The Story Behind the Song: Human Nature

[@dmncnlou]

Glad you contributed to my favorite song of all time. To this day I've never heard anything like it!

[@majesuscarrillo9008]

Human Nature is my favourite song for all time!

[@bizzaro1988]

This guy rewrote the verse lyrics and that's it. The whole structure of the song was Steve Porcaro

[@Ricobaca]

Yeah just like ghost busters for i want a new drugs.

[@bizzaro1988]

Some of the verse lyrics.he didn't write the song

[@bizzaro1988]

@SynthMusicFan 501 ok

[@daan5361]

@Cricket Explained Interviewer says: You wrote the song Human Nature, Bettis replies: I did.

[@Dara604]

Thank you John, for helping to write this with Steve Porcaro for my childhood crush, Michael Jackson! It is my favorite song of his from "Thriller." And thanks to Quincy Jones as well!

[@kirkbowe]

To be fair it was a masterstroke that Q brought in John Bettis to finish it up, and that brings the full polish to the song and all credit to John Bettis for that. The song was otherwise fully formed by Toto's Steve Porcaro as its original creator save for the verse lyrics, and maybe this balance doesn't come through in this particular video. Songwriting is such a collaborative process and it's hard for fans to appreciate the level of contribution when there are multiple people involved and credited. Others have linked to a multitude of videos of how Human Nature came into being, but this is probably one of the very few great moments to hear from a legend like John Bettis himself on his involvement in this particular and unforgettable tune.

[@stevenponte6655]

Thank you for writing one of my favourite songs.!!

[@LizNeptune]

It’s my favorite song of all time.. I want to know the story of the lyrics tho.

[@bizzaro1988]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4W0gauQgNJsmrs

[@britturk123]

For me it was the best song on that Album.

[@Nostaljack]

Bettis has some of this wrong (it's been decades; he's forgiven). Steve Porcaro wrote the music and the melody. The demo is on KZbin and you can hear that's the case. There are words to the song (not just "why, why" as Bettis says). The original words were written for Porcaro's daughter who was being bullied at the time and this was his way of offering encouragement. The original lyric is: Looking out, across the blacktop She hopes to be the first in line Teacher shouts "hey, boys, you stop that" I hope he knows she's mine If they say why, why Tell her that it's Human Nature Why, why Do they do it that way...etc. Bettis completely re-wrote the lyric to be more commercial and that's what we have now.

[@MzRedDear]

oh i prefer those lyrics

[@fib455]

Yep this story is correct 👍🏻

[@facksvillain2296]

Might be the coolest Man on the planet!!!!

[@swordsinging1709]

When its meant to be, its meant to be. Absolutely enthralling. Love it! Thank you for sharing this.

[@godcandy108]

Amazing story that I didn't even know about :-) Thank you!

[@louisvega4565]

Nice story for an amazing song

[@Drgroomes]

Amazing story......simply amazing

[@Mo-gg8ts]

Great guy

[@Ploobstill]

great one. Thanks.

[@davidzuniga9362]

Is it me or he took almost all the credits for the song. Steve had written the lyrics for the song that they later got changed in the one sang by Michael. But in all the Toto interviews the version about the song's story is quite different

[@Popeyes1987]

He changed the original verses but Steve Porcaro wrote the music and the chorus and the old verses. Steve and John are credited as songwriters…not sure why he just doesn’t say he co wrote it

[@malimal4972]

My fave song ever !!! Thank you

[@michaelcollums4197]

I believe Mr Bettis is taking a little to much credit on the writing of Human Nature He should be eternally grateful to Steve Porcaro who wrote all the music the bridge and most of the lyrics he got rich off this recording.

[@marlzz8126]

Michael Collums no he’s a lyricist . The Toto guy probably wrote the music

[@paulj.ingram2839]

Richard Rogers was a composer, Oscar Hammerstein was a lyricist. Elton John and Bernie Taupin....need I go on? Steve P’s inspiration was his little girl. But he’ll be the first to say Bettis nailed it.

[@mylesdarnell]

The main structure of the song (the melody, chorus, and music) was indeed written by Steve Porcaro. Here are some interviews of Steve talking about the experience. And, Steve mentions that John Bettis wrote the main verses for the song. It was a great collaboration. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hWmnc3V7pNFsgLc kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6TFnJh8grNlg5o kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4W0gauQgNJsmrs

[@haginz]

Nice story👍

[@skkygavin5791]

Looooovvvvvvvveeeeeeee Michael. Jackson

[@sunnyobawumi8643]

Waoooh, nice to know this, terrific song writer!

[@nancyharabedian7293]

Cool story!

[@davidevans1420]

I have heard a dramatically different story about the origin of this song by Steve Porcaro. I think someone is lying or embellishing this story. This really the genius of Steve Porcaro. Yes you may have contributed a few words but you can't claim to have written this song. You my be a co-writer at best. This really isn't about you, so stop telling this incorrect version of how things went down. Try watching Steve Porcaro's version of how the song materialised and then try again...

[@Popeyes1987]

You can find Steve’s version of how the song was created multiple times on KZbin but this is the only one I can find with John‘s version and I tend to believe Steve’s version of how things happened and he does say in his version that John was brought in to redo the verse lyrics which is what he did so yes they are listed as co-writers on the song but when he said I wrote human nature when asked instead of saying I was the co-writer -I didn’t think that was appropriate. Plus his version of the story makes it sound like Toto was away or on tour but Steve says they were working on the Toto IV album in the studio when the song was created

[@deronwilliams338]

I love human nature.

[@britturk123]

How can you not ask him how he felt about Michael Jacksons version of the song?.

[@anchorpoint3631]

Wow, that guy really had the nerve to keep interrupting whenever John was about to say something interesting

[@Jordansparte]

Thank you to Porcaro for writing this beautiful melody and some lyrics Thank you to John Bettis for polishing the song with thought provoking lyrics that add to the beauty of this track Thank you Quincy for having the musical ear to know a hit when you hear it and know who the best of the best are to collaborate with! And last but certainly not least, thank you Michael for making your own adjustments to the bridge and for having the best voice in music history to sing your ass off with on this gorgeous and timeless track!

[@davidzuniga9362]

The way he speaks is so similar to Steve Porcaro's 😂😂 not much the voice but the way(they did some strange thing when they recorded this😂)

[@threexfromwsg]

Need more views.

[@marlzz8126]

He’s wrote some good songs

[@garydarnellwortham3307]

It’s pretty disingenuous to say you wrote a song that was already written but needed verses. I recommend watching the Steve Porcaro interview on writing this song which is generous to John Bettis’ contribution unlike this ego trio that refers to Human Nature as if it is primarily a Bettis composition, music and lyrics. This level of ego without accuracy is just embarrassing.

[@lenircotia]

And what is actually the meaning and the message of the song? Thank you!

[@garethslough7198]

he wrote some lyrics not even the chorus but yeah you wrote the song

[@vijanrama]

Sorry but this Bart is absolutely irritating… Let the creator tell it from his perspective and experience on what happened - why need to mention Wiki when you have the person who wrote the lyrics right there… The song needed the lyrics to be able to be in the album and Quincy gave the job to John and obviously they were all satisfied with the output… A song is music and lyrics… And Steve himself admitted he’s not much of a lyrics writer in one of his interviews… Let’s give credit to John for writing beautiful lyrics…

[@anchorpoint3631]

The interviewer is a clown

[@mikestevenson576]

I think the interviewer is pretty close to flawless.

[@anchorpoint3631]

@@mikestevenson576 lmao he your lover. i get it.