I like this song a lot. The lyrics and phrasing go with the rhythm, the harmonies, and the production is brilliant. The video is really part of the story. My understanding is that he produces his own stuff.
I heard a lot of explanations about this song, one of the newer songs that I actually like. But your comment made me laugh and was one of the best comments on you tube for any reason.
To me, he paints a picture/told us his side of the story, in the beginning. From HIS perspective. He even painted her role in everything. He gets our sympathy while telling his story. But then. She extricated herself from his painting and we find out that yes, he was delusional about how things went down. He manipulated her. And she was done with it. When he accuses her of change her number, as though he cant believe she'd do that, Kimbra's response, imo, says that he forced her to change her number because he harassed her. The colors come off in the end because, as someone else mentioned, she removed herself from the picture. But I think it also represents the fact that she finally was able to find herself again, that she is no longer lost in his narrative, or, lost in the story/picture he paints.
Because of the words they each say. Listen to it. Or even their body language. She goes right up and looks directly at him, to confront him, and he looks away, just repeating his own nonsense.
Ain't we all been there? I know I have! The opposite of love isn't hate. Hate requires emotion. The opposite of Love is Indifference, when someone becomes just another face in the crowd.
Key to the song: she sings “...you used to screw me over. Always making me believe I had done something wrong.” He might not have meant to abuse her, but he mentally abused her by blaming her for things when she hadn’t done anything wrong. (this is a form of gaslighting). And we get clues that either he’s been stalking her, or the abuse was so bad that she felt she had to protect herself from him. In the song she sent a friend over to get her stuff instead of packing up herself. She changed her number (blocked her social media etc). These are the actions men and women take when their ex partners are coping so badly with being left that they turn unbearable in clinging on for attention, or turning nasty and vindictive in rage from the pain. This is a very brave song for Gotye to write/sing, because the man’s part is of an Oblivious Narrater. We can read between the lines and get more of the true story, while the man in the song doesn’t understand why they can’t be Friends after the break up. He isn’t perceiving that he has driven her away with really unacceptable behaviour. He’s wistfully sad, baffled and angry she won’t stay friends. He’s stalked her to the point she’s changed her number. He’s an abuser with no insight into himself or understanding that that is what he is.
Ariadne, I think your interpretation is 100% on point. And he was mad that she didn't leave herself vulnerable to his harassment after she called it quits. He feels robbed that he wasn't able to get revenge.
@@dawnrobbins5877 that's probably why he ignored her screams and sang over her. he wanted control even when they were no longer together. this song is so deep on a lot of levels. especially for someone that has been in a relationship like this one.
It's a very clever song - as your reaction halfway through showed. You hear his side of the story, then it's all turned on its head when you hear her side.
funny, I always felt she was the victim here; he always tried to control here and never listened. always tried to make her feel guilty when he was the one to blame. basically my former marriage. and my relation with my birth giver. narcissistic gaslighting. different people, different life experiences.. make you hear different stories.😉👍
@@I.Toverheks I thought something similar! Because in Kimbra's part she's saying all this stuff about him basically gaslighting her and then being an ass about them breaking up?
@@taylatay4100 exactly. it isn't the girl that's too dumb to understand. it's the guy that's too controlling and then can't let go and playing the victim. classic narcissistic move
Yo, this is the hit that got all the radio play, but seriously check out his other work. Heart's a Mess, State of the Art, Coming Back, Eyes Wide Open, Bronte, he's so much more than this one song.
Every story has 2 sides. And break ups are hard more often than not both sides feel slighted in some way or another and rarely are break ups amicable. I feel as if this song is about a rather bad break up. She has her side and he has his side. And we as the audience are the onlookers and friends caught in the middle hearing both sides.
Yes, it does put some stressful feelings on the listener once it's clear how much hurt and anger is between the two people. This song now hurts more than It did before.
At LEAST four sides - his 'truth', her 'truth', what a third party* thinks is the 'truth' - and the actual 'truth'. * big part on why 'friends' takes sides.
I love this damned song, so good. It's amazing and says a lot. He disappears into the background, just like he disappears in her world, like he feels to himself, lost. She becomes uncovered, coming into her own. It's sad and shows his pain. Sad and deep.
Great song. The song is about an emotional abuser. "You can be addicted to a certain kind of sadness", " I was glad it was over", "You didn't have to stoop so low". The blame of her and he's trying to pull her back in. She starts sticking up for herself and that's the climax of the song. As he falls into the background of her life.
That's how I take this song too. Just the comparison of the two lyrics: "you said that we would still be friends" and "(you said) I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know" Even at the end, she gives, and he doesn't give anything but expects to continue taking her time and attention.
I fell in love with Kimbra's music after this song got big - and then my husband and I used her song "Love in High Places" at our wedding! We got to meet her, and I told her that while I adored this song and I was sure Gotye was a lovely guy, her stuff just vibed for me more.
@@hiko73 She was a total sweetheart and she even let me hug her! But her manager did tell us before she came to say hi that certain topics were off-limits.
I watched a interview of him, and he said he had written the first part but he said all he needed to say, but felt the song was unfinished until Kimbra came in to write the last part.
He wanted to break-up with a "but" thrown in the picture. He was so used to her he still wanted her in his life. She just wanted a clean break from them.
This song came out right as I was going through a breakup that almost perfectly matched the lyrics and tone of it. It was incredibly painful, and hearing this song still takes me back to that empty feeling of being torn apart for no apparent reason.
This song is so distressing. So heartbreaking. Real heavy shit. It's so sad when someone who used to be such a big part of your life, suddenly becomes a stranger, like someone that you can meet on the street and won't even notice you. As if what you had together... never happened.
Great reaction for a great song! This was on the radio a lot during a period of time when my ex and I were trying to be friends. We'd sing along as if the lyrics had nothing to do with us, but every so often we'd look at each other and realized it hit a little to close to home. Broke off contact shortly after cuz I realized I'd be happier once he was out of my life, and now he's just somebody that I used to know. No regrets.
