Backer was born in Belgium, but moved with his family to Melbourne, Australia when he was two. Originally a member of the indie band Downstares, Backer began performing under the name Gotye in 2001 when the band disbanded. Aside from his solo work, De Backer has been a member of the indie band The Basics since its formation in 2002.
Gotye's second album Like Drawing Blood was featured by Triple J in May 2006 and was voted Number 1 in the listeners poll of the Best Album of 2006 . The album was also nominated for a J Award that year. Two tracks from that album, Learnalilgivinanlovin and Heart's A Mess, were ranked 94 and 8 respectively in Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2006. Like Drawing Blood has been certified Platinum.
In September 2006, Gotye was nominated for an Australian Recording Industry Music Award (ARIA award) for best independent release for his album Like Drawing Blood, and won 'Most Outstanding New Independent Artist' at the inaugural Australian Independent Record (AIR) Chart Awards.
In 2007, Gotye won the ARIA for best male artist. As a result of the publicity of the nomination, Like Drawing Blood re-entered the ARIA album chart and was named iTunes UK Album of the Year in 2008.
In 2009, Heart's A Mess came in at #77 in Triple J Hottest 100 of all time, voted by the Australian public.
Amidst the lead-up to Gotye's third album, Like Drawing Blood re-entered the ARIA charts in mid 2011, peaking at its highest ever position of 13.
After the success of Like Drawing Blood, De Backer was able to establish a permanent home, still in Melbourne's South East. In 2010, De Backer set up a recording studio in a barn at his parents' farm and set about recording tracks for his third album. He released a new single, Eyes Wide Open, in mid-October 2010, online and on 10" vinyl. The single received generally positive reviews and reached number 25 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of 2010. It was also shortlisted for the 2011 APRA Music Awards in the Song of the Year category.
In late March 2011, De Backer revealed the album's title to be Making Mirrors. This title was inspired by an artwork, painted by De Backer's father in the 1980s, discovered by De Backer amongst old bills and newspapers in his parents' barn, which was later edited in Photoshop to become the album artwork. "The mirror reflects on artwork and it is all very related to self-reflection and introspection on the album."
On 19 May, it was announced that the album would be released on 19 August 2011, with the album launch the following day at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Graphic Festival which will feature animators and a 10-piece orchestra as part of Gotye's performance. De Backer also released a follow-up single to Eyes Wide Open titled Somebody That I Used to Know, which was released 6 July 2011, and debuted at #27 on the ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart. The single became something of a sensation, quickly moving up the ARIA singles chart despite comparatively low airplay to many other charting singles at the time. The track was further boosted by endorsements from well-known celebrities Ashton Kutcher and Lily Allen via Twitter, exposing Gotye's music to their millions of followers. The single has gone on to reach 6× Platinum (420,000 units sold) status.
On 15 July 2011, it was announced that Gotye's single Somebody That I Used to Know had come third in the 2011 Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition. As part of the prize, Gotye won a spot to perform at Song Summit 2012 at Darling Harbour, 26–28 May 2012.
On its first week of release, Making Mirrors came in at number one on the ARIA Australian album chart, making Gotye the first Australian act to simultaneously hold both the number one single and album since Silverchair, who achieved the same feat in 2007.
On 11 October 2011, it was announced that Gotye had been nominated for seven ARIA Awards. Due to the release date restrictions of the eligibility period, Making Mirrors could not be nominated, and the seven nominations all related to the single Somebody That I Used to Know. Gotye was nominated for Highest Selling Single, Single of the Year, Best Pop Release, Best Male Artist and three awards in the ARIA Artisan category: Best Video (Natasha Pincus), Engineer of the Year (Francois Tetaz) and Producer of the Year (Wally De Backer). On the same day the nominations were revealed, the winners of the Artisan categories were announced, with Gotye and the album personnel winning all three. On 27 November 2011, Gotye took out three of the four remaining ARIA Award nominations. Single of the Year, Best Male Artist and Best Pop Release.
"Somebody That I Used To Know" has become an international hit, reaching #1 in Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom, Poland, Austria, Ireland, Norway, The Netherlands, New Zealand and Germany, and also reached #1 on the alternative radio airplay charts in The United States and Canada (on the pop charts in those countries, the song has reached #5 and #11, respectively).
