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.
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