Somebody's Watching Me

Template:Short description {{#invoke:Hatnote|hatnote}} Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox song "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 with Jermaine Jackson performing additional backing vocals.<ref name="SWM">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In the UK, it reached No. 6 and is Rockwell's only top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="UK"/> 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."<ref name=Newman2016/>

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.<ref name="SWM"/><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Musicnotes.com published this song in the key of C-sharp minor, showing [[Time signature|Template:Music time]], with vocals spanning from C♯₄ to C♯₅.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Produced by Curtis Anthony Nolen, the song features backing vocals by Michael, Randy and Jermaine Jackson, with Alan Murray on percussion.<ref name="SWM"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.

The mailman has a cameo in Rockwell's next video Obscene Phone Caller.<ref name="Obscene">Template:Cite AV media</ref>

Charts

Weekly charts

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Chart (1984)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	12
Brazil (ABPD)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	2
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	14
France (IFOP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Italy (Musica e dischi)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Rockwell".</ref>	14
Peru (UPI)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	4
South Africa (Springbok Radio)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Spain (AFYVE)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	1
US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="awards">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)<ref name="awards"/>	1
US Cash Box Top 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)<ref name="BB">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	3
US Top Tracks (Billboard)<ref name="BB"/>	31

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Chart (2021)	Peak position

Year-end charts

Chart (1984)	Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	13
Canada Top Singles (RPM)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	28
France (IFOP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	47
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	16
Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	46
US Billboard Hot 100<ref name="BB End">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	26
US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)<ref name="BB End"/>	12
US Cash Box Top 100<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	21
West Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	46

DJ BoBo cover: "Somebody Dance with Me"

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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

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<ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>

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

Weekly charts

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Chart (2006)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Dance Flanders)<ref name="Ultratop.be">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	17
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Dance Wallonia)<ref name="Ultratop.be" />	17
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	11
Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	33
Romania (Romanian Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	28
Russia Airplay (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3

Chart (2023)	Peak position
Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	66

Year-end charts

Chart (2006)	Position
CIS (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	39
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	94
UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	42
Russia Airplay (TopHit)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	36

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Template:Abbr
United Kingdom	May 1, 2006	CD	Data	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Australia	June 26, 2006	CD	Ministry of Sound	citation	CitationClass=web }} Template:Cbignore</ref>

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1984 (U.S.)
• Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1984
• List of number-one singles of 1984 (France)
• List of number-one singles of 1984 (Spain)