Jump to content

Why was "Somebody That I Used to Know" so massive?


Recommended Posts

Posted

Gotye_featuring_Kimbra_-_Somebody_That_I

 

It was 2012, and two hit wonders came out from nowhere, Gotye and Kimbra to dominate the year. "Somebody That I Used to Know" exploded and became the biggest smash of the year, topping the U.S., the UK, Australia, Canada, and other 20 countries. 

 

The humongous success includes: selling more than 13 million copies worldwide, becoming one of the best-selling digital singles of all time, a multi-format radio smash denoting appeal from a wide appeal for the song from the GP, and its music video has been watched more than 2 billion times. It ended up as one of the biggest classics of the last decade.

 

giphy.gif?cid=ecf05e47s31ie6b2a0wvp8uxsoev0kpige47wkk8r0erwn7g&rid=giphy.gif&ct=g

 

Considering:

 

- The two artists are one-hit wonders, and they never charted before.

- The song is far from a conventional pop song.

- Different from the typical mainstream sound of the time.

 

How did it become in such a huge worldwide smash?

 

Gotye-and-Kimbra-Grammys--010.jpg?width=465&quality=85&dpr=1&s=none

Posted

People thought Katy was the feature

 

Seriously tho, it was the video

Posted

By being one of the best songs released in the 2010s decade :clap3:

Posted

I think it went viral on Facebook or something and people started to catch up because they found the song art in every way -also her music video is very artsy btw- and also I remember it having cute and very well known remixes for the EDM fans 

Posted

It's one of those songs you hear once and you just know, it's gonna be a hit. And where the song is lyrically sad, bitter and angry, the music is quite uplifting. So it's not just your typical break-up song. 

Posted

It was very Tumblr'd and Hipster'd both of which exploded in popularity that year (see: Lana Del Ray and Born To Die)

Posted

Because it slaps

Posted

It should be everybody used to know

Posted
9 minutes ago, Da Vinci said:

It was very Tumblr'd and Hipster'd both of which exploded in popularity that year (see: Lana Del Ray and Born To Die)

This

Posted

talent won

Posted

a great song

Posted
34 minutes ago, Da Vinci said:

It was very Tumblr'd and Hipster'd both of which exploded in popularity that year (see: Lana Del Ray and Born To Die)

This. 2012 was pretty much that year following the electro pop era of 2008-2011. People wanted a break. 

Posted

Kimbra, her verse :jonny6:

Posted


because of Canadians, per usual 

Posted

same reason everyone was carrying around a stupid ukulele and wearing birkenstocks suddenly

Posted

People were tired of the EDM sound and this was a refreshing take. It was catchy enough for the GP but also hipster enough for that audience

Posted

I honestly don't know it came out around 2010/09 here was quite overplayed then few years later got popular WW and then we had to put up with the song overplaying again x_x

Posted

This is his best song though 

 

 

Posted

the chorus is just euphoric sadness and so moving

 

 

 

 

Posted

It’s an amazing, UNIQUE song that has a show-stopping anthemic chorus. The build of tension and anticipation in the first verse, to chorus, back to a more quiet rebuttal from kimbra from female perspective, back to a final combined climatic end, was perfection. No other song before or after it sounds like it.


I still love it. 

Posted

wasnt it actually very much of its time? I mean we are young came out that year too right and its also alt-pop kinda music. either way tho its still a mystery but i love when random one-hit wonders have the biggest song of the year and never appear again.

Posted
1 minute ago, GreatestLoveofAll said:

wasnt it actually very much of its time? I mean we are young came out that year too right and its also alt-pop kinda music. either way tho its still a mystery but i love when random one-hit wonders have the biggest song of the year and never appear again.

There was a strange transition starting in the mainstream scene with alternative-sound surging, but the scene was still full of dance-pop/electro-pop hits.

 

2012 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles

 

1. Somebody That I Used to Know

2. We Are Young

3. Call Me Maybe

4. Payphone

5. Lights

6. Glad You Came

7. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

8. We Found Love

9. Starships

10. What Makes You Beautiful

 

So I'd say 3/10 songs being "indie" (STIUTK, WAY and Lights).

Posted
2 minutes ago, Ger-55 said:

There was a strange transition starting in the mainstream scene with alternative-sound surging, but the scene was still full of dance-pop/electro-pop hits.

 

2012 Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles

 

1. Somebody That I Used to Know

2. We Are Young

3. Call Me Maybe

4. Payphone

5. Lights

6. Glad You Came

7. Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

8. We Found Love

9. Starships

10. What Makes You Beautiful

 

So I'd say 3/10 songs being "indie" (STIUTK, WAY and Lights).

I mean, this list just shows it was indeed the year of one hit wonders. :deadbanana2:We Found Love included if you count the bill as primarily Calvin. :deadbanana2:

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.