Centipede (Rebbie Jackson song)

"Centipede" is the debut single by American singer Rebbie Jackson, and the title track from her debut album Centipede. Michael Jackson wrote the song.

Background
The 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
Released 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.

Personnel

 * 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