

Beaten and bathed in blood
I'm hit by, I'm hit by your love and drug
And now you've come to raise me up
(Oh)

And I think I just died
I think I just died
I think I just died
Yeah, I think I just died
And went to heaven
(Ooh)
And went to heaven
(Ooh)
And went to heaven

It’s such a night, such a beautiful night
It’s such a view, such a beautiful sight
I think I just, oh, I think I just died
(Ooh)
And went to heaven
(Ooh)
And went to heaven
(Ooh)
(Oh, yeah)
(Ooh)
(Yeah)

We’re gonna be birds and fly
We're gonna set the world alight
We’re gonna lose ourselves tonight
(Ooh)
We’re going be birds and fly
We're gonna set the world alight
We’re gonna lose ourselves tonight
(Ooh)

In heaven
(Heaven)

Avicii, Aloe Blacc - SOS (Live From Jimmy Kimmel Live!/2019)

Avicii 2019-06-07 | ‘TIM’ album out now lnk.to/TIMAlbum

http://vevo.ly/vtzoi9

Avicii - Wake Me Up (Live From Jimmy Kimmel Live!/2019) ft. Aloe Blacc, Mike Einziger

Avicii 2019-06-07 | ‘TIM’ album out now lnk.to/TIMAlbum

http://vevo.ly/e3Dt3m

Avicii - Aint A Thing (Lyric Video) ft. Bonn

Avicii 2019-06-06 | Listen to TIM: lnk.to/TIMAlbum

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If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources at: http://loveislouder.com/prevent

Music video by Avicii performing Ain't A Thing (Lyric Video). © 2019 Avicii Recordings AB, under exclusive license to Universal Music AB

http://vevo.ly/3vGdfj

Avicii - Never Leave Me (Lyric Video) ft. Joe Janiak

Avicii 2019-06-06 | Listen to TIM: lnk.to/TIMAlbum

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If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources at: http://loveislouder.com/prevent

Music video by Avicii performing Never Leave Me (Lyric Video). © 2019 Avicii Recordings AB, under exclusive license to Universal Music AB

http://vevo.ly/2ZUCdG

Avicii - Fades Away (Lyric Video) ft. Noonie Bao

Avicii 2019-06-06 | Listen to TIM: lnk.to/TIMAlbum

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If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources at: http://loveislouder.com/prevent

Music video by Avicii performing Fades Away (Lyric Video). © 2019 Avicii Recordings AB, under exclusive license to Universal Music AB

http://vevo.ly/3nKpmL

Avicii - Freak (Lyric Video) ft. Bonn

Avicii 2019-06-06 | Listen to TIM: lnk.to/TIMAlbum

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If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources at: http://loveislouder.com/prevent

Music video by Avicii performing Freak (Lyric Video). © 2019 Avicii Recordings AB, under exclusive license to Universal Music AB

http://vevo.ly/YpherK

Avicii - Hold The Line (Lyric Video) ft. A R I Z O N A

Avicii 2019-06-06 | Listen to TIM: lnk.to/TIMAlbum

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If you or someone you know is struggling, find resources at: http://loveislouder.com/prevent

Music video by Avicii performing Hold The Line (Lyric Video). © 2019 Avicii Recordings AB, under exclusive license to Universal Music AB

http://vevo.ly/tSixmE