Human Nature (Michael Jackson song): Difference between revisions

This is a good article. Click here for more information.
Listen to this article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎top: Tidy.
 
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|1983 song by Michael Jackson}}
{{Unreferenced|date=December 2007}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox Single
{{Infobox song
| Name = Human Nature
| Cover = Mjhm.jpg
| name = Human Nature
| Artist = [[Michael Jackson]]
| cover = Mjhm.jpg
| from Album = [[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]
| alt =
| B-side = "Baby Be Mine"
| type = single
| Released = [[July 3]], [[1983]]
| artist = [[Michael Jackson]]
| Format = 7"
| album = [[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]
| Recorded = April 1982
| B-side = Baby Be Mine
| released = July 4, 1983
| Genre = [[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]/[[Soul music|Soul]]
| recorded = 1982
| Length = 4:06 <small>(Album version)</small><br>3:45 <small>(Single version)</small>
| studio = [[Westlake Recording Studios|Westlake]] (Los Angeles, California)<ref>{{cite web|author=Randall Roberts|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-xpm-2012-aug-29-la-et-ms-michael-jacksons-human-nature-a-classic-on-his-birthday-20120829-story.html|title=Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature': An NYC classic on his birthday|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=2012-08-29|access-date=2019-12-06}}</ref>
| Label = [[Epic Records]]
| genre =
| Writer = [[Steve Porcaro]] and [[John Bettis]]
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]<ref name="About.com T25"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Shelter|first=Scott|url=https://www.axs.com/the-10-most-underrated-michael-jackson-songs-13052 |title=The 10 most underrated Michael Jackson songs|publisher=[[AXS (company)|AXS]]|date=25 June 2014 |access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref>
| Producer = [[Quincy Jones]]
* [[quiet storm]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/featured/30-best-90s-rnb-songs/|title=The 30 Best '90s R&B Songs – 20. SWV, "Right Here (Human Nature)" (1992)
| Certification =
|work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|first1=Maura|last1=Johnston|author1-link=Maura Johnston |first2=Mosi|last2=Reeves|date=August 8, 2017|access-date=March 23, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first= Eric |last= Harvey |title= The Quiet Storm |website= [[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |url= https://pitchfork.com/features/underscore/8822-the-quiet-storm/|date= May 19, 2012|accessdate= October 11, 2022}}</ref>
| Last single = "[[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin']]"<br>(1983)
* [[soft rock]]<ref name="denverpost">{{cite news |first=Ricardo |last=Baca|url=http://www.denverpost.com/klis/ci_12693181|title=Michael Jackson's musical career |newspaper=[[The Denver Post]]|date=June 26, 2009}}</ref>
| This single = "'''Human Nature'''"<br>(1983)
| length =
| Next single = "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]"<br>(1983)
* 4:06 (album version)
| Misc = {{Extra tracklisting
* 3:47 (single version)
| Album = ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]''
| Type = studio
| label =
* [[Epic Records|Epic]]
| prev_track = "[[Billie Jean]]"
* [[Columbia Records|CBS]]
| prev_no = 6
| this_track = "'''Human Nature'''"
| writer =
* [[Steve Porcaro]]
| track_no = 7
* [[John Bettis]]
| next_track = "[[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]"
| next_no = 8
| producer = [[Quincy Jones]]
| prev_title = [[Wanna Be Startin' Somethin']]
| prev_year = 1983
| next_title = [[P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)]]
| next_year = 1983
| misc =
{{External music video|{{YouTube|ElN_4vUvTPs |"Human Nature"}}|header=Audio video|type=single}}
{{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Michael Jackson - Human Nature.ogg
| description = "Human Nature"
}}
}}
}}
}}


"'''Human Nature'''" is a single released by [[Michael Jackson]], and is the fifth of seven singles released from his 1982 hit album ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]''. It was written by [[Toto (band)|Toto]] member [[Steve Porcaro]], with the lyrics provided by [[John Bettis]]. The song reached number seven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]], but was not as big an international hit as his previous songs, as the single was not released outside the US.
"'''Human Nature'''" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter [[Michael Jackson]], and the fifth single from his sixth solo album, ''[[Thriller (album)|Thriller]]''. The track was produced by [[Quincy Jones]] and performed by some band members of [[Toto (band)|Toto]] with Jackson providing vocals.


It was originally written by keyboardist [[Steve Porcaro]], based on a conversation he had with his young daughter Heather after a boy hit her at school,<ref>{{Citation |title=Steve Porcaro Story Behind Human Nature by Michael Jackson |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITQPxZKm9dY |access-date=2023-06-27 |language=en}}</ref> Porcaro said "he probably likes you and it's human nature". Porcaro, along with some Toto bandmates, had been assisting with the production of ''Thriller'', but he had not intended for "Human Nature" to be used by Jackson. However, Jones inadvertently heard a [[demo (music)|demo]] version of the track and thought it would be a great fit for the album. Jones then brought in songwriter [[John Bettis]] to rewrite the verses, whose lyrics are about a passerby in [[New York City]].<ref name="klcs interview">{{cite web|title=KLCS interview of Steve Porcaro|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITQPxZKm9dY| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170602154850/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITQPxZKm9dY&gl=US&hl=en| archive-date=2017-06-02 | url-status=dead|date=3 September 2015|website=Youtube}}</ref> The song would ultimately replace the track ''Carousel,'' which had been already recorded for ''Thriller''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OiPgBPeYuw |title=This Song ACCIDENTALLY Made It on “Thriller” |language=en |access-date=2024-04-17 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>
==Inclusion on ''Thriller''==
The following is taken from the special edition of Thriller, where Quincy Jones talks in the album's extra tracks.


"Human Nature" was released as a single on July 4, 1983. Like the four ''Thriller'' singles before it, the song became a top 10 hit in the US, reaching number seven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]. It also reached number two on the ''[[Billboard Adult Contemporary|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Adult Contemporary|Adult Contemporary]] chart and is certified [[RIAA certification|Platinum]] by the [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA). In Canada and the Netherlands, the single reached number 11. The single was not released in the UK. The song garnered positive reviews from music critics. "Human Nature" has been [[sampling (music)|sampled]] by numerous artists, including [[Nas]] with "[[It Ain't Hard to Tell]]", and [[Teddy Riley]] who remixed [[SWV]]'s single "[[Right Here (SWV song)|Right Here]]", with a sample of "Human Nature", with the remix reaching number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/swv/chart-history/hsi/ |title=SWV Right Here (Human Nature)/Downtown Chart History}}</ref>
"Human Nature" would not have been included on ''Thriller'' if it weren't for forgetfulness. While producing ''Thriller'' in 1982, both Jackson and [[Quincy Jones]] had planned to include the song "Carousel" (now an outtake) on the album, as there was room for just one more "mood-like" song, as Jones puts it. However, Jones believed that "Carousel" had to be taken out and replaced. During this time, [[Toto (band)|Toto]] sent Jones two demo tapes that they thought would be suitable for Michael.


==Production==
The first two songs on the demo tape did not impress Jones. After the first two samples, Jones forgot to turn the tape off. It was at this moment, as Jones describes it on the special edition of ''Thriller'', that "...and all of a sudden there was all this silence, and then it went "why? why?...da da da da da da da da...why? why?". While talking about it, Jones mentions that he gets "goosebumps from just talking about it". Also, Michael mentions how he says "oooooo seven!" and explains that it means how his older brother Tito, had seven toes on his right foot.
[[File:Steve Porcaro 2013 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Porcaro in 2013]]
The first version of "Human Nature" was written and composed by [[Steve Porcaro]] of [[Toto (band)|Toto]].<ref name="halstead 144">Halstead, p. 144</ref> He wrote the song when his first-grade daughter came home crying after a boy pushed her off the slide. He blurted out three reasons for the incident to comfort her: the boy liked her, people can be strange, and it's "human nature".<ref>{{cite book|author=Knopper, Steve|title=MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=17L_BgAAQBAJ&pg=PT106|access-date=13 December 2015|date= 2015|publisher=Scribner|isbn=978-1-4767-3039-4|page=106}}</ref> He recorded a rough demo of the song in their studio while the Toto song "[[Africa (Toto song)|Africa]]" was being mixed.<ref name="klcs interview"/> Fellow [[Toto (band)|Toto]] keyboardist [[David Paich]] added some synthesizer strings on top of the demo. Originally, the song was offered to Toto but they passed on it as they preferred [[Arena rock|stadium rock]]-oriented material.<ref>{{cite AV media|title=Toto's Steve Porcaro: The Story Behind "Human Nature,' Michael Jackson|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Lc9NYHdNw| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211116/Y7Lc9NYHdNw| archive-date=2021-11-16 | url-status=live|date=September 15, 2020|access-date=March 2, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>


Paich had prepared some demo tracks for producer [[Quincy Jones]] to listen to as possible songs for ''Thriller'' and asked Porcaro to make Jones a tape with the songs.<ref name="halstead 144"/> Running low on cassette tapes, Porcaro used the tape on which he had already recorded his "Human Nature" demo, putting Paich's songs on the reverse side and marking that on the label as the side that Jones should listen to.<ref name="klcs interview"/> Jones listened to Paich's songs but did not think they were right for ''Thriller''. However, he did not stop the tape when the songs finished playing, and the [[cassette deck]] playing the tape had "auto-reverse" capability, meaning that it started playing the other side as soon as the first side was finished.<ref name="klcs interview"/> As Jones described it, "All of a sudden, at the end, there was all this silence, there was: 'why, why, dah dah da-dum dah dah, why, why'. Just a dummy lyric and a very skeletal thing—I get goosebumps talking about it. I said, 'This is where we wanna go, because it's got such a wonderful flavor'".<ref name="Thriller book 13">{{cite book|title=Thriller 25: The Book| page= 13}}</ref> However, Jones was dissatisfied with the original lyrics for the verses and asked [[John Bettis]], who had written lyrics for hits by [[the Carpenters]] and [[the Pointer Sisters]], among others, to write new lyrics for the song. He completed the song in two days.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Behind The Hits:Inside Stories of Classic Pop and Rock and Roll |last=Shannon |first=Bob |author-link=Bob Shannon (WCBS-FM) |author2=John Javna |year=1986 |publisher=Warner Books |location=New York |isbn=0-446-38171-3 |page=14 }}</ref> Jones asked if the song could be included on Jackson's album, to which Porcaro and Bettis agreed.<ref name="halstead 144"/> Porcaro discusses Bettis' input in "Human Nature":
It was upon listening to this demo, written by [[Steve Porcaro]], that Jones decided to replace "Carousel" with "Human Nature", partly due to its "wonderful flavour". Jones then contacted [[John Bettis]] to write a lyric to the song.


{{quote|
==Chart success==
"At the last minute, Quincy (Jones) asked me if I’d mind if John Bettis took a shot at the verse lyrics, and I said, 'No, not at all.' I didn't consider myself a great lyricist. Sometimes what just came out of my mouth when I was writing, I mean like the chorus on "Human Nature" could be keepers. But I was wide open. But with John Bettis, I didn't change a single syllable, he just nailed it. He turned my record into a song, with a beginning, middle and end. Those lyrics are amazing and I don't talk about that enough."<ref name=vintagerock>{{cite web|url=https://vintagerock.com/the-steve-porcaro-interview-2016/|title=The Steve Porcaro Interview (2016)|first=Shawn|last=Perry|access-date=March 2, 2021|website=vintagerock.com}}</ref>}}
"Human Nature" peaked at the following chart positions:


The song, as it turns out, did not change much musically from the demo through to the final album, as Jones liked the song as it was.<ref name='Steve Porcaro Chicago 1945'>{{cite web|url=https://michaeljackson.ru/steve-porcaro-chicago-1945/|title=Meeting Steve Porcaro and hearing "Chicago 1945"|date=July 4, 2014|access-date=March 2, 2021}}</ref> It was, for the most part, recreated in the studio.<ref name=vintagerock/> Even engineer [[Bruce Swedien]] asked Porcaro, who played most of the parts and helped Jackson with the vocal phrasing, to help reproduce the phrasing of the accents of the "Why, why" that can be heard on the demo.<ref name='Steve Porcaro Chicago 1945'/>
{| class="wikitable sortable"

!align="center"|Chart
==Release and reception==
!align="center"|Peak<br>position
{{quote box
| width = 29%
| align = left
| quote = A template for new jack swing and hip-hop soul ballads, "Human Nature" is comparatively slower and more intimate than ''Thriller''{{'}}s other songs. "If this town is just an apple, let me take a bite", quivers Jackson's voice over a cascading synthesizer and percolating bass line. Though written by John Bettis and Steve Porcaro of Toto, the lyrics resonate with Jackson's yearning to break free from his tower of celebrity and mingle with young people in a "city that winks its sleepless eye".
| source = —Serena Kim, ''[[The Standard-Times (New Bedford)|South Coast Today]]''.<ref name="kim">{{cite news|last=Powers|first=Ann|title=Nine reasons why Jackson masterpiece remains a 'Thriller'|url=http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080215%2FLIFE%2F802150316|newspaper=[[The Standard-Times (New Bedford)|South Coast Today]]|date=February 15, 2008|access-date=April 11, 2009|archive-date=September 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930212910/http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080215%2FLIFE%2F802150316|url-status=dead}}</ref>
}}
"Human Nature" was released in July 1983, as the fifth single from ''Thriller''.<ref name="halstead 144"/> It was not released in the UK for unknown reasons. The song achieved chart success in the US.<ref name="halstead 144"/> Reaching number two on [[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']]'s Hot [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] chart and number seven on the [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]], the song became Jackson's fifth Top 10 hit from ''Thriller''.<ref name="George 39">George, p. 39</ref><ref name="Jacksons captivated JFK Stadium">{{cite news|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1984/09/07&EntityId=Ar02400|title=Jacksons captivated JFK Stadium|last=Borza|first=Michael J.|date=September 7, 1984|newspaper=[[The Daily Collegian (Penn State)|The Daily Collegian]]|access-date=April 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304052631/http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG%2F1984%2F09%2F07&EntityId=Ar02400|archive-date=March 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> "Human Nature" charted at number 27 on the [[R&B singles chart]].<ref name="George 39"/> In the Netherlands the single reached number 11.<ref name="dutch">{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Human+Nature&cat=s |title=Dutch Singles Chart Archives |access-date=April 11, 2009 |publisher=dutchcharts.nl |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708142754/http://www.dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Michael+Jackson&titel=Human+Nature&cat=s |archive-date=July 8, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref>

John Rockwell, of ''[[The New York Times]]'', stated that "Human Nature" was a "haunting, brooding ballad" with an "irresistible" chorus.<ref name="Michael Jackson's 'Thriller': Superb Job">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/19/arts/michael-jackson-s-thriller-superb-job.html?sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|title=Michael Jackson's 'Thriller': Superb Job|last=Rockwell|first=John|date=December 19, 1982|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=April 11, 2009}}</ref> [[Allmusic]] noted that the "gentle and lovely" "Human Nature" coexisted comfortably with the "tough, scared" "[[Beat It]]".<ref name="allmusic review">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r10089|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic's 'Thriller' Review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|website=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=April 11, 2009}}</ref> They later added that the song was a "soft rocker".<ref name="allmusic review2">{{cite web|url={{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1314329|pure_url=yes}}|title=Allmusic's ''Thriller 25'' review|access-date=April 11, 2009|website=Allmusic}}</ref> Reflecting on ''Thriller'', ''[[Slant Magazine|Slant]]'' expressed their fondness of the song, stating that it was "probably the best musical composition on the album and surely one of the only A/C ballads of its era worth remembering".<ref name="Slant's 'Thriller' review">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=358|title=Slant's 'Thriller' review|last=Henderson|first=Eric|magazine=[[Slant Magazine]]|year=2003|access-date=April 11, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228152525/http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/music_review.asp?ID=358|archive-date=February 28, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The magazine added that the track's "buttery harmonies" were powerful.<ref name="Slant's 'Thriller' review"/> ''[[Stylus Magazine|Stylus]]'' also praised the song, describing it as "the smoothest of ballads".<ref name="stylus">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/diamond/michael-jackson-thriller.htm|title=Thriller - The Diamond|access-date=February 21, 2009|magazine=[[Stylus Magazine]]|archive-date=March 20, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150320145345/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/diamond/michael-jackson-thriller.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, they further added that the music "does little to embody the song's message" and that it couches Jackson's "glazed voice" in "bubble synths and drum pillows".<ref name="stylus"/>

[[About.com]]'s Bill Lamb looked back on the track 25 years after its release. He felt that the song "set down a blueprint for what would become known as adult R&B".<ref name="About.com T25">{{cite web|first=Bill|last=Lamb|url=http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/mjacksonthril25.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228053714/http://top40.about.com/od/albums/fr/mjacksonthril25.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 28, 2008|title=About.com's Thriller 25 review|publisher=[[About.com]]|access-date=April 11, 2009}}</ref> Kelefa Sanneh of ''[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]'' described the "soft-serve balladry" of the song as a "silk-sheets masterstroke".<ref name="Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition Blender review">{{cite magazine|first=Kelefa|last=Sanneh|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4996|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20160523212337/http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4996|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 23, 2016|title=Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition Blender review|magazine=[[Blender (magazine)|Blender]]|date=April 11, 2008|access-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> In a 2008 [[IGN]] review, Todd Gilchrist explained that the elements of "Human Nature" worked better today than they did before. He added that it may be because modern R&B "sucks".<ref name="IGN T25">{{cite web|first=Todd|last=Gilchrist|url=http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/850/850483p1.html|title=IGN's Thriller 25 review|website=IGN|access-date=April 11, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080214080402/http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/850/850483p1.html|archive-date=February 14, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Tom Ewing, reviewer for [[Pitchfork Media]], described the song as "meltingly tender", with [[MTV]] adding that it was an "airy ballad".<ref name="Pitchfork Media T25">{{cite web|first=Tom |last=Ewing |url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/48645-thriller-25th-anniversary-edition |title=Pitchfork Media's Thriller 25 review |publisher=[[Pitchfork Media]] |date=April 11, 2008 |access-date=February 21, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113054416/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/48645-thriller-25th-anniversary-edition |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref><ref name="MTV">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml|title=Michael Jackson biography|publisher=MTV|access-date=April 11, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120804113359/http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/jackson_michael/artist.jhtml|archive-date=August 4, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' claimed that the "most beautifully fragile" "Human Nature" was so open and brave it made "[[She's Out of My Life]]" seem phony.<ref name="Rolling Stone T25">{{cite magazine|first=Rob|last=Sheffield|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/18290476/review/18305830/thriller_25_deluxe_edition|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207111157/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/18290476/review/18305830/thriller_25_deluxe_edition|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 7, 2008|title=Rolling Stone's Thriller 25 review|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=April 11, 2009}}</ref> The ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' concluded that it was Jackson's delivery that made the "middling ballad" take off.<ref name="Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' turns 25">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-etlede5572856feb12,1,7023998.story?page=2|title=Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' turns 25|last=Gamboa|first=Glenn|date=February 12, 2008|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 11, 2009}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} </ref>

