‘Centerfold’ is a song by the J. Geils Band, released in September 1981 as the lead single from their tenth album Freeze Frame. The most successful single of the group's career, it reached number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart in February 1982 and held that spot for six consecutive weeks.
The song was the band's biggest hit and the only one to reach the top of the US charts. It was released in autumn 1981, and eventually went to number one 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 the music video for the song was an early staple on recently launched MTV. It also peaked at number one in Australia and Canada.
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.
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" would also peak within the top 40 at No. 27. 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. Ultimate Classic Rock critic Michael Gallucci rated it to be the band's all-time greatest song.
Label – EMI America
Songwriter – Seth Justman
Producer – Seth Justman
SONG LYRICS
[Intro]Come on
[Verse 1]
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
[Pre-Chorus 1]
Years go by
I'm lookin' through a girly magazine
And there's my homeroom angel
On the pages in-between
[Chorus]
My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
Angel is the centerfold
My blood runs cold (Woohoo)
My memory has just been sold
Angel is the centerfold
[Verse 2]
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
Somethin' had a hold on me
When angel passed close by
[Pre-Chorus 2]
Those soft and fuzzy sweaters
Too magical to touch
To see her in that négligée
Is really just too much
[Chorus]
My blood runs cold (Yeah)
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 (Oh, yeah)
Angel is the centerfold
[Bridge]
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
[Verse 3]
Now, look
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 your 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
[Pre-Chorus 3]
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
[Chorus]
My blood runs cold
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
Angel is the centerfold
My blood runs cold (Woo)
My memory has just been sold
My angel is the centerfold
[Outro]
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
(Alright, alright, one, two, three, four)
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na--nana-na-na
Na-na, na-na-na-na
Na-na-na, na--nana-na-na
My blood runs cold (Na-na, na-na-na-na)
My memory has just been sold (Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na)
My angel is the centerfold (Na-na, na-na-na-na)
Angel is the centerfold (Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na)
My blood runs cold (Oh yeah) (Na-na, na-na-na-na)
My memory has just been sold (Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na)
My angel is the centerfold (Na-na, na-na-na-na)
Angel is the centerfold (Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na)
(Na-na, na-na-na-na)
(Na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na)