Human Nature

While often mistaken for a standalone release, Human Nature serves as the fifth track on Michael Jackson's sixth solo album, Thriller. This record arrived on November 30, 1982, through Epic Records and quickly became the best-selling album of all time with over 70 million copies sold globally. The song itself emerged from an instrumental demo titled What Goes On created by Toto keyboardist Steve Porcaro and lyricist David Foster. Producer Quincy Jones felt the track needed words and brought in John Bettis to craft lyrics about a lonely man walking through New York City at night after seeing someone gazing into a department store window.

Jackson replaced the original song Carousel during the final recording stages to include this new composition. Released as a single in July 1983, it climbed to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top ten in Canada and the UK. The track features a distinctive synth bassline and jazz-influenced instrumentation that contrasts with the high-energy dance beats found elsewhere on the album. Critics have long praised its sophisticated production and ability to capture a sense of wide-eyed wonder. [edit]