The Days (song)

For other songs, see Days and The Days.

"The Days"
Single by Avicii
from the EP The Days / Nights EP
Released	October 3, 2014
Recorded	2014
Genre	Folktronica soul house
Length	4:38 (album version) 3:45 (radio edit)
Label	PRMD Universal
Songwriter(s)	Brandon Flowers Salem Al Fakir Tim Bergling Robbie Williams Vincent Pontare
Producer(s)	Salem Al Fakir Avicii Vincent Pontare
Avicii singles chronology
"Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)" (2014) "The Days" (2014) "Divine Sorrow" (2014)
Robbie Williams singles chronology
"Shine My Shoes" (2014) "The Days" (2014) "Party Like a Russian" (2016)
Music video
"The Days" (lyrics video) on YouTube

"The Days" is a song by Swedish DJ and record producer Avicii, with vocals by English singer Robbie Williams. The song was written by Brandon Flowers, Robbie Williams, Salem Al Fakir, Avicii, and Vincent Pontare, and was produced by Avicii, Fakir and Pontare. The song was played for the first time in Las Vegas, with uncredited vocals by Fakir and Pontare. The song was released worldwide on 3 October 2014, alongside another song, "The Nights" on The Days / Nights EP. A planned release in the United Kingdom on 23 November 2014 was cancelled.

Background and composition

"The Days" is written in the key of C major, at a tempo of 127 BPM.^[1] The song was originally written with Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir, but was meant to be a collaboration between Brandon Flowers and Avicii, with Flowers providing the vocals. However, due to Flowers' dissatisfaction with the recording, Avicii brought on a different vocalist, English singer Robbie Williams.^[2][3] According to Fuse, "The Days" opens with "acoustic guitar strums before knocking synths get quickly added to the mix. The track moves into a snap-heavy, piano-led pre-chorus section and later goes to a fizzy, glitch-pop dance breakdown."^[4] It was released alongside another song, "The Nights" on The Days / Nights EP, on 3 October 2014.^[5] According to the Official Charts Company, "The Days" was intended to be the first single from Avicii's second studio album, Stories (2015),^[6] however it only ended up being included as a bonus track on the UK, Russian and some international editions of Stories. In June 2015, the original/demo version of "The Days" featuring vocals from Flowers appeared online. In this version, the middle eight features a sample of the 1996 song "Return of the Mack" by British R&B singer Mark Morrison.^[7]

Music video

An official lyric video was also released on YouTube by the official Avicii Vevo channel.^[8] In the video, an artist (later confirmed as INO),^[9] spray-paints the lyrics of "The Days" in black against a white wall. Near the end of the video, a pan-out reveals the lyrics creating a portrait of Avicii, which is subsequently covered with splashes of coloured paint by the artist.^[10]

Track listing

Digital download^[11]

1. "The Days" - 4:38

CD single

1. "The Days" (Radio Edit) - 3:45
2. "The Days" (Original Mix) - 4:38
3. "The Days" (Extended Mix) - 5:51

Credits and personnel

• Brandon Flowers – lyrics, backing vocals
• Salem Al Fakir – producer
• Tim Bergling – music, producer
• Vincent Pontare – producer
• Robbie Williams – vocals
• Stuart Hawkes – mastering
• Ash Pournouri – executive producer

Credits adapted from CD single.^[12]

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2014–15) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 10 Australia Dance (ARIA)[14] 2 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[15] 3 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[16] 2 Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[17] 9 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[18] 2 Belgium Dance (Ultratop Wallonia)[19] 11 Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)[20] 86 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[21] 80 CIS (TopHit)[22] 155 Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[23] 17 Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[24] 1 Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] 4 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] 5 France (SNEP)[27] 52 Germany (GfK)[28] 7 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[29] 7 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[30] 1 Hungary (Single Top 40)[31] 4 Ireland (IRMA)[32] 27 Israel (Media Forest)[33] 2 Italy (FIMI)[34] 10 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[35] 22 Mexico Anglo (Monitor Latino)[36] 20 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[37] 10 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[38] 16 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 28 Norway (VG-lista)[40] 2 Poland (Dance Top 50)[41] 15 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[42] 17 Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[43] 2 Slovenia (SloTop50)[44] 5 South Africa (EMA)[45] 8 South Korea International Chart (Gaon)[46] 38 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[47] 26 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[48] 1 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[49] 8 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[50] 82 US Billboard Hot 100[51] 78 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[52] 8

