Gotye might be getting back to basics (literally) by returning to his former role as the drummer for The Basics for the band’s upcoming national tour, but the steamrolling success of ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ continues in earnest, with the ubiquitous Kimbra-featuring duet now named as one of the most popular hits of all time by Billboard as part of their 55th Anniversary celebrations.

Wally De Backer’s award-guzzling single has ranked as the 29th most popular song of all-time on Billboard‘s Top 100 anniversary list, compiled by the US stats-trackers to celebrate their 55th birthday. Billboard emphasises De Backer’s Belgian heritage, with the 33-year-old producer-performer born and raised in Bruges before moving to Australia at the age of two.

Billboard notes that Gotye is the second ever artist from Belgium to top the Hot 100, the first being in 1963 when the Singing Nun topped the charts with ‘Dominique’. Despite ignoring his proud Australian ties, Billboard notes ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ reigned for a record-breaking eight weeks at the top of the US Charts in 2012, the second ever longest position for an Aussie on the Hot 100; the longest being ‘Physical’ by Olivia Newton-John back in 1981, which spent 10 weeks at #1 and ranks at #8 in the new Billboard Hot 100 55th Anniversary chart (ahead of The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’). Billboard emphasises De Backer’s Belgian heritage, with the 33-year-old producer-performer born and raised in Bruges before moving to Australia…

The rankings for the list is a rather complicated process of allocating points based on the length of the single’s stay on the charts that is adjusted depending on the era it’s from, which accounts for Chubby Checker’s ‘The Twist’ once again coming it at #1 despite reaching the top spot only twice – for one week in 1960 and two weeks in 1962 – and also topped the 50th Anniversary chart compiled by Billboard in 2008.

Behind the rock and roll classic is a rather eclectic mix of popular songs, with Santana’s ‘Smooth’ featuring Matchbox 20 singer Rob Thomas coming in at #2, followed by Bobby Darin’s 50s hit ‘Mack The Knife (#3), LeAnn Rimes’ ‘How Do I Live (#4), and the dreaded ‘Party Rock Anthem’ by LMFAO rounding out the Top 5.

Gotye’s success on the chart follows a string of accolades for ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’, including being named the highest selling single in America in 2012, one of the most downloaded songs ever, while the bodypaint music video remains one of the most watched YouTube videos of all time, with over 420+ million views; Gotye’s trophy cabinet positively bursting with awards from Billboard, the Grammys, and the ARIAs.

The irony however remains that of the millions in royalties amassed from ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’, half of them are still going to a dead Brazilian. Namely Luiz Bonfa, the  guitarist and composer whose playing forms the central sample at the heart of the song, with Wally De Backer sharing the profits of the song with Bonfa’s estate in a 55/45 split.

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You can read Billboard‘s 55th Anniversary Top 100 here and view the (rather curious) Top 30 below.

Billboard Hot 100 55th Anniversary’s All-Time Top 100 Songs

  1. Chubby Checker – ‘The Twist’
  2. Santana – ‘Smooth’ (Feat. Rob Thomas)
  3. Bobby Darin – ‘Mack The Knife’
  4. LeAnn Rimes – ‘How Do I Live’
  5. LMFAO – ‘Party Rock Anthem’ (Feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock)
  6. Black Eyed Peas – ‘I Gotta Feeling’
  7. Los Del Rio – ‘Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)’
  8. Olivia Newton-John – ‘Physical’
  9. Debby Boone – ‘You Light Up My Life’
  10. The Beatles – ‘Hey Jude’
  11. Mariah Carey – ‘We Belong Together’
  12. Toni Braxton – ‘Un-Break My Heart’
  13. Lil’ Jon & Ludacris – ‘Yeah!’
  14. Kim Carnes – ‘Bette Davis Eyes’
  15. Diana Ross & Lionel Richie – ‘Endless Love’
  16. Rod Stewart – ‘Tonight’s The Night (Gonna Be Alright)’
  17. Jewel – ‘You Were Meant For Me/Foolish Games’
  18. Bryan Adams – ‘(Everything I Do) I Do It For You’
  19. Boyz II Men – ‘I’ll Make Love To You’
  20. Percy Faith – ‘The Theme From A Summer Place’
  21. Chic – ‘Le Freak’
  22. Bee Gees – ‘How Deep Is Your Love’
  23. Survivor – ‘Eye Of The Tiger’
  24. Rihanna – ‘We Found Love ‘ (Feat. Calvin Harris)
  25. Flo Rida – ‘Low’ (Feat. T-Pain)
  26. Andy Gibb – ‘I Just Want To Be Your Everything’
  27. Next – ‘Too Close’
  28. The Police – ‘Every Breath You Take’
  29. Gotye – ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ (Feat. Kimbra)
  30. Irene Cara – ‘Flashdance… What  Feeling’

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