Ben (song): Difference between revisions

"Ben"
"Ben"
Single by Marti Webb
from the album Encore
B-side	"Nothing Ever Changes"
Released	1985
Studio	Angel Recording Studios, London
Label	Starblend Records
Songwriter(s)	Don Black; Walter Scharf;
Producer(s)	John Altman
Marti Webb singles chronology

"Ben"
"Ben"
	Side A of the Brazilian single
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Ben
B-side	"You Can Cry on My Shoulder"
Released	July 12, 1972
Recorded	November 1971
Genre	Pop; adult contemporary;
Length	2:44
Label	Motown
Songwriter(s)	Don Black; Walter Scharf;
Producer(s)	The Corporation
Michael Jackson singles chronology

Browse history interactively

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"Ben" (often referred to as "Ben's Song")^[1] 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.^[2] Billboard ranked it as the number 20 song for 1972.^[3] It also reached number 1 on the ARIA Charts, spending eight weeks at the top spot.^[2] The song also later reached a peak of number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.^[2] In 2004, the song appeared in The Ultimate Collection.

"Ben" won a Golden Globe for Best Song. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1973, losing to "The Morning After" by Maureen McGovern from The Poseidon Adventure. Jackson lip-synced to the song at the Oscars ceremony.^{[citation needed]}^[4]

Background

"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.^[5] 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.^[2] "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.^[4] Billboard called it a "beauty".^[6]

Although Jackson had already become the youngest artist to ever record a number 1 ("I Want You Back" with The Jackson 5, in 1970),^[7] "Ben" made him the third-youngest solo artist, at 14, to score a number 1 hit single. Only Stevie Wonder, who was 13 when "Fingertips" went to number 1, and Osmond, who was months shy of his 14th birthday when "Go Away Little Girl" hit number 1 in 1971, were younger. The song is one of Jackson's most re-released, having appeared on The Jackson 5 Anthology, The Best of Michael Jackson, 18 Greatest Hits, Michael Jackson Anthology, Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection, The Essential Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection, Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection, The Definitive Collection, The Jacksons Story, the North American version of Number Ones (even though here it is the 1981 live version), some versions of King of Pop and Icon.

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.

Osmond did record it later in his career, including it in his 2014 album The Soundtrack of My Life.^[8]

Critical reception

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".^[9] 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".^[10]

Charts

Weekly charts

1972 weekly chart performance for "Ben"
Chart (1972)	Peak position
Australia (Kent Music Report)	1
Canada RPM Top Singles^[11]	6
Canada RPM Adult Contemporary^[12]	13
South African Singles Chart^[13]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[14]	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[15]	1
US Billboard Adult Contemporary^[16]	3
US Cash Box Top 100^[17]	2

1973 weekly chart performance for "Ben"
Chart (1973)	Peak position
Irish Singles Chart^[18]	15
New Zealand (Listener)^[19]	18

2009 weekly chart performance for "Ben"
Chart (2009)	Peak position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart^[20]	14
Irish Singles Chart	24
UK Singles Chart	46

Year-end charts

1972 year-end chart performance for "Ben"
Chart (1972)	Position
Canada	18
US Billboard Hot 100^[21]	20
US Cash Box^[22]	45

1973 year-end chart performance for "Ben"
Chart (1973)	Position
Australia^[23]	12

Certifications and sales

Certifications and sales for "Ben"
Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Mexico	—	51,000^[24]
United Kingdom (BPI)^[25]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Marti Webb version

In 1985, the song became a top 10 hit again in the U.K. when covered by Marti Webb^[26] as a tribute to Ben Hardwick, a young liver transplant patient. ^[27] This version reached No. 5 in the U.K. Singles Chart and was one of the singer's biggest hits.^[26]

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. ^[28] 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.^[29] The song was also regularly performed live by rock band Faith No More during their reunion tour in 2010.^[30]^[31]

