Don't U think this song is TOTALLY underrated? What was MJ's contribution?

:I: think it's a great song and all the Jacksoon R talented (until Jermaine released that "Precious Moments" crap! c. 1987)

'dre

right up there with Vanity's Pretty Mess

Centipede was written, produced, arranged and background vocals were performed by Michael Jackson...exclusively for his sister Rebbie.

It was her biggest hit and is a slammin' song.

IMO, Rebbie has the best voice of all the Jackson girls, Janet included. 2 bad she never got her due respect...

June7 said:

Sho Nuff.also back in 98 Rebbie released a Album on MJ's Label they included "Centipede"&also MJ wrote "Fly Away" on her Album re-made.the Original "Fly Away" is on the "Bad" Remastered version.

DreZone said:

Jermaine is a Badd Ass Musician.the Cat as a Kid Sung&Played Bass at the same time&that was saying something for a Kid doing this at age 14,15,16 at the time.Jermaine is a tight Instrumentalist&has been Istrumental for alot of things behind the scenes that folks might be surprised at knowing about?Jermaine is right there with Michael&Randy as far as being the Most Overall Talented Members of the Jacksons IMHO.

Oh man,I LOVED this song back in the day.It was a huge hit in the fall of '84.Michael did a kickass job producing this track and yes,Rebbie has the best voice of all the Jackson girls.

"I'm just crawling like a Centipede"

Centipede still is the JOINT!!! MJ's "Muscles," written for Diana Ross, wasn't too shabby, either.

I just saw a thread for this on Okayplayer. Anyway, yeah this song is tight. I realized that it sounds a lot like Sugar Walls...or did Sugar Walls sound like Centipede?

mistermaxxx said:

Jermaine IS one of the more talented of brothers no doubt, but that album was terrible especially after coming out with "Let's Get Serious" and "Dynamite".

Do U have the Randy (Jackson) & The Perpertrators album of c.1989? Now that is a good album 2!!!

'dre

DreZone said:

One of my favorite cuts, if not my fave, from the Victory album is Randy Jackson's "One More Chance".

He wrote, produced, arranged, and sang lead on that one, with the brothers doing background vocals. He also co-wrote another fave of mine, "Shake Your Body (Down To The Ground)" with his bro, Mickey.

I always thought Randy could have been huge...but Michael's shadow is just 2 damned big!

Janet got lucky.

DAMN I didnt know MJ wrote Mucles!!!

Anyway...Dre, I just saw the video 4 Centipede finally! Scary video and weird. I had the 45 for a long time. MJ should've produced many artists cuts back then, like Prince...I wish there was a list.

MJ had some tight beats 4 that cut!

I didn't know that Rebbie used to sing back in the day, I only have her "Yours Faithfuly" which is not bad at all and YES I love her voice. Def MUCH BETTA than Janet and the other cheap biatch(Ya'll know)

Rebbie is DEFINITELY the most talented Jackson sister. Also the most grounded of all the siblings since she was married and out of the family home before they became famous. Some of Rebbie's dancing on The Jacksons TV Show in the 70s was phenomenal. She's a MUCH better singer and dancer than Janet ever was or will be. It's a shame she didn't have much material or enough drive to break away like her baby sis.

She came to the UK to do some interviews about 5 years ago and she was looking STUNNING. She looks about 30 now and she's really 52.

Ellie said:

52?? R U Sure?? Wow

I saw a recent picture of her from People's Magazine(2002) and the woman was,,,Oh my god, I can't believe she's 52.

BTW is she still a witness??

DreZone said:

Randy had a Tight Album back in 89.the Guy is a Multi-Instrumentalist&can Groove.dug that Album.Jermaine got caught up in Corperate Politics as a Artist&didn't get a Push.things might have been different had Arista Records been allowed too release His Duet with Michael on "Tell Me I'm not dreaming" back in 84.Rebbie is bad.She worked with Andre Cymone for Her album back in 86 or 87 on CBS.She also worked with the Cats from Surface.

I love "Centipede" -- it is one of my favorite songs! MJ wrote a jam when he wrote that one! I purchased Yours Faithfully (the 1998 album she released on MJJ Records) primarily for that track!

FirstAvenue said:

both are a product of the time.

DavidEye said:

MJ went through His Animal Days for writing Songs.

June7 said:

had Randy been more of a Singer&also had He not been so out of it&More into His work there is no telling where He might have gone as a Artist? Randy Jackson is far more Badder than alot of folks might think or Know.I think Michael&Randy were tight as Co-Writers back in the day.

UptownDeb said:

"Centipede" is hot! He wrote that "Muscles" song for Diana Ross? I never dug "Muscle" though (then again, I never bought a Diana Ross CD). Does anyone else find the songs he wrote for them to have something of a gay theme. I heard someone on the radio mention that "Centipede" was about a certain body part. I don't know about that. I just know it had a hot beat and Rebbie sang the sh!t out of it!

todd305 said:

I got that Album as well.

AGREE. Always had.

I LOVE CENTIPEDE. That is the jam.

VinnyM27 said:

This is a very old argument/statement.

It's like saying Prince must have gay tendencies 4 writing the lyrics "I was kissing Valentino by a crystal blue italian stream" when he wrote "Manic Monday" that the Bangles had their hit with.

Michael wrote both "Muscles" and "Centipede" specifically with the knowledge that women would b singing them.

He wrote "Muscles" 4 Diana Ross, it was a huge hit 4 her.

He wrote "Centipede" 4 Rebbie, it was a huge hit 4 her.

Prince wrote "Sugar Walls" 4 Sheena Easton, "Nasty Girl" 4 Vanity, "Sex Shooter" 4 Appolonia...etc...etc. The lyrics r very, very feminine, and they were huge hits 4 them!!!

Does he have gay thoughts?

"...am I straight or gay? - - - Controversy!"

June7 said:

AMEN JUNE7.next somebody will Question Babyface for writing the Soundtrack for "Waiting Too Exhale" for a All Female Singing Album? Guys have written Songs for Women for Many,Many,Many years&shall Continue&the themes were for the WOmen.

I love what Diana Ross said about Michael writing the song "Muscles" for her...


"Michael wrote the song "Muscles" for me,and I don't know if it's his fantasy or mine"

DavidEye said:

Michael also had a boa constrictor snake named "Muscles"..so according to him, that what led him to write a song about muscles.

Speaking of songs that Michael wrote for others,do you guys remember these...


***"Nighttime Lover" by LaToya Jackson (1980)---We all know that LaToya can't sing,but this song was great! I haven't heard it in decades,but I think the chorus goes somethihng like "Baby...save my soul tonight".

***"This Had To Be" by The Brothers Johnson (1980)---The Brothers Johnson played on Mike's 'Off The Wall' album so to return the favor,Michael gave them this song for their 'Light Up The Night' album.It's a fast,uptempo number with Michael singing along.

***"Eaten Alive" by Diana Ross (1985)---You can even hear Michael on the chorus,and he sings "You can rip my shirt,drag me in the dirt...I will be your slave,anything you say,but I don't ever wanna be...Eaten Alive!"

***"Behind The Mask (Who Do You Love?") by Greg Phillinganes (1985?)---Greg Phillinganes was Michaels' keyboardist through most of the 80s,and Mike wrote and produced this song for him.

DavidEye said:

Yes...sure do...I used to love "This Had To Be" by "Brothers Johnson".