The song “Somebody That I Used to Know” by Gotye was released in 2011 and took the world by storm, reaching Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 by 2012. Its memorable music video has amassed over two billion views over the years after its release.

Seven years later, fans of the song heard it make a comeback – through Doechii’s song, “Anxiety” (this version was also rereleased in 2025). Both songs sound similar because they sampled from Luiz Bonfa’s Bossa Nova track “Seville.” Doechii transformed “Seville” into a rapid backdrop for her exploration of inner feelings. The sample is looped with greater intensity than “Somebody That I Used to Know.”  Gotye used the sample to create a feeling of loss and broken connections, emphasizing emotional distance and unease.

Despite the different approach Doechii took in her song, people have mixed opinions on her new use of the sample from “Seville”. Noa G., a sophomore at Skyline, said, “I think it’s common for songs to use samples, but since Doechii’s song is so close to ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ and ‘Seville,’ the song comes off as stale and unoriginal. I definitely prefer ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ over ‘Anxiety.’”

Mixed feelings aside, Doechii was praised for her expert way of translating the feeling of anxiety into a song. Hailey Y., a Skyline junior, said, “People definitely think the idea of the song is good; however, it is the loop that copies ‘Somebody That I Used to Know’ that makes people mad. If she made an original backing track while keeping the same lyrics, the song would get less hate.”

“Somebody That I Used To Know” may be more favored due to its original use of “Seville” as well as its huge popularity when released. But credit needs to be given to Doechii for the premise of the song’s depiction of mental illness.