References

^ "BEN (1972) - (MOVIE CLIP) BEN'S SONG". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Cadman, Chris (2007). Michael Jackson: For the Record. Authors OnLine. ISBN 978-0-7552-0267-6.
^ Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972
^ ^a ^b "Michael Jackson - Ben (Oscars 1973)". Youtube.com. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2024.
^ "Donny Osmond". Lvrj.com. 2009-06-27. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
^ "Radio Action and Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. July 22, 1972. p. 93. Retrieved 2020-08-02.
^ McDermott, Maeve. "Ranking Michael Jackson's No. 1 hits, in honor of what would have been his 60th birthday". Usatoday.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^ "Donny Osmond Gets Personal With 'Soundtrack Of My Life'". Huff Post. 13 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
^ Lindsay Planer. "Ben - Michael Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
^ "Michael Jackson: Ben: Music Reviews: Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 1972-12-07. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved 2013-12-26.
^ "Image: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
^ "Item: 9840 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
^ "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^ "Michael Jackson — full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 118.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 10/21/72". Tropicalglen.com. 1972-10-21. Archived from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-01-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
^ "Michael Jackson - Ben". ARIA Charts. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
^ "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
^ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972". Tropicalglen.com. 1972-12-30. Archived from the original on 2018-09-28. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
^ "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-10-06.
^ "Label's Biggest Seller Almost Wasn't Released" (PDF). Billboard. June 7, 1975. p. 24. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Ben". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
^ ^a ^b "MARTI WEBB | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Oofficialcharts.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
^ "Marti Webb – The Pheasantry". Musical Theatre Review. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
^ Roman "Romych" Pictures (2019-12-03). Crispin Glover - "Ben" [HD]. Retrieved 2024-11-19 – via YouTube.
^ Félix, Doreen St (August 29, 2018). "The Bizarre Dispute Over Whether Three Michael Jackson Songs Were Actually Sung by Someone Else". The New Yorker.
^ Injection, Metal (April 19, 2010). "FAITH NO MORE at Coachella 2010: Reunited And It Feels So Good!". Metal Injection.
^ "Faith No More: Big Pimping Their Coachella Reunion!". SPIN.

External links

Michael Jackson - Ben on YouTube

[1] "BEN (1972) - (MOVIE CLIP) BEN'S SONG". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.

[Cadman-2] Cadman, Chris (2007). Michael Jackson: For the Record. Authors OnLine. ISBN 978-0-7552-0267-6.

[3] Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972

[Ben_at_Oscars-4] "Michael Jackson - Ben (Oscars 1973)". Youtube.com. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2024.

[5] "Donny Osmond". Lvrj.com. 2009-06-27. Archived from the original on 2016-03-03. Retrieved 2020-12-24.

[bb-6] "Radio Action and Pick Singles" (PDF). Billboard. July 22, 1972. p. 93. Retrieved 2020-08-02.

[7] McDermott, Maeve. "Ranking Michael Jackson's No. 1 hits, in honor of what would have been his 60th birthday". Usatoday.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.

[8] "Donny Osmond Gets Personal With 'Soundtrack Of My Life'". Huff Post. 13 January 2015. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.

[9] Lindsay Planer. "Ben - Michael Jackson | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2013-12-26.

[10] "Michael Jackson: Ben: Music Reviews: Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 1972-12-07. Archived from the original on June 18, 2008. Retrieved 2013-12-26.

[11] "Image: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

[12] "Item: 9840 - Library and Archives Canada". Bac-lac.gc.ca. 17 July 2013. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

[13] "South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved April 23, 2021.

[occ-14] "Michael Jackson — full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 30, 2021.

[15] "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.

[16] Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993. Record Research. p. 118.

[17] "Cash Box Top 100 10/21/72". Tropicalglen.com. 1972-10-21. Archived from the original on 2014-11-11. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

[18] "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-01-13.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

[19] "flavour of new zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Archived from the original on 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

[20] "Michael Jackson - Ben". ARIA Charts. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.

