Flashback: Gilman Performs Pitch-Perfect Cover of Michael Jacksons ‘Ben’ (by Rolling Stone November 21, 2014) +VIDEO By Stephen L. Bett At 13 years old, half the age he is today, Billy Gilman took the stage at New York’s Madison Square Garden to participate in Michael Jackson’s 30th Anniversary Concert. Taped on September 7 and 10, 2001, the special tribute to the King of Pop also featured Whitney Houston, Usher, Britney Spears, N Sync, and many others, performing songs made famous by Jackson, who also appeared and performed with his brothers during the network special. For his part, Gilman sang a poignant version of Jackson’s first ever solo Number One hit, “Ben,” the title tune from the movie of the same name. A 1972 horror film about the friendship between a lonely boy and a rat may have been unlikely source material for such an affecting ballad, but Jackson’s age at the time he recorded it (13) made it work, as did Gilman’s delicate approach and youthful lack of pretension. Also in his favor was that his voice had yet to suffer the indignities of puberty. Jackson’s version of the song earned a Golden Globe award but lost the Oscar for Best Original Song to “The Morning After.” SEE VIDEO: home.mj-upbeat/2014/11/21/flashback-gilman-performs-pitch-perfect-cover-of-michael-mjs-ben/ Source: Rolling Stone / Stephen L. Bett / MJ-UPBEAT.COM
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 03:22:01 +0000
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