“Somebody That I Used to Know,” the breakout single from Belgian-born musician Gotye, has been getting some serious covers attention in the last few months. We recently recapped the five best covers of the track to date, but new contenders are emerging all the time. The latest take on “Somebody” comes from acapella group Pentatonix, who won the most recent season of NBC’s The Sing-Off.
One of the most striking elements of Gotye’s original track is its sparse instrumentals, which provide an elegant framework that showcases its acidic vocal exchange. Pentatonix give “Somebody” a fuller sound with their carefully arranged harmonies. Their version of the track is significantly more dramatic than the original, but it lacks the raw emotion of the simple duet between Gotye and guest vocalist Kimbra. That said, it’s a solid and technically complex performance that deserves some props. Check out the video below.
Check out more from Pentatonix at their website or Myspace.
Not sure why they cut out the 2nd verse…the arrangement could have naturally grown to their overblown chorus.l