I’ve seen many mentions of ‘I’ll Be There’ since Michael Jackson’s death and every time I read the title I thought of an entirely different song (see tomorrow’s Song of the Day for that one). I didn’t remember Michael and the rest of the 5 singing that track, but I assumed they must have.
And then I YouTubed “Jackson 5 I’ll Be There” the other day, found this clip, and suddenly it all came back to me. Such a sweet and touching love song, even when performed by a pre-pubescent kid. Maybe especially when performed by a pre-pubescent kid. This one, anyway.
Where there is love, I’ll be there
I’ll reach out my hand to you, I’ll have faith in all you do
Just call my name and Ill be there
I’ll be there to comfort you,
Build my world of dreams around you, I’m so glad that I found you
I’ll be there with a love that’s strong
I’ll be your strength, I’ll keep holding on
Let me fill your heart with joy and laughter
Togetherness, well that’s all I’m after
Whenever you need me, I’ll be there
Ill be there to protect you, with an unselfish love that respects you
Just call my name and I’ll be there
If you should ever find someone
new, I know he’d better be good to you
cause if he doesn’t, I’ll be there
Don’t you know, baby, yeah yeah
I’ll be there, I’ll be there, just call my name, I’ll be there
(just look over your shoulders, honey – oo)
I’ll be there, I’ll be there, whenever you need me, I’ll be there
Don’t you know, baby, yeah yeah
I’ll be there, I’ll be there, just call my name, I’ll be there…
Meet Me In Montauk 
I’m interested to know what other song you thought of (I guess I’ll find out tomorrow), because this is the only thing I think of when I hear the title “I’ll Be There.” Mariah Carey did a remake of this one that was fine (for Mariah Carey fans), but not very special when you put it up against this original.
Michael did have such a sweetness in his youth. And he must have taken his trademark “oo!” from this one. 🙂 It’s just hard not to love this song.
Huh – you know I think I’ve been doing the same thing. I know this song very well, but I do think I was hearing the Four Tops song whenever I read the name of the song. Funny – maybe it’s genetic 🙂 Yes, this is a beautiful song. Though it’s odd to think of young Michael being there “to protect’ someone, when he clearly needed so much protection (and apparently, some others may have needed protection from him). Sorry to go off on that tangent. Just struck me as ironic.
I’m thinking that you could probably mix these two songs together–start by singing the Tops song up to “just look over your shoulder,” then, at that musical break, insert the Jackson’s chorus. Perhaps this is why the songs are so easily confused in the minds of the Clifton youth:)
Many may have sang their own versions of the Jackson 5 hit, “I’ll be there” but nothing sounds like the original. Mariah Carey did her marvelous rendition, effortlessly hitting the high notes but after seeing Michael Jackson as a kid doing the same, I say he had the prowess and talent to be the King of Pop.
It’s a shame for those people who never realized who sang the song originally.