In Your Light
Gotye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't keep it in
I'm falling all over myself
And I could jump out of my skin
Wanna break the door down
Just to greet the day
'Cause there ain't nothing that's more certain
To keep my blues away
And I say
(La la, hey hey)
And I say
(La la, hey hey)
And it can settle the sadness
And the voices in my head
When I'm in the glow of the warmth you throw
I can put all that to bed
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
In your light, just when I'm in your light
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
And I won't get by if you take that light away
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
And when you're smiling on me
That is all I need
To put behind me all my worry
And life's complexities
It may be only a moment
But the world just falls away
And I forget myself
And everything else
That depressed me yesterday
And I can sing
(La la, hey hey)
Yeah I sing
(La la, hey hey)
When I'm in your light
All of this is clear
If only I could always be just as I am right here
When I'm in your light, just when I'm in your light
And I won't get by if you take that light away
(La la, hey hey)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
When I'm in your light
Nothing brings me down
If only I could always feel just as I do right now
When I'm in your light, just when I'm in your light
And I won't get by if you take that light away
When I'm in your light
All of this is clear
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
If only I could always be just as I am right here
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
In your light, just when I'm in your light
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
And I won't get by if you take that light away
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
No I won't get by if you take that light away
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
No I won't get by if you take that light away
The opening verse of Gotye's "In Your Light" expresses the exhilaration and joy that a person can experience when they wake up feeling energized and ready to take on the day. The singer feels he is bursting with energy as he jumps out of his skin, eagerly anticipating what the day will bring. He cheerfully sings "La la, hey hey" as a mantra of his positive mindset. The first verse also emphasizes how starting the day with this positive attitude is vital to keeping one's blues away.
The chorus emphasizes the vital role that a special person plays in the singer's happiness by comparing his/her presence to a source of light. The singer feels that their light shining on him removes all the negativity and sadness from his head. Being in his light, the singer forgets everything that has recently made him sad and feels free. He describes this experience by singing "La la, hey hey," expressing his joy and the freedom he feels. He fears losing this light because without it, he doesn't know how he could get through the rough times.
The singer continues to convey the importance of this person's light through the second verse. It's when this person is smiling on him that he forgets all his worries and feels at peace with himself. The pre-chorus and second chorus repeat the importance of being in that special person's light and how it keeps him from feeling down.
Line by Line Meaning
Get up in the morning
Starting the day with a new mindset
I can't keep it in
Feeling energized and excited
I'm falling all over myself
Overwhelmed with positive feelings
And I could jump out of my skin
Overflowing with happiness
Wanna break the door down
Eagerly anticipating what's to come
Just to greet the day
Ready and excited to face the day
'Cause there ain't nothing that's more certain
Finding comfort in routine and familiarity
To keep my blues away
Using happiness and positivity to ward off negative emotions
And when you're smiling on me
Finding joy in the presence of someone you love
That is all I need
Simple pleasures bring ultimate happiness
To put behind me all my worry
Being able to forget about worries in the moment
And life's complexities
Being able to tune out the complications of everyday life
It may be only a moment
Being grateful for and savoring each moment
But the world just falls away
Feeling completely consumed in happiness
And I forget myself
Being able to lose yourself in the moment
And everything else
Understanding the unimportance of everything else in comparison to the moment
That depressed me yesterday
Putting the sadness of yesterday behind you
When I'm in your light
Feeling the presence and love of someone special
All of this is clear
Experiencing clarity and understanding in the moment
If only I could always be just as I am right here
Wishing for the moment to last forever
Nothing brings me down
Being immune to negative emotions
And I won't get by if you take that light away
Acknowledging the importance of the person's love and presence
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Walter Andre De Backer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Rajat_1010
Get up in the morning
I can't keep it in
I'm falling all over myself
And I could jump out of my skin
Wanna break the door down
Just to greet the day
Coz there ain't nothing that's more certain
To keep my blues away
And I say
(La la, hey hey)
And I say
(La la, hey hey)
And it can settle the sadness
And the voices in my head
When I'm in the glow of the warmth you throw
I can put all that to bed
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
In your light, just when I'm in your light
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
And I won't get by if you take that light away
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
And when you're smiling on me
That is all I need
To put behind me all my worry
And life's complexities
It may be only a moment
But the world just falls away
And I forget myself
And everything else
That depressed me yesterday
And I can sing
(La la, hey hey)
Yeah I sing
(La la, hey hey)
When I'm in your light
All of this is clear
If only I could always be just as I am right here
When I'm in your light, just when I'm in your light
And I won't get by if you take that light away
(La la, hey hey)
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
When I'm in your light
Nothing brings me down
If only I could always feel just as I do right now
When I'm in your light, just when I'm in your light
And I won't get by if you take that light away
When I'm in your light
All of this is clear
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
If only I could always be just as I am right here
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
In your light, just when I'm in your light
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
And I won't get by if you take that light away
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
No I won't get by if you take that light away
(In your light, just when I'm in your light)
No I won't get by if you take that light away
@turbohusque
I bought this album halfway through this song. There's not a single bad track on it. Too bad the radio stations only seem to think he did "Somebody I Used To Know".
@alexandrosmartinez508
Smashburger still plays "In Your Light". I Shazamed the song and got the title.
@khultzbelo7771
He can change his voice in every song..He had a amazing voice..He's so cool.
@MaddoggMikeTV
He's very talented. That's why he has so many awards.
@tinglesrosyrupeeland
He has such a diverse sound, I love it
@Adamscott11
It's like someone stuffing sweetness in your ears.
@andrysainteus1343
@You Techy it called auto tone
@CharlesMontgomeryBurns.
Had?
@chickalupe
Had a perfect moment today: Sun was shining, warm breeze was blowing, and this song came on my MP3 player by random. It was glorious.
@bopped3448
mp3 player.... how times have changed