Rockwell "Obscene Phone Caller"

[LilSmiley50]

Hes cute azz hell :D

[Rescue162]

This is the best song by Rockwell, even better than "Somebody's Watching Me"

[thrillamf]

Air keyboard! Only in the 80s! The decade of the keyboard.

[Damnman123]

Cocaine is a hell of a drug

[shengchenfan]

@Damnman123 LMAO!!!

[rockwellkg]

thanks for watching!!! Rockwell :)

[getbakedtonight]

2:10 awesome air synth

[notsogood]

Damn... somebody's alway messing with this muthafucka. lol

[discomusic1966]

i never got the "British" accent ??? is he/was he an English performer????

[scotgeorge1]

@discomusic1966 He is from Detroit. if that helps.

[demonseed2332]

some calls are obscene but fun :] XD

[oneangryhermit]

Wow, I haven't heard this in...years. This really brings back memories.

[discovery781]

he should thank his lucky stars he was a "gordy"......he never would have made it otherwise

[pincherudy]

@discovery781 Actually, I believe he secured his record deal without his father knowing about it. He didn't want to look like he was using nepotism to get a deal...

[jkd3dawg]

haha wtf is this??? gotta love the 80s

[AmunRa1]

o.O

I've had those kind of phone calls... It's creepy.

[kja427]

One of those 'one night stands' we had in the 80's. Glad to see him gone!

[madzskie]

I miss this song in 1984.

[Marissa4268]

recorded thru a microphone is what this sounds like

[Carthsting]

Alexander Bell jam session.

[SuperButterfly1964]

Rockwell has a facebook

[VIRGOLEGACY]

@SuperButterfly1964 lol u fa real?

[paulpetroleum]

@SuperButterfly1964 haha he looks so different now id=100001281802746

[falafabetsoup]

It's amazing that someone actually became a recording artist for these purposes

[winhawk23]

Real name is Kennedy William Gordy, the son of Motown founder and CEO Berry Gordy. That's right Rockwell!.., you were born in Detroit, so you can stop with the british accent bullshit!

[youngstar1111online1]

@winhawk23 Don't you just hate how people research stuff, just to dig up random shit on people! I wasn't talking about you though! :) Sike

[kevhar12]

Rockwell`s music was coined as being paranoia-rock. Well atleast in the 80`s people were original. I remember breakdancing to this with my best friend at a dance at the middle school gym. We had a routine and everything but I haven`t seen him in 25 years. This was my favorite Rockwell song for sure.

[onraj9mm]

sick

[EyeH8WNY]

This guy should lay off the coke. It makes you paranoid. look at hid two top singles. Somebody's watching me, and this. That gordy money must have bought some good shit. Still think he's somewhat cool though.

[PrinceOfThe80s]

@EyeH8WNY lol he should of stop whatever he's doing and keep making more music.

[rawmac7]

this is the jam!

[PrinceOfThe80s]

@rawmac7 you know it this song rocks. i freakin hate today's music.

[Liberal1969]

I have to admit I bought this single when it came out in 1984. I was 15 years old. What can I say? I grew up in the age of cheese, but it was fun cheese. I actually like this one better than "Somebody's Watching Me."

[BloodNote]

What's up with the fake random British accent? No wonder this dude is a one hit wonder. He sucks.

[blueyes1402]

Wow... that is one of the most cheesiest videos I have ever seen! LOL

[leroy592]

What do you call that haircut?

[cardshifter]

@leroy592 I think its like a mix of a flat top, and Jerry Curl. Its weird



[lazerdicks]

@cardshifter dont forget the duck tail he has

[perspeeks]

@cardshifter with a touch of Flock Of Seagulls :)

[cualpha06]

Wow! Bring me back to the time of watching Friday night videos after coming home from a high school football game and stopping by McDonalds along the way...lol..this video used to be a constant play on Friday night videos

[ChozzieBoy]

Rockwell is so shit

[mickeymoose76]

shit

[Ferkat90]

I love the sense of humor on his videos

[ednoroirika]

2:12 lol!!!

[PrinceOfThe80s]

I love this song

[DianaStopStealinMyMJ]

i love rockwell. he's so differentt

[mushmouth4life]

you are now realizing he is kith and kin to the two members of LMFAO

[anthraxmikeydoolin]

If You Want More 80's Music, Check Out My Channel.

[renues]

Can You Say One-Hit Wonder....Michael Jackson was the only reason for this guys success.

[mamabunny10]

also dad is motown founder

[renues]

LOL

[lewisbunney]

the mailman from somebodys watchin me 1:40

[NepperCat]

Theres a longer version of this that starts with a "Somebody's Watching Me" reprise. This video and song I guess were a sequel of sorts.

[Jezmanrulz]

From back inthe days of KEWL...

[KnuxBrent07]

this guy truely is paranoid between this and somebody's watching me.

[mzzvaughan]

@KnuxBrent07 LMAO! HE ALSO HAD A SONG CALLED PEEPING TOM!

