The song was his third straight top-ten pop hit during his early solo career with Motown. It was the first collaboration between Ware and Ross, the younger brother of Diana Ross. This song is one of Jackson's most covered songs, with versions by Zulema, Marvin Gaye, Willie Hutch, Jason Weaver and later The Fugees. Ware and Ross also penned the Marvin Gaye hit "I Want You" several years afterwards.
While Willie Hutch's version opened his 1973 album Fully Exposed, Zulema had a dance hit with a disco version of the tune in 1974, featured on her RCA debut album, Zulema (1975).
In 1976 Marvin Gaye's cover was more of an instrumental excerpt for him singing the title and dedicating the track to his then-girlfriend Janis Hunter and his children Marvin III (referred as "little Marvin" on the record), Nona and Frankie Christian. The alternate instrumental, later issued on a 2003 deluxe edition re-release of the I Want You album, was a funk-styled instrumental that featured Gaye's background vocals harmonizing throughout the track, which was also produced by Ware. In 1993 Weaver's cover followed, and then the Fugees' version was completely different save for the choruses sung by Lauryn Hill.
Juelz Santana sampled the song on two tracks, "Did U Miss Me pts.1 & 2", on the DJ Green Lantern mixtape Alive on Arrival.
Gary Bartz opened his 1972 album Juju Street Songs with an interpretation of the song.
Co-writer Leon Ware recorded a version for his 1976 Motown album Musical Massage.
Melissa Manchester released a cover of the song in 1977 which failed to chart.
Jazz flutist Dave Valentin included an instrumental version of the song on his debut album, Legends, which was also the debut release of the then-new GRP Records label (a subsidiary of Arista Records).
1980s
José Feliciano, on his first album for Motown Records, produced by Berry Gordy, covered the song in English and then re-recorded it in 1982 on his next LP at Motown in Spanish (the title became "Ahora Si Quiero Amar"). Both versions were hits in Latin America and charted at nr. 63 on R&B USA Billboard.[1]
R&B artist Sybil recorded the song for her eponymoussecond album (1989), her first for the American market. The song was released as a single in 1990 and peaked at No. 86 on the US R&B chart.
1990s
MC Lyte sampled the song for her hit track "Poor Georgie" in 1991.
In July 2009, rapper 50 Cent freestyled over the instrumental and left Jackson's vocals.[4] The song titled "Michael Jackson Freestyle" released on his mixtape Forever King.
Q "The Kid" sampled the Michael Jackson version of the song in his song "Been Away", which features Jermaine Dupri, and appears on the Drumline soundtrack.
2010s
Jazz keyboardist Bob Baldwin released a cover from the album Brazil Chill and 2010 for his tribute album Never Can Say Goodbye.[5]
American R&B recording artist Beyoncé covered the song during her 2009 revue showI Am... Yours, which was held four consecutive nights in July and August. It was later included on her live CD/DVD I Am... Yours: An Intimate Performance at Wynn Las Vegas, which contained the performances from the show of the revue.[6] Later, she covered the song for her 2011 revue show 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé held during four non-consecutive nights in August 2011.[7][8] After delving into her musical history during the show, Knowles states: "I just want to have a good time with y'all," before she begins the revue's set list with her rendition of "I Wanna Be Where You Are", further recalling that she loved singing the song.[9][10] It was included on the live DVD Live at Roseland: Elements of 4 released on November 21, 2011.[11]
On October 8, 2011 a pre-taped performance of Knowles performing "I Wanna Be Where You Are" was shown at the Michael Forever tribute concert at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.[12][13] During the performance, she was backed by her all-female band and wore an Afro wig as she performed a funk version of the song.[12] Before beginning the song, she stated: "I remember seeing Michael Jackson for the first time. Lord knows I fell in love... Watching him I realized exactly what I wanted to be. He inspired me so much. As a matter of fact, the first song I performed with Destiny's Child was a Jackson 5 song. It's called 'Where You Are.' It's the song we auditioned to get our record deal. It was the beginning of our future. I love you forever, Michael Jackson."[12] A writer of Rap-Up noted that she "gave audience members goosebumps as she channeled MJ with her moves".[12] Mark Iraheta of Complex magazine wrote that she "lit up the stage and showed off some funky dance moves".[14]
Song credits
Michael Jackson version
Produced by Hal Davis
Lead vocals by Michael Jackson
Background vocals by Jackie Jackson, Tito Jackson, Jermaine Jackson and Marlon Jackson
