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Tim Bergling changed everything. Not just once, but twice within the span of a single year. When he stood on that Ultra Music Festival stage in 2013 and debuted a folk-country-dance hybrid, the "purists" hated it. They literally booed him. But then the radio took over, and "Wake Me Up" became a global titan. Yet, there’s a specific version—the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix—that tells a completely different story about who Tim was as a producer.
It’s fast. It’s relentless. It’s arguably more "Avicii" than the original radio edit ever was.
The Weird History of the "Avicii by Avicii" Concept
Most artists release a remix album because their label tells them to. They farm out the tracks to whatever DJs are trending at the moment, slap a shiny cover on it, and call it a day. Tim didn't do that. When he released True (Avicii by Avicii) in 2014, he was essentially competing with himself. He took his own multi-platinum debut album and tore it apart.
Why? Because he was a perfectionist. Honestly, he was bordering on obsessive.
He felt that the "True" versions were for the world, but the "Avicii by Avicii" versions were for the clubs. If the original "Wake Me Up" was the song you sang along to in a car with the windows down, the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix was the one designed to make a festival crowd of 60,000 people lose their collective minds. It stripped away that iconic acoustic guitar intro and replaced it with a driving, melodic synth line that feels like a shot of pure adrenaline.
Breaking Down the Sound
The original track is defined by Aloe Blacc’s soulful vocals and Mike Einziger’s (of Incubus) guitar work. It’s organic. It’s warm.
The Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii version? It’s a different beast entirely.
Tim pushed the tempo. He leaned into those soaring, layered saw-tooth synths that defined the "EDM Golden Era." If you listen closely, you can hear how he repurposed the vocal chops. They aren't just lyrics anymore; they’re rhythmic elements. They stutter and dance around a 128 BPM beat that doesn’t let up for five minutes straight.
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It’s interesting because, at the time, some critics thought it was redundant. They asked, "Why remix a song that’s already perfect?" But Tim knew his audience. He knew that the people who loved "Level" and "Seek Bromance" wanted that specific energy back.
The Ultra 2013 Backlash and the Redemption of the Remix
We have to talk about that Ultra set. It’s legendary now, but for all the wrong reasons.
Tim brought out a live band. In 2013, in the middle of a strobe-light-filled Miami bass-fest, he had a banjo. People were confused. Some were actually angry. They felt betrayed by the "Folk-EDM" pivot.
"It was a bit of a risk," Tim later admitted in various interviews. "I knew people wouldn't get it right away."
The Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix was, in many ways, his peace offering to the dance floor. It proved he hadn't forgotten how to make a club anthem. He took the soulful DNA of the folk track and forced it back into the mold of a high-energy house track. It’s a masterclass in tension and release. The drop doesn’t just happen; it explodes.
Why this version feels more authentic to Tim's roots
If you’ve watched the True Stories documentary, you know how much Tim struggled with the pressure of being a "pop star." He was a bedroom producer at heart. He loved the mechanics of melodies.
In the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii cut, you hear a producer playing. There’s no pressure to be "radio-friendly" because the radio version already existed and was breaking records. This was Tim back in his element, layering melodies until they felt like a wall of sound.
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It’s louder. It’s prouder. It’s arguably more honest.
Technical Nuance: What Changed in the Mix?
Let's get nerdy for a second.
The original "Wake Me Up" relies heavily on the mid-range. The guitar and Aloe’s voice sit right there in the center. In the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix, Tim scooped out a lot of that mid-range warmth to make room for a massive sub-bass and those piercing high-end leads.
- Tempo: Jumped from roughly 124 BPM to a more driving club standard.
- Structure: Gone is the verse-chorus-verse pop structure. Instead, we get a long progressive build-up, a teaser of the melody, and then a full-blown melodic drop.
- Percussion: The kick drum is much "thumpier." It’s designed to be felt in the chest, not just heard in the ears.
It’s the difference between a campfire song and a stadium anthem.
The Legacy of the Avicii by Avicii Project
Looking back, True (Avicii by Avicii) was a revolutionary move. Very few artists have the guts to remix their entire debut album. It showed a level of creative restlessness that we rarely see in the industry today.
The Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix stands as the crown jewel of that project. It’s the bridge between the "old" Avicii and the "new" Avicii. It’s a reminder that a great song can live in two worlds at once. You don’t have to choose between soul and synthesis. You can have both.
Honestly, if you go to a festival today—years after Tim’s passing—and a DJ drops the original "Wake Me Up," the crowd sings. If they drop the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix, the crowd jumps. There’s a massive difference in that energy.
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Is it better than the original?
That’s a loaded question. "Better" is subjective.
But if you’re a fan of the craft of electronic music—if you care about the way a lead synth can evoke emotion without saying a word—then the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii version is probably the one you’ll find yourself returning to. It feels less like a product and more like a passion project.
Tim was a melody man. He could write a hook that stayed in your head for a decade. In this remix, he proves that he didn't need the "gimmick" of a banjo or a country vibe to make a hit. He just needed his computer and his ears.
How to Listen Properly
Don’t listen to this on your phone speakers. Please.
To actually hear what Tim was doing with the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix, you need decent headphones or a car system with a bit of low-end. Listen to the way the synths pan from left to right during the build-up. Notice how the vocal echoes fill the "space" between the beats.
It’s an architectural feat of sound.
Actionable Next Steps for Avicii Fans
If you want to truly appreciate the depth of Tim’s work beyond the radio hits, do this:
- Listen to the full True (Avicii by Avicii) album back-to-back with the original True. Notice how he reimagined "Liar Liar" and "Shame on Me." It’s a lesson in production.
- Check out the live footage from Tomorrowland 2013 or 2014. You can see the exact moment he transitions from his melodic tracks into these heavier "Avicii by Avicii" edits. The energy shift is palpable.
- Explore the "UMF 2013" set on YouTube. It’s the historical context you need to understand why the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix was even necessary.
- Support the Tim Bergling Foundation. If Tim’s music has impacted you, the best way to honor his legacy is to support the work his family is doing regarding mental health awareness.
The music isn't just about the beat. It's about the person behind it. Tim gave us everything he had, and the Avicii Wake Me Up Avicii by Avicii remix is a loud, vibrating piece of that soul. It’s fast, it’s complicated, and it’s beautiful. Just like him.