Human Nature (band)

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For other uses, see Human nature (disambiguation).

Human Nature is an Australian boy band and pop vocal group. The group was originally formed as a doo-wop band in 1989 while the current members were at school together in Sydney. So far, the band has had 17 Top 40 hits and five Top 10 hits in Australia since 1996 when their first album Telling Everybody was released. Human Nature's 3 follow-up albums all went multi-platinum in Australia. The band has also enjoyed some chart success internationally.

1 The 4Trax - Early Career
2 Human Nature - Chart Success
3 Band members
4 Discography
5 External links

[edit] The 4Trax - Early Career

Brothers Andrew and Michael Tierney joined with Toby Allen and Phil Burton in 1989 while at Hurlstone Agricultural High School representing their school in a talent contest at the Campbelltown Catholic Club. The quartet were known as the 4Trax, a name that they retained until they began their recording career. The band performed "Earth Angel" a 1950s hit for The Penguins.

After an initial stint as buskers, Human Nature started performing in clubs and built up a following winning several awards as club entertainers. They started sending demos off to record labels. The story goes that the band was signed to Sony Music Australia after performing "People Get Ready" written by Curtis Mayfield as a hit for his group The Impressions. The band changed their name to Human Nature at a suggestion from Michael Tierney.

[edit] Human Nature - Chart Success

Human Nature released its first album Telling Everybody in 1997 which went on to sell enough records to earn three platinum records. The first single from the album was "Got It Goin On" which established the bands success with "Telling Everybody", "Wishes", "Don't Say Goodbye", "Whisper Your Name", and "People Get Ready" also released as singles. The group also helped build their reputation by working as support acts for Michael Jackson and Céline Dion.

The band teamed up with John Farnham for "Everytime You Cry" which was one of the biggest hits of 1997. Human Nature also appeared in an arena tour for Happy Days and in an Australian concert tour of Beatles songs conducted by Sir George Martin.

Counting Down released in 1999 continued the band's momentum, and debuted at number one on the ARIA charts and generated five gold singles in Australia - "Last To Know", "Don't Cry", "Cruel", "Be There With You" and "Eternal Flame" a cover version of the 1989 hit by the Bangles. The band also performed the Australian National Anthem at the 2000 Summer Olympics with Julie Anthony.

The band released a self-titled album in 2000 with lead single "He Don't Love You" reaching Top 20 in the UK and being the tenth best selling Australasian single in Australia for that year. The single "Always Be With You", from their greatest hits album "Here & Now: The Best of Human Nature" also made the Australian top 30, with the video featuring Guido Hatzis, breakdancing legend, making the video memorable. This single was recorded in London, Stockholm and New York and featured a songwriting session with Gary Barlow, formerly of Take That. Here & Now: The Best of Human Nature followed in late 2001.

Human Nature's fifth album Walk The Tightrope was released on April 26, 2004. The first single "When You Say You Love Me" was written by Darren Hayes, formerly of Savage Garden, and it reached the Top 10 in Australia in 2004. The album also features "Love Is Blind" written by Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees and a cover version of "To Be With You", a 1992 hit by hair metal band Mr. Big.

Human Nature came back with their sixth album Reach Out: The Motown Record on 6 November 2005. It has peaked at number one and has reached 5 times platinum. They toured extensively around Australia in 2006 on The Motown Show tour and members Phil Burton and Toby Allen both starred in reality TV shows during 2005/06. Phil in the Nine Network's Celebrity Overhaul 2 and Toby on Channel 7's Dancing With The Stars - plus both Phil and Toby on Channel 10's Australia's Brainiest Musician in March 2006.

On 29 October 2006, Human Nature won their first ARIA - highest selling album - after 15 nominations. Toby Allen also confirmed his sexuality by thanking his long-time partner and saying "I love you, Darren". Although it was widely known that Toby was gay this was the first public acknowledgment of his sexuality.

The quartet's sixth studio album Dancing In The Street: The Songs Of Motown II was released on October 13, 2006 with 14 Motown cover songs, after the initial 'Motown' album sold over 350,000 copies and won the highest selling album ARIA award.

Human Nature's future remains in doubt; they are likely to release a third Motown album. Ever since their Motown revival they have been threatened by the Young Divas, who have covered some disco songs, such as This Time I Know It's For Real, Let's Hear It For the Boy and It's Raining Men.