Why Did Michael Jackson Help Rockwell?
R&B singer Rockwell had a #1 single in 1983 with ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’ and then quickly faded away into oblivion. The biggest and perhaps only reason the song was a hit was because the legendary Michael Jackson sang the chorus and background vocals on the hit song.
But why did Jackson appear on the single? Sure he did duets with Paul McCartney and his sister Janet Jackson over the course of his career, but Rockwell would have been a musical nobody without Jacko’s vocal charity.
Well there was three reasons why Michael sang the chorus on ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’.
- Rockwell’s real name is Kennedy William Gordy. Therefore his father is Berry Gordy, the founder of Motown Records. Gordy gave Michael and the Jackson 5 their big start with Motown in 1968. So Micheal likely felt like he was repaying a debt to Gordy.
- Rockwell’s had an older sister Hazel Gordy. Hazel was married to Michael’s older brother Jermaine Jackson. Jermaine and Hazel were married from 1973-1987. Rockwell’s hit song was released during this time in 1983.
- Michael might not have had much of a childhood, but having been around Motown USA recording as a young child he became friends with Kennedy ‘Rockwell’ Gordy.
The chorus for the song is almost so famous that many people over the years have mistaken the song to be one of Jackson’s own. It is more than safe to say, that without Jackson’s backing vocals, this song would have never landed on Billboard’s #1 spot.
If you look at the album cover above you will notice Rockwell is wearing a single black glove in an obvious tribute/copycat of Jackson.
Watch the video of Rockwell’s ‘Somebody’s Watching Me’ Below:
The remix of the song has also been featured in Geico commericals. Rockwell did break into the U.S. Top 100 again in 1984 with ‘Obscene Phone Caller’ that ended up at #35 on the chart.
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I think you’re full of whooey! The song, and I mean the entire song was hot and would have been a hit with or without Michael Jackson’s tiny contribution. Just press play and listen to it. Personally I think the bass line and the two verses are the best parts. Not Michael’s almost unnoticeable chorus.
I CLEARLY remember the days when the song was a hit. I was a junior in college and it wasn’t even promoted that Michael sang on the song or that Rockwell was Berry Gordy’s son. No one even knew that was Michael Jackson singing until we were told that was Michael Jackson singing. Rockwell wanted to make it on his own. That’s why he used the name Rockwell instead of using his real name, which would have of course overshadowed the music. The song took off on its own and those two facts came to light well after the song was a hit on the charts.
I think you’re nuts to think that people would like a song and make it a hit, SOLEY because Michael Jackson sang seven words in a chorus. That’s one helluva dumb reason to like a song don’t you think? Using your logic, EVERY song Michael sang more than a verse on should have been a monster hit. People are stupid but DAMN –– give ‘em some credit!
Bottom-line, take away Michael Jackson’s voice and you still got a great beat, great synths, a great concept and great lyrics. It wasn’t all about Michael singing a chorus.
Yeah, Rockwell only had one “real” hit, and as luck would have it, happened to be the one MJ sang on. And I agree, Michael singing on the record was a small scale version of “Diana Ross presents the Jackson Five.” But childhood friends and family relationships aside, THAT song was gonna be a hit with or without Michael Jackson’s voice. Believe that!!!
Great song either way. Having MJ on it only helped it more.
Rockwell needed a push .That is what Miicheal and his brother gave Rockwell..Well done bass line ,chords ,leads ,chorus melody and overall idea ..A true classic .I even redid it on youtube .
I changed not a note ..For sure ,now more people know about the fact that Michael and his brother participated ..I am sure that was one take for Michael and his brother …Rockwell is talented no doubt !! Michael or not the song would fly.
I say this despite being an MJ fan …
Whoa, Slashh!, whatcha been smokin’? Michael Jackson’s “tiny” contribution? Michael’s “almost unnoticeable” contribution? “No one even knew that was Michael Jackson singing” until they were told so? Dude, either you be trippin’, or your real name is Rockwell and you’re just bitter. Joshua’s assessment of the situation is right on target.
Man everybody loved that song when it came out. It was catchy, had a great video, and was entertaining to listen too. When it came out I might have been 8 or 9 years old. Didn’t realize that was Michael Jackson singing that until I was about 22. Now knowing that Jacko was singing it and that Rockwell was Gordy’s son gives me reason to play it again at this age but definitely was not the reason for the albums success back then!
What ever happened to Rockwell? He dropped off of the planet and hasn’t been seen or heard from for decades. His father was head of a big record label so it isn’t like he couldn’t get another shot at more hit songs. Has anyone discovered where he faded to in recent years? It just seems so strange that poof he vanished.
Funny, I always thought it was a Michael Jackson’s song, when the mp3 came to the world scene I searched for weeks for this song but my mistake was to try to search it as it was a MJ original track.
People that says that Michael Jackson had a tiny contribution are deaft or something that doesn’t mean that we must take away Rockwell’s credit. In the end he was the one with the idea to include Mr. Jackson anyways.
Greant song, good memories.