Kimbra Lee Johnson (born 27 March 1990) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model who mixes pop with classic R&B, jazz and rock musical elements. Her musical influences range from Prince and Minnie Riperton to Björk and Jeff Buckley. Her debut album, Vows, was released in Australia in 2011. Singles from the album include "Settle Down", "Cameo Lover" (which won an Australian Recording Industry Association Award), "Good Intent" and "Two Way Street". She was featured on the 2012 multi-platinum single “Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye, which became her first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned them two awards at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, including for Record of the Year, making her the third New Zealand singer to win a Grammy Award.
I always interpreted this song as a him being the one not fully over a previous ex who ghosted him. That is the sadness he was addicted to. He never completely mourned or reach a resolution, hence the blank canvas. He felt an emptiness. The development of the canvas is his life/situation. The colors filling in represented the development of his next relationship but as his side of the canvas is mostly neutral/dull colors with darker grey tones in the background of the canvas, it represented that he was stationary in his emotions and situation. In the back of his mind his darker memories lingered, looming above both him and the new girl. The placement of him being off center and with his back against the canvas, represents that his problems (dull colors) get between him and his new girl. They can't obtain genuine intimacy, and his lack of objectivity. When Kimbra is revealed, I saw her as the next girl. Her placement is significantly off center too, but she is half-in and half-out of the relationship. The dull colors on her is being in the new relationship and the woes she experiences being with him. The green represents her charm and vibrancy being snuffed out and what remains as her sense of self. He may have been attracted to her charm and vibrancy, but his muted, dull aura consumes the canvas. Remember, misery loves company. Her placement with her facing the canvas and half-in and half-out is her internal battle with herself wondering if she should stay or go, was she is the problem. Remember, whatever went wrong he made her think "it was something that she had done". Her being on the outside looking in gave her perspective and objectivity. When she begins facing him that is her confronting him head on. Calling him out on his B.S., preparing to ghost him too, like the previous ex. His position never changes and he even looks away from her "sing the same tune" telling her about what she did, but not addressing his negative contributions to the relationship. When Kimbra steps away, it's her realization that she is getting no where with him during the confrontation. She's done. The colors fading from her is her leaving the canvas (his life). She returns to her full self when she is gone. Until he is left alone in the canvas, again. In the same place he was when she met him. He finally faces her watching her leave.
No, he isn't. The first Belgian to have a #1 song on the US Billboard charts was The Singing Nun. Her single "Dominique" achieved that feat on December 7, 1963.
I think the thing I liked the most in this song is that it describes both sides of the end of a relationship. Just like in real life, neither person is blameless, and neither side can really see how they have contributed to their partner’s pain. It’s also very obvious that it’s not a relationship that either of them should be remaining in (especially given the implication of gaslighting), but that doesn’t mean that the breakup is less traumatic.
I loved this song ever since it came out and honesty it reminded me of a couple of my relationships. I could play both parts. This song sums up a brakeup so well
I remember was singing that song in the car of my ex boyfriend when he was driving, and he asked me if I understand the lyrics, and my answer was: that's why I liked so much. He doesn't realized that our relation was broken. Regards from Perú.
@rgtrooper13 What a rude answer. I had my own car, that's not the point. We were going to a friends reunion, and i founded that he was cheating on me, i didn't exposed at that moment, but like you said i felt like the car pass over me. I hope life become sweeter to you,maybe next time you can respond better.
Girl this song always makes me cry a little, because of the pain in there faces , most of us have at one time at least been that person mourning the relationship more than the other, who is going on with their life so fast after the break up like it was nothing, while you feel like you heart is ripped out.
Your description of the video was honestly hands down amazing. You broke down the conceptual process going on within the story and you felt every emotion from both sides,knowing that their sides are truths in their eyes,which builds on the complexity of an emotional viewpoint. Nothing is black and white,every color runs its course and at the end of it,you're left with an assortment of shapes and colors that fill the story up with an emotional impact on the soul.🙏 One of the best reactions I've seen to this song,hands down.
I've listened to this song for years. A very well crafted song and a video that delves deep into what's left unsaid but you can pick up from what is said. in the first verse, he's talking about a failed relationship that seemed to be mostly physical but there was an honest attempt at something deeper. But when it fell apart, she suddenly cut him off, leaving him with some unanswered questions because when she left, she left completely and has no more contact with him. (had someone else pick up her stuff from his place, changed her phone number) He's left trying to understand what happened and why. The second verse, to me, sounds more like the NEXT relationship that he's in. And how all those unanswered questions of the past failed relationship still haunt him and affect his current relationship. "You said that you could let it go and I wouldn't catch you hung up one somebody that you USED to know." The past relationship had no closure and because of that, he can't get over it. Which shows when they enter the final chorus and she's singing to him while he's staring straight ahead, still dwelling on that person from his past. In the end, his new relationship is lost, symbolized by the paint on Kimbra's body slowly coming off. At least, that's how I always interpreted it.
gotye could have just done another angsty regular song, but adding kimbra's part was genius, like u always say india bb, there's always two parts of a story. makes it more raw. ♥
I heard this song 8 years ago and I had just got out of a weird relationship. This song helped me to understand both sides of the story. As much as I thought I had been wronged I’m sure I did just as much damage to them. I love this song
Momma India, I think you would absolutely LOVE the song Eyes Wide Open by Gotye. You're so good at looking deep into meaning, and this artist has only made art with the utmost expressionism. Much love from Canada
Now that you have heard this, you should watch a cover of it that itself has 1.7 milion views called " Somebody That I Used to Know - Walk off the Earth (Gotye - Cover) ". Every time I hear one I have to hear the other. They are both cultural reference points imo.
The thing I love best about the video, that adds to the music, itself, is how he starts out nude, but is gradually covered up by his illusions of love. Then, she comes in, already covered up by her illusions of love, but after breaking free, she also frees herself from her paint illusions, and stands there, naked, clean, and ready to move on. Usually, the video is just something to look at, while you listen to the music, but I feel this is one of those rare videos that actually adds another layer to it all.
Hey there! This song was absolute fire when it came out. Especially here in Australia, where our boy Gotye is from. Strangely, he hasn’t done anything of note since then. Nada... now he’s just somebody that we used to know... Also, try reacting to another Aussie GEM... the band is Eskimo Joe and the song is ‘Dont Let Me Down’. You’ll love it!