Year-end charts Chart (2014) Position Germany (Official German Charts)[53] 88 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[54] 48 Hungary (Single Top 40)[55] 43 Italy (FIMI)[56] 100 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[57] 56 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[58] 74 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[59] 44 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[60] 55 Chart (2015) Position Hungary (Dance Top 40)[61] 36 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[62] 83 Hungary (Single Top 40)[63] 84 Slovenia (SloTop50)[64] 25 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[65] 56 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[66] 2× Platinum 140,000^‡ Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[67] 2× Platinum 120,000^‡ Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[68] Platinum 60,000^^ Germany (BVMI)[69] Gold 200,000^‡ Italy (FIMI)[70] Platinum 30,000^‡ Spain (PROMUSICAE)[71] Gold 20,000^‡ Sweden (GLF)[72] Platinum 40,000^‡ Streaming Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[73] Gold 1,300,000^† Spain (PROMUSICAE)[74] Gold 4,000,000^† ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. ^† Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Avicii "The Days" Sheet Music musicnotes.com
2. "Hear Avicii's Awesome Unreleased Jam With the Killers' Brandon Flowers". billboard.com. 5 June 2015.
3. "Brandon Flowers collaborates with Avicii for new version of 'The Days'". nme.com. 9 June 2015.
4. Benjamin, Jeff (3 October 2014). "Avicii Returns With Genre-Defying "The Days" ft. U.K. Superstar Robbie Williams". fuse.tv.
5. "The Days/Nights - EP by Avicii". iTunes. 1 January 2014.
6. Liv (2 October 2014). "Avicii teams up with Robbie Williams for new track The Days". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
7. "LISTEN: Avicii's Unreleased Version Of 'The Days' Feat Brandon Flowers Appears Online". Capital FM. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2024.
8. "Avicii - The Days (Lyric Video)".
9. "INO - Official artist website".
10. "Billboard magazine: Watch Avicii's 'The Days' Lyric Video". Billboard. 3 October 2014.
11. "The Days - Single by Avicii on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved 2017-02-09.
12. The Days (booklet). Avicii. PM:AM Recordings. 2014. 0602547072924.
13. "Avicii – The Days". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
14. "Week Commencing ~ 20 October 2014 ~ Issue #1286" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Australian Web Archive. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-10-21. Retrieved 5 November 2014.
15. "Avicii – The Days" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
16. "Avicii – The Days" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
17. "Avicii – The Days" (in Dutch). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
18. "Avicii – The Days" (in French). Ultratip.
19. "Avicii – The Days" (in French). Ultratop Dance. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
20. "Top 100 Billboard Brasil - weekly". Billboard Brasil. 6 December 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
21. "Avicii Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
22. Avicii Feat. Robbie Williams — The Days. TopHit. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
23. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 47. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 November 2014.
24. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 45. týden 2014 in the date selector. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
25. "Avicii – The Days". Tracklisten.
26. "Avicii: The Days" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
27. "Avicii – The Days" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
28. "Avicii – The Days" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
29. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
30. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Rádiós Top 40 játszási lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
31. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
32. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – The Days". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
33. "Media Forest Week 46, 2014". Israeli Airplay Chart. Media Forest. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
34. "Top Digital Download - Classifica settimanale WK 41 (dal 06-10-2014 al 12-10-2014)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2014.
35. "Avicii Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
36. "Top 20 Inglés Del 15 al 21 de Diciembre, 2014". Monitor Latinoaccessdate=2018-05-02. 2014-12-21.
37. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Avicii" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
38. "Avicii – The Days" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
39. "Avicii – The Days". Top 40 Singles.
40. "Avicii – The Days". VG-lista.
41. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Dance Top 50. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
42. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201448 into search.
43. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201444 into search.
44. "SloTop50 – Slovenian official singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 28 November 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
45. "EMA Top 10 Airplay: Week Ending 2014-12-09". Entertainment Monitoring Africa. Retrieved 11 December 2014.
46. "Gaon International Download Chart" (in Korean). GAON. Retrieved 14 October 2014.
47. "Avicii – The Days" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
48. "Avicii – The Days". Singles Top 100.
49. "Avicii – The Days". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
50. "Official Singles Chart UK Top 100 - 8th November 2014". Official Charts Company. 2 November 2014. Archived from the original on 2 November 2014.
51. "Avicii Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
52. "Avicii Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
53. "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
54. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2014". Mahasz. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
55. "Single Top 100 - eladási darabszám alapján - 2014". Mahasz. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
56. "FIMI - Classifiche Annuali 2014 "TOP OF THE MUSIC" FIMI-GfK: un anno di musica italiana" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
57. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2014". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
58. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2014" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
59. "Årslista Singlar – År 2014" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
60. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2014". Billboard. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
61. "Dance Top 100 - 2015". Mahasz. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
62. "Rádiós Top 100 - hallgatottsági adatok alapján - 2015". Mahasz. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
63. "Single Top 100 - eladási darabszám alapján - 2015". Mahasz. Retrieved 6 October 2019.
64. "SloTop50: Slovenian official year end singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 30 June 2017. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
65. "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
66. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
67. "Brazilian single certifications – Avicii – The Days" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
68. "Danish single certifications – Avicii – The Days". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
69. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Avicii; 'The Days')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
70. "Italian single certifications – Avicii – The Days" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
71. "Spanish single certifications – Avicii – The Days". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
72. "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 12, 2015 | Sverigetopplistan" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 23 August 2022. Scroll to position 83 to view certification.
73. "Danish single certifications – Avicii – The Days (Steaming)". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
74. "Spanish single streaming certifications" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 25 December 2014. Select Streaming under "Categoría", select 2014 under "Año". Select 51 under "Semana". Click on "BUSCAR LISTA".