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>enters the music industry >makes one of the most iconic masterpieces that society as a whole has ever seen >refuses to elaborate >leaves

Gotye dropped the hottest single of my lifetime and just said "lmao bye". What a fucking chad.

This man literally made this song just for himself, said “fuck it, I’ll make it public”, and it became one of the greatest hits from the whole 2010s decade…if not the greatest hit.

I specifically remember asking my best friend to help me identify what genre this song was when it first came out. We were both in middle school and just getting into music on any kind of a serious level, and neither one of us knew what to call it. It wasn't loud or energetic enough to be rock. It was too weird to be pop. It certainly wasn't country. It had too much acoustic instrumentation to be electronic. There was no rapping, so it wasn't hip-hop. We had to conclude that this song, despite sounding nothing like anything else we had been told was part of the genre, could only be labeled "alternative." About 10 years and half of my life as a musician and massive music fan later, and I still think that's the best label you can put on it. What a weird song.

hats off to Gotye for accepting art as a transformative medium and not a 24/7 business to milk out at any costs

its absolutely genious that he literally became somebody that we used to know

Gotye really dropped the hardest breakup anthem of the 2010s, collected the bag and dipped. Mad respect.

He definitely lucked out with Kimbra, their voices work great together

The whole Gotye not giving a shit about money and just enjoys making music is so refreshing. What a good dude.

This is the kind of a song 15 year olds in 2053 are going to listen to and say "I was born in the wrong generation..."

He didn't become "someone we used to know", we just never knew him in the first place, man just wanted to do what he loved

3:24 you really hit the nail on the head there.. It IS a beast of a beat. Who would think african drums and latin drums would flow so smoothly into each other that an ordinary listener would never notice they're there. I didnt at least and this part of the video really struck me.

my man really made a song that took the world by storm and then dipped

I wonder if he knew how ironic that lyric was gonna be when he wrote it.

I'm surprised that "Hearts a Mess" didn't get a mention in this video. It is also a fantastic song and the video is incredible.

Respect to Gotye for making music for his own enjoyment and treating it as art and for not selling out to big labels for monetary profit

This song was so fresh when it came out. All of the kids and adults in my area were singing this in the summer of 2012. Kimbra is still making music and she’s super underrated.

His art became more famous than him - The goal of every true artist

I recognize Gotye as a genius artist but knowing he's not crazily monetize his ART brings me to a fact that his LOVE to music is up above everything, my highest respect for him

For no particular reason, when a song tops the charts in Sweden and Austria, you just know it’s good.

Imagine he comes back from nowhere and saves all of us

Little do we know, he's camouflaged in your wall

This song has really spoken to me on a personal level for the past 4 years. I once has a friend when I was in year 7 (Australia). We were strangers to each other but we shared some classes together. (Elective classes more specifically.) Over the next 5 or 6 months we became incredibly close where at one point we tested the waters on whether or not we could withstand us being together. It didn't end up working out for reasons that I will never know. We mutually talked after that and it was nice because we were still communicating as friends. Then at the beginning of 2018 she moved schools and she never told me. I was caught by surprise and I was a bit upset. I asked her to keep in contact with me and she agreed. She never responded to my messages. During the pandemic I tried to contact her through social media but I don't have her instagram and she removed my number and blocked my snapchat. I know this all started when I was around 13 but now that I'm 17 I can see clearly now. She truly was somebody that I used to know... ...and I won't forget her even if she's forgotten me

I don't usually comment on this type of video, but I wanted to say of all the "about the artist" type videos out there, this is one of the best ones I have watched, especially the way the video side of it was put together. Not just random photos of the artist mixed into the voice over, but an actual video production for it. Nicely done. Going to check out more of your videos just becasue of that.

and when the world needed him most... *he vanished*

i love that he supports indie filmmakers, letting them use his music. he seems like a really nice dude

The rest of the album 'Making Mirrors' that this song was a part of was incredible. But sadly overlooked because this was such a mega hit. Kimbra's work since this has been nothing sort of incredible. 'The Golden Echo' is a modern masterpiece and was ahead of its time and her latest album 'A Reckoning' that has just been released absolutely slaps!