[21] "Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972". Musicoutfitters.com. Archived from the original on 2017-04-27. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

[22] "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972". Tropicalglen.com. 1972-12-30. Archived from the original on 2018-09-28. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

[23] "Australian Chart Book". Austchartbook.com.au. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-10-06.

[24] "Label's Biggest Seller Almost Wasn't Released" (PDF). Billboard. June 7, 1975. p. 24. Retrieved February 1, 2023.

[United_KingdomMichael_JacksonBensingleCertRef-25] "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Ben". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 12, 2023.

[chartmart-26] "MARTI WEBB | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Oofficialcharts.com. Retrieved April 23, 2021.

[27] "Marti Webb – The Pheasantry". Musical Theatre Review. 20 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.

[28] Roman "Romych" Pictures (2019-12-03). Crispin Glover - "Ben" [HD]. Retrieved 2024-11-19 – via YouTube.

[29] Félix, Doreen St (August 29, 2018). "The Bizarre Dispute Over Whether Three Michael Jackson Songs Were Actually Sung by Someone Else". The New Yorker.

[30] Injection, Metal (April 19, 2010). "FAITH NO MORE at Coachella 2010: Reunited And It Feels So Good!". Metal Injection.

[31] "Faith No More: Big Pimping Their Coachella Reunion!". SPIN.

