The Creative "I"- Variations on a Theme

Original Lyrics:

"Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye
(feat. Kimbra)

[Gotye:]
Now and then I think of when we were together
Like when you said you felt so happy you could die
Told myself that you were right for me
But felt so lonely in your company
But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

You can get addicted to a certain kind of sadness
Like resignation to the end, always the end
So when we found that we could not make sense
Well you said that we would still be friends
But I'll admit that I was glad it was over

But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

Now you're just somebody that I used to know
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

[Kimbra:]
Now and then I think of all the times you screwed me over
But had me believing it was always something that I'd done
But I don't wanna live that way
Reading into every word you say
You said that you could let it go
And I wouldn't catch you hung up on somebody that you used to know

[Gotye:]
But you didn't have to cut me off
Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing
And I don't even need your love
But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough
No you didn't have to stoop so low
Have your friends collect your records and then change your number
I guess that I don't need that though
Now you're just somebody that I used to know

[x2]
Somebody
(I used to know)
Somebody
(Now you're just somebody that I used to know)

(I used to know)
(That I used to know)
(I used to know)
Somebody

My Version:

“Now I'm No Longer That Person That You Used To Know” by Gotye

(feat. Kimbra)

[Gotye:]

Now and then I think of when we were together

Like when you said you felt so happy you could die

Told myself that you were right for me

But felt so lonely in your company

But that was love and it's an ache I still remember

I know you can't get addicted to my lack of creativity.

Like Darwin and Fleming you want me to be.

So when I looked at our experiences I can make sense

Well you said that I could be more creative

But now if you let me back into your life.

But you didn't have to doubt me.

Make out like I was never creative and I was nothing.

And now I'm the creative one.

But you see I've turned all the knobs on my creativity and that feels so good.

Yes I had to look at our past differently

I turned all the knobs on my creativity and changed my vision.

Now I'm no longer the person you use to know.

Now I'm no longer that person that you used to know.

Now I'm not longer that person that you used to know.

[Kimbra:]

Now and then I think of all the times you weren't creative.

But now he had me thinking it was something I had done.

But I don't want it this way.

Living with a person that has nothing new to say.

You said that you could turn those knobs.

And now I'm just hung up on someone that I thought you were.

[Gotye:]

But you didn't have to doubt me.

Make out like I was never creative and I was nothing.

And now I'm the creative one.

But you see I've turned all the knobs on my creativity and that feels so good.

Yes I had to look at our past differently

I turned all the knobs on my creativity and changed my vision.

Now I'm no longer the person you use to know.

[x2]

No longer

(the person you use to know)

No longer

(Now I am the one that you want me to be)

(the person you use to know)

(that you use to know)

(you use to know)

No longer

At first this assignment seemed extremely difficult and I didn't know how I was going to be able to change any lyrics into something new that coincided with this article. After reading the article I noticed a few things that the authors were conveying about creativity. One being that there are many “knobs” that we can twist and turn to create an original one of a kind piece. I thought that it would be difficult to be creative and rewrite lyrics. I didn't think I was capable of this, but after completing my song I have created something original, one of a kind, and different. Another point the article mentions is in order to be more creative we can take a look at our life experiences and use our background knowledge to increase our creative ideas. This is what I did with this song. The song is about a relationship. She thinks he is boring, not creative, and doesn't think he can be that creative man for her. Whereas he realizes after looking back at their past relationship and turning his “knobs” he is in fact the “creative” one she wants him to be. He just had to use his background knowledge and past life experiences in a different perspective to see what he was missing all along. In fact anyone can be creative, but this character needed a wake up call and to see their relationship in a different light. Now he claims he has changed his behavior and he is ready to see, adapt, and change to better their new relationship.

Music Video: