Human Nature

"Human Nature" is a song on Michael Jackson's 1982 hit album Thriller. Written by Steve Porcaro of Toto and John Bettis in 1981, the song is about a young man who questions how he is treated by one part or all of society in general. On the special edition of Thriller, Quincy Jones' explains how members of Toto had handed a tape of three samples which Michael and Quincy listened to. The first few samples were not entirely to their liking, or they did not think that they should be included in Thriller. By accident however, the tape was left running, and out the sudden came "Why, why" and the tune played to the line "Tell 'em that it's human nature". Jones also mentions that he "still gets goosebumps by talking about it". Both agreed that this should be used in the album, replacing the track Carousel. It was at this point therefore, that Jones contacted Bettis to help write the lyrics to the song.

In 1983, "Human Nature" peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would also peak at #27 in the Black Singles charts and reach #2 on the Adult Contemporary charts. Despite not having had a music video produced for the song, given MTV's influence on sales for the Thriller album, it remains a hit for many of Jackson's listeners and fans due to the soft nature of the song and its lyrical content.

Whilst talking about his Thriller album in his book "Moonwalk", Jackson mentions that Human Nature is "music with wings". He also says that people asked him about 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". Jackson and "Q" (Quincy Jones) both believed that Human Nature had the prettiest melody that they had heard by far.

"Human Nature" was also part of the set list for Jackson's tours from his Victory Tour in 1984 to his Dangerous tour during 1992-1993. The song was not used during Jackson's HIStory tour, but did a one-off performance in his 1996 Royal Brunei concert.

The song was used as part of a video montage of his greatest hits for his 1988 motion picture Moonwalker. Because there was never a video produced for the song, footage created instead is animated in very pale colors and shows Michael wandering through the streets.

Credits

• Written and composed by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis
• Synthesizer and synthesizer programming: David Paich
• Guitar: Steve Lukather
• Drums: Jeff Porcaro
• Percussion: Paulinho Da Costa
• Emulator: Michael Boddicker
• Arrangement by David Paich, Steve Porcaro and Steve Lukather

Lyrics

1st verse
Looking out
Across the night-time
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs
2nd verse
Get me out
Into the night-time
Four walls wont hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite

Chorus
If they say -
Why, why, tell em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say -
Why, why, tell em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way

3rd verse
Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are evrywhere
See that girl
She knows Im watching
She likes the way I stare

Chorus
If they say -
Why, why, tell em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say -
Why, why, tell em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin this way
I like lovin this way
(instrumental section)
4th verse
Looking out
Across the morning
The citys heart begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
Im dreaming of the street

Chorus
If they say -
Why, why, tell em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say -
Why, why, tell em that is human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
I like livin this way