I had absolutely no idea that Michael Jackson’s 1972 hit song “Ben” was about a boy and his pet rat. PETA, however, is always on top of these things — and in light of current events — is seeking rights to the song to use in raising attention on the plight of rodents used in laboratory experiments.

“Michael Jackson’s hit has always been a moving testament to the power of empathy for animals,” Tracy Reiman, executive vice president of PETA, said in a statement released on Tuesday. “If more people could be inspired by his song to stop supporting the cruel and ineffective animal-testing industry, it would be a fitting and enduring tribute to this talented performer,” she added.

“Ben”, which gave Jackson his first number-one as a solo artist, is the theme of a 1972 film of the same name in which telepathic rats attempt to take over the world. I wish I was making this up. From the synopsis:

“This rat, whom the boy names Ben, becomes the boy’s best friend and keeps his spirits up in the face of bullying. However, the balance of power between the human and rat begins to shift, with Ben beginning to control the boy and the swarm becoming increasingly irrational and violent. Eventually, the police destroy many members of the rat colony, while others are sent to testing labs; Ben, however, survives.”

This reviewer on IMDB seemed to like it at the time, but his one caveat is amusing. “I remember seeing this movie when it came out in 1972. I was 10 at the time and I remember crying at the end when Ben came back to David. I raised small rodents at the time…rats, mice and gerbils, so the film had a special meaning for me…except for the rats killing people.” Ha!

Anyone else ever seen it?

Categories: Music
Tags: michael jackson.

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

View all posts by Michael dEstries →