Watch | 5 Gems

Watch: 5 Gems No. 11 (2026) features songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Grant Brett, Rockwell, Sam Fender, and Silentó. 

Are you prepared to watch, rather, listen to, a skinny mini playlist of watch songs? Well, that’s how we roll on Watch: 5 Gems No. 11 (2026).  All five songs feature some form of the word in their song title – no exceptions! Not only are there five different watch songs, each is a different style of music: alternative, jazz, pop, rap, and R&B. Watch: 5 Gems No. 11 (2026) features songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Grant Brett, Rockwell, Sam Fender, and Silentó. So, without further ado, let’s dive into these intriguing, highly listenable watch songs! Let the watch begin!

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1. Grant Brett, “Watch Me”	2. Sam Fender, “People Watching”	3. Silentó, “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)”
4. Rockwell, “Somebody’s Watching Me”	5. Ella Fitzgerald, “Someone To Watch Over Me”	5 Gems (2026)

 

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1. Grant Brett, “Watch Me”

“Watch Me” » Dark Dance » 2025

Ooh-wee! Boi, ya betta slay 💅! Grant Brett is fearless when it comes to his music.  He keeps it brief on “Watch Me”.  Even so, as the chorus, excerpted above, relays, that is plenty of time for him to titillate the sugar, honey, iced tea out of us!  From the jump, “Watch Me” is turnt up! Those synths are intense and nasty! The seedy vibes convey the dancefloor of a hot, sweaty gay club! The sickening musical backdrop is the perfect fuel for Brett’s fire. If the infectious, sexed-up chorus weren’t enough, he drops a pair of flirty, freaky, playful, and unapologetic verses.  “If you talk how I like / You know I could bounce all night,” he asserts in the first verse.  “You should show me what you like / I know I could match your vibe  (Yeah, daddy),” he sings in the second, adding, “You should just cross that line / I’ll burn my image in your mind.”  Damn, Grant! Short but sweet, Grant Brett slays, PERIOD 💅 💅 💅!

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2. Sam Fender, “People Watching”

People Watching » Sam Fender / Universal Music Operations Limited » 2025

Word, Sam Fender.  The talented English singer/songwriter released “People Watching” ahead of his third studio album, People Watching. “People Watching” runs north of five minutes.  Fender wrote the track, producing alongside Adam Granduciel, Joe Atkinson, and Dean Thompson.

The excerpted lyrics from the first verse speak to the quality of the songwriting. Sam remembers his ‘surrogate mother,’ a person who passed away, who meant a lot to him.  The second verse, with its descriptive, poetic lyrics, speaks to the experience of the end of her life.  “The poor nurse was around the clock / And the beauty of youth had left my breaking heart,” he sings, continuing, “But it wasn’t hard when you love someone / Oh, I stayed all night till you left this life ‘cause that’s just love.” Sam’s honesty and heart-on-sleeve approach to songwriting is admirable. Unsurprisingly, the chorus shines, even if it is the lyrics in the verses and bridge (“Kittywakes etched your initials in the sky”) that are most ear-catching.  The chorus is high-energy. Fender sings authentically and beautifully.  The driving pop/rock production perfectly suits this sincere remembrance track.  The backdrop reminds me of Bruce Springsteen, one of his influences. The saxophone playing by Johnny “Blue Hat” Davis is fire! “People Watching” is a marvelous opening track from People Watching.

Appears in:

11 More Riveting Songs About People (2025) A Poppin’ Compendium of P Songs (2025)

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3. Silentó, “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)”

“Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)” » Capitol » 2015

An inescapable, ubiquitous juggernaut.  That is what the 2015 rap song, “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)” was. “Watch Me,” a surefire earworm from rapper Silentó, was everywhere. It marks the sole song that he charted on the pop charts. A rousing success, it peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified multiplatinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.  Silentó co-wrote “Watch Me” with producer Bolo Da Producer.   

  

So, what made “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)” the sugar, honey, iced tea? Bolo Da Producer puts in work behind the boards, giving this viral rap cut a striking backdrop. Set in a major key, contrasting many darker rap cuts, the brighter sounds make it sound inviting. Of course, Silentó brings personality and youthful swagger as he melodically raps.  The chorus, excerpted above, is the centerpiece – the crème de la crème, PERIOD. Still, Silentó brings the dance moves to the lyrics, in addition to the distinct dance that corresponds with the song. “Do the stanky leg (Stank) do the stanky leg,” he implores in the first verse, adding, “Now break your legs (Break ‘em) break your legs (Break the knob).” Woo! In the second verse, he spits, “Now watch me you (Soulja!), now watch me Superman (Okay).” In the pre-chorus, he bops… numerous times! “Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae)” is an utterly infectious, enduring, one-hit wonder to this day.  The fun and innocence of the single is a big part of the charm. Unfortunately, beyond being a one-hit wonder, adding insult to injury for Silentó, he is a convicted felon. The offense? Murder… of his cousin… yikes!    

