Steve Porcaro (keyboardist from the band Toto) co-wrote the song “Human Nature,” which Michael Jackson recorded for his 1982 album Thriller.
Here’s the quick backstory:
• Porcaro originally came up with the music and chorus after a conversation with his young daughter Heather. She came home upset because a boy had hit her at school, and Porcaro told her something like, “He probably likes you—it’s just human nature.” He recorded a rough demo while Toto was mixing their hit “Africa.”
• The demo ended up on a cassette that Toto’s David Paich sent to producer Quincy Jones (who was working on Thriller and had already recruited Porcaro and other Toto members for synth and session work). Jones loved the track, so he brought in lyricist John Bettis to help finish the verses and polish it with Porcaro.
• Official songwriting credits are Steve Porcaro and John Bettis. Michael Jackson did not write or co-write it (though his performance and the production made it iconic).
“Human Nature” became one of the standout ballads on Thriller, with its dreamy synths, smooth groove, and that memorable “Why, why?” hook. Porcaro even played synthesizer on the final recording. It’s a great example of how songs sometimes find their way to the right artist through happy accidents in the studio! If you’re a Toto or MJ fan, Porcaro has shared some fun in-depth stories about the writing and recording process in recent interviews.
