People can't get enough of this epic dance routine to "Somebody That I Used to Know"
The choreography. The camera work. The costumes. Wow.

Odds are youβve heard Wally de Backer, aka Gotyeβs βSomebody That I Used to Know.β Itβs the Australian musicianβs biggest commercial hit, selling more than 20 million copies since its release in 2011, making it one of the best-selling digital singles of all time. Not to mention it inspired several amazing covers, which you might have also stumbled upon.
The music video, in its poignant simplicity, is every bit as iconic. Gotye stands naked facing the camera, as featured singer Kimbra faces him. As they sing, they are slowly βpaintedβ into and out of the background of geometric shapes using stop motion animation. Thereβs a very Wes Anderson feel to it that adds so much to the story told in the song, making it all the more memorable.
All this to sayβ¦it would be a challenge to recreate the magic thatβs so inherent in the original. And yet, one dance company has clearly understood the assignment.
All this to sayβ¦it would be a challenge to recreate the magic thatβs so inherent in the original. And yet, one dance company has clearly understood the assignment.
Netherland based dance troupe CDK recently went viral for their highly stylized movement performance to the well known art pop ballad.
As thousands of viewers were quick to note, itβs not just the incredible dance moves that make this performance so captivating. Itβs a killer combination of choreography, camerawork and costumes that make the piece impossible to turn away from.
βThis is pure art,β one person wrote. While another added, βI think Iβm going to watch it everyday for the rest of my life.β
Take a look for yourself:
CDK - Somebody That I Used To Know by Gotye
This group is clearly at the top of their game, by how easy they make it all look (like, I've already convinced myself that I can pull off those moves). But whatβs more evident is that they enjoy what theyβre doing to the nth degree.
To find even more of CDK's performances, follow them on Instagram.
Fun fact #1: Gotye allows small independent projects, like student filmsβand probably this dance pieceβto use his music free of charge. "If someone wants to use it commercially I look at what the budget is and the creativity of the project," he said, according to News.com.
Fun fact #2: CDK isn't the only group to have recently breathed new life into the song. A few weeks ago, an electronic remix of the song titled "Somebody (2024)," created by electronic music producers Chris Lake, Fisher, and Sante Sansone, debuted. Much like it's predecessor, "Somebody (2024) is topping the charts.
This article originally appeared last year.
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