"Centipede" is a song by American singer Rebbie Jackson. Written and produced by her younger brother Michael, the title track serves as her debut single from her debut album of the same name.
| "Centipede" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Rebbie Jackson | |
| from the album Centipede | |
| Released | September 10, 1984 |
| Recorded | 1984[1] |
| Studio | Yamaha International Recording (Glendale, California) Widetrack Recording Studio (Los Angeles, California) |
| Genre | |
| Length | 4:13 (single version) 4:25 (album version) |
| Label | Columbia |
| Songwriter(s) | Michael Jackson |
| Producer(s) | Michael Jackson[1] |
| Music video | |
| "Centipede" on YouTube | |
Background
editThe song was written and produced by Jackson's younger brother Michael Jackson. He, and the Weather Girls, also sang backing vocals on the song. The 12-inch single includes an extended mix and an instrumental version. On the back of the single, Michael Jackson dedicated the song "to my mannequin friends".
The song was later re-released on The Rebbie Jackson Collection and the original 12-inch version was included on her 1998 comeback album Yours Faithfully.
Release and reception
editReleased in the late summer of 1984, the single climbed high on the Billboard R&B charts, peaking at number 4 there and at number 24 in the main Billboard Hot 100 chart in late December 1984. It was Jackson's highest-charting single and her only single to enter the Hot 100, though she had several more hits on the R&B chart throughout the decade. The single was Gold-certified by the RIAA, selling 500,000 copies in the US.[3]
Charts
edit| Chart (1984–1985) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[4] | 97 |
| US Cashbox (magazine)[5] | 15 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[6] | 24 |
| US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[7] | 29 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[8] | 4 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[9] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Personnel
edit- Lead vocals: Rebbie Jackson
- Background vocals: Michael Jackson, the Weather Girls (Izora Rhodes, Martha Wash)
- Arranger: Michael Jackson
- John Barnes: synthesizers and drum programming
- David Williams: guitar
- Jerry Hey: flugelhorn
References
edit- ^ a b Allard, François; Lecocq, Richard (2018). "Rockwell: Somebody's Watching Me". Michael Jackson: All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. Octopus Books. ISBN 9781788401234.
- ^ "Billboard Charts". Billboard. 11 September 1984.
- ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum certification". BMI. 5 October 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 152. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-898202-09-0.
- ^ "Rebbie Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "Rebbie Jackson Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Rebbie Jackson Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "American single certifications – Rebbie Jackson – Centipede". Recording Industry Association of America.