Even as a kid before I saw the music video, I knew it was two people singing (Rockwell and MJ). I just thought it was wild MJ was willing to sing back up as popular as he was at the time.
I agree with Fenom; everyone knows this was MJ! This song wouldn't have been a hit without MJ's hook because the rest of the song isn't all that good in my opinion. The video is decent though and back in the 80's, that was important.
“Twilight Zone” - Golden Earring. Gents, this is another good “spooky” tune to react to for October! Song is a fun banger from the early 80sand if you know “Radar Love”,… same group. Thanks for this great reaction!
Rockwell snuck the song into the Motown songwriter and producer meeting because he was going to get bounced otherwise (other siblings and relatives in the meeting). MJ was friends with Rockwell and after hearing the demo and he cut the vocals. (But he was under contact so no ft. Credit could be given) But yeah that accent was silly...
I was at a party..this song came on the radio...i yelled out hey...that's michael jackson singing inbthat background...and everyone rushed to walmart to checked to see those music credits...well he wasn't listed at that time. And everyone said i was crazy it wasn't him singing ...until it finally came out it was him singing.
The vocal part that is actually Rockwell reminds me of the Talking Heads more than anything else. I never really thought about it before since combined with the music and the MJ part it comes off differently. I really wonder now what the rest of the album was like. Was it New Wave?
The guys wearing the diapers in the graveyard and the front lawn always weirded me out. This video is as creepy today as it was when I first saw it when I was a kid. Ollie's beef about Rockwell not standing in the blood was everything!! Great reaction, guys!!
My Mom pointed out to me that Rockwell looked like Barry Gordy. So, I assumed it was MJ. Years later there was a made for TV* "Jackson's an American Dream"(?), and then I really saw the resemblance to Barry, because Barry was promoting the series. *Angela Bassett played Catherine, IIRC.
Heh. I remember watching that video on MTV back when. One hit wonder. The accent is a put on, comparable Bon Scott's put on in "Big Balls" by AC/DC, or Will Smith's put on in "Parent's Just Don't Understand" by the Fresh Prince. The first line of the chorus -- "I always feel like" -- is definitely Michael Jackson, unmistakable. But that part is underplayed in the mix compared with the "somebody's watchin' me" hook and plenty of people back then could pull off a fake Michael Jackson for a line or two, which is all that is. So did we know back then? Not for sure. If you pay close attention to the video you'll see that Rockwell never sings the Michael Jackson parts, just the asides in the chorus. Olli's right about buying albums back then. It was easier to tape a good album your friend had than risk buying a dud. Sometimes we would wait until an older sibling, with more pocket money than we had, took the plunge and to find out if the record was any good.
Cell Therapy by Goodie Mob is much better but still has that paranoid vibe that this has. You guys should check it out. Also Ghetto Boys "Mind Playing Tricks on Me" both better than Rockwell.
When you get to the other side of your "Halloween Reaction Journey", I came across a video on RU-vid called "FOXY - Get Off (1978)". I wasn't prepared for all it has on offer in its 4-minute runtime. Would sure love to hear what you all think of it.
WHAT IT SEEMED LIKE TO ME ALWAYS WAS MICHAEL DID THIS AS A FAVOR FOR BERRY GORDY CUZ ROCKWELL AIN'T A SINGER AS YOU CAN SEE BUT THEY KNEW WITH MICHAEL ON THE BACKGROUND TRACK IT AT LEAST BE A HIT
Remember that this was the 80s. The first thought through my head when I first heard this was, “this is what happens when you do too much cocaine, bro!”
Yes.Iknew it was Michael Jackson.. there is about 4 different guys on the voice that sound like Michael. Y'all should check them out. Later my brother's Love the chan
This was 1984. As a single, of course it was available on 7" 45rpm. I worked at a record store in Georgetown (DC) at the time. That album sold past gold on the strength of the single, which was inescapable.
