I used this website for help: http://musicproductionhq.com/words-to-describe-music-musical-parameters/#:~:text=%2010%20Words%20to%20Describe%20Music%20%201,the%20most.%20Composing%20a%20catchy%20singable…%20More%20
Artist: Gotye featuring Kimbra
In the Key of C
GENRE:
LYRICS indie rock
[Gotye:]
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 you’re just somebody that I used to know
Now you’re just somebody that I used to know
[Kimbra:]
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
But 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
[Gotye:]
But you didn’t have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
No you didn’t have to stoop so low
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
Somebody
(I used to know)
Somebody
(Now you’re just somebody that I used to know)
Somebody
(I used to know)
Somebody
(Now you’re just somebody that I used to know)
(I used to know)
(That I used to know)
(I used to know)
Somebody
PLOT AND MUSICAL REFLECTION: The song is about a break-up and the anger and upset that somes with it which makes it an emotional piece of music this is reflected through the music. The singer is quite and sings at a slow pace during the verses, this refelcts on sadness and depression which are emotions which are felt after a break-up. In the first verse a lyric says “But that was love and it’s an ache I still remember”, this is telling us that the person can’t move on and is still heart broken about losing the person in his life. In the 3rd verse Kimbra sings “I think of all the times you screwed me over”, she sings it in a very thin and soft voice. This reflects the emotion of upset which shows us both sides of the breakup, which means they are both blaming each other. In the second part of her verse she also sings “But I don’t wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say”. This lyric tells us that in this point in the song she has realised that she doesn’t want the breakup to effect her anymore and she wants to just forget it. After this we have Gotye singing the chorus while Kimbra provides the harmonies, the chorus speaks of anger and blame towards one another. In lyrics such as “No you didn’t have to stoop so low” which directly accuses the other person of doing the wrong in the relationship. The music reflects this emotion and tension with increased dynamics and a faster pace. The pattern of the rhythm also changes a little.
STRUCTURE: Intro, verse, interlude, verse, chorus , interlude , verse, B section, chorus, outro
Melody: The melody of the song is sad to refelct on the theme of a breakup, the melody is also really cathy and easy to remember. The melody has small intervals between pitches. The melody of the song is legato (the notes are often tied together).
RHYTHM: The rhythm of the song works on beat with the drums, the rhythm is very repetitive and regular throughout the song, however the notes and pattern changes during the choruses. The is played by the bass guitar along side the electric guitar. The songs pulse is supported by the bass guitar and the electric plays off of it. The musical metre of the song is 4/4. The rhythm is played at a medium pace.
TEMPO: The tempo of the song speeds up a tiny bit during the chorus and slows back down when it reaches the interlude. The song its self is played at a moderately fast and steady pace. The song of Somebody that I used to know is played at 129BPM.
INSTRUMENTATION: synth keyboard, electric bass guitar, acoustic guitar, drums, bongos and claves
DYNAMICS: The chorus of the song is forte and intense while the verse is at an average volume. There is also a crescendo in the B section of verse 3, when all the instruments rise in dynamics.
TEXTURE: Somebody that I used to know is a monophonic song, meaning there is only one melody going on at once. The song its self is really simple and has fewer layers of sound than most pop- songs.
FORM: The form of the piece of music is a pop- song .