Unlike the other "Kings" - Elvis (rock) or Sinatra (swing) or Lennon (composer) - in addition to having a good voice and a talent for acting (see his thriller video) he could dance ..... and HOW he could dance! The man literally re-invented dancing - especially group dancing - and gave it the modern look. His choreographies were impeccable, creative, imaginative. His influence over stage dancing today is undeniable.
I want to remember him, though, as he was, in his original self, not as the surgically remastered figure that emerged in later years. That's why I chose this song, Ben. Sung in the early seventies - he was still singing with the Jackson Five then but was beginning to make a name for himself - it features the original Michael Jackson, with an excellent, though slightly immature voice. It also shows a really touching innocence which, unfortunately, was not going to last very long. I've often wondered if he didn't see himself as Ben and yearned for someone to sing this song to him.
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.
