I Got You: Split Enz’s New Wave Rise in 1980

In 1980, Split Enz released I Got You, a song that turned a simple riff into an eight-week No. 1 reign in Australia. Out on Mushroom Records (K 7759), it was Neil Finn’s breakout, written from a Tim Finn title, produced by David Tickle, and paired with Noel Crombie’s oddball video. It ruled charts and signaled Split Enz’s shift from cult act to stars. Let’s explore its roots, its run, and its lasting echo.

From Kiwi Quirks to Aussie Anthem
Split Enz started in New Zealand in ’72, led by Tim Finn’s art-rock vision. By ’80, they’d made Melbourne home, and Neil Finn was rising. I Got You came from a Tim-suggested title; Neil built it with a guitar riff he’d just learned—‘the only one I knew,’ he’d laugh later. Recorded for True Colours at Armstrong Studios, David Tickle gave it polish. Released in January ’80, Crombie’s video—Neil in a suit, jittery sets—sealed its charm. It was their moment to shine.

Chart Conquest
Charting on February 25th, ’80, it hit No. 1 on April 14th, ousting Queen’s Crazy Little Thing Called Love. It held for eight weeks—25 weeks total—yielding to Rocky Burnette’s Tired of Toein’ the Line. It finished ’80 as Australia’s No. 2 single, a huge win for Mushroom. New Zealand loved it too, and it grazed the US at No. 53. True Colours topped album charts, proving Split Enz had arrived.

New Wave Meets Aussie Vibe
In ’80, Australia was ripe for change—pub rock ruled, but new wave was fresh. I Got You fit perfectly: catchy, edgy, with a paranoid twist. Countdown ate up Crombie’s video, its weirdness matching the era’s bold shift. Split Enz were Kiwi imports we’d claimed—Melbourne’s scene fueled them. Globally, new wave was hot, and this track paved the way for Neil’s later success. It was quirky yet universal—a Finn family win.

Why It Sticks
That riff, Neil’s voice, the tension—it’s pure ’80s magic. Tickle kept it crisp, Crombie made it visual. True Colours sold big, but Split Enz evolved—Tim’s exit shifted gears. I Got You endures—a new wave cornerstone, a Kiwi-Aussie classic. Play it now, and you’re in 1980, hooked on that riff. Got a Split Enz tale? Share it below—I’m keen to hear!