Avicii Earns His First Hit, 'Ryu,' On One Chart Years After His Passing

Forbes

23-04-2025

Avicii's early track 'Ryu' debuts on three U.K. charts thanks to a Record Store Day vinyl reissue, ... More marking his first appearance on the Vinyl Singles list. Swedish DJ Avicii (Tim Bergling), portrait in Stockhom, 4th July 2011. (Photo by Richard Ecclestone/Redferns)
It's been six years since the world lost Avicii, but the superstar DJ and producer's music remains a favorite among million of listeners. Just a few months ago, when Netflix rolled out several films connected to the Swedish musician, his catalog soared. Now, just a short time after scoring multiple new posthumous wins, one of the artist's oldest tunes – one which only diehard supporters will remember from when it was new – has become a hit in the United Kingdom.
'Ryu' — a track originally released before Avicii became a household name — debuts on a trio of charts in the U.K. this frame. On the Official Physical Singles ranking, the tune launches at No. 37. It appears in the exact same spot on the Official Vinyl Singles list. When it comes to the Official Singles Sales roster, which includes all purchased tracks regardless of medium, 'Ryu' enters a bit lower, starting at No. 74.
With 'Ryu' now officially present on the charts, Avicii scores his nineteenth hit on the Official Singles Sales ranking. So far, the producer has sent just four tunes to the Official Physical Singles tally throughout his career. His presence on that list is fairly sparse, but still growing to this day, years after his passing.
This week marks the very first time Avicii has appeared on the Official Vinyl Singles chart. That may come as a surprise, given how popular vinyl has become in recent years, but 'Ryu' is his inaugural hit on the format-specific roster.
Despite being new to the U.K. rankings, 'Ryu' is not actually a brand new song. The track was first released all the way back in 2009, when Avicii was only just becoming a rising name in the EDM world. At the time, he hadn't yet broken through on a global level, but cuts like this one helped him build the following that would later support his massive commercial success.
The track becomes a hit as it was reissued for Record Store Day in the U.K. The limited-edition re-release seems to have reignited interest in the sometimes-forgotten tune, and it may now be in the hands of not just those who loved it when it first dropped, but also some fans who fell in love with Avicii with his global wins, and are now looking to connect with him and his work in any way they can.
According to the official listing for the Record Store Day release, a portion of the profits from the vinyl sales will benefit Papyrus, a U.K. charity dedicated to preventing suicide among young people. Avicii, born Tim Bergling, died by suicide in 2018 at the age of 28. Since then, his family has worked to support mental health initiatives, such as this special re-release of one of his earliest singles.