Damn, he really dropped a hit song and disappeared. He really is somebody that we used to know.

I think Kimbra's voice makes this song. So soft at the start and then erupting into such intensity. Perfect

*_He literally became Somebody That I Used to Know_*

3:40 when you talk about how the music is similar to the nursery rhyme twinkle twinkle little star. I think it is suppose to be "barr barr black sheep" which is another childhood nursery rhyme that better fits the notes when played

Damn, looking at the deeper meaning of the lyrics made me appreciate the song even more.

The line that always stuck with me was "you can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness".

i can’t be the only one who thinks that 8 years ago feels like 2002

Can't forget to show appreciation for whatever genius came up with the music video. So simple, yet so effective. A music video you will never forget.

This guy is a true artist. Gives something of his for our experience free of charge, for the purpose of enriching peoples lives, people over profit

It's bizarre how meme culture has evolved this song about a breakup into the theme song of dark and complicated lore.

"it's time for dinner, see ya tomorrow" last online : 9 years ago

I truly view this song as one of the greatest songs of the modern age. Sure he may have not stayed giant like this song, but he also created possibly the greatest song of the new millennium. What an insane accomplishment.

I love this song. When I learned it was released in 2011 I liked it even more because of how the rhythm kind of alludes to music from the 80’s. I don’t even remember hearing it for the “first time” because it’s just always been in my memory as long as I’ve been listening to music. Anyone else fee this way?

shoutout to gotye for making a song because of his passion and not just for money

he made a song that the majority can relate to. its such a universal song

9:32 "Make out like it never happened" 🤣🤣🤣

I will say, if there’s any One-Hit Wonder I desperately wish would make a comeback, it’s him. He is so unique, talented, and is such a musical genius. The music world really misses Gotye in my eyes.

_Who said Gotye vanished after this hit? He's still there..._ .. _Hiding in a camouflaged wall_

Enjoyed you’re analysis of Gotye very much. He really broke into a new dimension with this song.

This song will never get old ❤️

_now he’s just somebody that _*_we_*_ used to know_

Are we just gonna ignore the AMAZING EDITING?!

*He was Somebody We Used To Know 😔✊✊*

Gotye : *comes back* Someone : Who is he!? Us : somebody that i used to know

In Belgium we still play this everywhere because this is literally the only famous Belgian artist 😂

Gotye honestly was just here for the art

2 years later and this song has done 2 Billions views on KZfaq 🔥

I just wanna congratulate middle8 on the editing, but especially the soundtrack! It's amazing with the little bits of instrumental parts, alternative versions of the song or isolated vocals. They all enhance the experience tenfold, compared to other videos. It's amazing to have such high quality content for free, I'm so proud of middle8!!

Gotye : Makes a hit song Not long after : Aight Imma head out

Kimbra's verses last line is really powerful, I still get shivers every single time I hear it

After hearing this song for the first time, I loved it and looked for more music from Gotye. I had just put my 12 year old German Shepherd to sleep (He was like my son that I had to take to the vet to put him to sleep because he was in so much pain, which absolutely killed me) I found another song called Bronte'. HOLY crap, I lost it. I still can't listen to that song all these years later!! Excellent songwriter....wish there was more from him!

That one female singer that cancelled on him is really punching the air

Wait did he not mention that the nursery rhyme is actually just “Ba Ba Black Sheep” in a minor key? It doesn’t just sound like a nursery rhyme, it is one.

I remember when this song came out... the accompanying video was groundbreaking and so visually memorable. I could watch/listen over and over.

7:20 That part feels so powerful!

Man what a great song, if only I didn't sing this to my middle school crush every time she walked past 🙃

the fact that he made one of the most recognized song of all time and then just gone like that is so legendary, dang!

