Released in the spring of 84, the son of Berry Gordy, hit BIG with this song "Somebody's Watching Me". The song broke wide open obviously because of the hook sung by Michael. What a lot of folks don't know is that Jermaine is also singing background on the song. Jermaine was the one who first agreed to sing on the song as a favor because he was married to Rockwell's sister, Hazel Gordy. I've always dug this song. Cool, funny lyrics. Rockwell said he chose to sing the lyrics with a British accent, because that was the "in thing" at the time. The video was pretty cool too. Man, remember when MTV was like this? Wow, what a different time. Anyway, who else liked "Somebody's Watching Me"?

blackguitaristz said:

Nerd Fact - the 43rd best selling song in the UK that year.

it was ok at best.

lol..Yeah this song was HUGE back then. Micheal was still riding high with "Thriller" and "Victory" was right around the corner, so this song fit right in. What ever happened to Rockwell? I would like to see a recent picture of what he looks like now. It seems like he fell off the face of the earth.

Yeah man!! Those were cool times..Prince, The Jacksons, Rockwell, Cameo, Rick James, The System...1984 wasn't just the year of Orwell, it was also the year of "androgynous looking brothers"..lol!

Yeah man!! Those were cool times..Prince, The Jacksons, Rockwell, Cameo, Rick James, The System...1984 wasn't just the year of Orwell, it was also the year of "androgynous looking brothers"..lol!

After "Somebody's Watching Me" was released in addition to "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney and "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin'" with Jermaine, Michael was very overexposed which is why the Jacksons' 'Victory' LP didn't do as well as expected at the time.

Oh, my God, this song was everywhere when it came out! As many have said, it came along at the right time. This was just a year or so after I really started getting into Michael Jackson, and I wanted something new. Here comes Rockwell with this tune. Truth be told, it should have been credited to both of them, because Michael's part truly made the song and is probably more memorable than Rockwell's.

After it went away and the follow-up Obscene Phone Caller came and went, I forgot all about him. Then Maxwell came along and I was all kinds of for a while. I thought, "This was the same dude that did Somebody's Watching Me?

After "Somebody's Watching Me" was released in addition to "Say Say Say" with Paul McCartney and "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin'" with Jermaine, Michael was very overexposed which is why the Jacksons' 'Victory' LP didn't do as well as expected at the time.

Rockwell had very lil talent what so ever!! ( I almost said no talent, but I hate hyperboles) I found his LP, and ... well I can'ty lie I listened top the whole thing but I was laughing all the way. His cover of the Taxman was okay. But still it's no way that dude wouldve gotten a record contract if he wasnt Gordys son. Ole' retarded Count Dracula sounding bitch.

kdj997 said:

He wasn't very talented.On his first two singles ("Somebody's Watching Me" and "Obscene Phone Caller"),he basically just talked his way through the songs,lol.I don't think he was really a singer.

kdj997 said:

He wasn't very talented.On his first two singles ("Somebody's Watching Me" and "Obscene Phone Caller"),he basically just talked his way through the songs,lol.I don't think he was really a singer.

DavidEye said:

He was really just a famous person's son.

DavidEye said:

He was really just a famous person's son.

sextonseven said:

Exactly.And then there was "State Of Shock" with Mick Jagger.In 1984,Michael was all over the radio.The 'Thriller' album was still selling at this time.There was probably too much MJ-related product out there,which hurt the sales of 'Victory'.I heard that he declined to appear in the 'Victory' videos ("Torture" and "Body") because he didn't want to become overexposed.

DavidEye said:

It was between Rockwell and "State Of ShocK" on which thread I was going to do. I chose this one, although to this day, I still bump "State Of Shock" in my ride. Love that song! Somebody else will probably bite and run a thread on it. Prince was probably having a fit seeing Mick Jagger teaming up with The Jacksons. I remember when that song first came out, a radio station out here in So. Cal played that song 3 times in a row! I have never seen that done before or sense. Eddie Martinez got with Tito on the music. This totally pre-dated Michael's "Black or White". Similar rock/pop vibe, although the music to "State of Shock" is much more convincing.

blackguitaristz said:

"state of shock" is raw and demo like. Which is very surprising for a jacko cut. Freddie Mercury was on vocals originally. think how much better it would be to hear freddie instead of the off key jagger. Next to Jacko, jagger sounds shite.
Yep, it is demo like. That's one of the main reasons I dig it so. But, you are right, it is surprising Michael would have it released in that format. Most likely because he was really into reaching a 'rock' audience, which started with him cutting "Beat It". So, that would probably explain the sound. I remember reading that MJ was going to do a duet with Freddie, but didn't know it was going to be that song. Yeah, although I do like Mick's vocals on the song, Freddie's would have been better. Then maybe, Brian May could have thrown in a killer solo!

Jagger aind tina turner ripped it up on "live aid" though.