It seems like he romanticized the relationship and never really saw her for who she actually was. When it ended, he found himself hung up on a stranger, somebody he used to know. He wants to be able to cherish their memories and believe there was something there, and can’t understand why she treats him like nothing ever happened between them. In some ways, nothing ever did happen. He was caught up in his own romanticized delusions that he could never see her, and how is she supposed to feel about that? She has to live up to his fantasy of who she is, and that is exhausting. Now that it is over, he is angry that he invested all this emotion in someone he doesn’t know, and never really did know. And he is angry that she doesn’t seem hung up on him. It makes him feel like he was crazy to believe they were in love to begin with, and the truth is, he was. He felt lonely in her company because the person he fantasized he was with didn't line up with who he was actually with. They both probably romanticized each other, and this lead to a breakdown of communication as if they were speaking different languages. He also seemed to have self-destructive tendencies like his addiction to sadness and possibly some sort of personality issue where he couldn't take responsibility for his actions and couldn't handle criticism. This would make his partner feel like she was walking on egg shells which is suggested in the female verse. Combine that with the fact that he says he doesn't even need her love and that he is upset about being treated like a stranger shows that his ego is bruised. I have felt this from his side before and it took me quite a while to realize what really happened. It is easier to blame the other person when this happens, but his words in the song reveal his issues. This song is really sad to me. It represents the dysfunction in millions of relationships. Sadly, most of the people in these relationships won't realize what this song is talking about until it is too late. And many will never realize this and will live in torment as to how they could love someone so deeply that doesn't seem to give two shits about their relationship, never realizing that what they actually love is the romanticized version of the partner, not their actual partner. Don’t romanticize your partners. It blinds you to who they are and will eventually lead to problems in the relationship.
You are so spot on like you know what goes on in my mind as well as my ex partner's, if you're not a professional counselor you should consider looking in to it.
... comme me l'a dit un pote un jour : "Dans une relation, il y en a un qui aime et l'autre qui est aimé"... meaning something like : "in a relation, one love and the other is loved" ....
I've always felt like you can see a lot about the relationship by the way they are positioned when they are singing together. She's looking directly at him, giving him one last chance to hear exactly what she felt, and what he did. He's got his eyes closed and he's blocking her out, loudly trying to convince anyone who will listen that he was the victim, and he did nothing wrong.
Try Brandi Carlile - “The Story”. Singer songwriter. I love 70’s and early 80’s, and she is a modern day worthy singer songwriter. The Story is from 2007.
Goldmine and Love in High Places. Those songs are great. She's great with the loops. First album almost traditional jazz vocal. Second has variations from bombastic to supreme subtle, and her latest very has a nice spectrum of sounds black sky the vocal layering at the end is awesome another love pop song that's charming is recovery past love harkens to a kind of 50s style. I love kimbra she's great.
I don't think he regrets ending the relationship, but regrets not being able to keep the friendship. I was never able to "go back to being friends".. I can't go from being deeply passionately in love to a booty call. She was more invested in the relationship and is more deeply hurt.
To me, the lyrics sound like he didn’t actually want to be friends, he just got hurt when he realized she moved on. He wanted the option of her being there emotionally for him. Her lyrics are very sarcastic and sounded like she had to be a mind reader and tiptoe around him.
I have heard this song before, many times, but had never seen this video! This is amazing, and as you said, creative. Love how he put into pictures..you didn't have to cut me up.
Good reaction. This song did get a bit overplayed, but it also inspired a number of covers and parodies, including an excellent Star Wars one. Gotye has had several other songs worth a listen though, I would definitely recommend 'Bronte' (tissues at the ready,) & 'Hearts a mess'. But if you want to see how talented the guy really is try 'Somebodies: A UA-cam Orchestra' where he takes clips of people on youtube covering 'Somebody I used to know' and creates a new version of his own song. As for Kimbra, she too is really quite talented, 'Good Intent' is well worth a listen. Having said that, there are one or two songs that are, well... interesting. 'Settle Down' (not for the commitment shy,) and 'Come into my head' spring to mind.
@@deekalura853 the first time I ever heard this song as a new release (when dinosaurs still roamed the earth), I was so sure it was a new Sting song! I was completely shocked to find out it wasn't...
I'm from New Zealand and so is Kimbra, she wrote this song, Gotye heard it and loved it and this was the result and still is listened to by Australian's and New Zealander's as Goyte is from Australia.
Yo India! I know you're looking at the lyrics, but tie in the images too - he's starting out in the relationship and slowly becoming invisible, she she's invisible and after confronting him (he's looking straight ahead while she pleads) and moving on (the downward glance before she steps away), the 'paint' "covering" falls away and she can be seen again. Or another way - he 'dies', she's 'reborn'. Love from Barbados!!
BGIislandflyer I always took the painting of him as being shattered into pieces hence the sharp angles and she too was shattered until she let him go completely. Love your interpretation too. I can see that also. He fades into the background and she emerges from the relationship clean.
Gotye released this back in 2011. It topped charts in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, as well as 22 other national charts, and reached the top 10 in more than 30 countries around the world. Now he's somebody that we used to know.
You missed a lot. How each has their own pov. Don't forget, he was "lonely in her company"--which tells you he was having problems being in the relationship.
Gotye, pronounced "gow · tee · ay" is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, on occasion, performs solo, or in this case a duet. His full-time gig is with the group "The Basics". My analysis of the meaning of the song is different than most. There are 3 individuals depicted here. He and 2 women. He sings about the first one in his opening stanza. He told himself she was right for him but still felt lonely in her company and that's an ache he still feels to this day. He got addicted to the sadness of knowing it was going to end and when it did she promised they would still be friends. She lied, she just wanted to get away from him. Why? When they broke up she did everything she could to distance herself from him. He begins whining about how unfair and hurtful that was. He tries to comfort himself by saying he doesn't need that aggravation. Enter girl number 2, Kimbra. She got involved with him after his breakup with girl number 1. At this point, they have already separated. Why? He kept screwing her over and making her believe it was her fault. This is probably the same reason girl number 1 dumped him. She didn't want to live with someone like that. On top of that, he said he could let his breakup with girl number 1 go and she "wouldn't catch him hung up on somebody that he used to know". She could read into the words he said that he obviously could not. So he dumped him too.
Exactly. In her verse she expresses that he would always make her feel guilty for things that she didn’t do, basically gaslighting her, which eventually led her to wanting to get off the relationship. He was tired too, it was hurtful for him too, but his ego got kind of bruised when she left him, and when he realized she didn’t even want to be friends, he got into a big rage and sadness because he couldn’t understand why she was acting that way, he was so blinded by his feeling that he didn’t even realize he was harming both of them at some point.
As some whose has dated someone, that refused to acknowledge there relationship even existed afterwards is extremely hard. We were both Gay, but he and his family were deeply religious. When we broke up, he decided to stay closeted and got married and have children. When I did see him again it hurt more because he acted like he never knew me. While I did have feelings for him as he was my first love.
He's thinks he's OK with the break up. Just wanted it to be civilized, and still be friends. Not the brutal cold shoulder treatment. I guess this was a first time for him. We all know it doesn't happen that way...
exactly, I like how at the end it's like he finally is willing to just cut her out of the picture, represented by all her colors fading out and only him and the wall still being the picture and she is left out.
The story behind this song is quite amazing. It tooks something like 5 years I think for Goyte to find the female voice for this song. To this day Gotye does not take royalties from this song as he believes music should be free for everyone.
This reminds me of my ex husband. He admitted to being upset that I wasn't upset enough about leaving him. I wasn't even angry at him, just glad to be gone. I was more upset with the friend that he'd had an affair with, that friendship ended real fast.
This song got overplayed but when you dig into it, it’s real heavy
I'll say. It's a great song that I didn't appreciate at the time.
The dude has some deep feelings. I relate to that.
Michael Morris it was overplayed and I cried every damn time.
My ex wife never liked me listening to this song...
This song is the most real shit I have ever heard bruh
At the end when Kimbra started losing her colors, it represents that saying, “you’re no longer a part of the picture.” Brilliant.
He gets painted into the background as she emerges as a person.
I see this as her moving on. He see's her, but he has blended into her backround. No longer worth remembering.
I like this song a lot. The lyrics and phrasing go with the rhythm, the harmonies, and the production is brilliant. The video is really part of the story. My understanding is that he produces his own stuff.
Yes excellent interpretation! She was enmeshed in his painted world! Now she’s free! Love it!
@@seanellio And he, on the other end don't move on.
Absolutely love this song. It gives me goosebumps when Kimbra starts yelling. I can watch this video a billion times.
Me too love the melodies
Me too!
Same!! I just got goosebumps all over my body
I probably have watched that many times plus 1
man ong
This is the song that pretty much epitomizes the term, "It's Complicated."
Definitely,perfect !!
literally
333
She left because he wouldn't stop painting himself....And the House!
Rotflmao
LOL
omg you made me choke on smoke lmao
HAAAAAHHH
I heard a lot of explanations about this song, one of the newer songs that I actually like. But your comment made me laugh and was one of the best comments on you tube for any reason.
the fact he's painted into the background, like he's blending in to the crowd. Just like a stranger would
And Kimbra losing the paint shows she's no longer in the picture
You should comment on more stuff! 131 likes so far! Keep it up!
Kimbra paint disappears, women some can just start anew, at will. Some men, are left cut up like the paint shows on him…..scared.
To me, he paints a picture/told us his side of the story, in the beginning. From HIS perspective. He even painted her role in everything. He gets our sympathy while telling his story. But then. She extricated herself from his painting and we find out that yes, he was delusional about how things went down. He manipulated her. And she was done with it. When he accuses her of change her number, as though he cant believe she'd do that, Kimbra's response, imo, says that he forced her to change her number because he harassed her. The colors come off in the end because, as someone else mentioned, she removed herself from the picture. But I think it also represents the fact that she finally was able to find herself again, that she is no longer lost in his narrative, or, lost in the story/picture he paints.
Reminds of my ex narcissist
Yes!!!
Me I see it as we see both sides of a breakup everyone reads this song diffirently
So, what gives you the conclusion that he is lying and not her? Cause he went first?
Because of the words they each say. Listen to it. Or even their body language. She goes right up and looks directly at him, to confront him, and he looks away, just repeating his own nonsense.
Ain't we all been there? I know I have! The opposite of love isn't hate. Hate requires emotion. The opposite of Love is Indifference, when someone becomes just another face in the crowd.
Yes
So deep...
Never been there. Don't wanna. These are the advantages of being single.
Perfect
Perfectly said drop that knowledge peg!!!
My favorite part about this particular song is that the very end when she steps away and turns back into herself!!!💚💖💛💞💚💕💖
Amen Sister!
YES, HEART'S A MESS. That song is so damn amazing. The film clip too.
yeah it's really cool that all her color drained out and showed "she is no longer part of the picture."
Key to the song: she sings “...you used to screw me over. Always making me believe I had done something wrong.” He might not have meant to abuse her, but he mentally abused her by blaming her for things when she hadn’t done anything wrong. (this is a form of gaslighting). And we get clues that either he’s been stalking her, or the abuse was so bad that she felt she had to protect herself from him. In the song she sent a friend over to get her stuff instead of packing up herself. She changed her number (blocked her social media etc). These are the actions men and women take when their ex partners are coping so badly with being left that they turn unbearable in clinging on for attention, or turning nasty and vindictive in rage from the pain.
This is a very brave song for Gotye to write/sing, because the man’s part is of an Oblivious Narrater. We can read between the lines and get more of the true story, while the man in the song doesn’t understand why they can’t be Friends after the break up. He isn’t perceiving that he has driven her away with really unacceptable behaviour. He’s wistfully sad, baffled and angry she won’t stay friends. He’s stalked her to the point she’s changed her number. He’s an abuser with no insight into himself or understanding that that is what he is.
Good insight.
Ariadne, I think your interpretation is 100% on point. And he was mad that she didn't leave herself vulnerable to his harassment after she called it quits. He feels robbed that he wasn't able to get revenge.
🤔
Gaslighting is a classic narcissistic move. The best way to get away from a narcissist is to cut them off 100%, and it's also the story of this song.
@@dawnrobbins5877 that's probably why he ignored her screams and sang over her. he wanted control even when they were no longer together. this song is so deep on a lot of levels. especially for someone that has been in a relationship like this one.
It's a very clever song - as your reaction halfway through showed. You hear his side of the story, then it's all turned on its head when you hear her side.
it's the outer side that makes it really noteworthy.
Very true... Indeed a masterpiece song!
No, he's not sad the sexual relationship ended: he's hurt that she refuses to be friends.
This! Exactly this. Thank you. It's really one of the most nuanced/sophisticated breakup songs I know of.
funny, I always felt she was the victim here;
he always tried to control here and never listened. always tried to make her feel guilty when he was the one to blame.
basically my former marriage. and my relation with my birth giver.
narcissistic gaslighting.
different people, different life experiences..
make you hear different stories.😉👍
But didn't he say 2:18 that she offered to still be friends?
@@I.Toverheks I thought something similar! Because in Kimbra's part she's saying all this stuff about him basically gaslighting her and then being an ass about them breaking up?
@@taylatay4100 exactly.
it isn't the girl that's too dumb to understand.
it's the guy that's too controlling and
then can't let go and playing the victim.
classic narcissistic move
This song literally gives me chills because of how good it is as soon as I hear those high pitch voices I have chillls damn
Yo, this is the hit that got all the radio play, but seriously check out his other work. Heart's a Mess, State of the Art, Coming Back, Eyes Wide Open, Bronte, he's so much more than this one song.
Yes. I love Eyes Wide Open particularly 😀
I love all of his music
Gotta love Thanks for Your Time too!
"Bronte" is a definite tear-jerker. Real sad song.
Agreed, his entire album with this song on it is amazing, and the song for 'Whip It' about roller derby is amazing, Learnalilgivinanlovin.
Every story has 2 sides. And break ups are hard more often than not both sides feel slighted in some way or another and rarely are break ups amicable. I feel as if this song is about a rather bad break up. She has her side and he has his side. And we as the audience are the onlookers and friends caught in the middle hearing both sides.
Yes, it does put some stressful feelings on the listener once it's clear how much hurt and anger is between the two people. This song now hurts more than It did before.
I'd be like :" STOP IT. YOU BROKE UP ALREADY. NO NEED TO KEEP ARGUING.
This song got me through a relationship ending. I played it on replay and sang at the top of my lungs for months. 💔💖💐
Yes this song is one of the most original creations ever visually and lyrically. They knew how to impress when they did this project.
She went from "IS HE NAKED!?" to "aawwe..." in 0.2 seconds XD
There is always two sides to every story.
3 sides, your's, mine, and the truth
Her story and her version of your story.
my side is always right
At LEAST four sides - his 'truth', her 'truth', what a third party* thinks is the 'truth' - and the actual 'truth'.
* big part on why 'friends' takes sides.
@@gmc6vette Exactly right!
I love this damned song, so good. It's amazing and says a lot. He disappears into the background, just like he disappears in her world, like he feels to himself, lost. She becomes uncovered, coming into her own. It's sad and shows his pain. Sad and deep.
Great song. The song is about an emotional abuser. "You can be addicted to a certain kind of sadness", " I was glad it was over", "You didn't have to stoop so low". The blame of her and he's trying to pull her back in. She starts sticking up for herself and that's the climax of the song. As he falls into the background of her life.
That's how I take this song too. Just the comparison of the two lyrics: "you said that we would still be friends" and "(you said) I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know" Even at the end, she gives, and he doesn't give anything but expects to continue taking her time and attention.
I fell in love with Kimbra's music after this song got big - and then my husband and I used her song "Love in High Places" at our wedding! We got to meet her, and I told her that while I adored this song and I was sure Gotye was a lovely guy, her stuff just vibed for me more.
Ok, but how was she?? Nice? Rude? Flaky?
@@hiko73 She was a total sweetheart and she even let me hug her! But her manager did tell us before she came to say hi that certain topics were off-limits.
@@m3rrys0ngstr3ss THANK YOU :) I am jelly you got to meet her!
I watched a interview of him, and he said he had written the first part but he said all he needed to say, but felt the song was unfinished until Kimbra came in to write the last part.
This song is absolutely beautiful and genius. When she starts singing and getting louder and almost yelling, it’s just amazing!!!
He wanted to break-up with a "but" thrown in the picture. He was so used to her he still wanted her in his life. She just wanted a clean break from them.
This song is gorgeous and haunting at the same time!
This song came out right as I was going through a breakup that almost perfectly matched the lyrics and tone of it. It was incredibly painful, and hearing this song still takes me back to that empty feeling of being torn apart for no apparent reason.
I am a retired therapist & I have to tell u, my dear, u r wise beyond your yrs. Keep up the excellent work. And stay safe.
This song is so distressing. So heartbreaking. Real heavy shit. It's so sad when someone who used to be such a big part of your life, suddenly becomes a stranger, like someone that you can meet on the street and won't even notice you. As if what you had together... never happened.
That is literally what happened to my stepbrother and me. We hung out everyday and he got a phone and we completely grew apart
@@keadonpaul7827 listen to the song "Sound of silence" covered by Disturbed. To me that's exactly what that sing is about.
My favorite song from the last ten years. It is a movie, a musical, a novel.......everything.
Great reaction for a great song! This was on the radio a lot during a period of time when my ex and I were trying to be friends. We'd sing along as if the lyrics had nothing to do with us, but every so often we'd look at each other and realized it hit a little to close to home. Broke off contact shortly after cuz I realized I'd be happier once he was out of my life, and now he's just somebody that I used to know. No regrets.
Kimbra Lee Johnson (born 27 March 1990) is a New Zealand singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model who mixes pop with classic R&B, jazz and rock musical elements. Her musical influences range from Prince and Minnie Riperton to Björk and Jeff Buckley. Her debut album, Vows, was released in Australia in 2011. Singles from the album include "Settle Down", "Cameo Lover" (which won an Australian Recording Industry Association Award), "Good Intent" and "Two Way Street". She was featured on the 2012 multi-platinum single “Somebody That I Used to Know" by Gotye, which became her first number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 and earned them two awards at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, including for Record of the Year, making her the third New Zealand singer to win a Grammy Award.
I forgot how good this song actually is oh my god the emotion on this is crazy
I have no idea how I ended up on your channel, and how it ended up in my feed, but you made my day. Your video reactions are awesome.
Love how you dig into what the songs are saying. This one was like it was made for you to react to. Nice job!
I always interpreted this song as a him being the one not fully over a previous ex who ghosted him. That is the sadness he was addicted to. He never completely mourned or reach a resolution, hence the blank canvas. He felt an emptiness.
The development of the canvas is his life/situation. The colors filling in represented the development of his next relationship but as his side of the canvas is mostly neutral/dull colors with darker grey tones in the background of the canvas, it represented that he was stationary in his emotions and situation. In the back of his mind his darker memories lingered, looming above both him and the new girl. The placement of him being off center and with his back against the canvas, represents that his problems (dull colors) get between him and his new girl. They can't obtain genuine intimacy, and his lack of objectivity.
When Kimbra is revealed, I saw her as the next girl. Her placement is significantly off center too, but she is half-in and half-out of the relationship. The dull colors on her is being in the new relationship and the woes she experiences being with him. The green represents her charm and vibrancy being snuffed out and what remains as her sense of self. He may have been attracted to her charm and vibrancy, but his muted, dull aura consumes the canvas. Remember, misery loves company. Her placement with her facing the canvas and half-in and half-out is her internal battle with herself wondering if she should stay or go, was she is the problem. Remember, whatever went wrong he made her think "it was something that she had done". Her being on the outside looking in gave her perspective and objectivity.
When she begins facing him that is her confronting him head on. Calling him out on his B.S., preparing to ghost him too, like the previous ex. His position never changes and he even looks away from her "sing the same tune" telling her about what she did, but not addressing his negative contributions to the relationship.
When Kimbra steps away, it's her realization that she is getting no where with him during the confrontation. She's done. The colors fading from her is her leaving the canvas (his life). She returns to her full self when she is gone.
Until he is left alone in the canvas, again. In the same place he was when she met him. He finally faces her watching her leave.
That was the best description possible of this amazing music/Video. Thank you.
Great analysis He recalled his own trauma again(painted)unlike the beginning(naked) of his confession
Side note: he's the first Belgian to ever have a #1 song in the states
No, he isn't. The first Belgian to have a #1 song on the US Billboard charts was The Singing Nun. Her single "Dominique" achieved that feat on December 7, 1963.
@@jalabi99 neat! I was misinformed by American Top 40 lol you'd think they'd know
🤔 wonder if I misremembered and he was first to have a song debut at number 1 kr something
He was the first and only Belgian man to do it, but The Singing Nun was the first Belgian (and only Belgian woman) to do it.
He is actually an Australian. Belgian born, but an Aussie. He has lived here since he was 2.
I think the thing I liked the most in this song is that it describes both sides of the end of a relationship. Just like in real life, neither person is blameless, and neither side can really see how they have contributed to their partner’s pain. It’s also very obvious that it’s not a relationship that either of them should be remaining in (especially given the implication of gaslighting), but that doesn’t mean that the breakup is less traumatic.
I just discovered your channel. Love your reactions!! Thank you for getting me through this quarantine!
I loved this song ever since it came out and honesty it reminded me of a couple of my relationships. I could play both parts. This song sums up a brakeup so well
I remember was singing that song in the car of my ex boyfriend when he was driving, and he asked me if I understand the lyrics, and my answer was: that's why I liked so much. He doesn't realized that our relation was broken. Regards from Perú.
@rgtrooper13 What a rude answer. I had my own car, that's not the point. We were going to a friends reunion, and i founded that he was cheating on me, i didn't exposed at that moment, but like you said i felt like the car pass over me. I hope life become sweeter to you,maybe next time you can respond better.
Girl this song always makes me cry a little, because of the pain in there faces , most of us have at one time at least been that person mourning the relationship more than the other, who is going on with their life so fast after the break up like it was nothing, while you feel like you heart is ripped out.
This song was so overplayed. But its one of those that DESERVED it. its still so good. it's so good.
Your description of the video was honestly hands down amazing. You broke down the conceptual process going on within the story and you felt every emotion from both sides,knowing that their sides are truths in their eyes,which builds on the complexity of an emotional viewpoint. Nothing is black and white,every color runs its course and at the end of it,you're left with an assortment of shapes and colors that fill the story up with an emotional impact on the soul.🙏
One of the best reactions I've seen to this song,hands down.
LOVE THIS SOUND ! Two sides to every story.
I've listened to this song for years. A very well crafted song and a video that delves deep into what's left unsaid but you can pick up from what is said.
in the first verse, he's talking about a failed relationship that seemed to be mostly physical but there was an honest attempt at something deeper. But when it fell apart, she suddenly cut him off, leaving him with some unanswered questions because when she left, she left completely and has no more contact with him. (had someone else pick up her stuff from his place, changed her phone number) He's left trying to understand what happened and why. The second verse, to me, sounds more like the NEXT relationship that he's in. And how all those unanswered questions of the past failed relationship still haunt him and affect his current relationship. "You said that you could let it go and I wouldn't catch you hung up one somebody that you USED to know." The past relationship had no closure and because of that, he can't get over it. Which shows when they enter the final chorus and she's singing to him while he's staring straight ahead, still dwelling on that person from his past. In the end, his new relationship is lost, symbolized by the paint on Kimbra's body slowly coming off.
At least, that's how I always interpreted it.
gotye could have just done another angsty regular song, but adding kimbra's part was genius, like u always say india bb, there's always two parts of a story. makes it more raw. ♥
Not just the meaning of the lyrics... this is so well crafted a song and so fully realized by instrumentation and superb singing, it is a work of art.
I heard this song 8 years ago and I had just got out of a weird relationship. This song helped me to understand both sides of the story. As much as I thought I had been wronged I’m sure I did just as much damage to them. I love this song
Just discovered this song three days ago and haven't stopped watching the video since, I'm hooked on this song.
If you liked this, try The Beautiful South - A little Time.
