Everyone Knows That, also known as Ulterior Motives and abbreviated as EKT, is the name given to an unidentified partial recording of a song from an unknown source. The recording is a low-quality seventeen second snippet recorded by a recording device and is suspected to be from the 1980s or '90s. It appeared on the song identification website WatZatSong in 2021, when the snippet was uploaded by user carl92. The user discovered the recording amongst files in a old DVD backup, and speculates it was a leftover from when they were learning how to capture audio. The recorded snippet uploaded by carl92 is the only known proof and existing recording of the song. It is known for its liminal retro pop sound and feel.^[3]

Since being uploaded online by carl92 in 2021, users online have had an extensive collaborative search for the full song and any information regarding its origin and artist.

History

It is unknown when the song was recorded, but given its stylistic similarities to 1980s pop music, it is theorized to have been recorded during that time. The seventeen-second snippet of the song was uploaded to WatZatSong on October 7, 2021, by user carl92, who asked for help in identifying the song. They claimed that the snippet file was from 1999 in the file system, and guessed that the song is from Spain, where they claimed to live. However, the song or snippet was not necessarily recorded or originated in 1999.

The song gained popularity online in late 2022 and 2023, with a subreddit dedicated to finding the song and its artist being launched in June 2023.

Online search and possible origins

The search for the song was initially slow to gain traction, but over time it gained a dedicated following. The search eventually spread to Reddit, where a sub-forum dedicated to finding the song was created. Possible theorized sources for the song include a 1990s MTV broadcast or a commercial jingle.

On YouTube, users have created reconstructions (some using AI) using the original snippet into what the full song could potentially sounds like.

There has been some speculation that Roxette are the song's creator due to its similarities to some of their songs, and because users that scaled down the clip by a key claimed to hear a previously unheard female vocalist, a combination that Roxette used in some of their songs, such as "Dangerous." Other users noted the bass sounded similar to Guy Pratt's playing, a well-known bassist from the United Kingdom. Savage Garden have also been proposed due to the song's vocals being similar to lead vocalist Darren Hayes.^[4] Interestingly, on November 17, 2023, after being contacted numerous times about the song, Hayes posted a now-deleted tweet stating simply "Everyone Knows That" on X, leading to increased speculation.^[5] Hayes has not commented since the post, leaving fans to wonder why he deleted the tweet.

On January 7, 2024, two members of the subreddit were interviewed by French commercial TV network TF1.^[6]

Currently, there are no definitive leads to who the artist may be.

Suspected instruments used

The following are the instruments that are widely speculated to be used in the song:

• LinnDrum LM-2 drum machine
• Yamaha DX7 synthesizer
• Bass
• Telecaster guitar

See also

• The Most Mysterious Song on the Internet
• Lostwave
• Lost Media

External Links

• Original post by carl92 on WatZatSong
• /r/everyoneknowsthat on Reddit

Notes

References