 

Appears in:

Silentó, Watch Me (Whip / Nae Nae): 1 Hit WONDERful No. 24 (2025)

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4. Rockwell, “Somebody’s Watching Me”

Somebody’s Watching Me » Motown / UMG Recordings, Inc. » 1984

Well, shh-, I dunno, Rockwell (Kennedy William Gordy, b. 1964)!  Rockwell, the song of Motown founder Berry Gordy, did his big one back in 1984.  That is when the enigmatic, paranoid, five-minute-long “Somebody’s Watching Me” was released. “Somebody’s” is the opening track from his 1983 gold-certified album, also titled, Somebody’s Watching Me. This marked his highest charting hit. “Somebody’s” peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America.  Rockwell wrote the song himself.  He produced it with Curtis Anthony Nolen.

“Somebody’s Watching Me” stands out from the get-go. Pummeling drums set the tone.  Soon enough, an enigmatic, electronic groove follows. The palette comprises sleek synths and keys.  The sound is 1980s to the nth degree. There is plenty of time for the instrumental elements to shine aside from the vocals.  Worth noting, during the intro, the excerpted robotic-sounding vocals appear (vocoder), establishing a feeling of those inescapable eyes 👀.  Rockwell comes on strong during the first verse, delivering a playful, tongue-in-cheek vocal performance. Pitch is unimportant given his quasi-rapped, talk-singing. He oozes with personality.  “All I want is to be left alone in my average home,” he sings, and adds, “But why do I always feel like I’m in The Twilight Zone?”  The reference to The Twilight Zone and the metaphor seem to fit perfectly here.  The fear and paranoia are even more pronounced in the second verse. “When I’m in the shower, I’m afraid to wash my hair / ‘Cause I might open my eyes and find someone standing there,” he sings, and continues, “People say I’m crazy, just a little touched / But maybe showers remind me of Psycho too much, that’s why.”  Crazy or not, that’s a killer reference to the shower scene in the Alfred Hitchcock (1899 – 1980) classic, Psycho.  The chorus is infectious and irresistible with Michael Jackson-like sung vocals.  Oh, yeah, that’s because it features The King of Pop (1958 – 2009). Rockwell also sings:

“I always feel like somebody’s watchin’ me

And I have no privacy (Oh-oh-oh)

I always feel like somebody’s watchin’ me

Who’s playing tricks on me?”

Notably, Jermaine Jackson (b. 1954) also contributes vocals to the track. “Somebody’s Watching Me” is an enigmatic, fun, and one-of-a-kind Motown classic from the 1980s.  There is no way not to be entertained by this paranoid, non-private R&B joint. Rockwell prayed for a hit, and his prayers were answered! 

Appears in:

Rockwell, Somebody’s Watching Me: Throwback Vibez No. 19 (2026)

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5. Ella Fitzgerald, “Someone To Watch Over Me”

Ella Sings Gershwin » Verve Label Group » 1950

Aww! Ella Fitzgerald (1917 – 1996) was one of the greatest jazz singers of all time, PERIOD.  Truly the ‘First Lady of Song,’ she ‘ate’ every time she stepped to the mic – NO CAP! One of her most gorgeous performances is “Someone To Watch Over Me”. “Someone” is the opener from Ella Sings Gershwin, released in 1950.  Although the recording is 75 years old, it sounds as beautiful and vibrant as ever. “Someone To Watch Over Me” was famously penned in 1926. George Gershwin (1898 – 1937) composed the music while his brother, Ira Gershwin (1896 – 1983), composed the lyrics.  

On “Someone To Watch Over Me” and the entire Ella Sings Gershwin album, Fitzgerald is accompanied by Ellis Larkin (1923 – 2002) on piano.  The results are magical as Larkin provides a fitting backdrop for Ella to paint those one-in-a-lifetime pipes over. Her tone is radiant – exquisite to the nth degree.  As she sings, nothing sounds forced – everything sounds easy and natural. Her performance is nothing short of stellar.  After setting the tone with the slower pace in the verse (excerpted above), the chorus packs more punch, with a quicker tempo. “There’s a somebody I’m longing to see / I hope that he / Turns out to be / Someone who’ll watch over me,” she sings memorably, continuing, “I’m a little lamb who’s lost in the woods / I know I could / Always be good / To one who’ll watch over me.” “Someone To Watch Over Me” is a timeless standard in the hands of anyone who performs it.  It is extra special in the hands of Ella Fitzgerald.

Appears in:

Ella Fitzgerald, Someone To Watch Over Me: Throwback Vibez No. 31 (2025)  13 Sensational Somebody or Someone Songs (2025)

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5 Gems (2026)
Almost: 5 Gems No. 1	Alone: 5 Gems No. 2	Am: 5 Gems No. 3
Big: 5 Gems No. 4	Break, Breaking, or Broken: 5 Gems No. 5	Can’t!: 5 Gems No. 6
Magic : 5 Gems No. 7	Money : 5 Gems No. 8	Mama: 5 Gems No. 9
Nut: 5 Gems No. 10	Watch: 5 Gems No. 11

 

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Watch: 5 Gems No. 11 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Capitol, Dark Dance, Motown, Sam Fender, UMG Recordings, Inc., Universal Music Operations Limited, Verve Label Group; Canva AI; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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