Somebody's Watching Me#Beatfreakz version
{{Short description|1983 single by Rockwell}}
{{hatnote|For the album, see Somebody's Watching Me (album). Not to be confused with the film Someone's Watching Me!.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Somebody's Watching Me
| cover = Somebody's Watching Me by Rockwell US 12-inch.jpg
| alt =
| border = no
| caption = Side-A label of the US 12-inch vinyl single
| type = single
| artist = Rockwell
| album = Somebody's Watching Me
| B-side = "Somebody's Watching Me" (instrumental)
| released = December 27, 1983{{cite web |url=https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=rockwell#search_section |title=RIAA |website=Recording Industry Association of America}}
| studio = Mars Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California){{cite book |first1=François |last1=Allard |first2=Richard |last2=Lecocq |year=2018 |title=Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track |chapter=Rockwell: Somebody's Watching Me |publisher=Octopus Books |isbn=9781788401234 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4qJfDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT378}}
| genre = {{hlist|Synth-funk{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Huey |title=Rockwell – Artist Biography |website=AllMusic |access-date=October 18, 2014 |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rockwell-mn0000291235/biography |archive-date=November 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117213747/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rockwell-mn0000291235/biography}}|synth-pop{{cite web |first=Ryan |last=Reed |title=The 100 Best Beatles Covers |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |date=March 27, 2020 |access-date=December 19, 2021 |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/best-beatles-covers/}}|new wave{{cite book |first=Michaelangelo |last=Matos |title=Can't Slow Down: How 1984 Became Pop's Blockbuster Year |chapter=Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri: July 6, 1984 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RGLbDwAAQBAJ |date=December 8, 2020 |publisher=Hachette Books |isbn=978-0-306-90337-3 |page=161}}{{cite magazine |date=September 17, 2014 |title=100 Best Singles of 1984: Pop's Greatest Year |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-singles-of-1984-pops-greatest-year-163322/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |quote=...but the single was a great midpoint between Eighties R&B and Eighties New Wave regardless...}}|R&B{{cite magazine |date=September 17, 2014 |title=100 Best Singles of 1984: Pop's Greatest Year |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/100-best-singles-of-1984-pops-greatest-year-163322/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |quote=...but the single was a great midpoint between Eighties R&B and Eighties New Wave regardless...}}}}
| length =
- 4:59 (album/12-inch single version)
- 3:57 (single version)
- 3:36 (video version)
| label = Motown
| writer = Kennedy "Rockwell" Gordy
| producer = {{hlist|Curtis Anthony Nolen|Rockwell}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Obscene Phone Caller
| next_year = 1984
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|7YvAYIJSSZY|"Somebody's Watching Me"}}}}
}}
"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.{{cite AV media notes |title=Somebody's Watching Me |others=Rockwell |year=1984 |publisher=Motown Records |location=Hollywood, California}}{{Citation |title=The Essential Michael Jackson - Michael Jackso... {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-essential-michael-jackson-mw0000542166 |access-date=2025-05-22 |language=en}} 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.{{cite magazine |title=The Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |date=March 24, 1984 |access-date=December 16, 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1984-03-24}}{{cite magazine |title=The Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |date=March 31, 1984 |access-date=December 16, 2018 |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/1984-03-31}} In the UK, it reached No. 6 and is Rockwell's only top 40 hit on the UK Singles Chart. 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."
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.{{cite book |first=Raynoma |last=Gordy Singleton |year=1990 |title=Berry, Me and Motown |edition=1st |chapter=Super Three |pages=[https://archive.org/details/berrymemotownunt0000sing/page/297 297–299] |publisher=Contemporary Books |location=Chicago |isbn=0-8092-4340-7 |quote=As they finished mixing down the record, I could barely wait to rush it over and play it for Berry. |chapter-url-access=registration |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/berrymemotownunt0000sing/page/297}}
Musicnotes.com published this song in the key of C-sharp minor, showing Time signature, with vocals spanning from C♯4 to C♯5.{{cite web |title=Somebody's Watching Me By Rockwell – Digital Sheet Music |website=Musicnotes |date=January 18, 2010 |access-date=February 28, 2017 |url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0080577}}
Produced by Curtis Anthony Nolen, the song features backing vocals by Michael, Randy and Jermaine Jackson, with Alan Murray on percussion.{{cite news |first=Cheryl |last=Higginson |title=Rockwell Rockets Up The Popular Charts |date=May 1, 1984 |newspaper=Luddington Daily News}}
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.{{Cite AV media |title=Rockwell - Obscene Phone Caller |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4-h420Ze6s&t=122 |date=2024-11-08 |last=Rockwell |type=video |orig-date=1984 |time-caption=2:02}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2021) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Canada|39|artist=Rockwell|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardglobal200|35|artist=Rockwell|rowheader=true|access-date=November 9, 2021}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Canada|artist=Rockwell|title=Somebody's Watching Me|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|access-date=June 12, 2014}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Denmark|artist=Rockwell|title=Somebody's Watching Me|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2025|id=15403|access-date=May 19, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=New Zealand|artist=Rockwell|title=Somebody's Watching Me|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=2022|source=radioscope|access-date=May 19, 2025}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United Kingdom|artist=Rockwell|title=Somebody's Watching Me|award=Gold|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=16049-5741-1|access-date=November 3, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Rockwell|title=Somebody%s Watching Me|award=Gold|relyear=1984|certyear=1984|access-date=September 6, 2016}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Rockwell|title=Somebody%s Watching Me|award=Gold|relyear=2009|certyear=2012|digital=true|access-date=September 6, 2016|note=Digital}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}