==Live performances==
The song was first performed during [[The Jackson 5|the Jacksons]]' [[Victory Tour (The Jacksons tour)|Victory Tour]]. Michael started to sing "[[Ben (song)|Ben]]", but stopped and proceeded to sing "Human Nature". It was also performed during Michael's [[Bad (tour)|Bad World Tour]] and [[Dangerous World Tour]]. Jackson also performed the song live during his 1996 Royal Brunei concert. It was going to be performed for Jackson's [[This Is It (concert residency)|This Is It]] concerts, which were canceled due to [[Death of Michael Jackson|his death]]; however, it was included [[Michael Jackson's This Is It (album)|on the posthumous album to coincide with the concerts]]. Live versions of the song are available on the DVDs ''[[Live at Wembley July 16, 1988]]'' and ''[[Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour]]''. [[Toto (band)|Toto]] has performed the song in some of their shows with vocals by [[Joseph Williams (musician)|Joseph Williams]]. A live version is available on the 2019 DVD ''40 Trips Around the Sun''.

==Track listing==
* '''7-inch vinyl'''<ref name="France"/>
# "Human Nature" (single version) – 3:47 <small>(Misprinted as 4:05)</small>
# "Baby Be Mine" – 4:20

==Official remixes==
# Album version – 4:06
# Single version – 3:47<ref>{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-essential-michael-jackson/159292399|title=The Essential Michael Jackson by Michael Jackson|publisher=[[Apple Music]] (US)|access-date=October 8, 2020}}</ref>
# Live – 4:29 <small>(This version is taken from ''[[Live at Wembley July 16, 1988]]'' and included in the deluxe edition of ''[[Bad 25]]''.)</small>
# "[[Speechless (Michael Jackson song)|Speechless]]"/"Human Nature" – 3:18 <small>(''[[Immortal (Michael Jackson album)|Immortal]]'' version)</small>

==Personnel==
* Written and composed by [[Steve Porcaro]] and [[John Bettis]]<ref name="Thriller Booklet">Jackson, Michael. ''Thriller'' booklet. Sony BMG.</ref>
* Produced by Quincy Jones<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>
* Michael Jackson: vocals
* [[David Paich]]: synthesizer<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>
* Steve Porcaro: synthesizer, synthesizer programming<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>
* [[Steve Lukather]]: guitar<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>
* [[Jeff Porcaro]]: drums<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>
* [[Paulinho Da Costa]]: percussion<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>
* [[Michael Boddicker]]: [[E-mu Emulator]]<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>
* Arrangement by David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather<ref name="Thriller Booklet"/>

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

===Weekly charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+1983–1984 weekly chart performance for "Human Nature"
! scope="col"| Chart (1983–1984)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
|-
!scope="row"| Australia ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref>{{cite book|first=David|last=Kent|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970-1992]]|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives]], N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
|align="left"|U.S. ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks]]
| 64
|align="center"|2
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Flanders|12|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|align="left"|U.S. [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]]
|align="center"|7
|-
|-
!scope="row"| Belgium ([[Top 30|VRT Top 30]] Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radio2.be/top-30/1983/10/08|title=Radio2 top 30: 8 oktober 1983|language=nl|publisher=[[Top 30]]|access-date=June 3, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327133214/http://www.radio2.be/top-30/1983/10/08|archive-date=March 27, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
|align="left"|U.S. [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|''Billboard'' Hot Black Singles]]
| 11
|align="center"|27
|-
|-
!scope="row"| Canada ([[CHUM Chart|''CHUM'']])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1394 |title=CHART NUMBER 1394 – Saturday, October 01, 1983 |access-date=2016-06-03 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060213015752/http://www.1050chum.com/index_chumcharts.aspx?chart=1394 |archive-date=February 13, 2006 |df=mdy-all }}. [[CHUM (AM)|CHUM]]. Retrieved June 3, 2016.</ref>
|align="left"|Belgian Singles Chart
| 3
|align="center"|12
|-
|-
!scope="row"| Canada Adult Contemporary ([[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4313&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4313.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4313|title=Adult Contemporary - Volume 39, No. 4, Sep 24, 1983|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|date=July 17, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2016}}</ref>
|align="left"|Danish Singles Chart
| 1
|align="center"|14
|-
|-
!scope="row"| Canada Top Singles ([[RPM (magazine)|''RPM'']])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4315&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.4315.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4315|title=Top Singles - Volume 39, No. 5, Oct 01, 1983|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|date=July 17, 2013|access-date=June 3, 2016}}</ref>
|align="left"|[[Canadian Singles Chart]]
| 11
|align="center"|17
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch40|14|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|align="left"|New Zealand [[Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|RIANZ Singles Chart]]
|align="center"|33
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|11|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|align="left"|Australian [[ARIA Charts|ARIA Singles Chart]]
|align="center"|64
|-
|-
{{singlechart|New Zealand|33|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|align="left"|[[Media Control Charts|German Singles Chart]]
|align="center"|64
|-
|-
{{singlechart|Billboardhot100|7|artist=Michael Jackson|rowheader=true|access-date=September 20, 2021}}
|-
!scope="row"| US [[Adult Contemporary (chart)|Adult Contemporary]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/thriller-mw0000056882/awards|title=Thriller – Awards|publisher=[[AllMusic]]. [[All Media Network]]|access-date=June 3, 2016}}</ref>
| 2
|-
!scope="row"| US [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Black Singles]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="awards"/>
| 27
|-
!scope="row"| US [[Cashbox (magazine)|''Cash Box'']]<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19830924.html |title=CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 24, 1983 |magazine=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box magazine]] |access-date=June 3, 2016 |df=mdy-all |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222014311/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/19830924.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 10
|-
{{singlechart|West Germany|64|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|songid=12516|access-date=March 31, 2020|rowheader=true}}\
|}
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
|+2009 weekly chart performance for "Human Nature"
! scope="col"| Chart (2009)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart|Australiapandora|63|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20090804140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20090805-0000/issue1011.pdf|urltitle=Week Commencing 13th July 2009|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
|-
!scope="row"| Belgium ([[Ultratop|Back Catalogue Singles]] Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/back-catalogue/2009/20090718|title=50 Back Catalogue Singles – 18/07/09|language=nl|publisher=[[Ultratop]]. Hung Medien|access-date=June 3, 2016}}</ref>
| 12
|-
!scope="row"| Canada [[Billboard charts|Hot Digital Singles]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="awards"/>
| 27
|-
{{singlechart|Denmark|39|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| Italy ([[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana|FIMI]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fimi.it/classifiche#/category:digital/id:881|title=Classifica settimanale WK 29 (dal 2009-07-13 al 2009-07-19)|language=it|publisher=[[Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana]]|access-date=June 3, 2016}}</ref>
| 29
|-
{{singlechart|Dutch100|40|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{singlechart|Sweden|38|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{singlechart|Switzerland|46|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{singlechart|UKsinglesbyname|62|artist=Michael Jackson|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true}}
|-
!scope="row"| US [[Digital Songs|Hot Digital Songs]] ([[Billboard (magazine)|''Billboard'']])<ref name="awards"/>
| 21
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+2013 weekly chart performance for "Human Nature"
! scope="col"| Chart (2013)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{singlechart|France|165|artist=Michael Jackson|song=Human Nature|access-date=June 3, 2016|rowheader=true|refname=France}}
|}
{{col-2}}


