A top 40 playlist usually consists of the usual suspects like Katy Perry and Rihanna. It’s rare but still nice to see something different reach an extra-ordinary level of success like Gotye’s multi-format smash hit “Somebody That I Use To Know“.

I listened to the song last year when it had a couple of million views on YouTube. Now it has over 200 million views. The song conquered every chart including Top 40, Hot AC, Alternative, Top 40, and Dance. It’s next to impossible to predict hits these days, but once in a blue moon, you will come across a song like “Somebody That I Use To Know” and know it will infect the populace. As far as an Australian solo artist hitting #1 on the main Billboard Chart, it happens once in 30 years. The last time Australians were at No. 1 was Savage Garden in 2000, on their way to selling 25 million albums and 15 million singles.

Universal Republic Records EVP of Promotion & Artist Development Joel Klaiman says, “It is extremely rare for this to happen, that a song will top the charts at four formats. This a testament of the power of ‘Somebody That I Used To Know‘ and Gotye as well as the tireless effort of our promotion staff. We are anxious to see what happens next with this truly magical song.”

It’s rare for a song to top multiple formats and it’s also unlikely that an artist writes his or her song today. “Somebody That I Used to Know” was written and produced by Gotye.

Bill Lamb of About.com gave the song the perfect rating of five stars stating, “Pop perfection does not come along often, but Gotye’s ‘Somebody That I Used To Know’ is flawless”. He also said that while it is not flashy, the song is memorable and destined to be a classic. Martin Davies from Click Music gave the song five stars out of five and stated that the song is “that rare example of a track that hits you squarely between the eyes”. John Watson, who co-manages Gotye with Danny Rogers, said of the single’s success: “We’ve never seen any song make a deeper or more immediate connection with so many people.

At the end of the day, there is a new #1 single every week, but in Gotye’s case, he wrote a classic.

Buzz Track: Never Look Back

The Nearly Deads, a female fronted alternative rock are creating a buzz with their video
“Never Look Back” which has clocked over a million views on YouTube. The latest EP was produced by Jon King (Augustana, Darling Parade, 3 Pill Morning). The band is scheduled to perform 2012 Summerfest as well as Van’s Warped Tour. For fans of My Chemical Romance and Evanescence.

Contact: jon@page2music.com

Buzz Track: Young Girls

Fans of Tom Petty, Gaslight Anthem, and The Gallery need to give Irene & The Sleepers a shot. They just released an EP titled ‘Trouble in the Middle of the Night’. The band typically performs in southern states including Texas and Louisiana and have shared the stage with Cowboy Mouth, Black Stone Cherry, Cavo, and Ingram Hill.

Contact: imchrisrimmer@gmail.com

Madonna mocks Lady Gaga and covers Born This Way mashing it up with Express Yourself.

“Here’s an interesting way to throw shade: months after referring to Lady Gaga’s single “Born This Way” as “reductive” of her own work, Madonna was caught on tape rehearsing a mash-up of “Born This Way” and the song it’s said to very closely resemble, “Express Yourself.” (She’s going on tour this summer.) Madonna didn’t have to work too hard to mash them up–they are, indeed, quite similar–though the final song in the medley is a bit pointed. The rehearsal video concludes with a snippet of the 2008 album track “She’s Not Me,” about a younger pretender who tries to copy the older icon’s style, while lacking her je ne sais quoi” (17)

In many cases, idol winners don’t end up with the American dream. Sanjaya Malakar tends bar in the East Village. Camile Velasco worked at a Subway in Los Angeles. A.J. Gil became homeless. And Jessica Sierra checked into rehab . Find out the rest here.