Somebody's Watching Me
1983 single by Rockwell From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Somebody's Watching Me" is a song recorded and written by American singer Rockwell, released by the Motown label in December 1983, as the lead single from his debut studio album of the same name. It features guest vocals by Michael Jackson (in the chorus), Randy Jackson, and Jermaine Jackson performing (additional backing vocals).[8] The song became a major commercial success internationally, topping the charts in Belgium, France, and Spain, and reaching the top 5 in Canada, West Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.[9][10] In the UK, it reached No. 6 and is Rockwell's only top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart.[11] Rolling Stone magazine called the song "an international and enduring smash hit that, more than 30 years later, remains the perennial paranoia-rock anthem and Halloween mix go-to song."[2]
| "Somebody's Watching Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side-A label of the US 12-inch vinyl single | ||||
| Single by Rockwell | ||||
| from the album Somebody's Watching Me | ||||
| B-side | "Somebody's Watching Me" (instrumental) | |||
| Released | December 27, 1983[1] | |||
| Recorded | 1983[2] | |||
| Studio | Mars Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)[3] | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Kennedy "Rockwell" Gordy | |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Rockwell singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Somebody's Watching Me" on YouTube | ||||
Background and composition
Rockwell is a son of Motown CEO Berry Gordy. At the time of the recording, Rockwell was estranged from his father and living with Ray Singleton, his father's ex-wife and the mother of his older half-brother, Kerry Gordy. Singleton served as executive producer on the project and would occasionally play demo tracks to Berry Gordy, who was less than enthusiastic about Rockwell's music until he heard the single with Michael Jackson's familiar voice featuring prominently on background vocals.[8][12]
Musicnotes.com published this song in the key of C-sharp minor, showing 4
4 time, with vocals spanning from C♯4 to C♯5.[13]
Produced by Curtis Anthony Nolen, the song features backing vocals by Michael, Randy and Jermaine Jackson, with Alan Murray on percussion.[8][14]
Music video
The music video depicts Rockwell at his home taking a shower and having illusions of his every move being surreptitiously recorded by a video camera. Other scenes in the video include Rockwell in a cemetery, the tap water in the shower stall spraying blood, and him having his mail delivered by a mailman who appears to be alive, but is, in fact, undead. The video ends with the mailman handing Rockwell a package and cuts off just before the mailman kills him.
Charts
Summarize
Perspective
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[47] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[48] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[49] | Gold | 1,000,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[49] Digital |
Gold | 500,000* |
|
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
Of Love and Lust (OLAL) cover: "Somebody's Watching Me"
In 2024, Of Love and Lust (OLAL) released a modern take on Rockwell’s classic available on Spotify[50] and other streaming services, spotlighting real-world surveillance by Sheriff spy planes in Pima County, Arizona.[51] OLAL's video[52] for its rendition of Rockwell’s “Somebody’s Watching Me” reveals unnerving aerial surveillance — conducted without a warrant — of one of OLAL's own songwriters, underscoring growing concerns over privacy and governmental overreach. In OLAL’s take, Rockwell’s haunting lyrics find new resonance amid today’s culture of pervasive monitoring. OLAL’s release came at a time of heightened scrutiny around law enforcement surveillance tactics worldwide.
DJ BoBo cover: "Somebody Dance with Me"
 |
DJ BoBo based his 1992 single "Somebody Dance with Me" on "Somebody's Watching Me" with new lyrics and rap. The DJ BoBo single reached No. 1 in Sweden and Switzerland, and the Top 5 in Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway. In 2012, a remix of the hit was made by Remady titled "Somebody Dance With Me (Remady 2013 Mix)" by DJ BoBo featuring Manu-L. Released early in 2013, it charted on the Swiss Hitparade, reaching No. 4. The mix was made on the 20th anniversary of the initial hit by DJ BoBo in November 1992.
Beatfreakz version
Summarize
Perspective
| "Somebody's Watching Me" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Beatfreakz | ||||
| Released | May 1, 2006 | |||
| Genre | House | |||
| Length | 2:58 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | Kennedy "Rockwell" Gordy | |||
| Producer(s) | Beatfreakz | |||
| Beatfreakz singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Somebody's Watching Me" on YouTube | ||||
In 2006, Dutch dance group Beatfreakz recorded a pseudo-cover of the song that samples the chorus but omitted the verses. This version was a top-10 hit in Belgium, Finland, Ireland, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Track listing
Dutch CD single[53]
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[81] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
|
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history
See also
References
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