US single released July 12, 1972.
#5 R&B, #1 Pop, #7 UK
Sales : 2 865 012 (World), 1 701 475 ex (USA)
Written for the motion picture "Ben",
the song is a story about the friendship between a boy and
a rat. It's certainly the only love song dedicated to a
rat. Some american radios were a little reluctant to broadcast
the song, considering the morbidness of the theme. But the
public loving Little Michael bought about 1,7 millions copies.
The song won the Golden Globe Award in January
1973. Michael was also nominated at the Oscars with this
song, a show where a man called Quincy Jones was present...
Ben is the main success of the first phase
of Michael's career, and his only number one at Motown.
Ecrite pour le film
du même nom, la chanson est une ballade racontant
l'amitié d'un garçon avec un rat. C'est sûrement
la seule chanson d'amour dédiée à un
rat. Certaines radios américaines étaient
un peu réticentes à diffuser la chanson, considérant
le thème un peu morbide. Mais le public adorant le
petit Michael, en acheta plus de 1,7 millions de copies.
La chanson a remporté
le Golden Globe Award en janvier 1973. Elle a été
nominée aux Oscars, cérémonie au cours
de laquelle Michael a chanté la chanson. Dans la
salle, un certain Quincy Jones était présent...
Ben est le principal tube de la première phase de
la carrière de Michael, et son seul numéro
1 chez Motown
Ben (Mono/Stereo)
7" White Label Promo, 1972
M 1207
USA
Ben / You Can Cry On My Shoulder
7" single, 1972
Italy
Ben
7" single, 1972
149 A
Thailand
Ben / What Goes Around Comes Around / Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da
Day
7" EPl, 1972
CDM 11
Brazil
Ben / Rockin' Robin / You Can Cry On My Shoulder / I Wanna Be
Where You Are
7" EP, 1972
TMG 2000F 2
Singapour
Ben / We've
Got A Good Thing Goin' / You Can Cry On My Shoulder / In Our
Small Way
7" EP, 1972
Mexico
BEN
7" single, 1972
Portugal
Ben / Lookin' Through The Windows / Little Bitty Pretty One
7" EP, 1972
Holland
Ben
7" single, 1983
ZB 64302
UK
BEN
7" single, 1975
IM 26039
Portugal
Ben
7" single, 1975
Holland
Ben
7" single, 1972
M 1207
Canada
Ben / I Wann Be Where You Are
Yesteryear Reissue, 1974
Y 555 F
USA
Ben
7" single reissue, 1980
TMG 1165
UK
Lyrics / Paroles
Michael
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
(Here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere
(Anywhere)
If you ever look behind
And don't like what you find
There's something 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
Ben / We've
Got A Good Thing Goin' / You Can Cry On My Shoulder / In Our
Small Way