Your analysis at 7:14 was interesting and made me think! Previously, I've read the lines, "you said that you could let it go; and I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know" as the words that the 1st side (portrayed by Gotye) would have spoken to the 2nd side (portrayed by Kimbra) during an acerbic breakup, with "it" being their relationship and "somebody that you used to know" being the 2nd person. The 1st person is angry and resigned, and says that they'd be willing to end things off with the 2nd person ("let everything go"). Now no better than strangers, the 1st person then lashes out angrily at the 2nd person with the bitter parting words: "you wouldn't ever catch *me* thinking about you again." I still think of it this way, but I can definitely hear your interpretation of it too when I'm listening! I think this just goes to show how nuanced this song is. It seems straightforward, with one example being the simple melody reminiscent of "twinkle twinkle little star" looped for a few bars at the beginning, but the song still manages to puts its own twist on it, and I notice and marvel over new elements with every listen! Thank you for breaking this song down for me, I'm going to put this song on loop for the next hour or so now :DD

5:20 But you didn't have to cut me off Nekalakininahappenenawiwanatin.

Imagine just giving away 50% of your royalties for a hit that struck on the world. We are talking tens of millions of Dollars here....

Next video: How Rick Astley made a song that's never gonna give us up.

I am here in 2023 and i could remember the first time i watched and listened to this beautiful song. I still cry when i listen to this song😢

the “nursery rhyme melody” is literally the black sheep nursery on xylophone

I think Kimbra's verse was fire and totally made the record, it's that interplay and duet that made it so memorable.

Liked this song when I was in high school and really only identified with the males perspective. Hearing it again as adult and understanding what the woman was talking about chilled me.

I love the sound splices in this documentary. It's a subgenre of documentary that i like so much: Melodic documentaries

Excellent breakdown. I love hearing the isolated tracks showing how the song was crafted. So many magical sounds blended together to create such a classic!

Everyone in the comments is talking about how much they wish he'd make another song and how they miss him and I'm like. Ya'll. He still makes music. He never stopped. You just stopped listening.

I remember when it was up for Song Of The Year at the Grammys. Prince was presenting the award, and when he opened the envelope he exclaimed “Oh, I love this song!” That’s the highest compliment a songwriter could receive.

The high profile Australian singer, Gotye initially tried was Sarah Blasko. Sarah Blasko also covered a Cold Chisel song on an album of covers of Cold Chisel songs.

Every song on that album is amazing

He hit it out of the park with Kimbra. I am still listening to her to this day, and her albums are fire. She gorgeous too.

“...refuses to sell his music for commercials” That actually makes me respect Gotye as a person even more than before.

duets are so underutilized. this one is powerful with its dialectic form

Love the inclusion of 'sometimes we like to play one guitar together' there.

You forgot to mention he can hit high notes that sounds like Sting.

Kimbra's vocals will always be one of the most beautiful features, theres so much emotion it feels personal and thats why i truly fell in love with this song

Glad he didn't get caught up in the industry. This song will live forever. More power to him!!!!

This song is popular because everyone has been ghosted by someone. It speaks too your soul

GOTYE or as you may know him under his alias, “Game Of The Year Edition”.

The perfect background sample for a KZfaq explainer video.

So great the traffic words and Kaira as Pulp Fiction roleplay (Kimbra)

He's an not like anyone who created songs just for money, he's an image of a real artist, What a legend

me: an australian seeing an american mention triple J... Shook.

The cadence of the nursery-rhyme melody is directly from "Baa-baa black sheep, have you any wool".

my man dropped ONE song and its an absolute banger

Wow, blown away with the Twinkle Twinkle Little Star melodic reference.

I don't get why he's a one hit wonder. He has a lot of good music

I want a movie based on this song with him and her as actors.🔥🔥🔥

Nipsey said he appreciated the structure of this record and said it's a different head space you have to go into in order to deliver on this level. #Respect

Just saying "Eyes Wide Open" is such an underrated track

It's like he made a banger song and then returned to his planet