[PrinceOfThe80s]

@KnuxBrent07 Lol yup

[dgkesquire]

@KnuxBrent07 And also 'Peeping Tom', 'Runaway', 'Taxman'

[hilarioph]

I like on the scene when the men transform into a sexy woman. What a retro 80's

[THIphatt]

I really liked this song - AND the video *lol* - back in the day. But my fave was "Somebody's Watching Me" cuz it featured my eternal love, Michael Jackson.

[vidaa82]

why is somebody always bothering rockwell? lol. why does he sing likes he's british?

[RocStarr913]

That was part of Rockwell's whole schtick. I think it was in reaction to the success of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" single and video, so he made that kind of goofy comedy horror theme his whole act. All of his songs have to do with the strange and disturbing and unknown. I think it was just something Rockwell he felt could distinguish him in the usually formulaic R&B world of love, romance, and sex.

[vidaa82]

oh ok thanks for that explanation because it was hilarious to me. somebodys watchn him , calling him and other disturbances. lol.

[LafawnduhDynamite]

@vidaa82 Hilarious!!!!!!

[Savanah333]

He is the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy.

[SinnFein4ever]

I think he looks quite a bit like Levar Burton looked when he was hosting Reading Rainbow in the 80s.

[MyNameIsShelby]

I think he looks like the lovechild of John Oates and Prince.

[SinnFein4ever]

@MyNameIsShelby

XD

[lilry614]

his hair looks like wolverine lmao

[CrouchingPoo]

still a great song, but hilariously bad video now.

[mignonhenne]

isn't it the same storyline ?

[clams5]

should of had mike sing on this one too

[Ladygem2112]

I can't help but watch this to smile. Does anyone want to just croon to someone "Find someone else to bother"

[SexyAzzHell93]

I love this song. I love this era.

[DJdext]

I love this!  Ah the memories....

[Ladygem2112]

Wow, it sounded cool back then... Is this the song u hear when Geico puts you on hold?

[TEMPmichaelhansen]

i only saw this video once when i was a kid. i remember it having an extended intro. This was not a top 40 hit. you should hear them talking about ROCKWELL on "I LOVE THE 80'S" on VH1. This is also the owner of MOWTOWN records son. ...i thought the beginning of this was longer....

[DENo1MatchGameFan]

Yes it was - it got up to #35 in 1984, and was his last charting pop hit.

[TEMPmichaelhansen]

i will have to check the billboard top 40 hits book...

[DENo1MatchGameFan]

Don't worry - it'll have it listed, as I have Joel Whitburn's Top Albums book to say that it is (and all of Joel's books have Billboard chart data in them.)

[mignonhenne]

did all his 3 lps go top 100 ? what were his other singles ?

[RocStarr913]

His other singles included a cover of The Beatles' "Taxman", "He's A Cobra", "Carme", "Peeping Tom", and "Grow Up".

[kanyewestwin]

nice

[RomanoGiovanni]

Two words: AIR KEYBOARD!!!

[bklynthrasher13]

his voice is so wierd

[WitchOvAgnesi]

Effects, and there was a time when many American singers were trying to lilt in a bit of a British accent for some sort of "cred."

His singing style reminds me of Billy Ocean (also from that era).

[WallyShindig]

Amazing

[Sanjayafernnando]

This is a very funny song!

[BillHanke]

i wish somebody would give me an obscene phone call.  "if you're lonely you can talk to me."

[jupadro]

Bill, I understand the part if you're lonely you can talk to me, but what's with the obscene phone call? Just call, and say, Oh, Bill, I feel lonely.

[lecriveuse]

i've always liked this!

[Mato1970]

I just realized this was taken from the video show "Hot," which used to be shown during the summer of 1984. I remember that show! If only it were still around! Then there'd be a place on TV where you could see music videos, since MTV no longer shows them.

[AllRequired]

Do you really want the garbage that gets spewed out nowadays?

[Mato1970]

I remember this song! And because of the way he sang this song, I actually thought Rockwell was British! It was only a few years ago that I found out he is actually American and a relative of Berry Gordy. But then, look at all the British singers that sound American when singing, so why not the other way around? LOL! Anyway, I love this song and video--especially the end where he says "You dirty little nasty twit!"

[picposter67]

Actually Rockwell is Berry Gordy's son and his given birth name is Berry Gordy III.

[smackjaw]

It's says he was born Kennedy William Gordy

[picposter67]

Kennedy William Gordy? This guy has a million different names. I remember when he first came out he also went by the name Berry Gordy III. Thats why I wrote that first comment. I'm NOT saying you are wrong. You might be right.

[ClassicTVMan81]

Yeah. He was named for John F. Kennedy and for William "Smokey" Robinson.

[rmirel1]

You're full of shit or misinformed.

[picposter67]

rmirel1 why do I got to be full of shit because I was misinformed. I was a big Rockwell fan back in the day. I NEVER said anything bad about Rockwell. I just was wrong about the origins of his name. You are the one who is full of shit.

[Metrognomic]

Good job wikipedia really works...

[GurlyAlicia]

its weird how some of his songs are really paranoid.

but hes a really great singer. you cant deny it.

