i'll be there

 

Mariah Carey and the Jackson Five both took this plea for love and salvation to the top of the charts.  'I'll Be There' was written by Berry Gordy, Bob West, Willie Hutch, and Hal Davis.  The lyrics refer to one of the sayings of Jesus in Matthew 18:20: "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them."  The song was a departure for the Jackson Five, who had up until then been very successful with crossover blend bubblegum pop and Motown soul.  The songwriters also produced the single.  Michael Jackson and his older brother Jermaine sang lead vocals. Michael was instructed by Gordy to sing "just look over your shoulder" as a reference to the song 'Reach Out I'll Be There' by the Four Tops; but Michael flubbed it.  The Jackson Five took 'I'll Be There' to number thirty-four in Australia, eighteen in the Netherlands, four in the UK, and to the top of the pop and R&B charts in the US where it spent five and six weeks respectively and became the biggest selling Motown single of its Detroit era.  It was the fourth consecutive number one hit on the Hot 100, making them the first black male group to achieve such a feat. 

http://www.michaeljackson.com/

http://www.jackson5abc.com/

Mariah Carey added 'I'll Be There' to her 'MTV Unplugged' setlist at the last minute, when the producers suggested she do a cover.  She sang it as a duet with Trey Lorenz taking over Jermaine's lines.  After many requests, Columbia Records released it as a single and it became an international smash, going to thirty-three in Germany, twenty-six in Sweden, twenty in Switzerland, sixteen in France, nine in Australia, two in the UK, and number one in Canada, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the US, where it became her sixth number one pop single.  Her version was also nominated for Grammy Awards for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song.

http://www.mariahcarey.com/

You and I must make a pact,
We must bring salvation back
Where there is love,
I'll be there (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 I'll be there
(I'll be there...)

And oh - 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 -
(Yes I will, yes I will)


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
I'll be there to protect you,
With an unselfish love I respect you
Just call my name and I'll be there

And oh - 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 -
(Yes I will, yes I will)

If you should ever find someone new,
I know he'd better be good to you
'Cos if he doesn't, I'll be there
(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
(I'll be there...)

(Just look over your shoulders, honey - ooh)

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...