As dance super-groups go, it’s hard to outdo Swedish House Mafia, the progressive house trio made up of Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. Over its four-year life, the group became mainstays on the DJ Magazine Top 100 DJ list, pumping out festival-ready hits like the memorable “Miami 2 Ibiza” and “Save The World” and working with everyone from Coldplay to Pharrell.
All this made it a major heartbreak for the dance community when the group announced their intentions to split in 2012, officially signing off after the last concert of their “One Last Tour” at the 2013 edition of Miami’s Ultra Music Festival. Thankfully, though, the Swedish beatsmiths left behind enough material for fans to feed off of long after the group’s final set.
Below, relive the house trio’s prime with Billboard Dance‘s run-down of our favorite Swedish House Mafia songs.
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7. Swedish House Mafia vs Knife Party – “Antidote”
Swedish House Mafia links up with Australian beatmakers Knife Party for this ghoulish Until Now track. A throbbing, wobbly bass and dizzying beat earn the hard-hitting song a spot on our list.
6. Swedish House Mafia vs Tinie Tempah – “Miami 2 Ibiza”
English rapper Tinie Tempah brings the lyrical fire to this club dance floor jam, spitting catchy, clever verses that play on everything from FIFA to Calvin Klein and Playboy bunnies while Swedish House Mafia provides a trance-tinged chorus as backdrop. Seven years later, this one still bangs — in fact, if it wasn’t for the song’s dated references to Blackberry cell phones, we’d say it hasn’t aged at all.
5. Axwell, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, Laidback Luke feat. Deborah Cox – “Leave the World Behind”
As if Swedish House Mafia weren’t enough of a super-group already, the trio united with Dutch DJ Laidback Luke and vocal powerhouse Deborah Cox for this progressive house treat. Here, booming piano chords and a frantic beat underline Cox’s heavy, soulful singing as she urges listeners to “surrender yourself to the rhythm.” The track also serves at the title for SHM’s 2014 documentary, which followed their final tour before dissolving the group for good.
?4. Swedish House Mafia – “Save The World”
The pressure was on for Swedish House Mafia to deliver back in 2011, after being catapulted to fame by their DJ set staples “One” and “Miami 2 Ibiza.” Thankfully, the anthemic, pulsing “Save The World” did the trick, shooting to No. 1 on Billboard‘s Dance Club Songs charts after its unveiling during Miami Music Week. Oh, and did we mention it was nominated for a Grammy in the best dance recording category?
?3. Swedish House Mafia feat. Pharrell – “One (Your Name)”
Don’t forget that Swedish House Mafia hit the dance jackpot with their very first single, “One,” featuring none other than Pharrell. The track bolted to No. 3 on the Dance Club Songs charts, thanks to its thudding, descending synth line, trance-like wooshes and Pharrell’s soulful vocal interjections.
2. Swedish House Mafia – “Greyhound”
Our number two pick is one of Swedish House Mafia’s best collaborations yet — but not with another artist. This surging, progressive house track and its futuristic music video were released in partnership with vodka brand Absolut to promote its “Absolut Greyhound” drink. The track hit No. 3 on the Dance Club Songs charts with its smoldering, hypnotic dance beat and shimmery, metallic drop.
1. Swedish House Mafia feat. John Martin – “Don’t You Worry Child”
Swedish House Mafia may be no longer, but if there’s one track of theirs that will surely live on, it’s “Don’t You Worry Child.” Featuring vocals from fellow Swede John Martin, this uplifting song snagged a best dance recording nom at the 2012 Grammy Awards and earned the dance super-group their first track on the Hot 100, where “Don’t You Worry Child” hit No. 6. All well-deserved: the explosive track offers dance die-hards a soaring hook that stays fresh years later, not to mention a motivational mantra we can’t help but belt out with each listen — “heaven’s got a plan for you.”
Honorable Mention: Coldplay vs Swedish House Mafia – “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall”
While Swedish House Mafia’s remix of this Coldplay smash isn’t an SHM song per se, we couldn’t stand leaving it off our list completely. Swedish House Mafia take the dance leanings of “Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall” — particularly, the euphoric keys underneath the chorus — one step further, layering on shattering synths, ample percussion and a blissful new hook.