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] performed a cover of the song, as well actedin a music video directed by Glover, to the ]. The video featured ] (who also appears in the movie) as a few male patrons, as well ] and ] among the female extras. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61JBzhErFqU |title=Crispin Glover - "Ben" |date=2019-12-03 |last=Roman “Romych” Pictures |access-date=2024-11-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> ] of the band ] performed a cover of the song on a 1991 episode of '']'' titled "]". Jackson himself appeared as a guest voice in this episode, but for contractual reasons, all of the singing lines his character had were given to Lennon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-bizarre-dispute-over-whether-three-michael-jackson-songs-were-actually-sung-by-someone-else|title=The Bizarre Dispute Over Whether Three Michael Jackson Songs Were Actually Sung by Someone Else|first=Doreen St|last=Félix|date=August 29, 2018|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref> The song was also regularly performed live by rock band ] during their ] in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/faith-coachella-2010-reunited-feels-good|title=FAITH NO MORE at Coachella 2010: Reunited And It Feels So Good!|first=Metal|last=Injection|date=April 19, 2010|website=Metal Injection}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/04/faith-no-more-big-pimping-their-coachella-reunion/|title=Faith No More: Big Pimping Their Coachella Reunion! - SPIN}}</ref>
] performed a cover of the song, as well starred and directed a music video, to the ]. The video featured ] (who also appears in the movie) as a few male patrons, as well ] and ] among the female extras. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61JBzhErFqU |title=Crispin Glover - "Ben" |date=2019-12-03 |last=Roman “Romych” Pictures |access-date=2024-11-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> ] of the band ] performed a cover of the song on a 1991 episode of '']'' titled "]". Jackson himself appeared as a guest voice in this episode, but for contractual reasons, all of the singing lines his character had were given to Lennon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-bizarre-dispute-over-whether-three-michael-jackson-songs-were-actually-sung-by-someone-else|title=The Bizarre Dispute Over Whether Three Michael Jackson Songs Were Actually Sung by Someone Else|first=Doreen St|last=Félix|date=August 29, 2018|via=www.newyorker.com}}</ref> The song was also regularly performed live by rock band ] during their ] in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/reviews/faith-coachella-2010-reunited-feels-good|title=FAITH NO MORE at Coachella 2010: Reunited And It Feels So Good!|first=Metal|last=Injection|date=April 19, 2010|website=Metal Injection}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2010/04/faith-no-more-big-pimping-their-coachella-reunion/|title=Faith No More: Big Pimping Their Coachella Reunion! - SPIN}}</ref>
==See also==
==See also==
Revision as of 05:44, 20 November 2024
Song written by Don Black and composed by Walter Scharf
For the Adair Lion song, see BEN (song).
"Ben" (often referred to as "Ben's Song") is a song written by Don Black and Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name (a spin-off to the 1971 killer rat film Willard). It was performed by Lee Montgomery in the film and by Michael Jackson over the closing credits. Jackson's single, recorded for the Motown label in 1972, spent one week at the top of the Billboard Hot 100, making it Jackson's first number one single in the US as a solo artist. Billboard ranked it as the number 20 song for 1972. It also reached number 1 on the ARIA Charts, spending eight weeks at the top spot. The song also later reached a peak of number 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In 2004, the song appeared in The Ultimate Collection.
"Ben" was written for Donny Osmond, but he was on tour at the time and unavailable for recording, so Black and Scharf offered the song to Jackson instead. In addition to its one week at number 1 in the US, the song later reached a peak of number 7 on the British pop chart. "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. Billboard called it a "beauty".
Live recorded versions were released on the 1981 album The Jacksons Live! and Live at the Forum, and remixed versions have appeared on The Remix Suite, The Stripped Mixes and some versions of Immortal. After Jackson's death, singer Akon released a remix of the song with his own background vocals and Jackson's original vocal solo.
AllMusic editor Lindsay Planer wrote about the success of the song: "Like much of the Motown empire at the time, the title track's multimedia exposure, coupled with strong crossover appeal, ensured that 'Ben' scored the artist his first Pop Singles' chart-topper". Rolling Stone editor Vince Aletti was not satisfied: "The title song is lovely, no doubt, and Michael packs it with a surprising amount of feeling (his delivery of 'They don't see you as I do/I wish they would try to' still tears me up) but it's all a little too thick for my tastes".
In 1985, the song became a top 10 hit again in the U.K. when covered by Marti Webb as a tribute to Ben Hardwick, a young liver transplant patient. This version reached No. 5 in the U.K. Singles Chart and was one of the singer's biggest hits.
Other cover versions
Crispin Glover performed a cover of the song, as well starred and directed a music video, to the 2003 remake of Willard. The video featured R. Lee Ermey (who also appears in the movie) as a few male patrons, as well Lindsay Beamish and Jane Jensen among the female extras. Kipp Lennon of the band Venice performed a cover of the song on a 1991 episode of The Simpsons titled "Stark Raving Dad". Jackson himself appeared as a guest voice in this episode, but for contractual reasons, all of the singing lines his character had were given to Lennon. The song was also regularly performed live by rock band Faith No More during their reunion tour in 2010.
Side A of the Brazilian single
