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Somebody's Watching Me

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For the album, see Somebody's Watching Me (album). Not to be confused with the film Someone's Watching Me!.

"Somebody's Watching Me"
Side-A label of the US 12-inch vinyl single
Single by Rockwell feat. Michael Jackson
from the album Somebody's Watching Me
B-side"Somebody's Watching Me (Instrumental)"
ReleasedDecember 27, 1983[1]
Recorded1983[2]
StudioMars Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)[3]
Genre
Length
  • 4:59 (album/12-inch single version)
  • 3:57 (single version)
  • 3:36 (video version)
LabelMotown
Songwriter(s)Kennedy "Rockwell" Gordy
Producer(s)
  • Curtis Anthony Nolen
  • Rockwell
Rockwell singles chronology
"Somebody's Watching Me"
(1983) 		"Obscene Phone Caller"
(1984)
Music video
"Somebody's Watching Me" on YouTube

"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) and Jermaine Jackson (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]

Background and composition

[edit]

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 featured backing vocals by Michael and Jermaine Jackson, with Alan Murray on percussion.[8][14]

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
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.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Of Love and Lust (OLAL) cover: "Somebody's Watching Me"

[edit]

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"

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Main article: 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

[edit]
"Somebody's Watching Me"
Single by Beatfreakz
ReleasedMay 1, 2006 (2006-05-01)
GenreHouse
Length2:58
Label
Songwriter(s)Kennedy "Rockwell" Gordy
Producer(s)Beatfreakz
Beatfreakz singles chronology
"Somebody's Watching Me"
(2006) 		"Superfreak"
(2006)
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

[edit]

Dutch CD single[53]

  1. "Somebody's Watching Me" (Hi_Tack radio edit)
  2. "Somebody's Watching Me" (Hi_Tack remix)
  3. "Somebody's Watching Me" (Dennis Christopher remix)
  4. "Somebody's Watching Me" (E-Craigs 2006 mix)
  5. "Somebody's Watching Me" (BeatFreakz Clubmix)
  6. "Somebody's Watching Me" (Ian Carey club mix)

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[81] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

[edit]
Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom May 1, 2006 CD Data [82]
Australia June 26, 2006 CD Ministry of Sound [83]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "RIAA". Recording Industry Association of America.
  2. ^ a b Newman, Jason (December 7, 2016). "How 'Somebody's Watching Me' Singer Rockwell Created a Paranoid Pop Classic". Rolling Stone.
  3. ^ Allard, François; Lecocq, Richard (2018). "Rockwell: Somebody's Watching Me". Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Octopus Books. ISBN 9781788401234.
  4. ^ Huey, Steve. "Rockwell – Artist Biography". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 17, 2019. Retrieved October 18, 2014.
  5. ^ Reed, Ryan (March 27, 2020). "The 100 Best Beatles Covers". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  6. ^ Matos, Michaelangelo (December 8, 2020). "Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: July 6, 1984". Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year. Hachette Books. p. 161. ISBN 978-0-306-90337-3.
  7. ^ a b "100 Best Singles of 1984: Pop's Greatest Year". Rolling Stone. September 17, 2014. Retrieved August 31, 2023. ...but the single was a great midpoint between Eighties R&B and Eighties New Wave regardless...
  8. ^ a b c Somebody's Watching Me (Media notes). Rockwell. Hollywood, California: Motown Records. 1984.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. March 24, 1984. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  10. ^ "The Hot 100". Billboard. March 31, 1984. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
  11. ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  12. ^ Gordy Singleton, Raynoma (1990). "Super Three". Berry, Me and Motown (1st ed.). Chicago: Contemporary Books. pp. 297–299. ISBN 0-8092-4340-7. As they finished mixing down the record, I could barely wait to rush it over and play it for Berry.
  13. ^ "Somebody's Watching Me By Rockwell – Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes. January 18, 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2017.
  14. ^ Higginson, Cheryl (May 1, 1984). "Rockwell Rockets Up The Popular Charts". Luddington Daily News.
  15. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  16. ^ "Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  17. ^ "Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  18. ^ "Las canciones más populares en América Latina". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). April 9, 1984. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  19. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 6316." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  20. ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Rockwell". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 218. Retrieved July 4, 2022.
  21. ^ "Toutes les Chansons N° 1 des Années 80's". InfoDisc (in French). Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  22. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Somebody's Watching Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  23. ^ "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Rockwell".
  24. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 12, 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
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  26. ^ "Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  27. ^ "Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me". VG-lista. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  28. ^ "Canciones más populares en Latinoamérica". La Opinión (Los Angeles) (in Spanish). April 22, 1984. p. 20. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  29. ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969–1989 Acts (R)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  30. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  31. ^ "Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me". Singles Top 100. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  32. ^ "Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Somebody's Watching Me – Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 26, 2015.
  34. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending MARCH 24, 1984". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012.
  35. ^ a b "BB-1984-03-10" (PDF). Billboard. March 10, 1984. pp. 22, 57. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  36. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  37. ^ "Rockwell Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  38. ^ "Rockwell Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  39. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1984" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  40. ^ "Top 100 Singles of 1984". RPM. Vol. 41, no. 17. January 5, 1985. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  41. ^ "TOP – 1984". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  42. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1984" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  43. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1984" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  44. ^ a b "BB-1984-12-22" (PDF). Billboard. December 22, 1984. pp. 14, TA-19, TA-21. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  45. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1984". Cash Box. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012.
  46. ^ "Jahrescharts – 1984" (in German). Offiziellecharts.de. GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  47. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me". Music Canada.
  48. ^ "British single certifications – Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  49. ^ a b "American single certifications – Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me". Recording Industry Association of America.
  50. ^ Somebody's Watching Me, October 25, 2024, retrieved November 7, 2024
  51. ^ Spy Plane Footage Featured in "Somebody's Watching Me" Music Release by Of Love and Lust, October 31, 2024, retrieved November 7, 2024
  52. ^ Somebody's Watching Me (Official Video), October 28, 2024, retrieved November 7, 2024
  53. ^ Somebody's Watching Me (Dutch CD single liner notes). Beatfreakz. Spinnin' Records. 2006. SPCDS 10110.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  54. ^ "Beatfreakz – Somebody's Watching Me". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
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  59. ^ Beatfreakz — Somebody's Watching Me. TopHit. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  60. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 37. týden 2006 in the date selector. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  61. ^ "Hits of the World > Eurocharts" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 118, no. 20. May 20, 2006. p. 49. Retrieved July 25, 2020.
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  63. ^ "Beatfreakz: Somebody's Watching Me" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  64. ^ "Beatfreakz – Somebody's Watching Me" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 26, 2019.
  65. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved July 26, 2020.
  66. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Somebodys Watching Me". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  67. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 2006" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  68. ^ "Beatfreakz – Somebody's Watching Me" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  69. ^ "Beatfreakz – Somebody's Watching Me". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  70. ^ "Issue nr: 23/2006 (12 Iunie – 18 Iunie 2006)" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. see last week position. Archived from the original on June 13, 2006.
  71. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Aug 3, 2006". TopHit. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  72. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  73. ^ "Beatfreakz – Somebody's Watching Me". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved July 23, 2013.
  74. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  75. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  76. ^ "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 26.08.2023–01.09.2023.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
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  78. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2006" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved January 12, 2020.
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  80. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart: 2006". TopHit. Archived from the original on April 25, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.
  81. ^ "British single certifications – Beatfreakz – Somebody's Watching Me". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  82. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. April 29, 2006. p. 27.
  83. ^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 26th June 2006" (PDF). ARIA. June 26, 2006. p. 28. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
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