==The meaning==
===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center"
"Human Nature" is one of Jackson's songs that does not have a clear-cut meaning, and even today people have differing interpretations.
|+1983 year-end chart performance for "Human Nature"
! scope="col"| Chart (1983)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
!scope="row"| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1983 |title=Jaaroverzichten 1983 |language=nl |publisher=[[Ultratop]]. Hung Medien |access-date=June 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126213619/http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1983 |archive-date=January 26, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref>
| 91
|-
!scope="row"| Canada Top Singles (''RPM'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.6699&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.6699.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.6699|title=The Top Singles of 1983|work=[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]|volume=39|issue=17|date=December 24, 1983|access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref>
| 90
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1983|title=Top 100 Hits for 1983|publisher=Longbored Surfer|access-date=June 5, 2016}}</ref>
| 89
|-
!scope="row"| US ''Cash Box''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1983YESP.html |title=The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1983 |work=[[Cashbox (magazine)|Cash Box magazine]] |access-date=June 5, 2016 |df=mdy |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120911042042/http://cashboxmagazine.com/archives/80s_files/1983YESP.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| 79
|}
{{col-end}}


==Certifications==
While talking about ''Thriller'' in his 1988 autobiography ''Moonwalk'', Jackson mentions that "Human Nature" is "music with wings". It is also mentioned that people asked him frequently about the real meaning of the lyrics. Jackson replied with "People often think the lyrics have some special personal significance...which often isn't true...it's important to reach people, to move them...sometimes one can do this with the mosaic of the music melody arrangement and lyrics...sometimes it is the intellectual context of the lyrics".
{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications for "Human Nature"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Michael Jackson|title=Human Nature|award=Platinum|relyear=1983|certyear=2024|access-date=April 23, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Michael Jackson|title=Human Nature|award=Gold|relyear=1983|certyear=2023|id=12027|access-date=January 12, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|title=Human Nature|artist=Michael Jackson|relyear=1983|certyear=2022|type=single|award=Gold|number=1|refname=MX certification|access-date=April 21, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Michael Jackson|title=Human Nature|award=Silver|relyear=2004|certyear=2020|id=16803-168-1|access-date=October 30, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Michael Jackson|title=Human Nature|award=Platinum|relyear=1983|certyear=2018}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}


==Samplings==
Additionally, both Jackson and "Q" (how Jackson refers to [[Quincy Jones]] in the book) believed that "Human Nature" had the "prettiest melody that they had heard by far".
Songs that have sampled "Human Nature" include:
* "Right Here (Human Nature Remix)" by [[SWV]], a 1993 [[Teddy Riley]]-produced [[remix]] of the group's 1992 song "[[Right Here (SWV song)|Right Here]]". It spent seven weeks at number one on the ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Singles]] chart. The music video for the remix included clips of Jackson performing on the [[Dangerous World Tour]], including a hologram of the pop singer intercut with wildlife footage from ''[[Free Willy]]'', which the song was featured in and on its soundtrack.
* "[[It Ain't Hard to Tell]]" (1994) by [[Nas]]. Nas has performed "It Ain't Hard to Tell" as a mashup with "Human Nature" using Jackson's original vocals at some concerts.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFGnyicTr8I ''It Ain't Hard To Tell'' vs. ''Human Nature'' – Nas feat. Michael Jackson (live at Lovebox 2014, London – fancam)] YouTube</ref>
* "[[I'm in Heaven]]" (2003) by [[Jason Nevins]] featuring Holly James, used an interpolation of the hook from "Human Nature".
* "[[She Ain't You]]" by [[Chris Brown]] from his album ''[[F.A.M.E. (Chris Brown album)|F.A.M.E.]]'' (2011).
* "Don Life" by [[Big Sean]] (feat. Lil Wayne) from his album ''[[Detroit 2]]'' (2020).


==Live performance==
==Other versions==
"Human Nature" was covered by [[Miles Davis]] on his 1985 album ''[[You're_Under_Arrest_(Miles_Davis_album)|You're Under Arrest]]''; at the time Davis also suggested that the song could become a [[jazz standard]].<ref>{{Cite web|title= Miles Davis: 'Coltrane was a very greedy man. Bird was, too. He was a big hog' – a classic interview from the vaults |author= Richard Cook |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2012/nov/06/miles-davis-interview-rocks-backpages |website= theguardian.com |date= November 6, 2012 |access-date=2021-03-04}}</ref>
"Human Nature" was part of the set list for Jackson's world tours, being performed live during his [[Victory Tour]] in 1984 with his brothers, his [[Bad World Tour|Bad Tour]] from 1987-1989, and his [[Dangerous World Tour|Dangerous Tour]] from 1992-1993. The song was not used during his [[HIStory World Tour|HIStory Tour]] (it was replaced with "[[Stranger In Moscow]]"), but did a one-off performance in at the Royal Brunei concert in 1996.


Toto has occasionally performed the song as part of a tribute to Jackson and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band.
What makes the live performance even more unusual, is that each performance is different from the others. Certain 'gaps' in the song create the opportunity for Michael to become more freestyle in his movement technqiues, and is easily comparable when looking at a performance from the [[Bad World Tour|Bad Tour]] and the later [[Dangerous World Tour|Dangerous Tour]]. The song has inspired some of his most physically complicated dancing.


