Use Somebody
"Use Somebody" | ||||
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Single by Kings of Leon | ||||
from the album Only by the Night | ||||
Released | December 9, 2008 | |||
Recorded | 2008 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:51 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
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Producer(s) | ||||
Kings of Leon singles chronology | ||||
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"Use Somebody" is a song by American 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.[3][4]
The single received heavy airplay in Scandinavia, the Republic of Ireland, Germany, the United Kingdom and Australia, where it was number one on the Official Airplay Chart for six consecutive weeks.[5] It was a huge success in the U.S., where it topped multiple airplay formats and reached number four on the Hot 100 and number one on the Pop Songs chart.[6]
The song received positive reviews and won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year,[7] Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal[8] and Best Rock Song.[9] It was also nominated for Song of the Year.[10]
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".[11] 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'."[12] Gavin Haynes of NME praised the song as "easily the best 80's power ballad of 2008", but cautioned that the band "may be in danger of mistaking bluster for brilliance".[13]
Chart performance
In the United States, "Use Somebody" became the band's mainstream breakthrough. Peaking at number four on the Hot 100, it gave the band their first top five hit there, and spent 57 weeks on the chart.[14][15] On United States 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.[16] (Preceding it were "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,[17] and later topped the Mainstream Top 40 chart as well. It reached over four million downloads in the US by July 2013.[18]
In the United Kingdom, "Use Somebody" peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and spent an unbroken 40 weeks on the chart, only dropping out due to the surge in sales of Michael Jackson titles immediately after his death; after an absence of just one week, it was back for another 20 weeks, peaking at number 25. It has reappeared on further occasions since, and has now spent 77 weeks on the top 75, making it the fifth longest runner of all time, just two places behind "Sex on Fire" with its 90 weeks.[19]
Along with "Sex on Fire", the song was one of two from Kings of Leon's Only by the Night to reach the top three in Australian radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 of 2008, coming in at number three.[citation needed]
Music video
Directed by Sophie Muller, who also directed the video for "Sex on Fire" and would later direct "Radioactive", the video features tour footage of the band, in addition to Caleb singing while sitting on a sofa in a penthouse suite overlooking the New York City skyline at night.
Notable cover versions
The song has attracted many cover versions, with CBS affiliate Live 105 radio listing the top 10 covers and Stereogum website listing the top 15, both lists published in 2010.[20][21]
- Pixie Lott performed a cover version of the song which peaked at number 41 on the UK Singles Chart, due to it being a B-side to her number one single "Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)".[22]
- Dutch singer Laura Jansen covered a piano ballad-version of "Use Somebody". The song debuted in the Dutch Top 40 chart. It entered the charts on the thirty-fifth spot but quickly rose towards number 14. Her cover was later remixed by Dutch DJ Armin van Buuren.[23]
- Country singer Margaret Durante did a cover and released it as a single in October 2009.[24]
- English electronic music group Ultrabeat released their cover as a single in 2009. The song peaked at number 100 on the UK Singles Chart[25]
- Scala & Kolacny Brothers covered the song with the all-girls choir for their album Circle. A video produced for their cover was nominated for an MTV Freshman Video Award.
- American singer Anastacia released this song on her fifth studio album It's A Man's World.
- Trey Songz covered the song on his MTV Unplugged performance.
- Shawn Mendes covered the song on his MTV Unplugged performance in 2018.
