Imagine a song that stands as an anthem for tolerance and unlikely friendships, something many of the modern hyper-progressive folks might ironically overlook—'Ben', the pop masterpiece by none other than Michael Jackson. Released in 1972, 'Ben' serves as the title track for a film about a boy and his best friend—who just happens to be a rat. Yes, you read it right, a rat! But like many aspects of conservatism, there’s more depth here than meets the eye. It’s about camaraderie and loyalty, universal concepts that are seemingly lost in today’s agenda-driven discourse.
Now, let's talk about the pure earworm of a tune that 'Ben' is. Young Michael Jackson was just 14 when he gave voice to this emotional ballad with such precision and innocence. It's like watching an artist painting with pure gold; you can't help but be entranced. The rich melody combined with Jackson's angelic voice made 'Ben' a runaway success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
What's amazing about this song is its rich background. It was crafted for the movie 'Ben', a sequel to the movie 'Willard', which follows the heartwarming story of a boy and his pet rat. In a liberal modern world obsessed with pushing boundaries for the sake of it, ‘Ben’ does it with poignancy and taste, not shouting obnoxiously for attention. Considerably conservative for the era in which it was born, the song flips conventional beauty standards on their head, challenging the idea that friendship can come from unexpected places. And it does this without trying to make a heavy-handed social statement.
Let's not ignore that intrinsic element of loyalty that 'Ben' strikes at. This may be a concept that people conveniently 'forget' when they talk about virtue-signaling and public-speaking circuits today. The song simply shows that pure loyalty and understanding—core conservative values—are the crux of any worthwhile friendship. It's about finding kinship where it's least expected.
Now a quirky fact to rile up any fan of simplistic drivel: Did you know that 'Ben' was originally meant for Donny Osmond? Although Donny is an entertainer in his own right, how mundane and ordinary this song might have been without Jackson's soulful interpretation. His take on 'Ben' captures the art of genuine storytelling without the need for superficial diversity quotas. Jackson was able to convey the energies and moods that aligned beautifully with the ethos of camaraderie without barking down a politically correct checklist.
On a technical note, ‘Ben’ is a ballad in G major, featuring a moderate 65 beats per minute. Technically speaking, it integrates rich harmony and is expressive yet simple—capturing the audience without flashy solicitations. That kind of understated power often goes amiss today, overshadowed by an incessant need for grandeur and spectacle without essence.
And let’s not overlook its accolades. ‘Ben’ didn't just charm audiences and top charts, but it snagged a Golden Globe for Best Song and was even nominated for an Academy Award. But beyond its shiny accolades and fabulous commercial success—something the market zealots claim is the ultimate measure—the song is beloved for much more. It resonates with authentic emotion and appeals to timeless sentiments.
Looking past the fame and prestige of Michael Jackson himself—a controversial figure nowadays if ever there was one—'Ben' still stands the test of time. It serves as a reminder of what art can do when it aims beyond politics and popularity contests. What makes ‘Ben’ a masterpiece isn’t just its melodic beauty. It’s the song's ability to elegantly make a statement. It affirms what real friendship can mean and where it can be found, away from noisy clamors and public declarations. 'Ben' touches on genuine values many of us hold dear but sometimes hardly assert openly—loyalty, love, and acceptance, regardless of how unlikely the friend or companion may be.
For those who just love to denigrate anything 'mainstream', remember this—real artistry doesn’t require a manifesto or a soapbox. Sometimes, it just takes one young icon in the making, a simple yet powerful composition, and a willingness to embrace the unconventional. That's exactly what 'Ben' did and continues to do across the decades, irrespective of labels or categories. So next time you hear about ‘Ben,’ remember it for its pure craftsmanship, honesty, and for offering more than any biased narrative could ever cover.