Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 20^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful , we highlight “Somebody That I Used to Know” performed by Gotye.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy ! On 1 Hit WONDERful , we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  To be fair, it is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, it’s that ONE hit that earned them recognition. So, in the 20^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful , we dive into “Somebody That I Used to Know”,  the one hit wonder by Gotye.

“But you didn’t have to cut me off / Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing / And I don’t even need your love / But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough.” Gotye (Wouter André De Backer) won two Grammys for his quirky, incredibly compelling record, “Somebody That I Used to Know.”  Those two wins include Best Pop/Duo Group Performance and the most prestigious win, Record Of The Year. In addition, Gotye won a third Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album for its parent album, Making Mirrors. But, prior to the Grammy wins, “Somebody That I Used to Know” peaked at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for eight weeks! Amazingly, this duet with Kimbra would be his sole pop hit.  Yes, that makes Gotye a one-hit wonder.  He wrote the record alongside Luiz Bonfá, who is sampled.

“No, you didn’t have to stoop so low

Have your friends collect your records and then change your number

I guess that I don’t need that though

Now you’re just somebody that I used to know.”

The chorus is the centerpiece – the biggest claim to fame with “Somebody That I Used to Know.” That said, the verses catch the ear too.  Gotye performs the first two, while Kimbra delivers the third and final verse.  Matters of the heart dominate, as Gotye asserts, “But felt so lonely in your company / But that was love and it’s ache I still remember.” In the second verse, he concludes, “Well, you said that we would still be friends / But I’ll admit that I was glad it was over.” Oh, snap! As for Kimbra, she’s fiery at the top of the third: “Now and then, I think of all the times you screwed me over / But had me believing it was always something that I’d done.” Oh, the plight of love! Gotye may be known for just one song, but “Somebody That I Used to Know” is a stellar one, PERIOD!

Appears in :

• 15 Songs Where SOMEBODY Is in the Title (2018)

Gotye • Making Mirrors • Republic •  2011 

Gotye, Somebody That I Used to Know: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 20 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Republic; Julia Larsen, Kurchakto, RDNE Stock project, Victor Terrell from Pexels; Andrew Martin from Pixabay]