==References==
==Official versions==
{{Reflist}}
#Album version - 4:05
#7" version - 3:45


==Sources==
==Covers and remixes==
* [[Nelson George|George, Nelson]] (2004). ''[[Michael Jackson: The Ultimate Collection]]'' booklet. [[Sony BMG]].
*"Human Nature" was first covered by the late jazz saxophonist [[George Howard]] and was included in his 1984 album ''[[Steppin' Out (George Howard album)|Steppin' Out]]''. A year later, [[Miles Davis]] included a cover version on his 1985 album ''[[You're Under Arrest (album)|You're Under Arrest]]''. Davis would also play it in most of his concerts for the remainder of his life, and would include a further five minute or so extended instrumental.
* {{Cite book|last=Halstead |first=Craig |title=Michael Jackson: For the Record |year=2007 |publisher=Authors OnLine |isbn=978-0-7552-0267-6 }}
* {{Cite book|last=Thriller 25: The Book |title=[[Thriller 25|Thriller 25: The Book]] |year=2008 |publisher=ML Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-9768891-9-9}}


==External links==
*Later in 1993, "Human Nature" was sampled by R&B group [[SWV]]. Released as "[[Right Here/Human Nature|Right Here (Human Nature)]]", the song reached #1 on the R&B and #2 on the Pop [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] charts in the summer of that year. This song still remains a popular hit today.
{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2023-06-29|Human Nature - article narration.ogg}}


{{Thriller (album)}}
*In 2003, DJ [[Jason Nevins]] did a house version of "Human Nature", with the vocals sung by [[Holly James]], called "I'm In Heaven".
{{Michael Jackson songs}}


{{Good article}}
*[[Tupac Shakur]]'s "Thug Nature" is a play on this song


{{authority control}}
*In 2004, [[Boyz II Men]] included a cover of the song on their album ''[[Throwback, Vol. 1]]'', with [[Claudette Ortiz]] providing the background vocals.

*Nashville singer/songwriter David Mead also recorded an acoustic version of the song on his 2004 release ''Indiana''.

*R&B Singer, [[Ne-Yo]]'s "[[So Sick]]" remix featuring [[LL Cool J]] samples this song.

*The song was also sampled in 1994 for "[[It Ain't Hard to Tell]]" by [[Nas]].

*The [[Youngblood Brass Band]] also perform a version of "Human Nature", called "Human Nature Pt. II".

*R&B Singer, [[Tyra Bolling]] also samples this song for [[Givin' Me A Rush]].

*R&B Singer, [[Alicia Keys]] performed Human Nature at the [[Nobel Peace Prize Concert]] in Oslo, Dec 10 2007. However, she did not follow Jackson's lyrics .

*Drum and bass producers Makoto, Specialist, and DJ Roots also remixed this song in 2007.

==Track listing==
# "Human Nature" – 3:45
# "Baby Be Mine" – 4:20

==Credits==
* Written and composed: [[Steve Porcaro]] and [[John Bettis]]
* Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: [[David Paich]]
* Guitar: [[Steve Lukather]]
* Drums: [[Jeff Porcaro]]
* Percussion: [[Paulinho Da Costa]]
* [[E-mu Emulator|Emulator]]: [[Michael Boddicker]]
* Arrangement: [[David Paich]], [[Steve Porcaro]] and [[Steve Lukather]]

==External links==
* [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/03/02/031237.php Review of "Human Nature" by Matthew Milam including other fans' comments]
* [http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=797 "Human Nature" at Songfacts]

{{Michael Jackson singles}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Human Nature (Michael Jackson Song)}}
[[Category:Michael Jackson songs]]
[[Category:Michael Jackson songs]]
[[Category:1982 songs]]
[[Category:1982 songs]]
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:Contemporary R&B ballads]]

[[az:Human Nature]]
[[Category:Rock ballads]]
[[Category:Songs with lyrics by John Bettis]]
[[fr:Human Nature (Mickael Jackson)]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Quincy Jones]]
[[it:Human Nature (Michael Jackson)]]
[[Category:Epic Records singles]]
[[nl:Human Nature]]
[[Category:CBS Records singles]]
[[ja:ヒューマン・ネイチャー]]
[[Category:Songs about New York City]]
[[pl:Human Nature (singel Michaela Jacksona)]]
[[tr:Human Nature]]
[[Category:1980s ballads]]
[[Category:Songs written by Steve Porcaro]]
[[Category:American soft rock songs]]

Latest revision as of 19:18, 2 May 2024

"Human Nature"
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Thriller
B-side"Baby Be Mine"
ReleasedJuly 4, 1983
Recorded1982
StudioWestlake (Los Angeles, California)[1]
Genre
Length
  • 4:06 (album version)
  • 3:47 (single version)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Quincy Jones
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'"
(1983) 		"Human Nature"
(1983) 		"P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)"
(1983)
Audio video
"Human Nature" on YouTube
Audio sample
"Human Nature"

"Human Nature" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Michael Jackson, and the fifth single from his sixth solo album, Thriller. The track was produced by Quincy Jones and performed by some band members of Toto with Jackson providing vocals.

It was originally written by keyboardist Steve Porcaro, based on a conversation he had with his young daughter Heather after a boy hit her at school,[7] Porcaro said "he probably likes you and it's human nature". Porcaro, along with some Toto bandmates, had been assisting with the production of Thriller, but he had not intended for "Human Nature" to be used by Jackson. However, Jones inadvertently heard a demo version of the track and thought it would be a great fit for the album. Jones then brought in songwriter John Bettis to rewrite the verses, whose lyrics are about a passerby in New York City.[8] The song would ultimately replace the track Carousel, which had been already recorded for Thriller.[9]

"Human Nature" was released as a single on July 4, 1983. Like the four Thriller singles before it, the song became a top 10 hit in the US, reaching number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. It also reached number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart and is certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In Canada and the Netherlands, the single reached number 11. The single was not released in the UK. The song garnered positive reviews from music critics. "Human Nature" has been sampled by numerous artists, including Nas with "It Ain't Hard to Tell", and Teddy Riley who remixed SWV's single "Right Here", with a sample of "Human Nature", with the remix reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100.[10]

Production[edit]

