Human Nature (Gary Clail On-U Sound System song)

"Human Nature" peaked at number ten on the UK Singles Chart,{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26333/gary-clail-on-u-sound-system/|title=Gary Clail On-U Sound System|publisher=Official Charts Company|accessdate=25 April 2017}} and number three on the Music Week UK Dance Singles chart. It also reached number 27 in Ireland{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/hUQqRQs.jpg|title=Gary Clail On-U Sound System|publisher=imgur.com|accessdate=25 April 2017}} and number 69 in the Netherlands.{{cite web|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Gary+Clail+%2F+On-U+Sound+System|title=Gary Clail On-U Sound System|publisher=dutchcharts.nl|accessdate=25 April 2017}} On the Eurochart Hot 100, the single peaked at number 29 in April 1991. Outside Europe, it peaked at number 38 in Australia.{{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Gary+Clail+%2F+On-U+Sound+System|title=Gary Clail On-U Sound System|publisher=australian-charts.com|accessdate=25 April 2017}}

Andrew Smith from Melody Maker named 'Human Nature' Single of the Week, writing, "The surprise is that this is, in essence, a house groove fed through the On-U blender and wrapped raucously round a sample of Martin Luther King declaring: "There's something wrong with human nature..." It's a big, vibrant linear thing, which kicks like a 12-gauge and locks onto its ultimately enthralling climax from the first, like a modern day 'Bolero' (only, of course, much less dull)."{{cite magazine|first=Andrew|last=Smith|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/52302672263/|title=Singles|work=Melody Maker|date=2 March 1991|page=36|access-date=5 April 2023}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media complimented it as an "outstanding" song from the Emotional Hooligan album.{{cite magazine|title= Spotlight: Gary Clail |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 8 |issue= 17 |date= 27 April 1991 |page= 13 |accessdate= 20 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-04-27.pdf}} James Hamilton from Music Week called it a "bassily chugging angry roller".{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-03-23.pdf |title= Dance |magazine= Music Week |date= 23 March 1991 |page= 14 |accessdate= 3 October 2020 |author-link= James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}}

James Brown from NME described it as "another electrifying club track that brings the old On-U Sound up to date and bullies the social conscience with its words. Boxheads will recognize its staple technique as being the Snub signature tune, but of course there's more. Comic strip-per Lana Pellay adds a Bacchanalian chorus call, and Sherwood and Oakenfold do the business at the controls. Light, tight, and destined to beat up the charts. The man has presence."{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Brown|url=https://archivedmusicpress.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/singles-page-reviewed-by-james-brown-23rd-march-1991.jpg|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=23 March 1991|accessdate=6 March 2020}} Record Mirror also named it Single of the Week. An editor, Jack Barron, wrote, "With all the momentum of a nailbomb explosion in the privates, Gary Clail spins once more into orbit riding on the back of a stellar keyboard riff, which you'll instantly recognise as the theme tune to Snub TV". He added, "As a purely physical club experience, 'Human Nature' is like strapping yourself to a roller-coaster that suddenly leaves the rails."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/51315804760/in/album-72157719551939781/lightbox/|first=Jack|last=Barron|title=Singles|work=Record Mirror|date=23 March 1991|page=14|accessdate=10 August 2021}}

In 2017, Australian Double J ranked "Human Nature" number six in their list of "The 50 Most Overlooked Songs of the 90s". Myf Warhurst wrote, "Francis Leach got me hooked on Gary Clail and the On-U Sound System. I recorded a live set he presented on triple j (on cassette of course) and played this song on repeat in my car until the tape broke. I was at that point in life when I was wide eyed and eager to learn about club culture, its many fascinating inhabitants and the hedonistic lifestyle that came with it. It also was my gateway drug to the burgeoning Bristol scene and its pulsating beat still speaks to me of those heady days (and nights)."{{cite web|first=Myf|last=Warhurst|title=The 50 most overlooked songs of the 90s|url=https://www.abc.net.au/listen/doublej/music-reads/features/the-50-most-overlooked-songs-of-the-90s/10267924|publisher=Double J|date=10 June 2017|access-date=4 March 2025|author-link=Myf Warhurst}}

• 7" single, UK & Europe (1991)

1. "Human Nature" (On the Mix Edit)
2. "Human Nature" (Why Is It? Mix)

• 12" single, Europe (1991)

1. "Human Nature" (On the Mix) — 6:18
2. "Rumours" — 4:40

• CD single, UK & Europe (1991)

1. "Human Nature" (On the Mix Edit) — 3:40
2. "Human Nature" (On the Mix) — 6:18
3. "Rumours" — 4:40

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Category:1991 singles

Category:1991 songs

Category:Perfecto Records singles

Category:Electro songs

Category:English house music songs

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