The short answer is that the lyrics of the song speak to a shared experience among listeners. Many fans have experienced the pain of a relationship breaking apart. The lyrics speak about the thoughts and feelings after the relationship, the shattering of a shared life that is now broken beyond fixing. The lyrics tell of how a once important individual is now nothing but a memory, regardless of desire to stay friends. Many individuals know this feeling well.

That isn’t the only reason this song is popular. Any song could have a great story and shared experiences in the lyrics. However if the song as whole isn’t a catchy musical composition with great vocals, it would utterly fail to catch attention. “Somebody That I Used to Know” starts with a simple hook, a motif that lays the groundwork for the rest of the piece. This hook helps bring the listener in to the piece and introduces the tone even before the vocals start. The bit is melancholy, even as it transitions in to the main part of the song. The melody is woven throughout the piece and is both a beginning and an end to the song. This melody is the foundation for the piece, with the house that is the song constructed around it. It is beautiful.

Yet the vocals of both Gotye and Kimbra also play a big part in the song’s popularity. The voice of Gotye is introduced as soft and broken. He eventually finds his passion and crescendos with emotion as the chorus hits. With the introduction of Kimbra’s answering lyrics, the two vocalists feed off each other in harmony and dissonance. At times, the vocalists are together and while at others they are far apart, much like a real world post love relationship. This works and adds multiple layers to the song.

The biggest weakness of the tune is the promotional video attached. It is an artistic rendering of the lyrics, though the symbolism is often too esoteric for the average watcher. Consisting of Gotye and Kimbra’s painted nude bodies, one wonders if the main idea was to show skin. It doesn’t work and does nothing but take away from the unique layering of the song.