"Never Be Like You" is a song by Australian musician Flume, co-written by and featuring Canadian singer-songwriter Kai. It was released on 16 January 2016, by Future Classic, as the lead single of Flume's second studio album, Skin (2016). A remix by Disclosure was released on 4 March 2016, and a remix EP was released on 25 March 2016.
The song debuted at number10 on the ARIA Singles Chart, later reaching numberone and becoming Flume's first song to top the chart. The song also charted in Belgium, France, the United States and New Zealand, where it reached numbertwo on the RMNZ Singles Chart.
At the ARIA Music Awards of 2016, the song won Best Pop Release, and was nominated for Song of the Year and Best Video. The song received a nomination for Best Dance Recording at the 2017 Grammy Awards. On 26 January 2017, the song was voted numberone on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2016.
Background In a press release, Flume said, "kai and I were sending ideas back and forth online, then met up in New York and went into the studio. We laid down some chords and started an idea but weren't feeling inspired. So we went out into the night for a few hours and when we returned, it all started to come together."
Critical reception
The song received positive reviews from critics.
Harley Brown of Spin said that "Diplo‑endorsed artist kai provides sumptuous and sterling vocals over sparkling half‑time drops, like an instrumental B‑side from FutureSex LoveSounds" and that "The new R&B look is a good one for Flume".
Billboard said "The song features Canadian chanteuse kai, smoothly balancing chilled out trap effects with spacey ambient noise and future bass elements, going hard and soft at oncea duality expressed in the lyrics as well, with kai begging forgiveness while asserting right to just be herself".
Rolling Stone named "Never Be like You" one of the 30 best songs of the first half of 2016: "The pop realization of the twisted techno mutations of cutting-edge acts like Flying Lotus, Rustie and Arca. "Never Be like You" skulks like Justin Timberlake's "My Love" caught in a parade of sparking, stuttering robotics."
In 2025, the song placed 26 in the Triple J Hottest 100 of Australian Songs.
Track listings Digital download "Never Be Like You" – 3:54
Digital download (Disclosure remix) "Never Be Like You" (Disclosure remix) – 6:11
Digital download (EP) "Never Be Like You" – 3:54 "Never Be Like You" (Disclosure remix) – 6:11 "Never Be Like You" (Wave Racer remix) – 3:28 "Never Be Like You" (Teengirl Fantasy remix) – 4:22
Digital download (Martin Solveig remix) "Never Be Like You" (Martin Solveig remix) – 4:44
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2016) Peakposition Australia Dance (ARIA) 1 Italy (FIMI) 78 Latvia (Latvijas Top 40) 7 Portugal (AFP) 63 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan) 1
Chart (2020) Peakposition
Chart (2024) Peakposition
Year-end charts Chart (2016) Position Australia (ARIA) 4 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders) 30 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia) 73 Canada (Canadian Hot 100) 51 France (SNEP) 72 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) 6 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 82 US Billboard Hot 100 60 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 8 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) 40 Chart (2017)Position Australia (ARIA) 97 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard) 39 Chart (2024)Position Australia Dance (ARIA) 21
Decade-end charts Chart (2010–2019) Position Australia (ARIA) 47 Australian Artist Singles (ARIA) 6
Certifications
See also List of best-selling singles in Australia List of number-one singles of 2016 (Australia)
References