Somebody I Used to Know
Ten years ago, Wally De Backer could never have predicted that his song Would become one of pop music’s iconic hits. Yet it did — and helped launch Gotye to stardom.
“Somebody I Used to Know,” a bitter breakup song with two unexpected twists, reached the top of charts worldwide in 2011 and earned Grammy awards for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Record of the Year.
What Is It About?
In SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, Alison Brie stars as Ally – a workaholic who travels home to her hometown in Washington State to visit her mom and runs into her former flame Sean. When Ally learns that Sean has engaged to Cassidy, Ally starts questioning everything she thought she knew about life and plots to win him back.
The movie is a comedy about thirtysomethings at an important juncture in their lives, trying to determine their relationships and career paths. It’s intelligently diverse with an engaging cast. While not perfect, it’s refreshing to see a comedy that takes an in-depth look at our thirties and how we are coming to terms with ourselves and what we want out of life.
Gotye’s 2011 hit single “Somebody I Used to Know” achieved global success and was one of the biggest hits of its era. It broke away from traditional pop formula, featuring oceanic soft rock melodies with sparse instrumentation reminiscent of pop rock icons Sting and Peter Gabriel.
Gotye’s song had an infectious chorus and plucky, bass-heavy production that recalled Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams.” At first, it seemed out of place but by year end had become ubiquitous – winning two Grammy awards: Record Of The Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
Somebody I Used to Know is an enchanting song, yet it also reinforces some harmful gender norms that need to be challenged. Its lyrics – particularly those involving the female main character – may prove difficult for some listeners to comprehend.
This song speaks to me of how breakups can be especially difficult for those involved, particularly those who feel more hurt or insecure than the departing partner. It’s difficult to part with someone you feel has completely destroyed your life and whom you have held onto for so long.
Why Is It So Hard To Let Go?
We all understand how difficult it can be to part with someone we love, yet it’s also necessary. Letting go can allow you to grow as a person and seize any new opportunities that come your way.
Letting go is never an easy feat, and it takes practice to learn how to do so effectively. It’s normal to experience some sadness when saying goodbye to an old friend or significant other.
When grieving, many emotions may surface. Give yourself time and space to process these feelings; try your best to be as genuine and vulnerable as possible during this period of transition. Additionally, seek professional assistance if needed in order to ensure the most successful healing process possible.
You might find it beneficial to create a ritual for letting go. This could be as straightforward as lighting a candle or writing your final letter, or it could be more complex such as participating in an actual burning ceremony.
Another way to help you cope with the loss of a loved one is to envision them far away from you. You might visualize them living in another country, city or even on another planet entirely. This kind of visualization can be extremely comforting when trying to let go.
Sometimes we have difficulty letting go of someone or something because it has a connection to our past, or we are afraid of the unknown. This can be especially true if you have low self-worth or are stuck in an endless cycle of negative thoughts and emotions about yourself.
When it comes to letting go, the most crucial thing to remember is that you deserve to move on with your life. Holding onto an ex can have serious negative effects on both mental and physical wellbeing.
Depressive thoughts and a lack of self-worth can have detrimental effects on your wellbeing. If you’re struggling with this, seek assistance from a psychologist or join an organization such as Al-Anon for support.
What Is The Meaning Of The Chorus?
One of the most difficult parts of ending a relationship is parting ways. It takes time, consideration and trust to move on from an affair – even then it may not always be straightforward. Even so, moving on can be tough.
Many songs deal with love and breakups, but none quite captures the emotion like Gotye and Kimbra’s Somebody I Used to Know does. It was an enormous commercial success, spending 8 weeks at the top of Australia’s singles chart.
The song also employs some inventive writing and production tricks that set it apart from its peers. The chorus arrives a minute and a half into the track, featuring an obscure Brazilian guitar sample as well as nursery-rhyme xylophones – making this Gotye gem one of her most expensive recordings to date.
This song’s greatest strength lies in the connection between its singers. Not only does it offer beauty to watch, but also emotional power and fulfillment – rare is an artist who can craft such an uplifting piece. Somebody I Used to Know tells of an adolescent love affair that ended happily, yet its lyrics also explore what happens when two people no longer belong together.
What Is The Meaning Of The Verse?
Somebody I Used to Know by Gotye and Kimbra is a timeless pop ballad that captures the poignancy of breaking up with someone you love. It has even been cited as an influence on artists such as Sting and Peter Gabriel. Despite some minor technical difficulties, This song remains popular today.
The song won two ARIA Awards and went on to achieve incredible success worldwide, peaking at number one in Australia, New Zealand and the United States – eventually going platinum across multiple other countries as well.
On July 5, 2011, Gotye released their second single from their third studio album Making Mirrors, “Thirteen,” featuring sampled acoustic guitar and xylophone sounds as well as Wally De Backer’s vocal which sounds more like an extended shout than a whisper.
This song was composed and produced by Gotye, drawing inspiration from Luiz Bonfa’s 1967 album Luiz Bonfa Plays Great Songs.
In this song, Gotye laments his lover (Kimbra) and how she has abruptly removed him from her life. He believes she has painted him into a mosaic – just another face in the crowd to her. She paints his portrait so she can remember him occasionally but he no longer holds such significance for her.
He begins as a naked person in the video, but soon his face is painted as she sings the chorus. The painting continues throughout most of the song until near its conclusion.
This part of the song is essential because it echoes what’s happening lyrically. It also suggests that he was holding onto an illusion about who she was and how perfect for him, yet now that she has left he barely remembers her.
She doesn’t believe she had purposely removed him from her life or that she intended to do anything to maintain their connection. Yet he sings about how difficult it can be to let go of those you love, particularly when they aren’t perfect. Although dealing with this difficult emotion can be difficult, it is necessary if you want your relationship to succeed.
