Human Nature (band)


Human Nature are an Australian pop vocal group which formed in 1989. They are a quartet featuring Toby Allen, Phil Burton and brothers, Andrew and Mike Tierney. Originally they were established as a doo-wop group called the 4 Trax, when the members were schoolmates.
After signing with Sony Music as Human Nature, they released their debut album, Telling Everybody, in 1996. Four of their albums have reached number one on the ARIA Albums Charts, Counting Down, Reach Out: The Motown Record, Dancing in the Street: The Songs of Motown II and Gimme Some Lovin': Jukebox Vol II. Three other albums reached number two, Get Ready, Jukebox, and Romance of the Jukebox.
Their top 10 hits on the related ARIA Singles Chart are "Wishes", "Don't Say Goodbye", "Everytime You Cry", "Don't Cry", "Eternal Flame", "He Don't Love You" and "When You Say You Love Me". Three of their albums received multi-platinum certification from ARIA, while four others have received platinum, with a total shipment of over 1.6 million records in Australia, as of April 2011.
The group have toured both nationally and internationally including as a support act for Celine Dion on her Falling Into You Around the World Tour and Let's Talk About Love World Tour. They also opened for Michael Jackson on the HIStory World Tour. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2006 they won Highest Selling Album for Reach Out: The Motown Record. In May 2009 they began a residency performing a Motown-themed show on the Las Vegas Strip and in April 2014 they completed their 1000th show. In November 2019 Human Nature were inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

History

Early career: The 4 Trax

Human Nature started as the 4 Trax in Sydney in late 1989 when Toby Allen and Phil Burton joined with brothers Andrew Tierney and Michael Tierney. They represented Hurlstone Agricultural High School as well as a public school in Sydneys west, in a combined regional schools concert, the at the Bankstown Town Hall, on 27 November 1989. This event is still held annually featuring around 6000 NSW Public School students. All four members had choir backgrounds and were inspired by groups from the Motown era, including the Four Tops. In Bankstown, they had sung The Penguins' hit "Earth Angel". Andrew later told Megan Riggs of What's on Highway Radio that it was the only song they knew and they were encouraged to listen to more Motown groups.
After the elder three members had finished high school, Allen worked as a perfume salesman and studied courses in accounting and geology; Andrew studied physiotherapy for two years; and Burton was studying to be a music teacher. Mike, the youngest member of the group, was doing his Higher School Certificate in his final year of secondary school. The 4 Trax initially gave street performances in the doo-wop style, and after winning some talent quests, they began singing professionally in clubs and built a following. The group sent demo recordings to record labels. On a visit to Sony CEO, Denis Handlin, they performed an a cappella version of "People Get Ready", and landed a contract.
By 1995 the group felt the 4 Trax name was dated, so they brainstormed, thinking of alternatives: Mike suggested Human Nature. Allen said, "At first we thought it was probably a bit obvious, because it's such a well-used term, but then the more we lived with that we realized that it suited us. We were singing a cappella at the time, and it represented what we were about: Singing was our human nature."

''Telling Everybody'' album (1996–1997)

On 1 March 1996 Human Nature released their first single, "Got It Goin' On", which reached No. 19 on the ARIA Singles Chart. It was co-written by the Tierney brothers with their producer, Paul Begaud. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1996 they received their first nomination, for Best Talent for "Got It Goin' On". In July 1996, they followed up with "Tellin' Everybody", again written by Andrew Tierney, Michael Tierney and producer Paul Begaud, which reached the top 30. The third single, "Wishes", peaked at No. 6 and gave them their first platinum certification from ARIA. "Wishes" was co-written by Alan Glass with its producer, Andrew Klippel.
They had opened for Celine Dion on the Australian leg of her Falling Into You Around the World Tour in March 1996. They were a support act for the tour's European leg: visiting Ireland, England, France, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland in June 1997. They opened for her next world tour, Let's Talk About Love, in 1998, at the concerts in South Korea and Japan.
On 2 December 1996, Human Nature released their debut album, Telling Everybody, which reached No. 7 on the ARIA Albums Chart and remained in the top 50 for 64 weeks. It also reached the top 100 on both the German and the Japanese Albums Charts. Eight of its twelve tracks were produced by Paul Begaud and the other four by Klippel. According to Australian musicologist, Ian McFarlane, it "brimmed with silky smooth dance-pop and blue-eyed soul." On the ARIA End of Year Albums Chart it reached No. 11. Christie Eliezer of Billboard listed the album at number 9 in his top 10 for the year, declaring that it had "Stunning R&B vocals." He opined that outside Australia the group's "three strongest markets outside are Japan, Germany and Taiwan."
Human Nature received attention from Sony label mate, Michael Jackson. Mike Tierney told G Mintern of The Times in November, "Well its totally amazing, and a real coup for us and a great opportunity to showcase our music to a large number of people." They continued opening for Jackson on the European leg through early 1997. They sang at venues numbering over 100,000 people, and at Wembley Stadium for three nights. In an interview in July 2009 with Radar Online's reporter, Andrew described touring with Jackson: " was an incredible break for us... We learned so much from seeing him perform that many times and experienced things that have shaped us into the entertainers we are today. He was the ultimate artist and so inspiring." In April and May 1997 they toured United Kingdom supporting local girl group Eternal. In June 1998 they issued a VHS, Human Nature – Telling Everybody... The Story, produced and directed by Ross Wood, which contained footage of their European and Japanese 1997 tours supporting Dion, Jackson and Eternal.
Additional singles from Telling Everybody are "Don't Say Goodbye", "Whisper Your Name" and produced by Begaud., and "People Get Ready". The album achieved triple-platinum status in 1997. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1997 they received nominations for Best Pop Release and Producer of the Year for "Telling Everybody", Highest Selling Single for both "Don't Say Goodbye" and "Wishes", and Breakthrough Artist – Album for Telling Everybody. At the ceremony, in September, they debuted their single, "Everytime You Cry", which was a duet with John Farnham. In the following month Human Nature undertook their own national concert tour.

