Dublin crooner Keira Dignam has covered a Michael Jackson song in aid of tragic youngster Batman Ben.
The little superhero died from a rare cancer earlier this year – and his grief stricken mum now wants to help other children who are suffering with the same disease.
Five-year-old Ben Farrell, from Finglas, liked to be called, ‘Batman’ as he is a huge fan of the movie character, used all his super powers to fight off a stage IV Wilms tumour which was diagnosed on Christmas Eve last year.
His brave eight month battle took him to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Michigan for pioneering treatment after he captured the nation’s heart due to his family campaigning endlessly to raise money to help him.
Actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers, the Dublin Senior Football team and the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) leant their support to Ben, who had his own YouTube channel, Ben TV, while he fought for life.
Now, with the support of award winning songwriter, Don Black, Kiera Dignam daughter of Aslan’s Christy, the song “Ben” made famous by Michael Jackson, is to be released Friday to raise funds for two charities which supported the family; the Gavin Glynn Foundation and Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.
Ben’s Mum Val hopes the proceeds will help towards finding a cure one day for the awful disease.
Filled with emotion, Val explained how Ben loved this song: “When Kiera told us she had been working on possibly releasing a single for Ben, I thought how lovely, what a great idea but when she told me the song was ‘Ben’ by Michael Jackson I cried.
“Through Ben we hope to find the strength to continue.
“We hope to continue to be inspired to live as fully as he did and we hope to continue to allow Bens smile to change the world for the better…. we hope to make him proud.
“The song is absolutely beautiful and I want to thank them all (everyone involved in the launch) from the bottom of my heart.”
Kiera hopes the song will help raise much needed money for the worthy cause. She added: “Ben by Michael Jackson seemed to be the perfect song and I then found out Ben had it on his iPad and loved the song, which sealed it for me that this defiantly had to be the song.
“Recording it, I wanted to strip it back and just have my vocal not overly produced with loads of backing vocals.
“I wanted it simple with nice guitar and strings. The producer Stewart listened to what I wanted and was on the same wavelength and I’m delighted with the finished product.”
Kiera admitted it was emotionally challenging to record the song because Ben had just died when they went into the studio to make it.
It was, of course, all the more poignantly painful in light of her own father’s battle with an incurable cancer.
Christy was by Kiera’s side at the studio to help and offer his guidance and the track was produced and recoded by Stuart Gray, a multitalented musician who has worked with Hozier, Ryan Sheridan and Brian Kennedy, to name a few.
Kiera played the song earlier this week for Ben’s Mum who was moved to tears when she heard it.
Val sent a simple but touching text message to all those who chipped in: “It’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Don Black, who had originally offered this popular song first to Donny Osmond before Michael Jackson turned it into a smash hit, added that he is thrilled with this new recording of the Oscar-nominated single.
“I do love this version of the song, it’s a terrific vocal,” he says. I’m so upset to for Ben’s family, is a truly heart-breaking.”
The brain-child behind re-launching the song, Stephen Browne, a music promoter from Finglas and manager of recently reformed band the, Brilliant Trees, came up with the idea for the single.
Stephen explained: “Like most people hearing the heart-breaking story of Ben, I just wanted to help.
When the idea for the song came to me I decided to chance my arm and contact Don Black not really expecting a reply.
To my surprise, I received a reply within an hour from Don not only offering his support but he had also made contact with Sony to get the process moving. What a kind man.”
All royalty fees were waived in producing the single and a grant was given from eBay’s Ireland Global Impact Team.
The single will be sold for €5 on CD and €1.29 on iTunes. The single is available from various outlets and Pre Order from iTunes now.
SOURCE: Dublin Live
