Use Somebody

"Use Somebody"
Song

"Use Somebody" is a song by the American alternative rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night (2008), released on December 8, 2008.

The single received heavy airplay in Scandinavia, as well as the Republic of Ireland, Germany, the UK and Australia, where it has remained at number one on the Official Airplay Chart for six consecutive weeks. It was a huge success in the U.S., where it topped multiple airplay formats, and reached number four on the Hot 100 and the top of the Pop Songs chart. The song received positive reviews as well and on December 2, 2009, it was announced that song has been nominated for the 52nd Grammy Awards in the categories of Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal and Best Rock Song, winning the last three.

Critical reception

The song has received generally positive reviews from music critics. Mikael Wood of Entertainment Weekly called "Use Somebody" a highlight of the album, describing the song as "a too-cool hipster's cry for comfort" . Nick Levine of Digital Spy said "with its Springsteen-style 'oooah-woooah's, gathering storm of guitars and lusty, longing vocals from Caleb Followill, it's nearly as infectious as 'Sex on Fire'". Gavin Haynes of NME praised the song as "easily the best 80s power ballad of 2008," but cautioned that the band "may be in danger of mistaking bluster for brilliance" .

Chart performance

In the United States, "Use Somebody" has become a huge hit, and the band's mainstream breakthrough. It has peaked at number four on the Hot 100, giving the band their first top five hit there, and has spent 51 weeks on the chart. On U.S. radio, the song was a multi-format smash, becoming just the fourth song in history to top the Mainstream Top 40, Adult Top 40, Alternative Songs, and Triple A charts. The three prior being "Slide" by the Goo Goo Dolls, "Every Morning" by Sugar Ray, and "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" by Green Day. The song first reached number one on the Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks chart (now called the "Alternative" chart), their second of three consecutive singles to top that chart. "Use Somebody" also reached number one on the Adult Top 40 Chart, and later topped the Mainstream Top 40 as well. "Use Somebody" has also found great digital success, so far selling over 2,512,122 digital downloads in the United States.

Cover versions

Pixie Lott performed cover version of the song which peaked at number 52 in the UK Singles Chart, due to it being a B-side to her number 1 single "Mama Do (Uh Oh Uh Oh)". Dutch singer Laura Janssen covered a piano ballad-version of Use Somebody. The song debuted in the Dutch Top 40. It entered the charts on the 35th spot but quickly rose towards number 14.

Paramore did a live cover of the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, a video of which has been viewed over 9 million times on YouTube, becoming a viral video.

Track listing

CD Single

1. "Use Somebody" - 3:51
2. "Knocked Up" (Lykke Li vs. Rodeo Remix) - 5:34

iTunes exclusive EP

1. "Use Somebody" - 3:51
2. "Knocked Up" (Lykke Li vs. Rodeo Remix) - 5:34
3. "Frontier City" - 3:36
4. "The Bucket" (CSS Remix) - 3:43

Chart positions

Chart (2008–2009)	Peak position
Australian Singles Chart	2
Austrian Singles Chart	12
Belgian Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders)	1
Belgian Ultratop 50 Singles (Wallonia)	19
Canadian Hot 100	8
Danish Singles Chart	9
Dutch Top 40	7
German Singles Chart	9
Irish Singles Chart	2
Norwegian Singles Chart	5
New Zealand Singles Chart	5
Swedish Singles Chart	7
Swiss Singles Chart	9
UK Singles Chart	2
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	4
U.S. Billboard Hot Modern Rock Tracks	1
U.S. Billboard Rock Songs	2
U.S. Billboard Pop Songs	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks	13
U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40	1

Chart (2000–2009)	Peak position
UK Top 100 Songs of the Decade	32

Certifications

Country	Certification	Sales
Australia	2x Platinum	140,000+
New Zealand	Platinum	15,000+
U.S.	Platinum	2,512,122+
U.K.	Platinum	681,000+