DJ BoBo cover: "Somebody Dance with Me"
{{Main|Somebody Dance with Me}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
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
{{Infobox song
| name = Somebody's Watching Me
| cover = 1 betafrez.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Beatfreakz
| album =
| released = {{start date|2006|5|1}}
| recorded =
| studio =
| genre = House
| length = 2:58
| label = {{hlist|Spinnin'|Data (UK)}}
| writer = Kennedy "Rockwell" Gordy
| producer = Beatfreakz
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = Superfreak
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|5T9APeOD7Z8|"Somebody's Watching Me"}}}}
}}
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=
=Charts=
{{col-begin|width=75%}}
{{col-2}}
==Weekly charts==
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2006) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Australia|38|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Flanders Tip|6|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Wallonia Tip|4|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Dance Flanders){{cite web |title=ultratop.be – 50 DANCE 03/06/2006 |publisher=Ultratop. Hung Medien |access-date=July 23, 2013 |url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/weekchart.asp?cat=sd&year=2006&date=20060603 |language=nl}}
|17 |
|---|
| scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Dance Wallonia)
|17 |
| {{single chart|Flanders|28|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|CIS|4|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|songid=5147|rowheader=true|access-date=October 30, 2021|refname="cis"}} |
| {{single chart|Czech Republic|14|year=2006|week=37|rowheader=true|access-date=July 26, 2020}} |
| scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100){{cite magazine |title=Hits of the World > Eurocharts |magazine=Billboard |volume=118 |issue=20 |page=49 |date=May 20, 2006 |access-date=July 25, 2020 |url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2006/BB-2006-05-20.pdf}}
|11 |
| {{single chart|France|18|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Finland|7|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Germany|41|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|songid=204453|rowheader=true|access-date=March 26, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Hungarydance|10|year=2006|week=25|rowheader=true|access-date=July 26, 2020}} |
| scope="row"| Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40){{cite web |title=2006/30. heti Editors' Choice Top 40 slágerlista |url=https://slagerlistak.hu/editors-choice-radios-jatszasi-lista/2006/30 |publisher=MAHASZ|language=hu|access-date=May 8, 2025}}
| 33 |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|5|song=Somebodys Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|12|year=2006|week=21|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|21|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|New Zealand|7|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100){{cite web |title=Issue nr: 23/2006 (12 Iunie – 18 Iunie 2006) |publisher=Romanian Top 100 |id=see last week position |url=http://www.rt100.ro/top-100-edition.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613185455/http://www.rt100.ro/top-100-edition.html |archive-date=June 13, 2006 |language=ro}}
|28 |
| scope="row"| Russia Airplay (TopHit){{cite web |url=https://tophit.com/chart/top/radio/hits/ru/weekly/20060728-20060803 |title=Top Radio Hits Russia Weekly Chart: Aug 3, 2006 |publisher=TopHit |access-date=April 25, 2024}}
| 3 |
| {{single chart|Scotland|3|date=20060513|rowheader=true|access-date=December 10, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|Switzerland|65|artist=Beatfreakz|song=Somebody's Watching Me|rowheader=true|access-date=July 23, 2013}} |
| {{single chart|UK|3|date=20060513|rowheader=true|access-date=December 10, 2019}} |
| {{single chart|UKdance|1|date=20060513|rowheader=true|access-date=December 10, 2019}} |
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2023) !Peak |
| scope="row"| Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100){{cite web |url=https://www.olis.pl/charts/oficjalna-lista-airplay |title=OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay |publisher=OLiS |language=pl |access-date=September 4, 2023 |type=Select week 26.08.2023–01.09.2023.}}
| 66 |
|---|
{{col-2}}
==Year-end charts==
{{col-end}}
=Certifications=
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Beatfreakz|title=Somebody's Watching Me|award=Silver|relyear=2006|certyear=2019|id=16049-5122-1|access-date=October 22, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
=Release history=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
!scope="col"|Region !scope="col"|Date !scope="col"|Format(s) !scope="col"|Label(s) !scope="col"|{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
| scope="row"|United Kingdom
|May 1, 2006 |CD |Data |{{cite magazine |title=New Releases: Singles |magazine=Music Week |page=27 |date=April 29, 2006}} |
|---|
| scope="row"|Australia
|June 26, 2006 |CD |Ministry of Sound |{{cite web |title=The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 26th June 2006 |publisher=ARIA |page=28 |date=June 26, 2006 |access-date=October 22, 2021 |url=http://www.aria.com.au/issue851.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20060719140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20060720-0000/issue851.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2006}} {{cbignore|bot=medic}} |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Michael Jackson songs}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American new wave songs
Category:Michael Jackson songs
Category:Ministry of Sound singles
Category:Number-one singles in France
Category:Number-one singles in Spain
Category:Rockwell (musician) songs
Category:Songs written by Rockwell (musician)