Gotye grabs number one hit in the US

Melbourne musician 'Gotye' (real name Wally De Backer) became the first Australian artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100 charts in 12 years on Wednesday 18 April with his single 'Somebody That I Used to Know'.

Mr De Backer, an Arts alumnus, had previously topped the charts with 'Somebody That I Used to Know' in 17 countries, including Australia and his birth nation, Belgium.

It topped a big week for the Melbourne-based singer-songwriter, who recently performed his hit song on prestigious American comedy show, 'Saturday Night Live'.

The song is a duet performed with New Zealand artist Kimbra and was recently covered by another hit American TV show, 'Glee'.

Mr De Backer was the first Australian artist to top the US Billboard Hot 100 since Savage Garden in January 2000, whose song 'I Knew I Loved You' spent four weeks at number one.

Last year the song was the longest running number one hit in Australia since 1997 and was voted number one song in Triple J's Hottest 100 countdown.