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Ben
from the Motion Picture "BEN"
(Walter Scharf / Don Black)
Lead vocals : Michael Jackson
Arranged by The Corporation
Produced by The Corporation
Recorded at the Motown Recording Studios, Los Angeles, California
Versions
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Album Version (from "Ben") | 2:42 | ||
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Mono Single Version (from 7" US single) | 2:42 | ||
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Stereo Single Version (from 7" US promo single) | 2:42 | ||
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Live Version (from In Japan !) | 2:54 | ||
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HF Remix #2 (from "Soul Source Vol 2") | 3:19 | ||
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Single details
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
Collection
 Ben (Mono/Stereo) 7" White Label Promo, 1972 M 1207 USA  |
 Ben / You Can Cry On My Shoulder 7" single, 1972 M 1207 USA 
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 Ben / You Can Cry On My Shoulder 7" single, 1972 TMG 824 UK
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 Ben / Ain't No Sunshine 7" single, 1972 M 513 Spain
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 Ben / Got To Be There 7" single, 1974 VIP 2043 Japan
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 Ben / You Can Cry On My Shoulder 7" single, 1972 Italy  |
 Ben 7" single, 1972 149 A Thailand
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 Ben / What Goes Around Comes Around / Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da Day 7" EPl, 1972 CDM 11 Brazil
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 Ben / Rockin' Robin / You Can Cry On My Shoulder / I Wanna Be Where You Are 7" EP, 1972 TMG 2000F 2 Singapour
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Ben / We've Got A Good Thing Goin' / You Can Cry On My Shoulder /
In Our Small Way7" EP, 1972 Mexico |
 BEN 7" single, 1972 Portugal
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 Ben / Lookin' Through The Windows / Little Bitty Pretty One 7" EP, 1972 Holland
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 Ben 7" single, 1983 ZB 64302 UK
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 BEN 7" single, 1975 IM 26039 Portugal
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 Ben 7" single, 1975 Holland
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 Ben 7" single, 1972 M 1207 Canada
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 Ben / I Wann Be Where You Are Yesteryear Reissue, 1974 Y 555 F USA
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 Ben 7" single reissue, 1980 TMG 1165 UK
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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
© 1971 Jobete Music Co., Inc (ASCAP)
All rights reserved.
