GOTYE has taken out the top gongs at the 2012 APRA Music Awards, winning the Songwriter of the Year award and Song of the Year for ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’.
The Australian king of pop made a triumphant homecoming since topping the US charts for a sixth straight week with his hit, which was also named Most Played Australian Work.
The treble sweep continues an incredible run for Gotye – aka Wally De Backer – who has won Best Male at the ARIA Awards and topped the Triple J Hottest 100.
‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ has topped 23 national charts around the world and clocked up more than 200 million views on YouTube.
The APRA Awards, dubbed the Ivor Novellos of the Australian music industry, are voted by peers in recognition of songwriting talent from the previous year.
Gotye said being recognised at the APRA Awards was a refreshing nod for his creative efforts, following months of hype around the commercial success of ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’.
“It’s very flattering when your peers recognise you for putting forward quality work,” he told AAP.
“The more commercial success I have the more it reminds me that it’s completely separate from the creative act in terms of success or failure and also how you believe in it yourself.”
Other winners included folk five-piece Boy & Bear, who received the award for Breakthrough Songwriter of The Year in recognition of debut album Moonfire.
In the genre awards, Shane Nicholson triumphed in the country category for ‘Famous Last Words’, while breakthrough duo Busby Marou took home the blues and roots award for ‘Biding My Time’.
Another new face Marvin Priest, son of reggae royalty Maxi Priest, won the urban gong and The Potbelleez triumphed in the dance category.
Held at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre on Monday night and presented by Jonathan Biggins and Missy Higgins, the APRA Awards ceremony featured covers of the five Song Of The Year nominees.
Highlights included Tina Arena and Tex Perkins performing ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ and Kram’s version of Lanie Lane’s Oh Well, That’s What You Get For Falling in Love With a Cowboy. – AAP