Split Enz “I Got You” charted

I Got You Split Enz

Writer(s): Neil Finn (see lyrics here) First Charted: January 21, 1980 Peak: 53 US, 50 CB, 61 HR, 14 CL, 1 CO, 12 UK, 13 CN, 18 AU, 2 DF (Click for codes to singles charts.) Sales (in millions): -- Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 12.8 video, 24.92 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Split Enz was a rock band formed in New Zealand in 1972 by Tim Finn and Phil Judd. They were a quirky group who, by decade’s end, had developed more commercial sensibilities to become pioneers of new wave music. A big part of that transition came when Tim’s younger brother Neil, a singer and songwriter, joined the fold in 1977. True Colours was his third album with the group and it proved to be the group’s commercial breakthrough. The success was largely due to the lead single, “I Got You,” which was written and sung by Neil. Prior to that, the group had little chart action in their own native New Zealand (“My Mistake” was their biggest hit, reaching #21), much less any international success. “I Got You” topped the charts in New Zealand and Australia and gave the band its first chart entry in the UK (#12) and United States (#53). The song’s eight weeks at #1 in Australia made it the biggest selling single in Australian history at the time time. WK Tim and Neil would often provide each other with song title’s and challenge the other to write a song around it. WK Neil came through, but only used the phrase “I got you” at the beginning of the song and not as part of the chorus as would be expected. The song is about “that special someone who soothes him. When she’s not around, though, it’s not a pretty sight.” SF He was also just learning to play guitar so the riff he played at the beginning was the only one he had learned so far. WK He didn’t believe the song had hit potential at the time. WK Upon its release, Roadrunner magazine said the song “positively drips with appeal that only philistines could fail to appreciate.” WK Cashbox said the song was “due for stateside recognition.” WK The song accomplished that task. Songfacts.com suggests that this may be the first song by a New Zealand band to chart in America. SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Split Enz SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 9/28/2022.