Rebbie Jackson, Centipede | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 45th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we highlight “Centipede” performed by Rebbie Jackson.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy 💯! On 1 Hit WONDERful, we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  It is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, that ONE hit earned them recognition. So, in the 45^th edition of 1 Hit WONDERful (2024), we dive into “Centipede”  the one-hit wonder by Rebbie Jackson.

“Crawling like a centipede / Centipede.” Ah, an insect song!  The most famous Jacksons are the late Michael Jackson (1958 – 2009), Janet Jackson, and the iconic brother group, The Jackson 5. However, the Jackson family has impacted the pop charts beyond those three acts.  Rebbie Jackson, the oldest member of the family, earned a hit with “Centipede”. “Centipede” is the opener from Jackson’s 1984 album, also titled Centipede. The composer and producer of “Centipede” should come as no surprise – Rebbie’s younger brother, Michael.  A hit on the pop charts, it peaked at no. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, it was certified gold by the RIAA in 1992.

“Centipede” begins with an enigmatic, noisy, and unsettling introduction. Soon enough, a groove settles in. The production is sleek. The synths are colorful, while the rhythm guitars are terrific. Through most of the song, Rebbie delivers easy-going, cool, calm, and collected vocals. As “Centipede” progresses, she exhibits more assertiveness and grit. The harmonized vocals, including vocals by Michael, La Toya Jackson, and The Weather Girls (Izora Rhodes and Martha Wash), give Rebbie a lift.  So, where does the centipede itself enter the mix besides the chorus excerpted above? Per Rebbie, “But when the centipede is hot / You’re bound to feel the fire.” Ooh-wee! In the pre-chorus, she asserts, “When the time is really right / Is when the centipede is crawling / He’ll be crying in the night / So many tears.” Sure… Ultimately, “Centipede” is a fun one from Rebbie.  She had some additional success on the R&B charts, but this is her sole entry on the pop charts, solidifying her one-hit-wonder status.  However, if this song of this caliber is your sole hit, it’s a killer one.

Rebbie Jackson // Centipede // Sony Music Entertainment // 1984

Rebbie Jackson, Centipede: 1 Hit WONDERful No. 45 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Sony Music Entertainment; Antoni Shkraba, KoolShooters, Pavel Danilyuk, Photo By: Kaboompics.com, RDNE Stock project from Pexels; OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]