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@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 | recorded   = November 1971
 | studio     =
-| venue      =
+| genre      =
-| genre      = {{hlist|[[Pop music|Pop]]|[[Adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]]}}
+* [[Pop music|Pop]]
+* [[Adult contemporary music|adult contemporary]]
 | length     = 2:44
 | label      = [[Motown]]
-| writer     = {{hlist|[[Don Black (lyricist)|Don Black]]|[[Walter Scharf]]}}
+| writer     =
+* [[Don Black (lyricist)|Don Black]]
+* [[Walter Scharf]]
 | producer   = [[The Corporation (record production team)|The Corporation]]
 | prev_title = [[Ain't No Sunshine#Michael Jackson version|Ain't No Sunshine]]
@@ Line 28: / Line 31: @@
 "'''Ben'''" (often referred to as "'''Ben's Song'''")<ref>{{Cite web |title=BEN (1972) - (MOVIE CLIP) BEN'S SONG |url=https://www.tcm.com/video/1366325/ben-1972-bens-song |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808142008/https://www.tcm.com/video/1366325/ben-1972-bens-song |archive-date=8 August 2022 |access-date=13 February 2024 |website=Turner Classic Movies}}</ref> is a song written by [[Don Black (lyricist)|Don Black]] and [[Walter Scharf]] for the [[Ben (film)|1972 film of the same name]] (a spin-off to the 1971 killer rat film ''[[Willard (1971 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 Records|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.<ref name=Cadman>{{cite book |last=Cadman |first=Chris |title=[[Michael Jackson]]: For the Record |year=2007 |publisher=Authors OnLine |isbn=978-0-7552-0267-6}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' ranked it as the number 20 song for 1972.<ref>[[Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1972]]</ref> It also reached number 1 on the [[ARIA Charts]], spending eight weeks at the top spot.<ref name=Cadman/> The song also later reached a peak of number 7 on the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name=Cadman/> In 2004, the song appeared in ''[[The Ultimate Collection (Michael Jackson album)|The Ultimate Collection]]''.
-"Ben" won a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Song]]. It was nominated for an [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] in 1973, losing to "[[The Morning After (Maureen McGovern song)|The Morning After]]" by [[Maureen McGovern]] from ''[[The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film)|The Poseidon Adventure]]''. Jackson [[Lip sync|lip-synced]] to the song at the Oscars ceremony.<ref name="Ben at Oscars">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp6oBRbhpe4 |title=Michael Jackson - Ben (Oscars 1973) |publisher=Youtube.com |date=3 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
+"Ben" won a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|Best Song]]. It was nominated for an [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] in 1973, losing to "[[The Morning After (Maureen McGovern song)|The Morning After]]" by [[Maureen McGovern]] from ''[[The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film)|The Poseidon Adventure]]''. Jackson [[Lip sync|lip-synced]] to the song at the Oscars ceremony.{{Citation needed|date=April 2024}}<ref name="Ben at Oscars">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp6oBRbhpe4 |title=Michael Jackson - Ben (Oscars 1973) |publisher=Youtube.com |date=3 February 2011 |access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
 ==Background==
-"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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/49334897.html |title=Donny Osmond |publisher=Lvrj.com |date=2009-06-27 |access-date=2020-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303040249/http://www.reviewjournal.com/norm-clarke/donny-osmond-recalls-old-friend |archive-date=2016-03-03}}</ref> In addition to its one week at number 1 in the U.S., the song later reached a peak of number 7 on the [[UK Singles Chart|British pop chart]].<ref name="Cadman"/> "Ben" won a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|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.<ref name="Ben at Oscars"/> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' called it a "beauty".<ref name=bb>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=2020-08-02|title=Radio Action and Pick Singles|date=July 22, 1972|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-07-22.pdf|page=93}}</ref>
+"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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.lvrj.com/news/49334897.html |title=Donny Osmond |publisher=Lvrj.com |date=2009-06-27 |access-date=2020-12-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303040249/http://www.reviewjournal.com/norm-clarke/donny-osmond-recalls-old-friend |archive-date=2016-03-03}}</ref> In addition to its one week at number 1 in the US, the song later reached a peak of number 7 on the [[UK Singles Chart|British pop chart]].<ref name="Cadman"/> "Ben" won a [[Golden Globe Award|Golden Globe]] for [[Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song|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.<ref name="Ben at Oscars"/> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' called it a "beauty".<ref name=bb>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard|access-date=2020-08-02|title=Radio Action and Pick Singles|date=July 22, 1972|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1972/BB-1972-07-22.pdf|page=93}}</ref>
-Jackson recorded the song in one take.
 Although Jackson had already become the youngest artist to ever record a number 1 ("[[I Want You Back]]" with [[The Jackson 5]], in [[1970 in music|1970]]),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2018/08/29/ranking-michael-jacksons-no-1-hits-honor-his-60th-birthday/1112672002/|title=Ranking Michael Jackson's No. 1 hits, in honor of what would have been his 60th birthday|first=Maeve|last=McDermott|website=Usatoday.com|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref> "Ben" made him the third-youngest solo artist, at 14, to score a number 1 hit single. Only [[Stevie Wonder]], who was 13 when "[[Fingertips]]" went to number 1, and Osmond, who was months shy of his 14th birthday when "[[Go Away Little Girl]]" hit number 1 in [[1971 in music|1971]], were younger. The song is one of Jackson's most re-released, having appeared on ''[[Anthology (The Jackson 5 album)|The Jackson 5 Anthology]]'', ''[[The Best of Michael Jackson]]'', ''[[18 Greatest Hits (Michael Jackson album)|18 Greatest Hits]]'', ''[[Anthology (Michael Jackson album)|Michael Jackson Anthology]]'', ''[[Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection]]'', ''[[The Essential Michael Jackson]]'', ''[[The Ultimate Collection (Michael Jackson album)|Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection]]'', ''[[Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection]]'', ''[[The Definitive Collection (Michael Jackson album)|The Definitive Collection]]'', ''[[The Jacksons Story]]'', the North American version of ''[[Number Ones (Michael Jackson album)|Number Ones]]'' (even though here it is the 1981 live version), some versions of ''[[King of Pop (album)|King of Pop]]'' and ''[[Icon (Michael Jackson album)|Icon]]''.