[deathboy13669]

This and Somebody's watching me were in the Billboard top 40 other than that he didnt have much sucess but no matter what the guy could sing. I tip my hat off to him.

[PrinceOfThe80s]

@deathboy13669 i thought Foreign Country was in the billboard top 40?

[dickswanson]

i wish i knew where i could get a studded cut-off shirt like that.

also, is that the same mailman from the "somebody's watching me" video?

[picposter67]

Yes that is the same mailman from the "somebody's watching me" video.

[mignonhenne]

well spotted

[YourGuardianMarine]

some peeps still want to live in the 80's,

cant help that bro,

just like guys who wear eyeliner and skinny jeans

[JRHunter723]

HAHA the violin parts are my favorite

[KyubiNaruto57]

come on it wasn't that bad after all it was the 80's

[powersoulboy]

Falco's Vienna Calling is much better!

[MrSexxxy20]

Didn't he marry Rebbie Jackson?

[platinum10000]

cest dont bon

[mulry101]

Poor Rockwell. Too bad there wasn't caller ID back then.

[mzzvaughan]

@mulry101 LMAO! HE ALSO HAD A SONG CALLED PEEPING TOM!

[lolasimms79]

what happened to him ? i mean where is this guy doing now ?

[MrSexxxy20]

Remember he ALWAYS felt like somebody was watching him.....They must have got his ass! lmao

[mxcnprd10]

lmao MrSexxxy that made my day

[freepussy]

Don't watch me, call me!

[Surreal469]

It really is. It's bad enough to be good, though. Like Snakes on a Plane. You can't take Rockwell seriously.

[COMPFUNK2]

Actually, I'm not sure if the song or the video is worse.

[MotownMaster]

Thats Kennedy Gordy, son of Berry Gordy and Raymona Singleton aka Miss Ray

[rubeecube80]

I have one question why is someone always bothering him???? First someone was watching him now someone keeps calling him.-lol..is he paranoid?-LOL

[mcarey]

lmao!!!"The Man"

[MrSexxxy20]

lmao And now he is no where to be found....Maybe he was crying out for HELP. Who ever it was must have GOT his ass! LMAO

[Myceya]

When this guy made this song, it was a favorite for one reason... there was a massive fad going around - obscene phone calling. Please believe me, it was rampant and a pain in the ass. This song was the frustration song of the masses bothered by idiots who had nothing better to do than breathe on the phone. As for his looks... it's typical 80s black groups. They all looked like this so, no, it's not a gay look. =) I lived the 80s. Unfortunantly, I remember this stuff.

[BreakingGlass77]

That reminds me of an episode of Mama's Family, where Mama Harper kept getting obscene calls. haha

[rmirel1]

WTF are you talking about? Obscene phone calling was never a fad. How old are you?

[hrcutter]

Yes it was, how old are YOU?

[summer4autumn]

This guy was was such a talentless fag.

Not that there's anything wrong with that...

[pulidotony]

Not gay, he's trying to do an weird english accent. He has a really bad singing voice and his natural voice is really raspy.

No Tom "The Shorty" Cruise either.

[jonthom11702]

I never realized how uber-gay he was. Nothing wrong with that of course, but did no one notice back then?

[Basseck]

The reasons why nobody noticed how gay it was then are:

1. In pop culture the 80s were not such homophobe times like today.

2. In the 80s there were a lot of gay artists having hits (Culture Club, Pet Shop Boys, Erasure, George Michael).

3. The 80s were the high times of Prince (not gay but very female and the girls loved it).

4. By Saturday Night Fever the Disco movement, which was a gay urban subculture before the mid 70s, became mainstream in '77 and acceptable for straight men.

[jonthom11702]

FWIW, I didn't mean anything disparaging about Rockwell being gay, but I apologize if it came off that way (I'm gay myself). I just get a really gay vibe from him now that I didn't pick up on when I was a kid. But the 80s were very homophobic times. Gay artists weren't openly acknowledging they were gay, at least not in the States.

[MyNameIsShelby]

yeah, not to mention that androgyny was a fashion trend that spilled over from 70's glam rock into new wave

[icm1970]

One of my "obscure" 80s favourites. Is that Tom Cruise making a brief cameo appearance in the video?

[MRDXKLIQ101]

ANY 1 GOT A LONGER VERSION

[Azone01]

I do!

[abstractpoetic65]

the shit

[natethelunardragon]

this video is cool okay and it's called a sequal god!

[MRDXKLIQ101]

WHERE THE INTRO

[glitchy7506]

Yeah,lol. Thats the funnest part in the video.

[Nitro1970]

"At least let me know if you're a girl or something and maybe I'll talk to you" *LOL* Too funny!!

He's Berry Gordys son

[glitchy7506]

Then agian, Numan's a legend.

[glitchy7506]

I don't know. Look at Gary Numan.

[karameldreem]

Classic!!!!

[MUSICENCYLOPEDIA]

This is one of my favorites and it should have been a bigger hit

[loverockit]

LOL not so big without Michael Jackson, is he

[Synesthete78]

Absolutely, and you can't continue to make songs only about paranoia.