Human Nature (Madonna song)

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"Human Nature"
"Human Nature" cover
Single by Madonna
from the album Bedtime Stories
Released June 6, 1995 (Worldwide)
August 10, 1995 (JP)
Format CD single, CD maxi single
Recorded 1994
Genre Pop/R&B
Length 4:51
Label Maverick/Warner Bros. Records
Writer(s) Madonna, Dave Hall, S. McKenzie, K. McKenzie, and M. Deering
Producer(s) Madonna & Dave "Jam" Hall
Chart positions

• #46 (USA)
• #8 (UK)
• #17 (Switzerland)

Madonna singles chronology
"Bedtime Story"
(1995)
"Human Nature"
(1995)
"You'll See"
(1995)

"Human Nature" was the fourth and final single from Madonna's 1994 album Bedtime Stories.

Contents

[edit] Song information

In the song, Madonna talks back to the critics who savaged her in the early 1990s when her Erotica album, Sex book, and Body of Evidence movie came out; she always says it's "a little 'fuck you' to all the up-tight prudes of the world". It contains the angry and confronting line directed towards her critcs : "I'm not your bitch don't hang your shit on me." While effective, the profanity would have caused problems for the song to be played on contemporary radio. The radio edit of the song cut this line out, thus reducing the bite the song otherwise would have had. In the "Chorus Door Slam with Nine Sample" version of the song, a door is literally heard slamming over the word "shit".

The song samples "What You Need" as performed by hip-hop group Main Source.

While "Human Nature" became Madonna's second consecutive single not to enter the top 40, it still was a smash on the dance and club charts.

In the UK the single entered at its #8 peak and free-falled thereafter. The UK single cover was a shot of Madonna from the video, clad in leather and sat on a chair.

[edit] Music Video

Madonna "expressing herself" in "Human Nature"
Enlarge
Madonna "expressing herself" in "Human Nature"

The video, directed by Jean-Baptiste Mondino featured Madonna, her dancers, and her chihuahua, Chiquita, in black leather outfits. The dancing was intercut with brief shots of bondage imagery including a woman in a monoglove strappado. At the end of the video, the music cuts out suddenly and Madonna says "absolutely no regrets" reinforcing her point one last time. The video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards, Best Dance Video and Best Choreography. It is also featured on the video compilation "The Video Collection 93:99".

[edit] Tracklisting and formats

  • UK CD Single
  1. Human Nature (Radio Edit) 4:09
  2. Human Nature (The Human Club Mix) 9:05
  3. Human Nature (Chorus Door Slam With Nine Sample) 4:48
  4. Human Nature (Runaway Club Mix) 8:19
  5. Human Nature (I'm Not Your Bitch) 8:11
  • UK Cassette Single
  1. "Human Nature" (Radio Edit) 4:09
  2. "Human Nature" (Chorus Door Slam With Nine Sample) 4:48
  • UK 12" Single
  1. Human Nature (Human Club Mix) 9:05
  2. Human Nature (The Runaway Club Mix) 8:19
  3. Human Nature (Master With Nine Sample) 4:48
  4. Human Nature (I'm Not Your Bitch) 8:11
  • US Cassette Single
  1. Human Nature (Radio Version) 4:30
  2. Sanctuary ("Remixed by Nellee Hooper") 5:03
  • US Maxi Single
  1. Human Nature (Radio Edit)
  2. Human Nature (Runway Club Mix Radio Edit)
  3. Human Nature (Runway Club Mix)
  4. Human Nature (I'm Not Your Bitch Mix)
  5. Human Nature (Howie Tee Remix)
  6. Human Nature (Howie Tee Clean Remix)
  7. Human Nature (Radio Version)
  8. Human Nature (Bottom Heavy Dub)
  9. Human Nature (Love Is the Nature Mix)

[edit] Remixes

Remixes of Human Nature include mixes by Howie Tee and Danny Tenaglia.

  • Album Version (4:53)
  • Radio Version (4:32)
  • Video Version (4:32)
  • Video Instrumental/Karaoke (4:32)
  • Howie Tee Remix (4:48)
  • Howie Tee Clean Remix (4:48)
  • Human Club Mix (9:06)
  • Radio Edit (4:09)
  • Runaway Club Mix (8:19)
  • Runaway Club Mix Radio Edit (3:59)
  • Love Is The Nature Mix (6:41)
  • I'm Not Your Bitch Mix (8:11)
  • Bottom Heavy Dub (7:57)

[edit] Chart performance

Year Single Chart Position
1995 "Human Nature" UK #8
1995 "Human Nature" Canada #9
1995 "Human Nature" Japan #10
1995 "Human Nature" Billboard Hot 100 #46
1995 "Human Nature" Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #2
1995 "Human Nature" Billboard Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #2
1995 "Human Nature" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks #57
1995 "Human Nature" Billboard Rhythmic Top 40 #19
1995 "Human Nature" Billboard Top 40 Mainstream #30