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Michael Jackson's first solo No. 1 wasn't about love — it was about a rat!
Before "Thriller" or "Billie Jean," a 13-year-old Michael Jackson topped the charts with this surprising hit. Discover the story about one of the strangest love songs of all time!
Michael Jackson's Early Success with the Jackson 5
As a member of the Jackson 5, second-youngest brother Michael achieved chart success early. "I Want You Back", "ABC", "The Love You Save", and "I'll Be There" all hit the number one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 before he was even a teenager. While he'd later achieve even greater success outside of the work he did with his family, Michael Jackson saw nearly a decade-long gap between his childhood success and his later singles, starting with 1979's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough".
The Surprising Story Behind Michael Jackson’s First Solo Hit
So, it might come as a surprise to learn that at just 13 years old, Jackson scored his first chart-topping solo hit. While it's unexpected that any 13-year-old should have a smash hit single, it's even stranger when you consider what the song was about.
In 1972, "Ben" not only hit number one but also won a Golden Globe for Best Song in a Motion Picture. What's all the more extraordinary is that "Ben" is a love song written about a rat.
“Ben”: The Unlikely Love Song About a Rat
The song was the title track in the soundtrack for the same-named movie, a sequel to 1971's Willard. Horror fans may remember Willard as a movie about an adolescent outcast who befriends a bunch of rats and has them do his bidding. Eventually, the leader of the rats, Ben, turns the group on Willard, and they eat him. Neat!
A year after Willard's release, producers capitalized on its success with Ben, and the rat king returned. This time, the head rat honcho befriends a young boy named Danny, helping him defeat his schoolyard tormenters.
From Horror Film to Heartfelt Ballad
The sequel features young Michael Jackson's surprisingly sweet song, written by Walter Scharf, who also wrote the music in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory.
Another piece of trivia: Jackson recorded the song after Donnie Osmond turned it down. Osmond was also the youngest member of a family act, but passed on "Ben" before Jackson made it a hit.
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