"Somebody That I Used to Know," released by Belgian-Australian artist featuring New Zealand singer Kimbra in July 2011, is a multi-platinum art-pop single that became a global cultural phenomenon. Written and produced by Gotye at his parents' house in Australia, the song explores the bitter aftermath of a romantic breakup through two opposing perspectives. Composition and Sampling
: Gotye initially struggled to finish the track until he added a female verse. Kimbra was eventually chosen as the vocalist after another high-profile artist cancelled. Meaning and Visuals Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know (feat. Kimbra)
: The song features a sparse xylophone melody based on the first nine notes of the nursery rhyme "Baa, Baa, Black Sheep". "Somebody That I Used to Know," released by
The track is celebrated for its minimalist yet hypnotic instrumentation, which notably includes: Kimbra was eventually chosen as the vocalist after
The , directed by Natasha Pincus, became as iconic as the song itself. It features: