Here in Australia, we were naturally the first to cotton on to the success of Gotye and and his duet with NZ-born Melbourne-based Kimbra, but now the world-conquering song has well and truly established itself in the history books.
As if being the most-streamed single of the year according to a newly-minted UK chart; or being one of the most watched videos off all-time on YouTube with over 200 million views wasn’t enough, Somebody That I Used To Know has broken yet another world record.
To add to his list of ridiculous achievements, Mr. Wally ‘Gotye’ De Backer has just finished his fourth consecutive week atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Though the omnipresent tune had already spent three weeks in the number one slot, the latest Billboard report confirms that the song has now enjoyed a month-long reign.
Not only that, but it’s currently conquering four charts simultaneously, heading the Hot 100 and Alternative Charts as well as claiming pole position on the Dance/Club Play Songs and Dance/Mix Show Airplay. The first time a single has topped all four tallies at once.
Meanwhile, its continued command on the Alternative Songs chart, at ten weeks running, has made Gotye the longest-reigning No. 1 by a solo artist in the chart’s 23-year history. Surpassing the previous record holder, US rapper Everlast, whose hit ‘What It’s Like’ spent nine weeks at the #1 position over 1998-99.
The huge exposure for Gotye has even lead to a potential collaboration with Katy Perry’s hitmaker, Dr. Luke. His huge sales numbers are in no small part due to his domination of the US markets through Television, appearing both on late night shows Saturday Night Live and Jimmy Kimmel; as well as cover versions appearing on Glee and American Idol.
For all the chart-breaking madness it’s worth remembering that the song very nearly didn’t happen after Gotye’s first choice of singing partner pulled out, and that for every copy of Somebody That I Used To Know sold – De Backer owes half the royalties to a dead Brazilian musician.
