Speed

Album: Single Release Only (2013)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song was inspired by the emotion of the Grand Prix drivers when they are behind the wheel; the ebb and flow of the race and the intensity of the atmosphere at the racetrack. Avicii immersed himself in the world of motor racing by visiting the British Lotus F1 Team's home at Enstone, Oxfordshire where he undertook an intensive course and found inspiration to create the tune.
  • Avicii performed the experimental track live for the first time in full at the burn Yard Live event in Budapest on July 26, 2013.
  • The song's music video was directed by the Russian filmmaker Pavel Kim, after he won a competition in which people from over 29 countries submitted their video entries for the track. Pavel's clip, titled "Midnight Race," imagines Formula One in 2077.
  • Here are a few more songs in our database inspired by motor racing:

    "Collision Of Worlds" by Robbie Williams.
    "Schumacher the Champagne" by The Wombats.
    "Racing In The Street" by Bruce Springsteen.

    In addition, the guitar solo at the end of Def Leppard's "Demolition Man" was played by former Formula 1 driver Damon Hill.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Women Who Rock

Women Who RockSong Writing

Evelyn McDonnell, editor of the book Women Who Rock, on why the Supremes are just as important as Bob Dylan.

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The Devil

Five Rockers Who Rolled With The DevilSong Writing

Just how much did these monsters of rock dabble in the occult?

Dar Williams

Dar WilliamsSongwriter Interviews

A popular contemporary folk singer, Williams still remembers the sticky note that changed her life in college.

Gene Simmons of Kiss

Gene Simmons of KissSongwriter Interviews

The Kiss rocker covers a lot of ground in this interview, including why there are no Kiss collaborations, and why the Rock Hall has "become a sham."