Steve Harley co-wrote the lyrics to "Somebody Special" with Stewart. The pair also collaborated on the lyrics for another track that appeared on Foolish Behaviour, "Gi' Me Wings", as well as a third song that did not make the album. Harley recalled to Smiler in 1997, "I was sitting around at the Sunset Marquis for three weeks writing the lyrics. I wrote nearly all [the lyrics] of 'Somebody Special', I wrote lots of that with Rod, lots of it on my own, [and] 'Gi' Me Wings'."[2]
Critical reception
On its release as a single, Record World commented, "Rod's jagged vocal delivery turns good lyrics into great ones, as on this successor to his top 10 'Passion'."[3] In a review of Foolish Behaviour, John Griffin of The Montreal Gazette described "Somebody Special" as "a beautiful, affirmative piece of advice for those who wonder whether true love will ever walk into their lives."[4] Bill Flanagan of The Boston Globe felt the song "could be a Commodores hit".[5] Debra Rae Cohen of Rolling Stone described the song as "a soulful duet with Susan Grindell that's nearly as powerful as the Teddy Pendergrass–Stephanie Mills collaborations".[6]