@@ Line 48: / Line 50: @@
 ===Weekly charts===
-{|class="wikitable sortable"
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
+|+1972 weekly chart performance for "Ben"
+!scope="col"|Chart (1972)
+!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
 |-
+!scope="row"|Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])
-!Chart (1972)
-!Peak<br />position
-|-
-|Australian [[Kent Music Report|KMR]]
 | style="text-align:center;"|1
 |-
-|Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4210&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4210.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4210 |title=Image: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|Canada ''RPM'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4210&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4210.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4210 |title=Image: RPM Weekly - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|6
 |-
-|Canada ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=9840& |title=Item: 9840 - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|Canada ''RPM'' Adult Contemporary<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=9840& |title=Item: 9840 - Library and Archives Canada |website=Bac-lac.gc.ca |date=17 July 2013 |access-date=2016-10-06}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|13
 |-
-|South African Singles Chart<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html|title=South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)|website=Rock.co.za|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|South African Singles Chart<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rock.co.za/files/sa_charts_1969_1989_songs_(A-B).html|title=South African Rock Lists Website - SA Charts 1969 - 1989 Songs (A-B)|website=Rock.co.za|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|14
 |-
-|[[UK Singles Chart|UK Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref name=occ>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16519/michael-jackson/|title=Michael Jackson — full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK Singles]] ([[Official Charts Company|OCC]])<ref name=occ>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/16519/michael-jackson/|title=Michael Jackson — full Official Chart History|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=September 30, 2021}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|7
 |-
-| US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-jackson/chart-history/hsi/|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=21 September 2021|title=Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)|language=en|date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|US [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/michael-jackson/chart-history/hsi/|publisher=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=21 September 2021|title=Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)|language=en|date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
 |align="center"|1
 |-
-|U.S. ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]]<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=118}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]]<ref>{{cite book|first= Joel |last= Whitburn |author-link= Joel Whitburn |year= 1993 |title= Top Adult Contemporary: 1961–1993 |publisher= Record Research |page=118}}</ref>
 |align="center"|3
 |-
-|U.S. [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19721021.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 10/21/72 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=1972-10-21 |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111083154/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19721021.html |archive-date=2014-11-11 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|US [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19721021.html |title=Cash Box Top 100 10/21/72 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=1972-10-21 |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111083154/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19721021.html |archive-date=2014-11-11 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|2
-|-
 |}
-{|class="wikitable"
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
+|+1973 weekly chart performance for "Ben"
+!scope="col"|Chart (1973)
+!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
 |-
+!scope="row"|[[Irish Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page%3D15 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-01-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192310/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=15 |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>
-!Chart (1973)
-!Peak<br />position
-|-
-|[[Irish Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page%3D15 |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-01-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192310/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement?page=15 |archive-date=2016-03-04}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|15
 |-
-|New Zealand (''[[New Zealand Listener|Listener]]'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1193#n_view_location |title=flavour of new zealand - search listener |website=Flavourofnz.co.nz |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-date=2016-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044140/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1193#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}</ref>
+!scope="row"|New Zealand (''[[New Zealand Listener|Listener]]'')<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1193#n_view_location |title=flavour of new zealand - search listener |website=Flavourofnz.co.nz |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-date=2016-10-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161005044140/http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qartistid=1193#n_view_location |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|18
