 The song received generally positive reviews , winning the Grammy for Record of the Year . Take 40 Australia elaborated on the audience 's reception at the July 2011 Splendour in the Grass festival , " Gotye 's latest song featuring Kimbra ' Somebody That I Used To Know ' had become somewhat of an unofficial anthem for the festival ... every car was cranking it over their speakers all day , every day ... and the question on everyone 's lips was whether or not Kimbra would join him on the track . Fortunately , dreams came true ... he smashed out an incredible set climaxing with a version of the song with Kimbra on co @-@ lead vocals that people couldn 't stop talking about all weekend long " . Allmusic 's Jon O 'Brien felt the track was an " unexpected chart @-@ topper ... [ it ] is an oddball break @-@ up song whose stuttering rhythms , reggae hooks , and hushed vocals sound like The Police as remixed by the XX " . 
