"I Wanna Be Where You Are" is a song written by Arthur "T-Boy" Ross and Leon Ware for Michael Jackson, who took the song to number 7 in Cash Box and number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 pop chart. It also reached number 2 on the Billboard R&B singles chart in 1972. 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. The song was remixed by Dallas Austin for the 2009 release The Remix Suite.

Track listing

Covers and samples

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

Beyoncé Knowles version

American R&B recording artist Beyoncé covered the song during her 2009 revue show I 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. Later, she covered the song for her 2011 revue show 4 Intimate Nights with Beyoncé held during four non-consecutive nights in August 2011. 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. It was included on the live DVD Live at Roseland: Elements of 4 released on November 21, 2011. 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. 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. 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." A writer of Rap-Up noted that she "gave audience members goosebumps as she channeled MJ with her moves". Mark Iraheta of Complex magazine wrote that she "lit up the stage and showed off some funky dance moves".

Song credits

Michael Jackson version

Marvin Gaye version

Charts