Somebody That I Used to Know

Story of Song

Gotye told Rolling Stone Australia that this song is about an ex-girlfriend, saying: “It was five-six years ago. It wasn’t a nasty breakup, but it was messy in the sense that we hurt each other more than we needed to because it wasn’t a clean break. I guess it’s closest to what the chorus is about. We both realized we had to move on and we haven’t seen each other since.”

Gotye also talked about the song in another interview with American Songwriter: “I think it’s the kind of slow build and drama that it has, the two-part story, and the multiple perspective aspect that has struck people. It’s written openly enough that it expresses that confusion you can have after a broken relationship, and the way you can feel emotionally quite up and down. You can feel nostalgic and rosily melancholy, in a way. But sometimes we often feel quite bitter about things, when you have nothing to do with that relationship or maybe with that person anymore, at least not actively. It can be quite a confusing feeling. So maybe the way the song expresses those feelings appears to strike people as quite true, and quite relevant with their experiences.”

 

Release date

Released July 5, 2011

Songwriter/s

Wouter Andre De Backer

Label

Eleven

Chart Rankings

In the UK, Gotye sold over 1.48 million copies and made it to Double Platinum; the song topped the UK Singles Charts. In the US, the song also topped the US Billboard Hot 100 and all the US Billboard charts. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it 8 times Platinum for sales over 7.9 million copies. This hit topped the charts in many countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia and Sweden. It made it to number 2 in Bulgaria, Greece, Portugal, Norway and Switzerland. This smash hit was certified 11 times Platinum in Australia, 9 times Platinum Canada, 5 times Platinum in New Zealand, 5 times Gold in Germany, Quadruple Platinum in Belgium and Italy, and Triple Platinum in Denmark and Switzerland. In Austria it was certified Double Platinum, and in Mexico it was certified Diamond. Spain and Sweden certified it Platinum.

Artist’s age on release date

Gotye was 31 years old and Kimbra was 21 years old when they released this song.

Cover Versions

Pentatonix – Ingrid Michaelson – The Fergies – Sam Tsui – Rita Ora – Right the Stars featuring Karmina – DJ Tiesto (remix) – Philip Philips & Elise Testone (American Idol) – Hayley Williams & fun – Your Favorite Martian – Coheed & Cambria – Karmin – Darren Criss & Matt Bomer (Big Brother) – Walk off the Earth – Boyce Avenue (acoustic) – Aldrich & James – Mayday Parade – Ricky Ficarelli featuring DMF & Kait Weston – Noah featuring Christina Grimmie – Jake Coco & Madilyn Bailey – Chris (Weekly Chris channel) – The Waffle Stompers (ukulele version) – Rudy Currence featuring BC – Diorama – Xiren featuring Stephanie Graham – Beth – Dave Days – other amateur artists covered this song on Youtube.