Abstract: In this month’s MJ Studies Today column, Kerry Hennigan looks at the song “Human Nature” in light of the recently released short film and the song’s appearance in the Michael biopic where it is featured in a recreation of the Jacksons’ Victory Tour. Originally conceived by Steve Porcaro, with additional lyrics by John Bettis, “Human Nature” was the fifth single released from Jackson’s Thriller album and a song that remains a fan favourite.
Column by Kerry Hennigan, editor of the free monthly newsletter A Candle for Michael, administrator of the fan group “Michael Jackson’s Short Film Ghosts” on Facebook, and an MJ blogger on WordPress. Kerry holds Certificates in the Archaeology of the Ancient World and the Archaeology of Ancient Britain from Cambridge University’s Professional and Continuing Education unit and is passionate about Viking longships.
REFERENCE AS:
Hennigan, Kerry. “MJ Studies Today CXXV: ‘Sweet seducing sighs.’ The life cycle of the classic Michael Jackson hit ‘Human Nature.’” (14-05-2026). The Journal of Michael Jackson Academic Studies Vol 12, No. 4 (2026). https://michaeljacksonstudies.org/mj-studies-today-cxxv/
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“Sweet seducing sighs.” The life cycle of the classic Michael Jackson hit “Human Nature.” By Kerry Hennigan
Photo collage © Kerry Hennigan
In mid-April 2026, amid a surge of publicity surrounding the release of the Lionsgate Michael Jackson biopic Michael, starring Jaafar Jackson as his uncle, another event almost slipped under the radar. Fortunately, little happens in the world of Michael Jackson’s legacy without his fans quickly becoming aware of it. In this instance it was a new short film for Jackson’s 1984 single, “Human Nature.”
Footage of Jackson performing the song on his tours for the Bad and Dangerous albums has been available on DVD and the internet for years, but “Human Nature” has now been given a fresh lease on life with this new video clip. As with other posthumously released tracks, the footage includes historic images of Michael alongside newly shot footage: a visual collage of past and present that flows with the music.
“Human Nature” is a fitting choice for a belated short film. It remains a much-loved track from Jackson’s 1982 album Thriller, itself a central focus of the Michael biopic. Released as a single in 1983, it was the fifth track to be drawn from the album, which would go on—within a year—to become the best-selling album of all time, a title it still holds. Unlike several of the album’s other hits, “Human Nature” was not written by Jackson, nor by Rod Temperton, who penned the album’s title track (along with “The Lady in My Life” and “Baby Be Mine”), and had contributed extensively to Jackson’s previous album, Off the Wall.
Instead, the song originated with Steve Porcaro, keyboardist for the band Toto. In his 1988 autobiography Moonwalk, Jackson recalled Porcaro bringing his Toto band mates with him to the Thriller album sessions. “They had been well known as individual session musicians before they came together as a group,” he explained. “Because of their experience, they knew both sides of studio work, when to be independent, and when to be cooperative and follow the producer’s lead.” [1]
Porcaro had developed the basic track for “Human Nature” without Jackson in mind. Prompted by an experience his daughter had had at school in relation to the behaviour of boys, as Porcaro later recounted, he’d written it in the studio as Toto were working on what would become their biggest hit, “Africa.” Toto chose not to record “Human Nature” themselves as they preferred an arena rock style song. [2] Fortunately, Jackson’s producer Quincy Jones heard potential in Porcaro’s demo and brought in songwriter John Bettis to complete the lyrics. [3]
“Human Nature” had the prettiest melody that Jackson and Jones had heard in a long time. Michael referred to it as “music with wings.” He also explained that, despite what some people might think, the song lyrics don’t necessarily have personal significance for the singer. “It is important to reach people, to move them,” he explained in Moonwalk. “Sometimes one can do this with the mosaic of the music melody arrangement and the lyrics, sometimes it is the intellectual content of the lyrics.” [4]
The song clearly resonated with audiences. “Human Nature” became a staple of Jackson’s live performances, including his final tour with his brothers, the Jacksons’ Victory Tour (a performance beautifully recreated in the Michael biopic), as well as on his solo Bad and Dangerous tours. He later performed it at the Royal Brunei command performance in 1996, and was rehearsing it in 2009, just prior to his death, for his planned This Is It London residency. The song subsequently featured in the rehearsal footage compiled for the documentary feature film Michael Jackson’s This Is It.
The decision to create a new short film nearly seventeen years after Jackson’s passing can be seen as a tribute not only to the artist who made the song famous, but also to those who contributed to its creation and enduring appeal. Notably, Toto themselves eventually performed a shortened version of “Human Nature” on their 2019 live album 40 Tours Around the Sun (Live), bringing the song’s journey full circle. [5]
Kerry Hennigan
14 May 2026
Sources:
[1] Jackson, Michael. Moonwalk. Arrow paperback edition 2010, page 195.
[2] Rock History Music. “Toto’s Steve Porcaro: The Story Behind ‘Human Nature,’ Michael Jackson.” Interview on YouTube uploaded Sep 16, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Lc9NYHdNw
[3] Tennessean. “The Story Behind the Song ‘Human Nature.’” Interview with John Bettis on YouTube uploaded Oct 4, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vox_iV-EqU
[4] Jackson, Moonwalk, page 197.
[5] Discogs. “Toto. 40 Tours Around the Sun.2019” accessed 14 May 2026 at https://www.discogs.com/master/1498210-Toto-40-Tours-Around-The-Sun
Illustration: “human nature…” photographic collage compiled by Kerry Hennigan and edited with PhotoScape X Pro software. No infringement of original copyright is intended in this not-for-profit, educational exercise.