Somebody's Watching Me

Album

locket

Label

Motown

Genre

Synthpop

Composer(s)

Kennedy Gordy

Entered Chart

Jan 28, 1984

Peak Date

Mar 24, 1984

Released

Unknown

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Motown 1702

B-Side

(instrumental)

Rockwell is Kennedy Gordy, son of Motown founder Berry Gordy from a relationship with Margaret Norton. Kennedy wrote the song and put the demo together with the help of a Motown producer named Curtis Nolen. Berry Gordy didn't have much faith in his son as a recording artist, but when he heard "Somebody's Watching Me," he knew it was a hit and agreed to release it. Michael Jackson sang backup. Rockwell's sister Hazel was married to Jackson's brother Jermaine. Michael Jackson was at the height of his powers and Rockwell knew he could get the song released if he could convince Michael to sing on it. >> Along with "Who Can It Be Now?" by Men At Work, this is one of the great comedic paranoia songs of the '80s. In the song, Rockwell is just a regular guy, but he's convinced people are out to get him, as if he's the real-life subject of a Twilight Zone episode. It would be scary stuff, but he sings it in an ersatz Boris Karloff voice, making it clear it's all good fun. The Motown brain trust came up with the name "Rockwell." Prince and Madonna were doing very well using one name, and inspiration struck when someone saw a photo of a Norman Rockwell painting. This was on the charts at the same time as "Thriller," which was the last single from Michael Jackson's famous album; both songs peaked in the US ("Thriller" at #4, "Somebody's Watching Me" at #2) in March 1984. By that time, Jackson had been saturating the airwaves for over a year, but he was still red hot. Rockwell used him brilliantly, with Jackson carrying the chorus with just one line suited to his voice: "I always feel like somebody's watching me." The video was directed by Francis Delia, who also did Weird Al Yankovic's "I Lost on Jeopardy" and Starship's "Sara." In the video, Rockwell's visions get more and more real as his fears close in on him. By the end, even the mailman is out to get him. Rockwell's next single was "Obscene Phone Caller," another synth-heavy song where he's tormented, this time by someone who keeps calling. It went to #35 US, followed by "He's A Cobra" at #108. Along with "Miss You," "In The Air Tonight" and "Girls Just Want To Have Fun," this was one of the songs used in the first episode of the TV series Miami Vice, which used lots of popular music throughout it's five-season run from 1984-1989. "Somebody's Watching Me" also appears in the 2008 movie You Don't Mess with the Zohan. Christian rapper Toby Mac (real name: Toby McKeegan) of the band DC Talk sampled this for his song "Somebody's Watching." In this case, it referred to God, who Toby believed was constantly looking out for him. Joanna Valencia sang backup vocals. Toby Mac also sampled the Buffalo Springfield song "For What It's Worth" for his song "What's Goin' Down?," both of which appear on the album Momentum. >> In 2006 Beatfreakz, a duo from Holland, reached #3 in the UK with a dance version of this song that also topped the charts in Spain. The video was a parody of Michael Jackson's "Thriller." This was used in commercials for Geico insurance in 2008. The ads showed stacks of money with googly eyes staring at people who might save money on their car insurance. This song played whenever the money was nearby. The spots were very successful and ran well into 2009, even after Michael Jackson's unexpected death. The Kool & the Gang hit "Misled," released later in 1984, was inspired by "Somebody's Watching Me." Group Ronald Bell used a lot of the same musical elements and kept the spooky vibe in the lyric.

Who's watching?
Tell me, who's watching?
Who's watching me?

I'm just an average man with an average life
I work from nine to five, hey, hell, I pay the price
All I want is to be left alone in my average home
But why do I always feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone and?

I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy (oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Tell me is it just a dream?

When I come home at night
I bolt the door real tight
People call me on the phone, I'm trying to avoid
But can the people on TV see me or am I just paranoid?
When I'm in the shower, I'm afraid to wash my hair
'Cause I might open my eyes and find someone standing there
People say I'm crazy, just a little touched
But maybe showers remind me of Psycho too much
That's why

I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy (oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me?

(Who's watching me?)
I don't know anymore
Are the neighbors watching me? (Who's watching?)
Well, is the mailman watching me? (Tell me, who's watching?)
And I don't feel safe anymore, oh, what a mess
I wonder who's watching me now (who?), the IRS?

I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy (oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Tell me is it just a dream?

I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy (oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's playing tricks on me?
(Who's watching?)

(Oh, oh)

(Who's watching me?)
I always feel like somebody's watching me (oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
(Who's watching me?)
I always feel like somebody's watching me (oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
(Who's watching me?)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
And I have no privacy (oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
I can't enjoy my tea
(Who's watching me?)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Can I have my privacy? (Oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Who's watching me?
(Who's watching me?)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
(Oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Stop playing tricks on me
(Who's watching me?)
I always feel like somebody's watching me
Why don't they leave me be? (Oh, oh)
I always feel like somebody's watching me