Gotye's Dilemma

April 23, 2012, 11:04 am

The Aussie  says TV show missed the mark covering 'Somebody That I Used to Know'. Oh, oh. But this just in. He HAS backed off. A bit.



GLEE'S VERSION "DINKY AND WRONG"THEN. WHAT ABOUT AFTER A FEW DAYS OF CONSIDERATION?

Rolling Stone update; After his Coachella performance this weekend, Gotye took part in an intimate concert and interview at L.A. hotspot Sayers Club for about 100 fans on Monday. Before he played a few songs for the event, which was hosted by L.A. radio station Star 98.7, he sat down with one of the station's DJs, who asked him about his reaction to the Glee cover of "Somebody That I Used to Know."

"I woke up and found myself in a bit of a furor this morning," the singer explained, referring to his supposed slamming of the show's version of his hit.

He explained that the quote was taken out of context and was actually part of a five-minute answer he had given, in which the singer addressed how reverb can change a song. While he didn't exactly grant the version a ringing endorsement, he did say, "I thought it was very clever how it was [done] for two guys."

Gotye's lack of enthusiasm over Glee's rendition may have had as much to do with his own weariness of the hit song as the show's version. After finishing a three-song set that went out live over the airwaves, Gotye and his band decided to add one more, saying, "It feels too short only playing three songs." Without Kimbra, he explained, he was unable to play "Somebody That I Used to Know," joking that "I think we've all heard that song enough." The group played "Hearts a Mess" instead.

In other news, Gotye will have a new single out soon. He told the crowd that "Eyes Wide Open" will be out shortly in the U.S.


This originally caught our attention at SPIN.

Gotye is quickly learning that a bit of baggage comes with topping the charts, and it's not all sunshine and SNL appearances — sometimes, you have to get covered by the kids on Glee. The Australian singer saw his No. 1 single "Somebody That I Used to Know" get the pop cappella treatment on April 10's episode, but was sorely let down and he's voiced his displeasure to more than one source: both Australian outlets the Courier Mail and the Sunday Herald Sun got a taste of his disappointment (via the Hollywood Reporter).

"They did such a faithful arrangement of the instrumentals, but the vocals were that pop Glee style, ultra dry," he told the Mail. "[It] sounded pretty tuned and the rock has no real sense, like it's playing to you from a cardboard box." He also added to the Herald Sun that "it made it sound dinky and wrong."

The song was performed by Darren Criss and guest star Matt Bomer, who was playing the former's older brother. White Collar actor Bomer has said "Somebody" was responsible for scoring him his gig on Glee, telling TVLine, "I had heard the Gotye song and I asked Ryan [Murphy] if he ever thought of using that as a duet on the show. And he said he had. And then a week later I got a text from him asking me if I wanted to come on the show to sing it."

Gotye, however, is still not a fan. "After you've made a record, you've made it, and everything else that happens feels like you are a bystander," he said, clearly conflicted about such publicity. Considering the Glee clip, below, has now racked up 8.6 million views, and American Idol has also featured a cover of the song this season, he's got a point. But he's also got a No. 1 record.

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