{"id":845,"date":"2026-02-16T16:29:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:29:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/?p=845"},"modified":"2026-02-16T16:29:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T16:29:17","slug":"mm-1972","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/2026\/02\/16\/mm-1972\/","title":{"rendered":"MM &#8211; 1972"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"976\" height=\"549\" src=\"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/rat.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-846\" srcset=\"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/rat.jpg 976w, https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/rat-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/rat-768x432.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 976px) 100vw, 976px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7e4ac651328708ea719ac0894fa30934\">.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Michael Jackson - Ben (with Lyrics)\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g9b-VnO2PY8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7e4ac651328708ea719ac0894fa30934\">.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;Ben&#8221; (often referred to as &#8220;Ben&#8217;s Song&#8221;) is a song written by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Don_Black_(lyricist)\">Don Black<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Walter_Scharf\">Walter Scharf<\/a>\u00a0for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ben_(1972_film)\">1972 film of the same name<\/a>\u00a0(a spin-off to the 1971 killer rat film\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Willard_(1971_film)\">Willard<\/a><\/em>). It was performed by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Lee_Montgomery\">Lee Montgomery<\/a>\u00a0in the film and by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Michael_Jackson\">Michael Jackson<\/a>\u00a0over the closing credits. Jackson&#8217;s single, recorded for the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Motown_Records\">Motown<\/a>\u00a0label in 1972, spent one week at the top of the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Billboard_Hot_100\">Billboard Hot 100<\/a>, making it Jackson&#8217;s first number one single in the US as a solo artist. \u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Billboard_(magazine)\">Billboard<\/a><\/em> ranked it as the number 20 song for 1972.\u00a0 It also reached number 1 on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/ARIA_Charts\">ARIA Charts<\/a>, spending eight weeks at the top spot.\u00a0 The song also later reached a peak of number 7 on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UK_Singles_Chart\">UK Singles Chart<\/a>.\u00a0 \u00a0In 2004, the song appeared in\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Ultimate_Collection_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">The Ultimate Collection<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;Ben&#8221; won a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_Globe_Award\">Golden Globe<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Original_Song\">Best Song<\/a>. It was nominated for an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Academy_Award\">Academy Award<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Academy_Award_for_Best_Original_Song\">Best Original Song<\/a>\u00a0in 1973, losing to &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Morning_After_(Maureen_McGovern_song)\">The Morning After<\/a>&#8221; by\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Maureen_McGovern\">Maureen McGovern<\/a>\u00a0from\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Poseidon_Adventure_(1972_film)\">The Poseidon Adventure<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;Ben&#8221; was written for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Donny_Osmond\">Donny Osmond<\/a>, but he was on tour at the time and unavailable for recording, so Black and Scharf offered the song to Jackson instead. \u00a0In addition to its one week at number 1 in the US, the song later reached a peak of number 7 on the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/UK_Singles_Chart\">British pop chart<\/a>. \u00a0&#8220;Ben&#8221; won a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_Globe_Award\">Golden Globe<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Golden_Globe_Award_for_Best_Original_Song\">Best Song<\/a>. It was also nominated for an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Academy_Award_for_Best_Original_Song\">Academy Award for Best Original Song<\/a>\u00a0in 1973; Jackson performed the song in front of a live audience at the ceremony. <em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Billboard_(magazine)\">Billboard<\/a><\/em>\u00a0called it a &#8220;beauty&#8221;.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Although Jackson had already become the youngest artist to ever record a number 1 (&#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/I_Want_You_Back\">I Want You Back<\/a>&#8221; with\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Jackson_5\">The Jackson 5<\/a>, in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1970_in_music\">1970<\/a>), \u00a0&#8220;Ben&#8221; made him the third-youngest solo artist, at 14, to score a number 1 hit single. Only\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Stevie_Wonder\">Stevie Wonder<\/a>, who was 13 when &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fingertips\">Fingertips<\/a>&#8221; went to number 1, and Osmond, who was months shy of his 14th birthday when &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Go_Away_Little_Girl\">Go Away Little Girl<\/a>&#8221; hit number 1 in\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/1971_in_music\">1971<\/a>, were younger.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The song is one of Jackson&#8217;s most re-released, having appeared on\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anthology_(The_Jackson_5_album)\">The Jackson 5 Anthology<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Best_of_Michael_Jackson\">The Best of Michael Jackson<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/18_Greatest_Hits_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">18 Greatest Hits<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Anthology_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">Michael Jackson Anthology<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Jackson_5:_The_Ultimate_Collection\">Jackson 5: The Ultimate Collection<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Essential_Michael_Jackson\">The Essential Michael Jackson<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Ultimate_Collection_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Hello_World:_The_Motown_Solo_Collection\">Hello World: The Motown Solo Collection<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Definitive_Collection_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">The Definitive Collection<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Jacksons_Story\">The Jacksons Story<\/a><\/em>, the North American version of\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Number_Ones_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">Number Ones<\/a><\/em>\u00a0(even though here it is the 1981 live version), some versions of\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/King_of_Pop_(album)\">King of Pop<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Icon_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">Icon<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Live recorded versions were released on the 1981 album\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Jacksons_Live!\">The Jacksons Live!<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Live_at_the_Forum_(The_Jackson_5_album)\">Live at the Forum<\/a><\/em>, and remixed versions have appeared on\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Remix_Suite\">The Remix Suite<\/a><\/em>,\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Stripped_Mixes\">The Stripped Mixes<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and some versions of\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Immortal_(Michael_Jackson_album)\">Immortal<\/a><\/em>. After Jackson&#8217;s death, singer\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Akon\">Akon<\/a>\u00a0released a remix of the song with his own background vocals and Jackson&#8217;s original vocal solo.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Osmond did record it later in his career, including it in his 2014 album\u00a0<em><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Soundtrack_of_My_Life\">The Soundtrack of My Life<\/a><\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-7e4ac651328708ea719ac0894fa30934\">.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"526\" height=\"706\" src=\"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/antimouse-bags.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-847\" srcset=\"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/antimouse-bags.jpg 526w, https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/11\/2026\/02\/antimouse-bags-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>. . &#8220;Ben&#8221; (often referred to as &#8220;Ben&#8217;s Song&#8221;) is a song written by\u00a0Don Black\u00a0and\u00a0Walter Scharf\u00a0for the\u00a01972 film of the same name\u00a0(a spin-off to the 1971 killer rat film\u00a0Willard). It was performed by\u00a0Lee Montgomery\u00a0in the film and by\u00a0Michael Jackson\u00a0over the closing credits. Jackson&#8217;s single, recorded for the\u00a0Motown\u00a0label in 1972, spent one week at the top [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-845","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/92"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=845"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/845\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=845"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=845"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/civatar.com\/suziqsthoughts\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=845"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}