Porcaro in 2013

The first version of "Human Nature" was written and composed by Steve Porcaro of Toto.[11] He wrote the song when his first-grade daughter came home crying after a boy pushed her off the slide. He blurted out three reasons for the incident to comfort her: the boy liked her, people can be strange, and it's "human nature".[12] He recorded a rough demo of the song in their studio while the Toto song "Africa" was being mixed.[8] Fellow Toto keyboardist David Paich added some synthesizer strings on top of the demo. Originally, the song was offered to Toto but they passed on it as they preferred stadium rock-oriented material.[13]

Paich had prepared some demo tracks for producer Quincy Jones to listen to as possible songs for Thriller and asked Porcaro to make Jones a tape with the songs.[11] Running low on cassette tapes, Porcaro used the tape on which he had already recorded his "Human Nature" demo, putting Paich's songs on the reverse side and marking that on the label as the side that Jones should listen to.[8] Jones listened to Paich's songs but did not think they were right for Thriller. However, he did not stop the tape when the songs finished playing, and the cassette deck playing the tape had "auto-reverse" capability, meaning that it started playing the other side as soon as the first side was finished.[8] As Jones described it, "All of a sudden, at the end, there was all this silence, there was: 'why, why, dah dah da-dum dah dah, why, why'. Just a dummy lyric and a very skeletal thing—I get goosebumps talking about it. I said, 'This is where we wanna go, because it's got such a wonderful flavor'".[14] However, Jones was dissatisfied with the original lyrics for the verses and asked John Bettis, who had written lyrics for hits by the Carpenters and the Pointer Sisters, among others, to write new lyrics for the song. He completed the song in two days.[15] Jones asked if the song could be included on Jackson's album, to which Porcaro and Bettis agreed.[11] Porcaro discusses Bettis' input in "Human Nature":

"At the last minute, Quincy (Jones) asked me if I’d mind if John Bettis took a shot at the verse lyrics, and I said, 'No, not at all.' I didn't consider myself a great lyricist. Sometimes what just came out of my mouth when I was writing, I mean like the chorus on "Human Nature" could be keepers. But I was wide open. But with John Bettis, I didn't change a single syllable, he just nailed it. He turned my record into a song, with a beginning, middle and end. Those lyrics are amazing and I don't talk about that enough."[16]

The song, as it turns out, did not change much musically from the demo through to the final album, as Jones liked the song as it was.[17] It was, for the most part, recreated in the studio.[16] Even engineer Bruce Swedien asked Porcaro, who played most of the parts and helped Jackson with the vocal phrasing, to help reproduce the phrasing of the accents of the "Why, why" that can be heard on the demo.[17]

Release and reception[edit]

A template for new jack swing and hip-hop soul ballads, "Human Nature" is comparatively slower and more intimate than Thriller's other songs. "If this town is just an apple, let me take a bite", quivers Jackson's voice over a cascading synthesizer and percolating bass line. Though written by John Bettis and Steve Porcaro of Toto, the lyrics resonate with Jackson's yearning to break free from his tower of celebrity and mingle with young people in a "city that winks its sleepless eye".

—Serena Kim, South Coast Today.[18]

"Human Nature" was released in July 1983, as the fifth single from Thriller.[11] It was not released in the UK for unknown reasons. The song achieved chart success in the US.[11] Reaching number two on Billboard's Hot Adult Contemporary chart and number seven on the Hot 100, the song became Jackson's fifth Top 10 hit from Thriller.[19][20] "Human Nature" charted at number 27 on the R&B singles chart.[19] In the Netherlands the single reached number 11.[21]

John Rockwell, of The New York Times, stated that "Human Nature" was a "haunting, brooding ballad" with an "irresistible" chorus.[22] Allmusic noted that the "gentle and lovely" "Human Nature" coexisted comfortably with the "tough, scared" "Beat It".[23] They later added that the song was a "soft rocker".[24] Reflecting on Thriller, Slant expressed their fondness of the song, stating that it was "probably the best musical composition on the album and surely one of the only A/C ballads of its era worth remembering".[25] The magazine added that the track's "buttery harmonies" were powerful.[25] Stylus also praised the song, describing it as "the smoothest of ballads".[26] However, they further added that the music "does little to embody the song's message" and that it couches Jackson's "glazed voice" in "bubble synths and drum pillows".[26]

About.com's Bill Lamb looked back on the track 25 years after its release. He felt that the song "set down a blueprint for what would become known as adult R&B".[2] Kelefa Sanneh of Blender described the "soft-serve balladry" of the song as a "silk-sheets masterstroke".[27] In a 2008 IGN review, Todd Gilchrist explained that the elements of "Human Nature" worked better today than they did before. He added that it may be because modern R&B "sucks".[28] Tom Ewing, reviewer for Pitchfork Media, described the song as "meltingly tender", with MTV adding that it was an "airy ballad".[29][30] Rolling Stone claimed that the "most beautifully fragile" "Human Nature" was so open and brave it made "She's Out of My Life" seem phony.[31] The Los Angeles Times concluded that it was Jackson's delivery that made the "middling ballad" take off.[32]

Live performances[edit]

The song was first performed during the Jacksons' Victory Tour. Michael started to sing "Ben", but stopped and proceeded to sing "Human Nature". It was also performed during Michael's Bad World Tour and Dangerous World Tour. Jackson also performed the song live during his 1996 Royal Brunei concert. It was going to be performed for Jackson's This Is It concerts, which were canceled due to his death; however, it was included on the posthumous album to coincide with the concerts. Live versions of the song are available on the DVDs Live at Wembley July 16, 1988 and Live in Bucharest: The Dangerous Tour. Toto has performed the song in some of their shows with vocals by Joseph Williams. A live version is available on the 2019 DVD 40 Trips Around the Sun.

