Gotye’s devastating breakup lament “Somebody That I Used to Know,” featuring duet partner-cum-foil Kimbra, moves into the Hot 100’s penthouse after selling a stunning 542,000 digital tracks. In reaching the top of the big chart, the Belgian-Australian born Wally De Backer evicted another Alternative Songs chart-topper, fun.’s megasmash “We Are Young” featuring Janelle Monáe, which headed the list for six weeks. This is the first time we’ve had back-to-back U.S. No. 1 pop hits that were also Alternative chart-toppers—yes, ever. On the Alternative chart, ironically enough, the same two songs did the opposite do-si-do: After seven weeks on top, Gotye’s “Somebody” was replaced by fun.’s “Young.” That happened only last week—so these two songs were added to the all-time list of double-chart-toppers just in the last fortnight.
— Chris Molanphy examines alternative rock’s seemingly improbable return to the summit of the Hot 100, thanks to back-to-back chart-toppers by fun. and Gotye. (via sotc-nyc)
