Levels

About Levels

"Levels" (stylised as "LE7ELS") 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, although the final instrumental version was played several times before the festival at clubs and events, even in December 2010. "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. more »