He’s the guy with the tattoos and the beanie. If you’ve been anywhere near TikTok or YouTube in the last five years, you’ve seen Jaten Dimsdale. Most people know him as Teddy Swims. He’s got this voice that feels like warm honey poured over gravel. It’s soulful. It’s gritty. It’s basically everything modern pop music is usually missing. But before he was topping the charts with "Lose Control," he was a cover artist. A really, really good one. One of his absolute standout moments—the kind that makes you stop scrolling and just stare—was when he tackled a legend. I’m talking about Teddy Swims Rock With You, his take on the 1979 Michael Jackson classic.
Doing MJ is dangerous. Seriously. You either nail it or you look like a karaoke amateur. There is no middle ground when you’re touching the King of Pop’s catalog.
Teddy didn't just sing it. He lived in it.
The Magic Behind Teddy Swims Rock With You
When Teddy Swims released his version of "Rock With You," he wasn't trying to be Michael. That’s the mistake most people make. They try to do the hiccups and the "hee-hees." Teddy went the other way. He took that disco-era groove and slowed it down just enough to let his Georgia-bred soul take the wheel. It’s funky, sure. But it’s a different kind of funk. It’s more Muscle Shoals than Studio 54.
The instrumentation is stripped back compared to the Quincy Jones original. You don’t have those massive, layered synthesizers and the shimmering disco strings hitting you all at once. Instead, you get a tight, organic band sound. It feels like a late-night jam session in a basement somewhere in Atlanta. Honestly, that’s where Teddy shines. He’s a "vibe" artist.
Why does this specific cover matter so much in his career arc? Because it proved he could handle a melody that everyone knows by heart. When you change the phrasing on a song as iconic as this, you’re taking a massive risk. If you mess up the timing on the "I wanna rock with you" hook, the audience checks out. But Teddy stretches the notes. He pulls at the edges of the rhythm. It’s brilliant.
Stripping Away the Disco Glitz
Michael’s version is about the dance floor. It’s about the lights and the 70s energy. Teddy’s version feels more like it’s about the person he’s singing to. It’s intimate.
✨ Don't miss: Why October London Make Me Wanna Is the Soul Revival We Actually Needed
The vocal runs he adds aren't just for show. You know how some singers just do riffs to prove they can? Teddy uses his range to build tension. When he hits those higher registers in the bridge, it doesn't sound thin. It sounds desperate and soulful. It’s a masterclass in vocal control.
- He keeps the bassline driving.
- He ditches the heavy electronic percussion.
- He focuses on the vocal "grit" that makes him famous.
Most people don't realize that Teddy Swims grew up in the South, influenced heavily by gospel and country. You can hear that in Teddy Swims Rock With You. There’s a slight twang, a slight "preacher" quality to his delivery that turns a disco song into a spiritual experience.
Why Social Media Went Crazy for This Cover
The video for this cover is simple. No big production. Just Teddy in the studio with his band, Elefvnts. This is part of the "Bedroom Session" or "Studio Session" aesthetic that helped him build a massive following before he ever had a radio hit. People crave authenticity. In an era of Auto-Tune, seeing a guy who looks like a linebacker sing like an angel is a winning formula.
It went viral because it was unexpected.
Think about the first time you saw him. You see the face tattoos. You see the gold chains. You expect maybe rap? Maybe heavy metal? Then he opens his mouth and this smooth, velvet-soaked sound comes out. It’s a total subversion of expectations. That "shock factor" combined with genuine talent is why the "Rock With You" cover became a staple of his early YouTube days.
The Influence of Quincy Jones and Rod Temperton
We have to give credit where it’s due. The original song was written by Rod Temperton and produced by Quincy Jones. It’s a perfect composition. The chord progression is sophisticated. It uses minor sevenths and major ninths in a way that creates a "dreamy" atmosphere.
🔗 Read more: How to Watch The Wolf and the Lion Without Getting Lost in the Wild
Teddy respects the architecture of the song. He doesn't change the chords. He doesn't rewrite the melody. He just changes the texture. It’s like taking a classic Victorian house and painting it matte black. The bones are the same, but the feeling is completely different.
Comparing the Versions: MJ vs. Teddy
It’s not a competition. You can’t "beat" Michael Jackson. But you can offer an alternative.
Michael’s version is legendary for its precision. Every snap, every breath, every drum hit is exactly where it needs to be. It’s a "perfect" record. Teddy’s version is legendary for its imperfections. You can hear the rasp in his throat. You can hear the band breathing. It’s "human" music.
If you want to dance, you put on the 1979 Off the Wall version. If you want to sit on your porch with a drink and just feel something, you put on the Teddy Swims version. It’s as simple as that.
Vocal Technique Breakdown
Let’s get nerdy for a second. Teddy uses a lot of "chest voice" even when he’s hitting higher notes. Most pop singers flip into a "head voice" or falsetto for the chorus of "Rock With You." Teddy stays powerful. He pushes from the diaphragm. This gives the song a weight that it didn't have before.
He also uses a lot of melisma—those quick, rolling notes. But he doesn't overdo it. He stays tasteful. It’s the difference between a chef using salt to enhance a dish and a chef just dumping the whole shaker in.
💡 You might also like: Is Lincoln Lawyer Coming Back? Mickey Haller's Next Move Explained
The Impact on Teddy's Solo Career
Without covers like "Rock With You," we might not have gotten "Lose Control." These covers were his training ground. They allowed him to experiment with different genres—R&B, soul, country, and pop—to see what stuck.
He learned how to connect with an audience through a screen. He learned that his voice was his greatest asset, regardless of what he was singing. By the time he started writing his own material, he already knew exactly who he was as a performer. He wasn't some manufactured pop star. He was a guy who had spent years dissecting the best songs ever written and figuring out how to make them his own.
What You Should Do Next
If you’ve only ever heard Teddy’s radio hits, you’re missing out on the foundation of his talent. You need to go back and watch the live studio session of him performing this track.
Don't just listen to it on a crappy phone speaker. Use headphones. Listen to the way the bass interacts with his voice. Notice the backing vocals—they are tight and soulful without being distracting.
After that, check out his other covers. His version of Shania Twain’s "You’re Still The One" is another heavy hitter, but "Rock With You" is where the groove really lives.
Actionable Insights for Music Lovers:
- Study the Phrasing: If you’re a singer, listen to how Teddy delays certain words. He’s "behind the beat," which creates a relaxed, soulful feel.
- Appreciate the Arrangement: Notice how the band uses space. Sometimes what they don't play is just as important as what they do play.
- Share the Love: These videos stay relevant because fans keep sharing them. If you dig it, send it to someone who thinks "real singers don't exist anymore." Prove them wrong.
Teddy Swims is a reminder that talent eventually finds its way to the top. Whether he’s singing his own heart-wrenching ballads or paying tribute to the greats like Michael Jackson, the man is a powerhouse. "Rock With You" isn't just a cover; it’s a statement of intent. It says he belongs in the same conversation as the legends. And honestly? He kind of does.
The best way to experience his growth is to listen to the Off the Wall album first, then jump straight into Teddy’s YouTube channel. You’ll see the lineage of soul music right in front of your eyes. It’s a direct line from the 70s to the present day, and Teddy Swims is the one holding the pen now. Go listen. Now. Seriously. It’s that good.