Rock with You
| "Rock with You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Side-A label of US 7" vinyl single | ||||
| Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
| from the album Off the Wall | ||||
| B-side | "Working Day and Night" | |||
| Released | October 1979 | |||
| Recorded | December 1978 – June 1979 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Rod Temperton | |||
| Producer(s) | Quincy Jones | |||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Rock with You" on YouTube | ||||
"Rock with You" is a song by American singer Michael Jackson, written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. It was first offered to Karen Carpenter, while she was working on her first solo album, but she turned it down.[1] It was released in October 1979, by Epic Records as the second single from Jackson's fifth solo studio album Off the Wall (1979). It was also the third number-one hit of the 1980s,[2] a decade in which the pop singles chart would quickly be dominated by Jackson.
It reached number one on both the US pop (Jackson's third number-one on this chart) and R&B charts (Jackson's second number one on that chart). It spent a total of four weeks at the top position on the former chart from January 19 to February 9, 1980, and six weeks (from January 5 to February 9, 1980) on the latter chart. According to Billboard, the song was the fourth biggest single of 1980.[3] It is also considered one of the last hits of the disco era.[4]
It was re-released as a single on February 27, 2006, as part of the Visionary: The Video Singles box set. In 2021, Rolling Stone placed it at number 354 on its list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time·[5]
Composition
"Rock with You" is a
Db major with a tempo of 114 beats per minute. Jackson's vocals range from F3 to G5. [7]
Critical reception
The track received generally positive reviews from music critics. J. Edward Keyes of production, calling the song a "soft, classy number" with "multi-tracked harmonies," "a modified dance beat," "shimmering flute tones and jazzy guitar work."[12]
Music video
A music video was released for the song, using the shorter single version. It features Michael in a sparkly sequined suit singing the song with a bright laser behind him. The video was directed by Bruce Gowers[13] and filmed in 1979 at the 800 Stage in Los Angeles, California.[14]
The music video was included on the video albums: Video Greatest Hits – HIStory,[15] Number Ones[16] and Michael Jackson's Vision.[17]
Live performances
Michael Jackson first performed the song on
Off the Wall medley (also featuring "Off the Wall" and "Don't Stop Til' You Get Enough") in certain concerts. "Rock with You" was rehearsed for the Dangerous World Tour, but was not performed. Jackson also would have performed it for the This Is It
concert series, but the shows were canceled, due to his sudden death.
Mixes
- Original LP version – 3:39
- This "classic" version was only released on initial runs of the LP record and cassette, as well as certain CD pressings manufactured in Japan, up to and including a Japanese-market version released in 1991. It was replaced by the full version of the 7" remix on later LP pressings and all other CD editions. The original version was later remastered and released on the "French Fans' Selection" deluxe box set edition of King of Pop.
- 7" remix video edit – 3:23
- The "remix" was used for the single and to underscore the video. The remix re-pans the guitar, and adds more strings, horns, and hand claps in the chorus. An edit was made to the middle musical bridge by adding fingersnaps and shortening it from two parts to just one.
- 7" version – 3:39
- This is the same as the 7" remix, but with the musical bridge left intact. This version appears on later pressings of the album.
- Extended version – 4:57
- Available only on the Japanese 12" promo, "Rock with You / Robin Hood". The latter song was recorded by Fox and the Promes.
- Masters at Work remix – 5:29
- Frankie's Favorite club mix – 7:49
- Frankie Knuckles radio mix – 3:50
- The Masters at Work remix and Frankie Knuckles remixes all contain previously unheard vocals and ad-libs not heard on the original album version. This is because the remixers were given access to the master tapes of the song to produce their remix. The master tapes contained additional vocals and cuts that didn't make it onto the original album version.
- Live 1981 (3:55)
- The live version, taken from the 1981 album The Jacksons Live!, was included on the UK 12" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" single in 1983.
- Live 1988 (4:05)
- The live version, included in the deluxe edition of Bad 25 and on the DVD Live at Wembley July 16, 1988, was recorded during one of the shows at Wembley Stadium during the Bad tour.
Track listing and formats
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Personnel
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Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
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Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[48] | Gold | 35,000^ |
| Canada (Music Canada)[49] | 2× Platinum | 160,000‡ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[50] | Gold | 45,000‡ |
| United Kingdom (BPI)[51] | Platinum | 600,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[52] | 5× Platinum | 5,000,000‡ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Other notable versions
In 1998, D'Influence released their version which reached number 30 on the British charts.[53]
See also
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1980
- List of number-one R&B singles of 1980 (U.S.)
- List of number-one singles of 2006 (Spain)
References
- ^ "Karen Carpenter Avenue: Behind The Music: Karen Carpenter (Solo)". Karenannecarpenter.blogspot.com. April 21, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ "Billboard" (PDF). Americanradiohistory.com. 1980. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
- ^ [1] Archived May 20, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "50 Best Michael Jackson Songs". Rolling Stone. June 23, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2014.
- ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021.
- ^ Gail Mitchell, Melinda Newman (July 6, 2009). "How Michael Jackson's "Thriller" changed music business". Reuters. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
- Alfred Publishing Co. Inc. August 25, 1999. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ J. Edward Keyes (June 26, 2009). "Michael Jackson: The Essential Playlist". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
- ^ Steven Hyden (March 13, 2009). "Favorite songs". The A. V. Club. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
- ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Off the Wall - Michael Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved February 22, 2014.
- ^ "Michael Jackson". Webcitation.org. Archived from the original on February 1, 2010. Retrieved May 29, 2014.
- ^ "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. October 20, 1979. p. 20. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
- ^ Weingarten, Christopher R. (June 24, 2009). "Rolling Stone". Michael Jackson's 20 Greatest Videos: The Stories Behind the Vision. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ISBN 9781788400572.
- ^ "MichaelJackson.com". Michael Jackson Video Greatest Hits HIStory | The Official Michael Jackson Site. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ "All Music". Number Ones [DVD] - Michael Jackson. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ "MichaelJackson.com". Michael Jackson's Vision | The Official Michael Jackson Site. Retrieved November 13, 2015.
- ^ a b "National Top 100 Singles for 1980". Kent Music Report. January 5, 1981. Retrieved January 17, 2022 – via Imgur.
- ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9461a." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Michael Jackson". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 113. Retrieved May 29, 2022.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Rock With You" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Rock With You". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 26, 2020.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Rock With You". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Music: Top 100 - Billboard Hot 100", Billboard, retrieved January 11, 2018
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. September 21, 2021. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2017.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. January 5, 1980. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending JANUARY 12, 1980". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2016.. Cash Box magazine.
- ^ "Michael Jackson". Archived from the original on January 12, 2012.
- ^ Les classement single. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Rock With You". Top Digital Download. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Rock With You" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Rock With You". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Michael Jackson - Chart History". Canadian Hot 100. for Michael Jackson. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- Japan Hot 100. for Michael Jackson. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Michael Jackson – Rock With You". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Michael Jackson - Chart History". Billboard Digital Songs. for Michael Jackson. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts - 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0272." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Official New Zealand Music Chart - End of Year Charts 1980". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1980". longboredsurfer.com. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
- ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1980". Archived from the original on September 15, 2012. Retrieved December 13, 2013.. Cash Box magazine.
- Cash Box. December 19, 1987. p. 31. Retrieved December 8, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "Canadian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Rock with You". Music Canada. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
- ^ "Danish single certifications – Michael Jackson – Rock with You". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Rock with You". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 17, 2023.
- ^ "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – Rock with You". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
- ^ officialcharts.com
