What makes that Gotye song better than other breakup songs

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I first heard "Somebody that I Used to Know" because someone liked the visuals of the video and linked to it. I was too busy to really watch it and if it hadn't become a major radio hit here in the Bay, I may never have heard it again.



First though, still, after hearing it a hundred times, I cannot hear it without thinking of Rubin and Ed. That I can still hear the song and take it seriously as a chronicle of heartbreak is impressive.

But what makes this song better than other breakup songs? Because it is better. But what makes it better? I know this will shock you because we're talking about popular music here, but what makes "Somebody that I Used to Know" better is its LYRICS.

Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad that it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough

No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
And I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough

And you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Reading the lyrics closely won't explain to you why they're better. Because, fact is, they're not particularly incredible lyrics. What makes this so much better than other breakup songs is the bolded section.

Just watch the video.

The first thing that impressed me about the video as I watched it now was what a great actor Gotye is. What, did he rub his eyes with onions?

But you see how broken up he is?

And that's what breakup songs are about! The suffering of one person at the hands of that bitch/bastard (pmf). But that's rarely the complete story. To have a second character, the other half of this relationship, show up and give her version of events is remarkable. (Perhaps it shouldn't be, but it is---pop songs don't generally get this complex.) But then that her version of events does not match his version---that the listener then needs to parse the difference---that's what takes this song so far beyond other breakup songs.

So while the song is nice enough, fun musically, decently lyricked and all, it is the addition of this second point of view that really elevates the entire work and gets me wrapped up in it every time it shows up on one of a dozen radio stations.

Just. Brilliant stuff.

I haven't listened to the rest of the album enough yet to comment on how it compares to this single, but I have observed that it's quite eclectic musically. So it won't be twelve tracks of Crispin Glover's waterskiing cat, at least.

Note: For the record, I love Rubin and Ed. You should buy your own copy.