- One Direction covered the song on their Up All Night Tour (2011-2012)
Track listing
CD single
- "Use Somebody" – 3:51
- "Knocked Up" (Lykke Li vs. Rodeo Remix) – 5:34
iTunes exclusive EP
- "Use Somebody" – 3:51
- "Knocked Up" (Lykke Li vs. Rodeo Remix) – 5:34
- "Frontier City" – 3:36
- "The Bucket" (CSS Remix) – 3:43
Personnel
- Caleb Followill – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
- Nathan Followill – drums, backing vocals
- Matthew Followill – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Jared Followill – bass, backing vocals
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA)[75] | 5× Platinum | 350,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[76] | Gold | 15,000* |
Belgium (BEA)[77] | Platinum | 30,000* |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[78] | Gold | 7,500^ |
Germany (BVMI)[79] | Gold | 150,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[80] | Gold | 25,000‡ |
Mexico (AMPROFON)[81] | Gold | 30,000* |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[82] | Platinum | 15,000* |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[83] | Gold | 15,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[84] | 2× Platinum | 1,200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[86] | Platinum | 1,000,000[85] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
See also
- List of best-selling singles
- List of best-selling singles in the United States
- List of Billboard Mainstream Top 40 number-one songs of 2009
- List of Ultratop 50 number-one singles of 2009
- List of Billboard number-one alternative singles of the 2000s
References
- ^ "25 Huge Alt-Rock Songs You Loved In 2009". Buzzfeed. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ "Welcome Back Kings Of Leon With 15 Covers Of "Use Somebody"". Stereogum. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
- ^ "New Video: Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"". Spin.com. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody Contact Music". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Australian Music Report Weekly Hot 100". Aumreport.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-07. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Winners: Record of the Year". Grammy.com. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Winners: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". Grammy.com. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ "Winners: Best Rock Song". Grammy.com. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ https://people.com/celebrity/grammy-awards-2010-winners-nominees/
- ^ Wood, Mikael (2008-09-16). "Only by the Night - Music Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ "Music — Singles Reviews — Kings of Leon: 'Use Somebody'". Digital Spy. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
- ^ Haynes, Gavin (2008-09-17). "Kings of Leon — Album Reviews". NME. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
- ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart".
- ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart".
- ^ Gary Trust (30 September 2009). "Chart Beat Wednesday: Kings Of Leon, Toby Keith, Maxwell". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ^ "Chart Beat Wednesday: Carrie Underwood, Kings Of Leon, Miley Cyrus — Chart Beat". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ Grein, Paul (July 17, 2013). "Week Ending July 14, 2013. Albums: Jay-Z Back On The Throne". Yahoo Music. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ "Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody". Official Charts Company. 2011-09-24. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ http://www.stereogum.com/503212/15-covers-of-kings-of-leons-use-somebody/franchises/listomania/
- ^ http://live105.cbslocal.com/2010/10/12/10-cover-versions-of-use-somebody/
- ^ "UK Singles & Albums Chart Archive — Pixie Lott — Use Somebody". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Dutch Chart Stats : Dutch Top 40 - January, week 4". Top40.nl. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Margaret Durante — Use Somebody". YouTube. 2009-12-24. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "The Official Charts Company – The home of UK Charts". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Tracklisten.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Use Somebody". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kings of Leon" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". VG-lista.
- ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks". Billboard.com. 2009-11-21. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
- ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ Gaon Digital Chart: 2013년 12월 1주차 Archived 2013-12-11 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean). gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
- ^ "ARIA Charts — End Of Year Charts — Top 100 Singles 2008". ARIA. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
- ^ "Charts Plus Year-end 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Charts — End Of Year Charts — Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2009". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Rapports Annuels 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Canadian Hot 100 Year-End 2009". Billboard. 2009. Retrieved 2012-03-31.
- ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2009". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "RIANZ". RIANZ. Archived from the original on 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
- ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
- ^ "2009 Year End Swiss Singles Chart". Swiss Music Charts. 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
- ^ "Charts Plus Year-end 2009" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
- ^ "Year End Charts — Year-end songs — The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- ^ "Year End Charts — Year-end songs — The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
- ^ "2009 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on 29 December 2009, presented by Nihal
- ^ "Greatest of All Time Adult Pop Songs : Page 1". US Adult Pop Songs. March 18, 2016. Retrieved March 16, 2018.
- ^ "The UK's biggest selling singles of all time". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
- ^ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2020 Singles". ARIA. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in German). IFPI Austria.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". IFPI Danmark. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2011 to obtain certification.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kings of Leon; 'Use Somebody')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 3, 2016. Select "2016" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "Use Somebody" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Type Kings of Leon in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Use Somebody in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
- ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart – 1 December 2008". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Use Somebody')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
- ^ "British single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type Use Somebody in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ Grein, Paul (January 31, 2015). "The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015.
- ^ "American single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links
- Single chart usages for Germany2
- 2000s ballads
- 2008 singles
- Kings of Leon songs
- Songs written by Caleb Followill
- Songs written by Nathan Followill
- Songs written by Jared Followill
- Songs written by Matthew Followill
- Billboard Alternative Songs number-one singles
- Billboard Mainstream Top 40 (Pop Songs) number-one singles
- Billboard Adult Top 40 number-one singles
- Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles
- Grammy Award for Record of the Year
- Music videos directed by Sophie Muller
- Rock ballads
- Grammy Award for Best Rock Song
- Maggie Rose songs
- 2008 songs
- Song recordings produced by Jacquire King
- RCA Records singles
- Sony Music singles