"Will You Be There" is a song by Michael Jackson released as the eleventh track from the Dangerous album. It was released as a single on June 28, 1993, serving as the eighth single from the album. The song became a main theme song for the 1993 movie, Free Willy.
Background[]
Michael wrote the song at the Neverland Ranch in 1989, alongside "Heal the World". “Will You Be There” was first worked on in early 1990 with Bruce Swedien and Matt Forger, and finished in October 1991.[1]
Music video[]
The music video for "Will You Be There" was directed by Vince Patterson and features footage from the Dangerous World Tour.
Live performances[]
Jackson first performed the song live during MTV's 10th Anniversary special. It was shot in July of 1991 and aired on November 16, prior to the release of Dangerous.[2]
"Will You Be There" was a part of the Dangerous World Tour between 1992 and 1993. It was planned for inclusion on the HIStory World Tour setlist but didn't make the cut. The last time Jackson sang it was on June 24, 2009 during the This Is It rehearsals. It was the second to last song he sang during his lifetime.
Awards[]
The song became one of the bigger hits from Dangerous staying in the Top 40 for over six weeks in the UK. The single achieved even greater success in the U.S., where it sold over 500,000 copies and stayed in the Top 10 for six weeks, peaking at number 7 and was later certified Gold in the US. On the European continent, the single reached number one in the MTV Eurochart, though it missed the Top 10 in many of the other European charts, including Germany and France. The single has sold 1,050,000 copies worldwide.
Controversies[]
Cleveland Orchestra[]
"Will You Be There" featured Andraé Crouch's singers on backing vocals, and opened with 67 seconds of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, played by the Cleveland Orchestra. A $7 million copyright infringement lawsuit was filed but settled in December 1992. The outcome was that all future copies of Dangerous must credit Ludwig Van Beethoven and the Cleveland Orchestra on "Will You Be There".
I Cigni di Balaka[]
The track was also a subject of another lawsuit filed by Albano Carrisi, who claimed the melody of the song was stolen from his composition, I Cigni Di Balaka. Italian court ruled in favor of Carrisi because Jackson failed to show up to court. However, when in a follow-up case Michael did show up in court, the judge ruled in favor of him and rejected the claim.
Audio[]
An alternate mix of "Will You Be There" would go on to be leaked online on January 27, 2023, after the incident where Brad Sundberg's laptop was stolen.
- Demo - (
listen)
Lyrics[]
[Prelude]
Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen?
Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt?
Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt!
Über Sternen muss er wohnen
[Verse 1]
Hold me
Like the River Jordan
And I will then say to thee
You are my friend
Carry me
Like you are my brother
Love me like a mother
Will you be there?
[Verse 2]
Weary
Tell me will you hold me
When wrong, will you scold me
When lost will you find me?
But they told me
A man should be faithful
And walk when not able
And fight 'til the end
But I'm only human
[Verse 3]
Everyone's taking control of me
Seems that the world's got a role for me
I'm so confused, will you show it to me?
You'll be there for me and care enough to bear me
[Verse 4]
Hold me
Show me
Lay your head lowly
Told me
Softly then boldly
Yeah
Carry me there
I'm only human
Lead me
Hold me
Love me and feed me
Yeah, yeah
Kiss me and free me
Yeah
I will feel blessed
I'm only human
Carry
Carry
Carry me boldly
Carry me
Lift me up slowly
Yeah
Carry me there
I'm only human!
Save me
Lift me
Heal me and bathe me
Lift me up, lift me up
Softly you say to me
I will be there
I will be there
Lift me
Lift me up slowly
Carry me boldly
Yeah
Show me you care
Hold me
Hoo!
Lay your head lowly
It gets lonely sometimes
I get lonely, yeah, yeah
Softly then boldly
Carry me there
Need me
Hoo!
Love me and feed me
Lift me up, hold me up
Lift me up sometimes, up sometimes
Kiss me and free me
I will feel blessed
[Spoken]
In our darkest hour, in my deepest despair
Will you still care?
Will you be there?
In my trials and my tribulations
Through our doubts and frustrations
In my violence, in my turbulence
Through my fear and my confessions
In my anguish and my pain
Through my joy and my sorrow
In the promise of another tomorrow
I'll never let you part
For you're always in my heart
Gallery[]
![Vinyl back cover[3]](/wiki/File:Willyoubetherebackvinyl.jpg "Willyoubetherebackvinyl.jpg (89 KB)")
![Poster included with the vinyl #1[3]](/wiki/File:Willyoubethereposter1.jpg "Willyoubethereposter1.jpg (47 KB)")
![Poster included with the vinyl #2[3]](/wiki/File:Willyoubetherevinylposter2.jpg "Willyoubetherevinylposter2.jpg (34 KB)")
![Vinyl[3]](/wiki/File:Willyoubetherevinyl.jpg "Willyoubetherevinyl.jpg (104 KB)")
Trivia[]
- Lyrics were included in Michael's book of poems and reflections, Dancing the Dream, which was published in 1992.[4]
References[]
- ↑ https://goodreads.com/author_blog_posts/14287811-full-interview-with-longtime-michael-jackson-collaborator-and-friend-mat
- ↑ https://youtu.be/4GghMBSwqNg
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 https://www.discogs.com/master/35045-Michael-Jackson-Will-You-Be-There/image/SW1hZ2U6NDUwMjQ1Mjg=
- ↑ http://www.mjtunes.com/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=254