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 6ร 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, 26โ28 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).
Out Here in the Cold
Gotye Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm begging you baby don't leave me out here on my own
I'll die,
If you don't hold me tight
Tonight,
I couldn't make it outside
If I tried,
Be kind
Darlin' don't desert me in here it's so dark
Don't leave me here darlin' don't you know I can't stand to part
Oh but I'll stay,
If you promise to keep me safe,
I can't make it alone,
I'm afraid,
Oh my angel just don't go away
Please, don't leave me out here in the cold
No, no please don't leave me out here on my own
"Out Here in the Cold" by Gotye is a song that speaks of feelings of abandonment, loneliness, and desperation. The lyrics are an impassioned plea of someone begging their lover not to leave them alone in the cold. The song starts with a plea not to be left alone in the cold, with the fear that they may die without the lover holding them tight. The desperation in the lyrics can be felt as the songwriter says that they couldn't make it outside or alone, and to let them in.
The second verse similarly follows the plea, but this time the writer is referring to being left in the dark. They are too afraid to be alone and desire their lover's love and presence. The writer begs their lover not to go away and make a promise to keep them safe if they stay. They fear being abandoned and are willing to do whatever it takes to keep their lover close.
The song ends with another plea to not be left alone in the cold. The song's overriding message suggests that the writer's life is utterly dependent on their lover's companionship, and they fear the prospect of being abandoned in the cold. The song's melancholic tune appropriately complements the lyrics, adding to the emotion behind the message.
Line by Line Meaning
Darlin' don't leave me out here in the cold
My dear, do not abandon me in this desolate place, where the cold pierces through me.
I'm begging you baby don't leave me out here on my own
I beseech you, my love, to not leave me alone to fend for myself.
I'll die,
I would not survive,
If you don't hold me tight
if you don't wrap your arms around me and keep me close,
Tonight,
this very evening,
I couldn't make it outside
I could not endure the harshness of the world beyond this doorstep,
If I tried,
even if I attempted it,
So please let me in lover,
so I implore you, my beloved, please allow me into your warm embrace,
Be kind
show me compassion.
Darlin' don't desert me in here it's so dark
My love, do not abandon me in this abyss of darkness.
Don't leave me here darlin' don't you know I can't stand to part
Do not depart from my side, my dear, do you not understand that I cannot bear such separation?
Oh but I'll stay,
Ah, but I shall remain,
If you promise to keep me safe,
if you vow to protect me from harm,
I can't make it alone,
I am unable to manage on my own,
I'm afraid,
I am overcome with fear,
Oh my angel just don't go away
Oh, my guardian angel, please do not depart from my side.
Please, don't leave me out here in the cold
I implore you, do not abandon me in this frigid wasteland,
No, no please don't leave me out here on my own
No, no, I beg of you, my love, do not leave me alone.
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Walter Andre De Backer
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Azzuky
Lyrics
Darlin' don't leave me out here in the cold
I'm begging you baby don't leave me out here on my own
I'll die,
If you don't hold me tight
Tonight,
I couldn't make it outside
If I tried,
So please let me in lover,
Be kind
Please, don't leave me out here in the cold
No, no please don't leave me out here on my own
Darlin' don't desert me in here it's so dark
Don't leave me here darlin' don't you know I can't stand to part
Oh but I'll stay,
If you promise to keep me safe,
I can't make it alone,
I'm afraid,
Oh my angel just don't go away
Please, don't leave me out here in the cold
No, no please don't leave me out here on my own
Cuentos oscuros
I would never leave Gotye out there in the cold.
Priyanshu Kumar Singh
Yep
Gina Jalovec
Exactly, but beyond the reason that I am sure we are referring to, I'll go further and say I would never leave someone with a heart and mind and soul, such as he has, out in the cold ever. His artistic genius need to be preserved, too!โค
zinnia
Hahaha me too
Yรผsra Muslu
me too
Bruno
I wish this was on Spotify.
็ตข็ฌ ใปใชใข
2020
We wonโt leave this song alone,right?
tiw
2023 here
Shinta Dewi
2022
Servus Domini
Still here