The trend, explained

The Somebody That I Used To Know trend, explained

Updated 6 Nov 2026

The Somebody That I Used To Know trend is a TikTok meme where two singers perform Gotye and Kimbra's 2011 breakup duet in front of a flat wall of pink, cream and grey shapes: one stays deadpan to the camera, the other sings back in profile. It began with two AI-made cats on 1 Oct 2026, moved to hand-painted Halloween costumes at the end of October, and is now a one-photo AI video trend.

What this page covers

What the trend is and the post that started it
The Halloween costume and body paint version
Why the song is everywhere again
Which sound to use, and how to do it by hand or with AI
A dated timeline with view counts and sources

What it doesn't

Lyrics, chords or the song file
AI voice covers of the song by other singers
A step-by-step guide to painting a costume

What is the Somebody That I Used To Know trend?

Every version keeps the same three things: the patchwork wall from the 2011 music video, two singers, and the way the song is split between them. One sings straight into the lens with a big open mouth, the other turns sideways and answers. The joke works because the song itself is an argument told from both sides, so any two people, pets or characters can play the couple who used to know each other.

The cat duet that started the Somebody That I Used To Know trend

On 1 Oct 2026 @bellvtrix.ai posted two AI-made cats singing the duet at a patchwork wall: a fluffy orange cat deadpan to the camera, a Siamese singing back in profile. It runs 16 seconds in four shots, in 4:3 rather than vertical. By 6 Nov 2026 it had 3.1 million views and 551,300 likes, and it is still the clip every remake copies, shot for shot.

@bellvtrix.ai on TikTok, 1 Oct 2026. Open the original post

The Halloween costume and body paint version

At Halloween the trend left the screen. On 30 and 31 Oct @tauruspopstar17 posted two reels in hand-painted patchwork suits, wig and all, singing the duet in a hallway: 971,500 and 950,600 views by 6 Nov 2026. That is why searches for a Somebody That I Used To Know costume, body paint and face paint jumped the same week.

@tauruspopstar17 on TikTok, 30 Oct 2026. Open the original post

Why is Somebody That I Used To Know so popular again?

It's built for two. He sings, she answers. Duet memes spread because people tag the one person they would sing it with.
The look is instantly recognizable. The painted wall comes from a video with 2.73 billion YouTube views, so viewers place it in a second.
AI made it easy to join. The cats proved the scene works with anyone in it, and one-photo AI versions followed on 3 Nov.
It's a breakup song people already know by heart. It topped charts in 2012 and won Record of the Year at the 2013 Grammys.

The Somebody That I Used To Know TikTok song and sound

The song is "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra, from his 2011 album Making Mirrors. Most posts use the original recording, or the cat post's own sound, which cuts straight to the call and answer. If you post an edit, add the sound from TikTok's library so it's credited; if the app mutes your upload, post a silent copy and add the sound there.

How to do the Somebody That I Used To Know trend

By hand: two people, a wall or sheet painted in big flat pink, grey and beige shapes, one filming straight on. The camera-facing singer holds a straight face for the first two seconds, then takes a big close-up; the other turns sideways and sings back. Cut it in four shots like the original.

With AI: the Somebody That I Used To Know AI video generator puts one or two photos into the cat clip, shot for shot, with the song. With one photo the Siamese cat stays and sings back at you. One video is $6.99.

Make your Somebody That I Used To Know AI video

Somebody That I Used To Know trend timeline

5 Jul 2011
Gotye posts the official video with Kimbra on YouTube: 2.73 billion views by 6 Nov 2026.
1 Oct 2026
@bellvtrix.ai posts the AI cat duet: 3.1 million views and 551,300 likes by 6 Nov 2026.
30 to 31 Oct 2026
@tauruspopstar17's painted Halloween costume reels: 971,500 and 950,600 views.
3 Nov 2026
One-photo AI how-to videos start to spread; the biggest has 120,800 views by 6 Nov 2026.

Sources

View and like counts read on 6 Nov 2026. Clips belong to their creators; creators can ask us to remove a link. Changes: 6 Nov 2026, first version.

Somebody That I Used To Know trend FAQ

What is the Somebody That I Used To Know trend?

A TikTok trend where two singers perform the Gotye and Kimbra breakup duet in front of a flat wall of pink, cream and grey shapes: one deadpan to the camera, the other singing back in profile. It started with two AI-made cats on 1 Oct 2026.

Who started the Somebody That I Used To Know cat trend?

The TikTok account @bellvtrix.ai, which posted two AI-made cats singing the duet on 1 Oct 2026. The post had 3.1 million views and 551,300 likes on 6 Nov 2026.

What song is the Somebody That I Used To Know trend?

"Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye featuring Kimbra, from the 2011 album Making Mirrors. Its official video has 2.73 billion views on YouTube.

Why is everyone painted in the Somebody That I Used To Know trend?

The 2011 music video slowly paints both singers into the patchwork wall behind them. The Halloween costume reels copy that look with hand-painted suits; the cat version keeps the wall and skips the paint.

How do I do the Somebody That I Used To Know trend with AI?

Add one or two photos on the Somebody That I Used To Know AI generator and get the 16-second cat duet back with your faces and the song. One video is $6.99.

Is the Somebody That I Used To Know trend still growing?

Yes, as of 6 Nov 2026: the cat post is still the reference people copy, the costume reels are a week old, and one-photo AI how-tos started on 3 Nov.