Avicii - Levels

Levels (Avicii song)

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"Levels"
Single by Avicii
Released	28 July 2011
Format	CD single digital download
Recorded	2010–11
Genre	Progressive house
Length	5:37 (Original version) 3:20 (Radio edit)
Label	Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Tim Bergling Arash Pournouri Leroy Kirkland Pearl Woods Etta James
Producer(s)	Avicii
Avicii singles chronology
"Fade into Darkness" (2011) "Levels" (2011) "Collide" (2011)

"Levels" (stylized as "LE7ELS") is a progressive house piece by Avicii. An early instrumental version of the song was first played by Avicii during an appearance on 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 United States and became a top ten hit in Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.^[1]

"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's 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.^[2][3]

Contents

  [show] 

Composition[edit]

"Levels" is a progressive house song containing elements of soul, EDM, and house, featuring heavy and high-pitched synths, a quiet bassline and beat. The song is set in common time with a tempo of 126 beats per minute. It was produced in the key of C♯ minor, with a simple chord progression of C#m-E-B-A. It samples lyrics from Etta James' 1962 single, "Something's Got a Hold on Me", only consisting of "Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling, yeah. I get a feeling that I never never never had before. No, no. I get a good feeling, yeah".

Remixes[edit]

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 Ridatitled "Good Levels" which has been played on some club radio stations. George Monev made a popular edit to this song which reverses the track.^[4] The song was re-worked to feature vocals from South Korean K-pop singer Im Seulong of 2AM. The single was released in South Korea on 5 May 2013 via digital music outlets.^[5]

Usage in popular culture[edit]

"Levels" was featured in the pilot of Arrow.^[6][7]

Track listing[edit]

Digital download[8]
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Levels"	3:19

[show]Digital download – EP[9]

[show]Digital download – Remixes EP[10]

[show]CD[citation needed]

Charts and certifications[edit]

Weekly charts[edit] Chart (2011–12) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 24 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 5 Brazil (Billboard Hot 100)[15] 21 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 36 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[17] 9 Denmark (Tracklisten)[18] 3 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[19] 10 France (SNEP)[20] 14 Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 6 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[22] 1 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[23] 1 Ireland (IRMA)[24] 3 Italy (FIMI)[25] 4 Luxembourg (Billboard)[26] 5 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 4 Netherlands (Mega Dance Top 30)[28] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 4 Netherlands (Mega Top 50)[30] 4 Norway (VG-lista)[31] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[32] 14 Poland (Dance Top 50)[33] 11 Romania (Romanian Top 100) [34] 36 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[35] 1 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[36] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[37] 28 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[38] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[39] 5 UK Dance (Official Charts Company)[40] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[41] 4 US Billboard Hot 100[42] 60 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[43] 33 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[44] 1

Year-end charts[edit] Chart (2011) Position German Singles Chart[45] 75 Polish Dance Singles Chart[46] 63 Chart (2012) Position Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[47] 11 Germany (Media Control AG)[48] 23 UK Singles Chart[49] 59 US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[50] 32 Certifications[edit] Region Certification Certified units/Sales Australia (ARIA)[51] 4× Platinum 280,000^ Austria (IFPI Austria)[52] Platinum 30,000* Belgium (BEA)[53] Platinum 30,000* Canada (Music Canada)[54] Gold 40,000^ Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[55] Platinum 30,000^ Germany (BVMI)[56] 3× Gold 450,000^ Italy (FIMI)[57] 2× Platinum 60,000* New Zealand (RMNZ)[58] Gold 0* Norway (IFPI Norway)[59] 5× Platinum 50,000* Sweden (GLF)[60] 8× Platinum 320,000^ Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[61] 2× Platinum 60,000^ United Kingdom (BPI)[62] Platinum 600,000^ United States (RIAA)[63] Platinum 1,660,000[64] Streaming Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[65] 3× Platinum 2,700,000^

All-time chart[edit]

Chart	Position
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[66]	1

Release history[edit]

Country	Date	Format	Label
Australia[67]	28 October 2011	Digital download	Universal Music
Denmark[68]
Ireland[69]
Netherlands[70]
Sweden[71]
Germany	31 October 2011[72]
	15 November 2011[73]	CD single
United States[74]	31 October 2011	Digital download
United Kingdom[75]	20 November 2011