"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). 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. 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. Musicnotes.com published this song in the key of C-sharp minor, showing time, with vocals spanning from C♯4 to C♯5. Produced by Curtis Anthony Nolen, the song featured backing vocals by Michael and Jermaine Jackson, with Alan Murray on percussion.

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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 and other streaming services, spotlighting real-world surveillance by Sheriff spy planes in Pima County, Arizona. OLAL's video 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

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

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Release history