"Ben" | ||||
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Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
from the album Ben | ||||
B-side | "You Can Cry on My Shoulder" | |||
Released | September 1972 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Recorded | 1972 | |||
Genre | Pop | |||
Length | 2:44 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Writer(s) |
Don Black Walter Scharf |
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Producer(s) | The Corporation | |||
Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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"Ben" | ||||
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Single by Marti Webb | ||||
from the album Encore | ||||
B-side | "Nothing Ever Changes" | |||
Released | 1985 | |||
Format | 7" single | |||
Recorded | Angel Studios, London | |||
Label | Starblend Records | |||
Writer(s) |
Don Black Walter Scharf |
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Producer(s) | John Altman | |||
Marti Webb singles chronology | ||||
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"Ben" (often referred to as "Ben's Song"), is a song written by Don Black and composed by Walter Scharf for the 1972 film of the same name (the sequel to the 1971 killer rat film Willard). It was performed in the film by Lee Montgomery 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 U.S. pop chart.Billboard ranked it as the No. 20 song for 1972. 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.
"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" from The Poseidon Adventure; Jackson performed the song in front of a live audience at the ceremony. The song was Jackson's first U.S. #1 solo hit.
Originally written for Donny Osmond, "Ben" was offered to Jackson as Osmond was on tour at the time and unavailable for recording. In addition to its one week at #1 in the U.S., the song also later reached a peak of number seven 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.