Rich Days awesome song from a great band! Love The Beautiful South!!
perfect 10 also
Yes please do Beautiful South , was just looking for some of their reactions I found 1 , so many great songs
Dont marry her f×%k me lol
Woman in the Wall
Momma India, I think you would absolutely LOVE the song Eyes Wide Open by Gotye. You're so good at looking deep into meaning, and this artist has only made art with the utmost expressionism. Much love from Canada
Now that you have heard this, you should watch a cover of it that itself has 1.7 milion views called " Somebody That I Used to Know - Walk off the Earth (Gotye - Cover) ". Every time I hear one I have to hear the other. They are both cultural reference points imo.
Danni Feveile Börm I actually like Walk Off The Earth's version better.
I like the Walk off the Earth cover way better!
I LOVE YOUR REACTIONS!!! AND YES I'M YELLING!
The modern "don't you want me baby" if you ask me.
trmetzgar I was thinking that too!
They came out 30 years apart.
DYWMB in 1981
SIUTK in 2011
The paint was the tapestry of his life and of her being written in and out of his life
Awesome song. Your hair looks really cool btw
The thing I love best about the video, that adds to the music, itself, is how he starts out nude, but is gradually covered up by his illusions of love. Then, she comes in, already covered up by her illusions of love, but after breaking free, she also frees herself from her paint illusions, and stands there, naked, clean, and ready to move on.
Usually, the video is just something to look at, while you listen to the music, but I feel this is one of those rare videos that actually adds another layer to it all.
Hey there! This song was absolute fire when it came out. Especially here in Australia, where our boy Gotye is from. Strangely, he hasn’t done anything of note since then. Nada... now he’s just somebody that we used to know...
Also, try reacting to another Aussie GEM... the band is Eskimo Joe and the song is ‘Dont Let Me Down’. You’ll love it!
Try to write something better....In the Netherlands 16 weeks no1.
This song is really one of the best alternative songs post-2010 that was everywhere on the radio. So catchy, so real. Beautifully executed
It seems like he romanticized the relationship and never really saw her for who she actually was. When it ended, he found himself hung up on a stranger, somebody he used to know. He wants to be able to cherish their memories and believe there was something there, and can’t understand why she treats him like nothing ever happened between them. In some ways, nothing ever did happen. He was caught up in his own romanticized delusions that he could never see her, and how is she supposed to feel about that? She has to live up to his fantasy of who she is, and that is exhausting. Now that it is over, he is angry that he invested all this emotion in someone he doesn’t know, and never really did know. And he is angry that she doesn’t seem hung up on him. It makes him feel like he was crazy to believe they were in love to begin with, and the truth is, he was. He felt lonely in her company because the person he fantasized he was with didn't line up with who he was actually with. They both probably romanticized each other, and this lead to a breakdown of communication as if they were speaking different languages. He also seemed to have self-destructive tendencies like his addiction to sadness and possibly some sort of personality issue where he couldn't take responsibility for his actions and couldn't handle criticism. This would make his partner feel like she was walking on egg shells which is suggested in the female verse. Combine that with the fact that he says he doesn't even need her love and that he is upset about being treated like a stranger shows that his ego is bruised. I have felt this from his side before and it took me quite a while to realize what really happened. It is easier to blame the other person when this happens, but his words in the song reveal his issues. This song is really sad to me. It represents the dysfunction in millions of relationships. Sadly, most of the people in these relationships won't realize what this song is talking about until it is too late. And many will never realize this and will live in torment as to how they could love someone so deeply that doesn't seem to give two shits about their relationship, never realizing that what they actually love is the romanticized version of the partner, not their actual partner.
Don’t romanticize your partners. It blinds you to who they are and will eventually lead to problems in the relationship.
You are so spot on like you know what goes on in my mind as well as my ex partner's, if you're not a professional counselor you should consider looking in to it.
Damn its you lol
Hmmm can relate
Yeah been there , he never forgave me for not living up to his expectations, I felt mis-understand and dead inside , I got out but not without baggage
... comme me l'a dit un pote un jour : "Dans une relation, il y en a un qui aime et l'autre qui est aimé"... meaning something like : "in a relation, one love and the other is loved" ....
I've always felt like you can see a lot about the relationship by the way they are positioned when they are singing together. She's looking directly at him, giving him one last chance to hear exactly what she felt, and what he did. He's got his eyes closed and he's blocking her out, loudly trying to convince anyone who will listen that he was the victim, and he did nothing wrong.
Try Brandi Carlile - “The Story”.
Singer songwriter. I love 70’s and early 80’s, and she is a modern day worthy singer songwriter. The Story is from 2007.
Thanks for reacting to this video. This is one of my favorite songs. Great beat, great story, very song
Gotye has some great music. You should check out, Save Me, Eyes Wide Open, Hearts a Mess, State of the Art, Dig Your Own Hole, etc.
His music videos are great too so creative and a little dark
That was beautiful to watch you figuring it all out.
God Bless You.
Please react to Kimbra she’s underrated but amazing! You should react to her music vid Good Intent :)
Goldmine and Love in High Places. Those songs are great. She's great with the loops. First album almost traditional jazz vocal. Second has variations from bombastic to supreme subtle, and her latest very has a nice spectrum of sounds black sky the vocal layering at the end is awesome another love pop song that's charming is recovery past love harkens to a kind of 50s style. I love kimbra she's great.
She’s definitely under appreciated.
My favs are Two way street, and Old flame, she's got a great voice eh.
Plain Gold Ring, too.
Lol it's got 1.8 billion views now. It's an amazing song and video, one of my favorites. Also love your hair.
I don't think he regrets ending the relationship, but regrets not being able to keep the friendship. I was never able to "go back to being friends".. I can't go from being deeply passionately in love to a booty call. She was more invested in the relationship and is more deeply hurt.
To me, the lyrics sound like he didn’t actually want to be friends, he just got hurt when he realized she moved on. He wanted the option of her being there emotionally for him. Her lyrics are very sarcastic and sounded like she had to be a mind reader and tiptoe around him.
This song still gives me goosebumps, no matter how much they over played it back then
There's a whole lot of camouflage in the relationship they sing about.
Every time I hear this song I’m like WHOOOOO!
This is intense . Good Song
It’s surprising when people don’t know songs... I guess one shouldn’t be shocked but like dang I can’t be the only one who likeS all music??
I have heard this song before, many times, but had never seen this video! This is amazing, and as you said, creative. Love how he put into pictures..you didn't have to cut me up.
