Centerfold

J. Geils Band

About Centerfold

"Centerfold" is a single released by The J. Geils Band from their album Freeze Frame. The song is about a man who is shocked to discover that his high school crush appeared in a centerfold spread for an unspecified men's magazine. The song's narrator is torn between conflicting feelings: his disappointment due to her loss of innocence, and his lust until the end of the song. It was released in autumn 1981, and eventually went to Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in February 1982, and stayed there for six weeks. It was the first single released from the album Freeze Frame and was an early staple on MTV. It also peaked at Number 1 in Australia and Canada. In February 1982, after the song hit No. 1 in the US, "Centerfold" peaked at No. 3 in the UK Top 40, earning The J. Geils Band their only major hit single in the UK, although follow-up "Freeze-Frame" was a minor hit. The song is one of the on-disc songs on the 2010 music video game Rock Band 3. In 2018, the song was ranked at No. 66 on Billboard's All Time Top Songs. 


Year:
2006
82 
#1

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Does she walk? Does she talk?
Does she come complete?
My homeroom homeroom angel
Always pulled me from my seat

She was pure like snowflakes
No one could ever stain
The memory of my angel
Could never cause me pain

Years go by I'm lookin' through a girly magazine
And there's my homeroom angel on the pages in-between

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
Angel is the centerfold

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
Angel is the centerfold

Slipped me notes under the desk
While I was thinkin' about her dress
I was shy I turned away
Before she caught my eye

I was shakin' in my shoes
Whenever she flashed those baby-blues
Something had a hold on me
When angel passed close by

Those soft and fuzzy sweaters
Too magical to touch
To see her in that negligee
Is really just too much

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
Angel is the centerfold

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
Angel is the centerfold

It's okay I understand
This ain't no never-never land
I hope that when this issue's gone
I'll see you when your clothes are on

Take you car, yes we will
We'll take your car and drive it
We'll take it to a motel room
And take 'em off in private

A part of me has just been ripped
The pages from my mind are stripped
Oh no, I can't deny it
Oh yeah, I guess I gotta buy it

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
Angel is the centerfold

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My Angel in the centerfold

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
Angel is the centerfold

My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
Angel is the centerfold

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J. Geils Band

The J. Geils Band was an American rock band formed in 1967, in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the leadership of guitarist John "J." Geils. The original band members included vocalist Peter Wolf, harmonica and saxophone player Richard "Magic Dick" Salwitz, drummer Stephen Bladd, vocalist/keyboardist Seth Justman, and bassist Danny Klein. Wolf and Justman served as principal songwriters. The band played R&B-influenced blues rock during the 1970s and soon achieved commercial success before moving toward a more mainstream radio-friendly sound in the early 1980s, which brought the band to its commercial peak. They performed a mix of cover songs of classic blues and R&B songs, along with original compositions written primarily by Wolf and Justman, as well as some … more »

1 fan

Written by: Seth Justman

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Song Release
"Centerfold" was released by The J. Geils Band in 1981 as part of their album "Freeze-Frame."
Chart Performance
The song was a massive hit in the U.S, remaining at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for six consecutive weeks in early 1982.
International Success
As a testament to its global appeal, "Centerfold" also reached No. 1 in several other countries including Canada and Australia.
Genre
Despite the band's roots in the blues-rock scene, "Centerfold" was more of a pop-rock tune that helped define the 1980s' music scene.
History
Seth Justman, the band's keyboard player, wrote the song about his teenage fantasies. Its narrative follows the shock of a young man who discovers his high school crush as a centerfold model in a men's magazine.
Music Video
The accompanying music video for "Centerfold" was heavily played on MTV, contributing vastly to the song's success. It is amusingly set in a faux-high school and featured a "sheet music fight" instead of a food fight.
Pop Culture
The song's widespread popularity led to its inclusion in many movies and television series, including "Grown Ups," "Family Guy," and HBO's "The Sopranos."
Cover Versions
In testament to its enduring appeal, "Centerfold" has been covered by several artists over the years, including Pink Spiders and The Bodines.
Band’s Most Successful Single
Despite their notable discography, "Centerfold" remains the J. Geils Band’s most successful single to date.
Song Recognition
In recognition of its cultural impact, VH1 listed "Centerfold" as No. 52 on its list of the 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s.
Band Breakup
Ironically, despite the success The J. Geils Band enjoyed because of "Centerfold," tensions that arose from its success led to the band's breakup in 1985.

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    Centerfold

    29M
    214.3K     7,034

    Top Hot 100 Songs 1982

    Billboard #1


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