+|}
+{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
+|+2009 weekly chart performance for "Ben"
+!scope="col"|Chart (2009)
+!scope="col"|Peak<br />position
 |-
+!scope="row"|[[ARIA Charts|Australian ARIA Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Ben&cat=s|publisher=[[ARIA Charts]]|access-date=21 September 2021|title=Michael Jackson - Ben|language=en|date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
-!Chart (2009)
-!Peak<br />position
-|-
-|[[ARIA Charts|Australian ARIA Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Ben&cat=s|publisher=[[ARIA Charts]]|access-date=21 September 2021|title=Michael Jackson - Ben|language=en|date=21 September 2021}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|14
 |-
-|[[Irish Singles Chart]]
+!scope="row"|[[Irish Singles Chart]]
 | style="text-align:center;"|24
 |-
-|[[UK Singles Chart|U.K. Singles Chart]]
+!scope="row"|[[UK Singles Chart]]
 | style="text-align:center;"|46
 |}
@@ Line 104: / Line 107: @@
 ===Year-end charts===
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
+|+1972 year-end chart performance for "Ben"
-|-
-!align="left"|Chart (1972)
+!scope="col"|Chart (1972)
+!scope="col"|Position
-! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
 |-
-|Canada
+!scope="row"|Canada
 | style="text-align:center;"|18
 |-
-|U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427223218/http://musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm |archive-date=2017-04-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm |title=Top 100 Hits of 1972/Top 100 Songs of 1972 |website=Musicoutfitters.com |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170427223218/http://musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1972.htm |archive-date=2017-04-27 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|20
 |-
-|U.S. ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=1972-12-30 |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928150812/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html |archive-date=2018-09-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
+!scope="row"|US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html |title=Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1972 |website=Tropicalglen.com |date=1972-12-30 |access-date=2016-10-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180928150812/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/1972YESP.html |archive-date=2018-09-28 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|45
 |}
-{| class="wikitable"
+{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
+|+1973 year-end chart performance for "Ben"
+!scope="col"|Chart (1973)
+!scope="col"|Position
 |-
+!scope="row"|Australia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |website=Austchartbook.com.au |access-date=2016-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archive-date=2016-03-05}}</ref>
-!align="left"|Chart (1973)
-! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
-|-
-|Australia<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |title=Australian Chart Book |website=Austchartbook.com.au |access-date=2016-10-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305064644/http://www.austchartbook.com.au/ |archive-date=2016-03-05}}</ref>
 | style="text-align:center;"|12
 |}
@@ Line 129: / Line 132: @@
 ==Certifications and sales==
-{{Certification Table Top}}
+{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Ben"}}
 {{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=single|nocert=true|salesamount=51,000|salesref=<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/70s/1975/Billboard-1975-06-07.pdf|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|title=Label's Biggest Seller Almost Wasn't Released|page=24|date=June 7, 1975|accessdate=February 1, 2023}}</ref>}}
 {{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Michael Jackson|title=Ben|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=787-168-1|access-date=May 12, 2023}}
@@ Line 159: / Line 162: @@
 In 1985, the song became a top 10 hit again in the U.K. when covered by [[Marti Webb]]<ref name="chartmart" /> as a tribute to [[Ben Hardwick]], a young [[Liver transplantation|liver transplant]] patient. <ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2022 |title=Marti Webb – The Pheasantry |url=https://musicaltheatrereview.com/marti-webb-the-pheasantry-3/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219065852/https://musicaltheatrereview.com/marti-webb-the-pheasantry-3/ |archive-date=19 February 2024 |access-date=19 February 2024 |website=Musical Theatre Review}}</ref> This version reached No. 5 in the [[UK Singles Chart|U.K. Singles Chart]] and was one of the singer's biggest hits.<ref name="chartmart">{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/18242/marti-webb/|title=MARTI WEBB &#124; full Official Chart History &#124; Official Charts Company|website=Oofficialcharts.com|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>
 {{Clear}}
+==Other cover versions==
+[[Crispin Glover]] performed a cover of the song, as well starred and directed a music video, to the [[Willard (2003 film)|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 (musician)|Jane Jensen]] among the female extras. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61JBzhErFqU |title=Crispin Glover - "Ben" [HD] |date=2019-12-03 |last=Roman "Romych" Pictures |access-date=2024-11-19 |via=YouTube}}</ref> [[Kipp Lennon]] of the band [[Venice (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.<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|work=[[The New Yorker]]}}</ref> The song was also regularly performed live by rock band [[Faith No More]] during their [[The Second Coming Tour (Faith No More)|reunion tour]] 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! |work=SPIN}}</ref>
 ==See also==
@@ Line 173: / Line 179: @@
 {{Michael Jackson songs}}
 {{Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song}}
+{{Marti Webb}}
 {{authority control}}
@@ Line 180: / Line 187: @@
 [[Category:1972 singles]]
 [[Category:Michael Jackson songs]]
-[[Category:Best Original Song Golden Globe winning songs]]
+[[Category:Best Original Song Golden Globe–winning songs]]
 [[Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles]]
 [[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]