Track listing[edit]

  1. "Human Nature" (single version) – 3:47 (Misprinted as 4:05)
  2. "Baby Be Mine" – 4:20

Official remixes[edit]

  1. Album version – 4:06
  2. Single version – 3:47[34]
  3. Live – 4:29 (This version is taken from Live at Wembley July 16, 1988 and included in the deluxe edition of Bad 25.)
  4. "Speechless"/"Human Nature" – 3:18 (Immortal version)

Personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for "Human Nature"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[60] Platinum 80,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[61] Gold 45,000‡
Mexico (AMPROFON)[62] Gold 30,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[63] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[64] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Samplings[edit]

Songs that have sampled "Human Nature" include:

Other versions[edit]

"Human Nature" was covered by Miles Davis on his 1985 album You're Under Arrest; at the time Davis also suggested that the song could become a jazz standard.[66]

Toto has occasionally performed the song as part of a tribute to Jackson and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Randall Roberts (August 29, 2012). "Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature': An NYC classic on his birthday". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Lamb, Bill. "About.com's Thriller 25 review". About.com. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  3. ^ Shelter, Scott (June 25, 2014). "The 10 most underrated Michael Jackson songs". AXS. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  4. ^ Johnston, Maura; Reeves, Mosi (August 8, 2017). "The 30 Best '90s R&B Songs – 20. SWV, "Right Here (Human Nature)" (1992)". Spin. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  5. ^ Harvey, Eric (May 19, 2012). "The Quiet Storm". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  6. ^ Baca, Ricardo (June 26, 2009). "Michael Jackson's musical career". The Denver Post.
  7. ^ Steve Porcaro Story Behind Human Nature by Michael Jackson, retrieved June 27, 2023
  8. ^ a b c d "KLCS interview of Steve Porcaro". Youtube. September 3, 2015. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017.
  9. ^ This Song ACCIDENTALLY Made It on “Thriller”. Retrieved April 17, 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
  10. ^ "SWV Right Here (Human Nature)/Downtown Chart History". Billboard.
  11. ^ a b c d e Halstead, p. 144
  12. ^ Knopper, Steve (2015). MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson. Scribner. p. 106. ISBN 978-1-4767-3039-4. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  13. ^ Toto's Steve Porcaro: The Story Behind "Human Nature,' Michael Jackson. September 15, 2020. Archived from the original on November 16, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  14. ^ Thriller 25: The Book. p. 13.
  15. ^ Shannon, Bob; John Javna (1986). Behind The Hits:Inside Stories of Classic Pop and Rock and Roll. New York: Warner Books. p. 14. ISBN 0-446-38171-3.
  16. ^ a b Perry, Shawn. "The Steve Porcaro Interview (2016)". vintagerock.com. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Meeting Steve Porcaro and hearing "Chicago 1945"". July 4, 2014. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  18. ^ Powers, Ann (February 15, 2008). "Nine reasons why Jackson masterpiece remains a 'Thriller'". South Coast Today. Archived from the original on September 30, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  19. ^ a b George, p. 39
  20. ^ Borza, Michael J. (September 7, 1984). "Jacksons captivated JFK Stadium". The Daily Collegian. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  21. ^ "Dutch Singles Chart Archives". dutchcharts.nl. Archived from the original on July 8, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  22. ^ Rockwell, John (December 19, 1982). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller': Superb Job". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  23. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Allmusic's 'Thriller' Review". Allmusic. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  24. ^ "Allmusic's Thriller 25 review". Allmusic. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  25. ^ a b Henderson, Eric (2003). "Slant's 'Thriller' review". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  26. ^ a b "Thriller - The Diamond". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on March 20, 2015. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  27. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (April 11, 2008). "Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition Blender review". Blender. Archived from the original on May 23, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2009.
  28. ^ Gilchrist, Todd. "IGN's Thriller 25 review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  29. ^ Ewing, Tom (April 11, 2008). "Pitchfork Media's Thriller 25 review". Pitchfork Media. Archived from the original on January 13, 2009. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  30. ^ "Michael Jackson biography". MTV. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  31. ^ Sheffield, Rob. "Rolling Stone's Thriller 25 review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 7, 2008. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  32. ^ Gamboa, Glenn (February 12, 2008). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' turns 25". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2009.[dead link]
  33. ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Human Nature" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  34. ^ "The Essential Michael Jackson by Michael Jackson". Apple Music (US). Retrieved October 8, 2020.
  35. ^ a b c d e f g h i Jackson, Michael. Thriller booklet. Sony BMG.
  36. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  37. ^ "Michael Jackson – Human Nature" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  38. ^ "Radio2 top 30: 8 oktober 1983" (in Dutch). Top 30. Archived from the original on March 27, 2016. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  39. ^ "CHART NUMBER 1394 – Saturday, October 01, 1983". Archived from the original on February 13, 2006. Retrieved June 3, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). CHUM. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary - Volume 39, No. 4, Sep 24, 1983". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  41. ^ "Top Singles - Volume 39, No. 5, Oct 01, 1983". RPM. July 17, 2013. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  42. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Michael Jackson" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  43. ^ a b "Michael Jackson – Human Nature" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  44. ^ "Michael Jackson – Human Nature". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  45. ^ "Michael Jackson Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2021.
  46. ^ a b c d "Thriller – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  47. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending SEPTEMBER 24, 1983". Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  48. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Michael Jackson – Human Nature" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  49. ^ "Week Commencing 13th July 2009" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  50. ^ "50 Back Catalogue Singles – 18/07/09" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  51. ^ "Michael Jackson – Human Nature". Tracklisten. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  52. ^ "Classifica settimanale WK 29 (dal 2009-07-13 al 2009-07-19)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  53. ^ "Michael Jackson – Human Nature". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  54. ^ "Michael Jackson – Human Nature". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  55. ^ "Michael Jackson: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 3, 2016.
  56. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1983" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on January 26, 2014. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  57. ^ "The Top Singles of 1983". RPM. December 24, 1983. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  58. ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1983". Longbored Surfer. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  59. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1983". Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2016.
  60. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Michael Jackson – Human Nature". Music Canada. Retrieved April 23, 2024.
  61. ^ "Danish single certifications – Michael Jackson – Human Nature". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 12, 2023.
  62. ^ "Certificaciones" (in Spanish). Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas. Retrieved April 21, 2022. Type Michael Jackson in the box under the ARTISTA column heading and Human Nature in the box under the TÍTULO column heading.
  63. ^ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Human Nature". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  64. ^ "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – Human Nature". Recording Industry Association of America.
  65. ^ It Ain't Hard To Tell vs. Human Nature – Nas feat. Michael Jackson (live at Lovebox 2014, London – fancam) YouTube
  66. ^ Richard Cook (November 6, 2012). "Miles Davis: 'Coltrane was a very greedy man. Bird was, too. He was a big hog' – a classic interview from the vaults". theguardian.com. Retrieved March 4, 2021.

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

Listen to this article (12 minutes)
Spoken Wikipedia icon
This audio file was created from a revision of this article dated 29 June 2023 (2023-06-29), and does not reflect subsequent edits.
(Audio help · More spoken articles)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_Nature_(Michael_Jackson_song)&oldid=1221915840"