Human Nature Lyrics – MJ, The Musical

Song Overview

“Human Nature,” as performed by Myles Frost & Whitney Bashor on the MJ the Musical – Original Broadway Cast Recording, recasts Michael Jackson’s 1983 ballad into a stirring theatrical showcase, blending intimate wonder with sweeping orchestration.

At its core, the song turns city streets into a stage, its lyrics and melody evoking the pull of midnight adventure and the irresistible curiosity that defines us.

Personal Review

This version of “Human Nature” shimmers with nocturnal magic, the duet’s gentle back-and-forth layering voices over orchestral swells, conjuring images of street lamps and shadows.

With Myles’s breathy lead and Whitney’s soaring harmonies, the track moves from hushed introspection to triumphant chorus, capturing the song’s timeless allure.

Song Meaning and Annotations

Originally penned by Toto’s Steve Porcaro and lyricist John Bettis for Jackson’s groundbreaking Thriller, the song’s verses arose from a father’s attempt to console his daughter—“he probably likes you and it’s human nature”—before Quincy Jones re-envisioned it for the album.

In the musical, orchestrators David Holcenberg and Jason Michael Webb recast the demo’s synthesizer shimmer into a lush concerto of strings and piano, trading the original’s drum machine for live percussion and brass flourishes.

Frost’s opening lines—

Looking out across the nighttime / The city winks a sleepless eye

The imagery evolves naturally: “sweet seducing sighs” personify the breeze itself, while the apple metaphor—

If this town is just an apple / Then let me take a bite

The chorus—

If they say why, why / Tell them that it’s human nature

Verse two’s “electric eyes” shift the scene to a crowded street, where every glance and camera flash fuels the narrator’s thrill of connection.

Ultimately, the duet’s outro—

I like livin’ this way / Why? Oh, why?

Verse Highlights

Verse 1

The narrator’s soft vocals and delicate piano set an intimate scene of nighttime temptation, each line a step closer to a clandestine urban odyssey.

Chorus

If they say why, why / Tell them that it's human nature

This refrain, with its rising melody and whispered “why,” cements the song’s core idea into an unforgettable earworm.

Song Credits

• Featuring: Myles Frost & Whitney Bashor
• Producer: David Holcenberg; Jason Michael Web b; Derik Lee; Lia Vollack; John Branca; John McClain
• Composer & Lyricist: Steve Porcaro & John Bettis
• Release Date: July 15, 2022
• Genre: R&B; soul; Disco; Pop
• Instruments: Keyboards; flute; clarinet; alto sax; tenor sax; bari sax; trumpet; flugelhorn
• Label: Sony Music
• Mood: Dreamy; introspective; nocturnal; yearning
• Length: 2:34
• Track #: 16
• Language: English
• Album: MJ the Musical – Original Broadway Cast Recording
• Music style: R&B-inflected Broadway ballad with orchestral arrangement
• Poetic meter: Mixed iambic tetrameter with anapestic flourishes
• Copyrights: © 1983 Epic Records; ? 2022 Sony Music Entertainment

Songs Exploring Themes of Urban Yearning

“Downtown” (1964) by Petula Clark invites listeners to escape to the city’s neon embrace, offering solace and excitement in equal measure. Tony Hatch’s crisp pop arrangement underscores the promise of renewal beyond familiar confines, while Clark’s confident vocals transform loneliness into liberation. Its lyrics—

When you’re alone and life is making you lonely / You can always go downtown

“Stranger in Moscow” (1996) by Michael Jackson unfolds as a dreamy R&B ballad set against frost-bitten city streets, its slow 65 bpm tempo mirroring the narrator’s isolation. Jackson’s sparse beat and haunting piano evoke the hush of a winter night, while lyrics like

Stranger in Moscow, the frozen world tonight

“Midnight City” (2011) by M83 captures the electric pulse of after-hours wanderers through driving synth lines and a soaring saxophone hook. Anthony Gonzalez’s breathy vocals drift over a thundering beat, turning the metropolis into a playground of possibility. Its lyrics—

The city is my church

Questions and Answers

When was “Human Nature” first released and by whom?

The original single by Michael Jackson was released on July 4, 1983, as the fifth single from his album Thriller.

Who wrote “Human Nature”?

It was written by Steve Porcaro and John Bettis.

How does the Broadway version differ from Jackson’s original?

The musical expands the synth-pop ballad into a full orchestral showpiece, arranged by Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, replacing electronic drums with live percussion and adding rich string textures.

What is the dramatic context of “Human Nature” in the musical?

Appearing in Act II of MJ the Musical, it serves as Michael’s introspective solo, offering a rare moment of vulnerability amid the show’s high-energy dance numbers.

What vocal techniques are essential for this song?

Singers should employ smooth legato in the verses, agile breath control for the whispered “why” motifs, and a gentle falsetto in the chorus, with supported belt on climactic lines like “take a bite.”

Awards and Chart Positions

Jackson’s original single soared to number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Adult Contemporary chart in 1983, later earning Platinum certification from the RIAA.

The MJ the Musical cast recording was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album in 2023.

The Broadway production itself received ten Tony Award nominations in 2022, winning four, including Best Actor in a Musical for Myles Frost, Best Choreography, Best Lighting Design and Best Sound Design.

How to Sing?

Approach it at a moderate tempo to allow lyrical nuance. Use a smooth, breathy legato for the verses and agile breath support for the whispered “why”s; transition into soft head voice for the chorus’s falsetto moments. Belt gently on phrases like “let me take a bite,” and pause for dramatic effect before the final “why?” to heighten theatrical impact.