"Ben" is a number-one hit song written by Don Black and Walter Scharf and recorded by Michael Jackson for the Motown label in 1972.
| Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| from the album Ben | ||||
| Released | July 12, 1972 | |||
| Format | CD single | |||
| Recorded | 1971 | |||
| Genre | Pop, soul, pop rock/R&B, soft rock | |||
| Length | 2:48 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Writer(s) | Don Black and Walter Scharf | |||
| Producer | The Corporation: Freddie Perren, Alphonzo Mizell, Deke Richards and Berry Gordy, Jr | |||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background
Originally written for Donny Osmond, "Ben" was offered to Jackson as Osmond was on tour at the time and unavailable for recording. The single, theme of a 1972 film of the same name (the sequel to the 1971 killer rat movie Willard), spent one week at the top of the U.S. pop chart. It also reached number-one on the Australian pop chart, spending eight weeks at the top spot. The song also later reached a peak of number seven on the British pop chart.
The song became the first of 13 number-one pop hits for Jackson in the United States and his first number-one as a solo artist; it was later included on Jackson's album of the same name.
"Ben" won a Golden Globe for Best Song. It was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1973; Jackson performed the song in front of a live audience at the ceremony.
Although Jackson had already become the youngest artist to ever record a number-one ("I Want You Back" with The Jackson 5, in 1970), "Ben" made him the third-youngest solo artist, at fourteen, to score a number-one hit single. Only Stevie Wonder, who was thirteen when "Fingertips, Pt. 2" went to number one, and Donny Osmond, who was months shy of his fourteenth birthday when "Go Away Little Girl" hit number one in 1971 were younger.
After Jackson's death, singer Akon released a remix of the song with his own background vocals and Jackson's original voice.
In 1985, the song became a top ten hit again in the UK when covered by Marti Webb as a tribute to Ben Hardwick, a young liver transplant patient. This version reached #5 in the UK charts and was one of the singer's biggest hits. The co-writer of the song Don Black was at that time Webb's manager.
Music details
The song is played in the key of F Major at a tempo of 88bpm. The vocal range is B3-D5
Michael Jackson performed the song on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour in the early 1970s.
Charts
| Chart (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Kent Music Report | 1 |
| UK Singles Chart | 7 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 1 |
| Chart (2009) | Peak position |
| Australian ARIA Singles Chart | 14 |
| Irish Singles Chart | 24 |
| UK Singles Chart | 46 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs | 75 |
Cultural references
- Kipp Lennon, who performed the singing part of Michael Jackson's character on The Simpsons sang "Ben" to Homer Simpson in the episode "Stark Raving Dad" replacing the name "Ben" with "Homer".
- American singer Amanda Seyfried sang the song as a fourteen year old to the President of the United States as a birthday present for him.
- Pearl Jam makes a reference to the song "Ben" on their 1993 album Vs. on the song "Rats", with the line "Ben, the two of us need look no more" repeated several times at the end the track.[citation needed]
- Boyzone covered the song on their album A Different Beat.
- The song was featured in the TV movie Wedding Wars, sung by John Stamos' character at the wedding of his brother, Ben.
- The song was sung by 9 year old autistic boy David Militello on the third season of America's Got Talent.
- The song was covered in 2003 by Crispin Glover, for the remake of Willard.
- "Ben" was featured on the 2nd single of Japanese singer, Stephanie, entitled because of you.
- The song was spoofed in the television show The Wayans Bros. when it was sung by Marlon Wayans about his rat named "Rufus".
- The song was covered in 1990 from Silvy Melody at the Vlaamse showbiz TV Show De Kinderacademie.
- Ray Quinn sang "Ben" on the third series of The X Factor, during Motown week in 2006. Two years later, Eoghan Quigg would perform the same number as part of Michael Jackson week; this version is now featured on Quigg's self-titled album.
- Billy Gilman performed the song at the Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Special in 2001
- In 2007, Connie Talbot released a version on her debut album, Over The Rainbow.
- In the season 3, episode 05 of Will & Grace called Grace 0, Jack 2000, the Will's character sings a part of the song to Grace when she broke up with Ben Doucette, played by Gregory Hines.
Lyrics
Ben, the two of us need look no more 
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You've got a friend in me
(you've got a friend in me)
Ben, you're always running here and there
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's one thing you should know
You've got a place to go
(you've got a place to go)
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(a friend) Like Ben
(like Ben) Like Ben
We both found what we were looking for
With a friend to call my own
I'll never be alone
And you, my friend, will see
You've got a friend in me
(you've got a friend in me)
Ben, you're always running here and there
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's one thing you should know
You've got a place to go
(you've got a place to go)
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
I used to say "I" and "me"
Now it's "us", now it's "we"
Ben, most people would turn you away
I don't listen to a word they say
They don't see you as I do
I wish they would try to
I'm sure they'd think again
If they had a friend like Ben
(a friend) Like Ben
(like Ben) Like Ben
1. with lyrics : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEbuP9NnhfE
6. Live Performance - The 45th Annual Academy Awards® (1973) - HQ Sound :
7. on The Jacksons Variety Show 1977 : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vwSIIY6bks&feature=related
9. MICHAEL JACKSON & The Jacksons - Triumph Tour Compilation (1981) - BEN is only featured at the beginning of this video.