Good reaction. This song did get a bit overplayed, but it also inspired a number of covers and parodies, including an excellent Star Wars one.
Gotye has had several other songs worth a listen though, I would definitely recommend 'Bronte' (tissues at the ready,) & 'Hearts a mess'. But if you want to see how talented the guy really is try 'Somebodies: A UA-cam Orchestra' where he takes clips of people on youtube covering 'Somebody I used to know' and creates a new version of his own song.
As for Kimbra, she too is really quite talented, 'Good Intent' is well worth a listen. Having said that, there are one or two songs that are, well... interesting. 'Settle Down' (not for the commitment shy,) and 'Come into my head' spring to mind.
i just found your channel and i just have to say that you are so well spoken! you paid attention to details and i’m so glad i watched your video! ❤️
sounds like peter gabriel
And a little bit of a younger Sting.
@@deekalura853 the first time I ever heard this song as a new release (when dinosaurs still roamed the earth), I was so sure it was a new Sting song! I was completely shocked to find out it wasn't...
@@deekalura853 I thought the same thing
@@kimmarie4692 IKR
I've heard people say Sting too. I can see both.
I'm from New Zealand and so is Kimbra, she wrote this song, Gotye heard it and loved it and this was the result and still is listened to by Australian's and New Zealander's as Goyte is from Australia.
Yo India! I know you're looking at the lyrics, but tie in the images too - he's starting out in the relationship and slowly becoming invisible, she she's invisible and after confronting him (he's looking straight ahead while she pleads) and moving on (the downward glance before she steps away), the 'paint' "covering" falls away and she can be seen again. Or another way - he 'dies', she's 'reborn'.
Love from Barbados!!
BGIislandflyer I always took the painting of him as being shattered into pieces hence the sharp angles and she too was shattered until she let him go completely.
Love your interpretation too. I can see that also. He fades into the background and she emerges from the relationship clean.
Singer was born in 1980 name gotye, another person was kimbra born in 1988. Song is 2011
Please react to “Hearts a Mess” by Gotye❤️
Yes hearts a mess great song
RICK HUNT...That song is beauttifull...The music video is beautiful...all the feels...PERIOD! 🥰
Gotye released this back in 2011. It topped charts in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, as well as 22 other national charts, and reached the top 10 in more than 30 countries around the world. Now he's somebody that we used to know.
You missed a lot. How each has their own pov. Don't forget, he was "lonely in her company"--which tells you he was having problems being in the relationship.
He is painting a picture of their relationship and she adds her part; then she leaves the picture. Love love love this video.
Or is she fed up because he's still hung up on somebody else that he used to know?
Ohhh snappp 😭
Karma maybe???
LOVE your reaction to one of the DOPEST songs of the last 20 years...💯
You should react to the song that was "up next". R.E.M. Losing my Religion
One of my favorite songs.
Gotye, pronounced "gow · tee · ay" is an Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who, on occasion, performs solo, or in this case a duet. His full-time gig is with the group "The Basics".
My analysis of the meaning of the song is different than most. There are 3 individuals depicted here. He and 2 women. He sings about the first one in his opening stanza. He told himself she was right for him but still felt lonely in her company and that's an ache he still feels to this day. He got addicted to the sadness of knowing it was going to end and when it did she promised they would still be friends. She lied, she just wanted to get away from him. Why? When they broke up she did everything she could to distance herself from him. He begins whining about how unfair and hurtful that was. He tries to comfort himself by saying he doesn't need that aggravation.
Enter girl number 2, Kimbra. She got involved with him after his breakup with girl number 1. At this point, they have already separated. Why? He kept screwing her over and making her believe it was her fault. This is probably the same reason girl number 1 dumped him. She didn't want to live with someone like that. On top of that, he said he could let his breakup with girl number 1 go and she "wouldn't catch him hung up on somebody that he used to know". She could read into the words he said that he obviously could not. So he dumped him too.
This song hits differently when something like this really happens ...use to be fine with hearing this...now it's difficult
I am so distracted by the poster at your back and I love it!! btw this is my most favorite song of all time💗
He thought they’d be friends. He was led to believe. She ghosted him perhaps for a good reason.
Exactly. In her verse she expresses that he would always make her feel guilty for things that she didn’t do, basically gaslighting her, which eventually led her to wanting to get off the relationship. He was tired too, it was hurtful for him too, but his ego got kind of bruised when she left him, and when he realized she didn’t even want to be friends, he got into a big rage and sadness because he couldn’t understand why she was acting that way, he was so blinded by his feeling that he didn’t even realize he was harming both of them at some point.
I mostly listen to oldies, but I was really impressed with this one when I first heard it. Very good song.
John Farnham: You're the Voice.
For your fans Down Under
Please
YES!!! AND the Merlin fans who fell in love with the song, when Bradley & Colin lip synced it :) yeah, that's on YT too
So Many Damn Layers....Just Listen. Loved It From Day One. The Lyrics, What The Paint Represents. Even When She Flexed Her Back And "Broke Free"
need to give Kimbra - Everybody Knows or Kimbra - Settle Down, a listen
As some whose has dated someone, that refused to acknowledge there relationship even existed afterwards is extremely hard.
We were both Gay, but he and his family were deeply religious. When we broke up, he decided to stay closeted and got married and have children.
When I did see him again it hurt more because he acted like he never knew me. While I did have feelings for him as he was my first love.
He's thinks he's OK with the break up. Just wanted it to be civilized, and still be friends. Not the brutal cold shoulder treatment. I guess this was a first time for him.
We all know it doesn't happen that way...
exactly, I like how at the end it's like he finally is willing to just cut her out of the picture, represented by all her colors fading out and only him and the wall still being the picture and she is left out.
@adam smith no need to be mean about it man. Its art and that can mean so many different things to different people.
The story behind this song is quite amazing. It tooks something like 5 years I think for Goyte to find the female voice for this song. To this day Gotye does not take royalties from this song as he believes music should be free for everyone.
This reminds me of my ex husband. He admitted to being upset that I wasn't upset enough about leaving him. I wasn't even angry at him, just glad to be gone. I was more upset with the friend that he'd had an affair with, that friendship ended real fast.
OMG!your reaction! To every bit! ❤️
Loved it.