v t e Willard
Books	Ratman's Notebooks Rat Catching
Films	Willard (1971) Ben (1972) Willard (2003)
Related	Stephen Gilbert "Ben" (song)

v t e Michael Jackson songs
Singles Songs Unreleased songs
1970s	"Got to Be There" "Ain't No Sunshine" "I Wanna Be Where You Are" "Rockin' Robin" "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" "You've Got a Friend" "Ben" "Everybody's Somebody's Fool" "My Girl" "Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day" "We've Got a Good Thing Going" "With a Child's Heart" "Morning Glow" "All the Things You Are" "Happy" "Too Young" "Music and Me" "We're Almost There" "Just a Little Bit of You" "You Can't Win" "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" "Rock with You" "Working Day and Night" "It's the Falling in Love"
1980s	"Off the Wall" "Girlfriend" "She's Out of My Life" "One Day in Your Life" "The Girl Is Mine" "Billie Jean" "Beat It" "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" "Human Nature" "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" "Thriller" "You've Really Got a Hold on Me" "Here I Am (Come and Take Me)" "Lonely Teardrops" "That's What Love Is Made Of" "Farewell My Summer Love" "Girl You're So Together" "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" "Bad" "The Way You Make Me Feel" "Speed Demon" "Liberian Girl" "Just Good Friends" "Another Part of Me" "Man in the Mirror" "Dirty Diana" "Smooth Criminal" "Leave Me Alone" "Twenty-Five Miles"
1990s	"Black or White" "Jam" "In the Closet" "Remember the Time" "Heal the World" "Who Is It" "Give In to Me" "Will You Be There" "Gone Too Soon" "Dangerous" "Come Together" "Scream" "Childhood" "They Don't Care About Us" "Stranger in Moscow" "This Time Around" "Earth Song" "D.S." "You Are Not Alone" "Tabloid Junkie" "HIStory" "Smile" "Mind Is the Magic" "Blood on the Dance Floor" "Ghosts" "Is It Scary" "On the Line"
2000s	"Speechless" "You Rock My World" "Heaven Can Wait" "Butterflies" "Cry" "One More Chance" "Cheater" "(I Like) The Way You Love Me" "Fall Again" "This Is It"
2010s	"Hold My Hand" "Hollywood Tonight" "(I Can't Make It) Another Day" "Behind the Mask" "Don't Be Messin' 'Round" "I'm So Blue" "Price of Fame" "Love Never Felt So Good" "Chicago" "Loving You" "A Place with No Name" "Slave to the Rhythm" "Do You Know Where Your Children Are" "Blue Gangsta"
2020s	"She's Trouble"
Other	"We Are the World" "What More Can I Give" "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" "Blood on the Dance Floor x Dangerous" "Diamonds Are Invincible"
Featured	"A Brand New Day" "Ease on Down the Road" "Who's Right, Who's Wrong" "Night Time Lover" "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" "State of Independence" "Muscles" "Say Say Say" "Somebody's Watching Me" "Don't Stand Another Chance" "Centipede" "Tell Me I'm Not Dreamin' (Too Good to Be True)" "Eaten Alive" "Get It" "2300 Jackson Street" "Do the Bartman" "Whatzupwitu" "Why" "I Need You" "We Be Ballin'" "Girls, Girls, Girls" "All in Your Name" "There Must Be More to Life Than This" "Low" "Don't Matter to Me"
Category

v t e Marti Webb
Studio albums	Tell Me on a Sunday Won't Change Places I'm Not That Kind of Girl Encore / If You Leave Me Now Always There / Marti Webb Sings Small Screen Themes Performance Marti Webb Sings Gershwin: The Love Songs Limelight
Collaboration albums	The Magic of the Musicals (with Mark Rattray)
Singles	"Take That Look Off Your Face" "Unexpected Song" "Ben"