Top 10 Michael Jackson Songs
From enlisting Eddie Van Halen for the guitar solo in "Beat It" to borrowing the now famous refrain "Mama-se, mama-sa, mama-coo-sa" from a Cameroonian saxophonist, Michael Jackson's very best songs drew from influences far and wide
This song about a rat, from the 1972 film of the same name, was originally offered to Donny Osmond. That tells you all you need to know about the quality of the composition. The vocal is another story. In classic style, Jackson, 14 at the time of its release, invests just enough to make you believe that he and Ben have "both found what we were looking for," but his restraint is just as powerful. Every note is clean and understated, giving "Ben" a dignity far above its station.
Watch TIME's video "Appreciating Michael Jackson, the Musician."
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