Which 2011 song made Gotye an international one-hit wonder with Kimbra on its chorus?
Answer
Somebody That I Used to Know
Gotye’s 2011 song “Somebody That I Used to Know,” featuring Kimbra, made the Belgian-Australian artist an international one-hit wonder.
Gotye, the stage name of Wouter De Backer, wrote and produced the song for his album Making Mirrors. Kimbra’s answering verse changes the perspective from one former partner’s accusation to a shared but conflicting account of a breakup.
The sparse arrangement begins with a sampled guitar part and gradually adds percussion, strings, and layered vocals. The music video, directed by Natasha Pincus, shows Gotye and Kimbra becoming covered in painted patterns that merge with the background.
The single topped charts in more than 20 countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It won two Grammy Awards in 2013: Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Gotye continued releasing music, but no later single matched this global impact.