It was first recorded by Australian rock band Moving Pictures, of which Garry Frost was a member, for its 1981 debut album, Days of Innocence.

[1][2] In January 2018, as part of Triple M's "Ozzest 100", the 'most Australian' songs of all time, "What About Me" was ranked number 37.

"What About Me" subsequently reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, ending 1983 as the 88th-most-successful single of the year in the US.

Noll's version was also a surprise hit in Ireland, where it debuted and peaked at number two in October 2004.

He had gone out to get lunch at his local shop in the Sydney suburb of Asquith[4] and saw a small boy not being noticed waiting at the counter.

"What About Me" was released in the United States in September 1982, reaching number 29 and spending 26 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in part due to significant play of the music video on then nascent MTV.

Australian Idol series one runner-up Shannon Noll covered the song for his debut album, That's What I'm Talking About (2004).

[17][18][19] In New Zealand, Noll's version bested Moving Pictures' original by seven positions, climbing to number 10 in May 2004 and spending 24 weeks in the top 50.

"What About Me" spent almost six months on the Irish Singles Chart and peaked at number two for two weeks in late October 2004.