Jump to content

Human Nature (Michael Jackson song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Sprite7868 (talk | contribs) at 23:41, 26 May 2010 (Fixed #1 Spelling Mistake, The song was also released on a 45rpm.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

"Human Nature"
Song
B-side"Baby Be Mine"

"Human Nature" is a song by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was written by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis, and produced by Quincy Jones for the singer's sixth solo album, Thriller (1982). Initially, Porcaro had recorded a rough demo of the song on a cassette, which was then given to Jones. Enjoying the demo, Jones had the ballad included on the Thriller album. The song was the last selected for the album, ousting "Carousel" from the final track listing. It is widely credited as being one of Jackson's most captivating and emotional songs, and has been recognized by many as one of the great song ballads of all time.

"Human Nature" was released on July 3, 1983, as the album's fifth single. Although not released in the UK, the song achieved chart success in the US. 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. In New Zealand the single reached number 11. The ballad garnered many positive reviews from music critics. "Human Nature" has been covered and sampled by numerous artists, including Miles Davis, SWV, Nas, Jason Nevins, Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men.

Background

"Human Nature" was written by Steve Porcaro of Toto and John Bettis for Michael Jackson's Thriller album. Initially, Porcaro recorded a rough demo of the song on a cassette.[1] Fellow Toto band member David Paich then gave the demo, along with two songs written by Paich, to producer Quincy Jones, hoping they would be included on Thriller.[1] Jones didn't like Paich's songs, but enjoyed the rough demo of "Human Nature" at the end of the cassette.[1] Jones explained, "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'".[2] Bettis, who had written lyrics for hits by The Carpenters and The Pointer Sisters, among others, was asked to add lyrics to the song. He completed the song in two days.[3] The producer asked if the song could be included on Jackson's album, to which Porcaro and Bettis agreed.[1] "Human Nature" was the last song selected for Thriller, ousting "Carousel" from the final track listing.[1]

Release and reception

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.[4]

"Human Nature" was released on July 3, 1983, as the fifth single from Thriller.[1] Although not released in the UK, the song achieved moderate chart success in the US.[1] 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.[5][6] "Human Nature" charted at number 27 on the R&B singles chart.[5] In the Netherlands the single reached number 11.[7]

John Rockwell, of The New York Times, stated that "Human Nature" was a "haunting, brooding ballad" with an "irresistible" chorus.[8] Allmusic noted that the "gentle and lovely" "Human Nature" coexisted comfortably with the "tough, scared" "Beat It".[9] They later added that the song was a "soft rocker".[10] 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".[11] The magazine added that the track's "buttery harmonies" were powerful.[11] Stylus also praised the song, describing it as "the smoothest of ballads".[12] They further added that the music "does little to embody the song’s message" and that it couches Jackson's "glazed voice" in "cloudy synths and drum pillows".[12]

"Human Nature"
"Human Nature" was described as "the smoothest of ballads" by Stylus.
Problems playing this file? See media help.

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".[13] Kelefa Sanneh of Blender described the "soft-serve balladry" of the song as a "silk-sheets masterstroke".[14] 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".[15] Tom Ewing, reviewer for Pitchfork Media, described the song as "meltingly tender", with MTV adding that it was an "airy ballad".[16][17] 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.[18] The Los Angeles Times concluded that it was Jackson's delivery that made the "middling ballad" take off.[19]

Charts

Chart (1983) Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 7[5]
U.S. Billboard R&B Singles chart 27[5]
U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary chart 2[20]
Dutch Singles Chart 11[7]
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Danish Singles Chart 39
Swiss Singles Chart 46[21]
UK Singles Chart 62[22]
U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs 21[23]

Cover and sample versions

File:Mayer, John at the Michael Jackson funeral July 7, 2009.jpg
John Mayer playing guitar on "Human Nature" at Jackson's memorial service on July 7, 2009

"Human Nature" was first covered by saxophonist George Howard in his 1984 album Steppin' Out.[24] Miles Davis included a cover version of the song on his album You're Under Arrest in 1985.[25] At the time, Rolling Stone described the track's inclusion on the album as "glorified filler".[26] The Seattle Post-Intelligencer disagreed, stating it was "particularly good".[27] In 1993, "Human Nature" was sampled by R&B group SWV. Entitled "Right Here/Human Nature", the song was a remix of the group's "Right Here".[25][28] "Right Here/Human Nature" reached number one on the R&B singles chart and number two on the Hot 100.[25] In the UK the song charted at number 3.[25] The song was later included on the soundtrack album of Free Willy, alongside Jackson's "Will You Be There".[25] SWV's remix was sampled by Tupac Shakur on "Thug Nature", from the 2001 posthumous album Too Gangsta for Radio.[25]

