"Human Nature" is an R&B 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.

"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.

"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]

"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".

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]

"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] 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] Occasional covers have also been performed by Craig David^[36] and Alicia Keys.^[37]