"Somebody's Watching Me" is a song recorded and written by American singer Rockwell, released by Motown in December 1983. Serving as the lead single from Rockwell's debut studio album of the same name, it features uncredited guest vocals by Michael Jackson and additional backing vocals by Jermaine Jackson.

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.

The song is in the key of C minor, with time, and vocals spanning from C♯<sub>4</sub> to C♯<sub>5</sub>.

Produced by Curtis Anthony Nolen, the song features backing vocals by Michael, Randy and Jermaine Jackson, with Alan Murray on percussion.

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, but whether this is a moment of danger or just an unsettling interaction remains ambiguous.

The mailman has a cameo in Rockwell's next video, for "Obscene Phone Caller".

Charts

Weekly charts

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1984)

!Peak<br />position

|-

!scope="row"|Australia (Kent Music Report)

|12

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"| Brazil (ABPD)

|2

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)

|14

|-

!scope="row"|France (IFOP)

|1

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Italy (Musica e dischi)

|14

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Peru (UPI)

|4

|-

!scope="row"|South Africa (Springbok Radio)

|5

|-

!scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE)

|1

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

|2

|-

!scope="row"|US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)

|2

|-

!scope="row"|US Dance/Disco Top 80 (Billboard)

|3

|-

!scope="row"|US Top Tracks (Billboard)

|1

|}

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2021)

!Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2023)

!Peak<br />position

|-

!scope="row"|Ireland (IRMA/OCC)

|49

|}

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2025)

!Peak<br />position

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Ireland (IRMA/OCC)

|28

|}

Year-end charts

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (1984)

!Position

|-

!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)

|13

|-

!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles (RPM)

|28

|-

!scope="row"|France (IFOP)

|47

|-

!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)

|16

|-

!scope="row"|Netherlands (Single Top 100)

|46

|-

!scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100

|26

|-

!scope="row"|US Hot Black Singles (Billboard)

|21

|-

!scope="row"|West Germany (Media Control)

|46

|-

|}

Certifications

Beatfreakz version

In 2006, Dutch dance music 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

  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

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2006)

!Peak<br />position

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Dance Flanders)

|17

|-

!scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop 50 Dance Wallonia)

|11

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Hungary (Editors' Choice Top 40)

|33

|-

|-

|-

|-

|-

!scope="row"|Romania (Romanian Top 100)

|28

|-

!scope="row"|Russia Airplay (TopHit)

|3

|-

|-

|-

|-

|}

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2023)

!Peak<br />position

|-

!scope="row"|Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)

|66

|}

Year-end charts

{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

!Chart (2006)

!Position

|-

!scope="row"|CIS Airplay (TopHit)

|40

|-

!scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)

|94

|-

!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)

|42

|-

!scope="row"|Russia Airplay (TopHit)

|36

|}

Certifications

Release history

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

!scope="col"|Region

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Format(s)

!scope="col"|Label(s)

!scope="col"|

|-

!scope="row"|United Kingdom

|May 1, 2006

|CD

|Data

|

|-

!scope="row"|Australia

|June 26, 2006

|CD

|Ministry of Sound

|

|}

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)

References