"Human Nature" was sampled in 1994 for "It Ain't Hard to Tell" by Nas. The cover featured on Nas's Illmatic album.[25][29] Jason Nevins sampled Jackson's track on "I'm in Heaven", which also featured vocals by Holly James.[30] BLACKstreet's "Why, Why" also sampled "Human Nature". The song appeared on the 2003 album Level II.[25][31] In 2004, Boyz II Men included a Latin-style cover of the song on their Throwback, Vol. 1 album.[32][33] Claudette Ortiz provided backing vocals on the track.[25] Nashville singer-songwriter David Mead also recorded a version of "Human Nature" for his 2004 release, Indiana,[25] which featured Butterfly Boucher. Mead later commented, "At a Nashville tribute set theme night, I played Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" and "Human Nature". "Human Nature" was the one that stuck. When I started playing opening slots, it was a way to play something I liked and get people to pay attention."[34] John Mayer performed an instrumental version of the song at Jackson's public memorial service on July 7, 2009.[35]

Personnel

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Halstead, p. 144
  2. ^ Thriller 25: The Book, p. 13
  3. ^ Shannon, Bob (1986). Behind The Hits:Inside Stories of Classic Pop and Rock and Roll. New York: Warner Books. p. 14. ISBN 0-446-38171-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Powers, Ann (February 15, 2008). "Nine reasons why Jackson masterpiece remains a 'Thriller'". South Coast Today. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ a b c d George, p. 39
  6. ^ Borza, Michael J. (September 7, 1984). "Jacksons captivated JFK Stadium". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ a b "Dutch Singles Chart Archives". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  8. ^ Rockwell, John (December 19, 1982). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller': Superb Job". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Allmusic's 'Thriller' Review". Allmusic. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  10. ^ "Allmusic's Thriller 25 review". Allmusic. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  11. ^ a b Henderson, Eric (2003). "Slant's 'Thriller' review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  12. ^ a b "Thriller - The Diamond". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  13. ^ Lamb, Bill. "About.com's Thriller 25 review". About.com. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  14. ^ Sanneh, Kelefa (April 11, 2008). "Thriller - 25th Anniversary Edition Blender review". Blender. Retrieved March 10, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. ^ Gilchrist, Todd. "IGN's Thriller 25 review". IGN. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  16. ^ Ewing, Tom (April 11, 2008). "Pitchfork Media's Thriller 25 review". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
  17. ^ "Michael Jackson biography". MTV. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  18. ^ Sheffield, Rob. "Rolling Stone's Thriller 25 review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ Gamboa, Glenn (February 12, 2008). "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' turns 25". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  20. ^ Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of #1 Adult Contemporary Hits (Billboard Publications), page 269.
  21. ^ "Swiss Singles Chart Archives". hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 18, 2009.
  22. ^ "UK Singles Chart". The Official UK Charts Company. Retrieved 6 July 2009.
  23. ^ "U.S. Billboard Hot Digital Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
  24. ^ "allmusic (( Steppin' Out > Overview )))". Allmusic.com. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2010-03-02.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halstead, p. 145
  26. ^ Davis, Francis (July 4, 1985). "You're Under Arrest review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  27. ^ Hackett, Regina (September 5, 1987). "Miles Davis treats a forgiving crowd to his lean, hard-driving dance music". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  28. ^ "SWV biography". MTV. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  29. ^ Farley, Christopher John (June 20, 1994). "Street stories". Time. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  30. ^ Rivaldo, Joey. "Jason Nevins featuring Holly - I'm in Heaven". About.com. Retrieved June 7, 2009.
  31. ^ Litman, Joseph (March 31, 2003). "Blackstreet - Blackstreet Level II". Michigan Daily. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  32. ^ Harris, Mike (February 11, 2005). "'Throwback' review". PopMatters. Retrieved April 11, 2009.
  33. ^ Spencer, Todd (August 23, 2004). "New CDs: R. Kelly, Earle". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  34. ^ Miller, Sara (August 11, 2009). "Migrant musician Mead hits the 40 Watt". The Red and Black. Retrieved April 11, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  35. ^ Powers, Ann; Martens, Todd (July 7, 2009) "Michael Jackson memorial: John Mayer performs 'Human Nature'". LA Times (accessed 2009-07-08)
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h Jackson, Michael. Thriller booklet. Sony BMG.

References

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_Nature_(Michael_Jackson_song)&oldid=364390273"