''Counting Down'' album (1998–1999)

Human Nature and Farnham's duet single, "Every Time You Cry", peaked at No. 3 and stayed for 15 weeks in the ARIA top 50. The group received a nomination at the ARIA Music Awards of 1998 for Producer of the Year for Paul Begaud's work on "Whisper Your Name" and another for Highest Selling Single for "Every Time You Cry". They later performed with Farnham on his I Can't Believe He's 50 Tour in April–May 1999. In December 1998 they supported Janet Jackson's tour of Australia.
Their second album, Counting Down, was released on 25 May 1999, which consists of sessions recorded in Sydney, London, and Los Angeles, and used the production team from the first album, along with international songwriters and producers. It debuted at Number One on the ARIA charts, remained in the top 50 for 26 weeks and was certified platinum by the end of the following year. McFarlane described it as "smooth R&B pop". Eliezer declared that its number-one status "sent the right signal to other territories about the vocal quartet."
"Every Time You Cry" was included on the album and five other singles charted in the ARIA top 40: "Cruel", "Don't Cry", "Eternal Flame" – a cover version of the 1989 hit by The Bangles – and "Be There with You", the later was again written by the Tierney brothers and Paul Begaud and produced by Begaud. Andrew and Michael co-wrote "She's Taken My Words" – the B-side for "Last to Know" – which was used as the theme song for Australian feature film, Paperback Hero. Human Nature were the first Australian group, and as of October 2007, the only one to have six top 40 hits from the one album. All except "Be There with You" received gold certification in Australia.
Human Nature went on an Australian concert tour of symphonic versions of Beatles' songs, conducted by George Martin. In October 1999 they had roles in a stage version of Happy Days: The Arena Mega-Musical, playing a 1950s vocal group, the Naturals. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1999 they were nominated for Best Pop Release for Counting Down; Producer of the Year for "Now That I Found You", "Depend on Me", "Last to Know", "Be There with You"; and Highest Selling Single for "Last to Know".

Self-titled and greatest hits albums (2000–2003)

Human Nature's third album was eponymously titled and released on 1 December 2000. It was recorded in Sydney, London, Stockholm, Los Angeles and New York. It included "It's Gonna Be a Long Night" which was co-written by the Tierney brothers with Gary Barlow of Take That. Its lead single, "He Don't Love You", reached the Top 20 in the UK Singles Chart and No. 7 in Australia to become the second best selling Australasian single for that year. Tim Cashmere of Undercover Media described their "clean cut image that appeals to teens with full parental approval."
On 15 September Human Nature performed the Australian National Anthem at the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Summer Olympics with singer Julie Anthony and musician James Morrison. In November they made a guest appearance on the Australian TV soap opera, Neighbours, where they sang "He Don't Love You" at Erinsborough High's debutante ball, and "Wishes" a cappella at the ball's after party.
On 16 November 2001 Human Nature released their first greatest hits album, Here & Now: The Best of Human Nature, featuring 17 tracks, three of which had not been on previous albums. It reached No. 11 on the ARIA Albums Chart. Their single, "Always Be With You", peaked in the top 30. Its related music video featured a comic character, Guido Hatzis. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2001 "He Don't Love You" was nominated for Highest Selling Single and Best Video.
From August 2002 to early 2003 Allen portrayed the Emcee in a production of the musical, Cabaret. He used temporary tattoos and dyed black hair; in a stark contrast to the "clean-cut" image associated with the group. Jo Roberts of The Age described how "he prowls around the stage like a wild animal on heat; muscular, handsome and lascivious with dyed black hair, tattoos and androgynous, wet, red lips. He's an eye magnet, whether centre stage or lurking in the shadows with an expression of wicked intent." Allen won a Helpmann Award for his performance. For the duration of the musical play's run Human Nature were in hiatus. On 25 June 2003 the group sang the national anthem at Game 2 of the Rugby League State of Origin match at Stadium Australia.