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Use Somebody

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"Use Somebody"
Single by Kings of Leon
from the album Only by the Night
ReleasedDecember 8, 2008
Recorded2008
StudioBlackbird (Nashville)
Genre
Length3:51
LabelRCA
Songwriter(s)
  • Caleb Followill
  • Jared Followill
  • Matthew Followill
  • Nathan Followill
Producer(s)
Kings of Leon singles chronology
"Sex on Fire"
(2008) 		"Use Somebody"
(2008) 		"Revelry"
(2009)
Audio sample
Kings of Leon – "Use Somebody"
Music video
"Use Somebody" on YouTube

"Use Somebody" is a song recorded by the American rock group Kings of Leon. It was the second single from the band's fourth studio album Only by the Night, and it entered American and British charts in December 8, 2008, three weeks after the album release.[3][4] The single was augmented with a music video released a month later.[5][6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

The song received positive reviews and won Grammy Awards for Record of the Year,[9] Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal[10] and Best Rock Song.[11] It was also nominated for Song of the Year.[12] "Use Somebody" is written in the key of C major.[13]

Critical reception

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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".[14] 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'."[15] 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".[16]

Chart performance

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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.[17][18] 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.[19] (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,[20] and later topped the Mainstream Top 40 chart as well. It reached over four million downloads in the US by July 2013.[21]

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 14th longest runner of all time, six places behind "Sex on Fire" with its 90 weeks.[4]

Music video

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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

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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.[22][23]

  • 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)".[24]
  • 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.[25]
  • English electronic music group Ultrabeat released their cover as a single in 2009. The song peaked at number 100 on the UK Singles Chart[26]
  • 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.[citation needed]

Track listing

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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

Personnel

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  • Caleb Followill – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Nathan Followill – drums, backing vocals
  • Matthew Followill – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jared Followill – bass, backing vocals

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[85] 5× Platinum 350,000^
Austria (IFPI Austria)[86] Gold 15,000*
Belgium (BEA)[87] Platinum  
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[88] Platinum 15,000^
Germany (BVMI)[89] Platinum 600,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[90] Gold 25,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[91] 2× Platinum+Gold 150,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[92] Platinum 15,000*
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[93] Gold 30,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[94] Gold 10,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[95] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[96] 4× Platinum 2,400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[98] Platinum 1,000,000[97]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Wheeler, Brad (October 15, 2010). "Kings of Leon: Bad boys, but good at playing the game". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
  2. ^ "Welcome Back Kings Of Leon With 15 Covers Of "Use Somebody"". Stereogum. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Hot Digital Songs". Billboard. October 11, 2008. p. 59.
  4. ^ a b "Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  5. ^ "New Video: Kings of Leon, "Use Somebody"". Spin.com. 2008-11-05. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  6. ^ "Kings Of Leon — Use Somebody Contact Music". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  7. ^ "Australian Music Report Weekly Hot 100". Aumreport.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  8. ^ "Music Albums, Top 200 Albums & Music Album Charts". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  9. ^ "Winners: Record of the Year". Grammy.com. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  10. ^ "Winners: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". Grammy.com. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. ^ "Winners: Best Rock Song". Grammy.com. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  12. ^ "Grammy Awards 2010 Winners & Nominees". People.com. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  13. ^ Nathan, Followill; Matthew, Followill; Jared, Followill; Caleb, Followill; Leon, Kings of (2008-12-29). "Use Somebody". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
  14. ^ Wood, Mikael (2008-09-16). "Only by the Night - Music Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 21, 2008. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  15. ^ "Music — Singles Reviews — Kings of Leon: 'Use Somebody'". Digital Spy. 2008-12-08. Retrieved 2009-03-22.
  16. ^ Haynes, Gavin (2008-09-17). "Kings of Leon — Album Reviews". NME. Retrieved 2009-09-26.
  17. ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  18. ^ "Music: Top 100 Songs - Billboard Hot 100 Chart". Billboard.
  19. ^ Gary Trust (30 September 2009). "Chart Beat Wednesday: Kings Of Leon, Toby Keith, Maxwell". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Chart Beat Wednesday: Carrie Underwood, Kings Of Leon, Miley Cyrus — Chart Beat". Billboard.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  21. ^ Grein, Paul (July 17, 2013). "Week Ending July 14, 2013. Albums: Jay-Z Back On The Throne". Yahoo Music. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  22. ^ "Welcome Back Kings Of Leon With 15 Covers Of "Use Somebody"". Stereogum.com. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  23. ^ "The Top 10 Cover Versions of "Use Somebody" « LIVE 105". Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  24. ^ "UK Singles & Albums Chart Archive — Pixie Lott — Use Somebody". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  25. ^ "Dutch Chart Stats : Dutch Top 40 - January, week 4". Top40.nl. Archived from the original on 2011-10-08. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  26. ^ "The Official Charts Company – The home of UK Charts". Theofficialcharts.com. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
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  30. ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  31. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  33. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  34. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  35. ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Tracklisten.
  36. ^ "Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in French). Les classement single.
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  38. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Use Somebody". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
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  40. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Kings of Leon" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
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  44. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100.
  45. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
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  50. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  51. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  52. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  53. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard.
  54. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard.
  55. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
  56. ^ "Kings of Leon Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
  57. ^ Gaon Digital Chart: 2013년 12월 1주차 Archived 2013-12-11 at the Wayback Machine (in Korean). gaonchart.co.kr. Retrieved December 5, 2013.
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  59. ^ "Charts Plus Year-end 2008" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved September 12, 2015.
  60. ^ "ARIA Charts — End Of Year Charts — Top 100 Singles 2009". ARIA. Retrieved November 12, 2010.
  61. ^ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2009". austriancharts.at. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  62. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  63. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2009". Ultratop. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
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  66. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2009". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  67. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2009". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  68. ^ "RIANZ". RIANZ. Archived from the original on 2010-05-06. Retrieved 2011-10-24.
  69. ^ "Årslista Singlar – År 2009" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
  70. ^ "2009 Year End Swiss Singles Chart". Swiss Music Charts. 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-16.
  71. ^ "Charts Plus Year-end 2009" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
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  73. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  74. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  75. ^ "Pop Songs – Year-End 2009". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  76. ^ "End of Year 2010" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
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  78. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  79. ^ "Adult Pop Songs – Year-End 2010". Billboard. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
  80. ^ "2009 ARIA End of Decade Singles Chart". ARIA. January 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  81. ^ Radio 1 Official Chart of the Decade, as broadcast on BBC Radio 1 on 29 December 2009, presented by Nihal
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  85. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2009 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  86. ^ "Austrian single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in German). IFPI Austria.
  87. ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2009". Ultratop. Hung Medien.
  88. ^ "Danish single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". IFPI Danmark.
  89. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Kings of Leon; 'Use Somebody')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  90. ^ "Italian single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved October 3, 2016.
  91. ^ "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.
  92. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 19, 2020.[dead link‍]
  93. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  94. ^ "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2010" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  95. ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Use Somebody')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  96. ^ "British single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  97. ^ Grein, Paul (January 31, 2015). "The 15 Most Downloaded Songs in Rock History". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on June 25, 2015.
  98. ^ "American single certifications – Kings of Leon – Use Somebody". Recording Industry Association of America.
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