The band teamed up with John Farnham for "Everytime You Cry" which was one of the biggest hits of 1997, and due to the success of the previous tours, were asked personally by both Celine Dion and Michael Jackson to continue to support them throughout their European tours in June-September 1997. The band played to crowds often numbering over 100,000 people, and they also took the stage for three nights at Wembley Stadium. Upon their return to Australia in October, Human Nature embarked on their first ever national concert tour- headlining at entertainment centres around the country.
'Counting Down' released in 1998 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 appeared in an Australian concert tour of symphonic versions of Beatles songs conducted by legendary producer and "fifth Beatle", Sir George Martin.
In 1999, Human Nature appeared in a tour of the musical version of the television series Happy Days.
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 2nd best selling Australasian single in Australia for that year. The album was recorded in Sydney, London, Stockholm, Los Angeles and New York and featured a songwriting session with Gary Barlow of Take That.
In September 2000 the band performed the Australian National Anthem at the 2000 Summer Olympics with Julie Anthony. The band also appeared in Australian soap opera Neighbours in November 2000 and performed "He Don't Love You" at Erinsborough High's debutant ball and sang "Wishes" a cappella at the ball's after party.
A greatest hits album- Here & Now: The Best of Human Nature- followed in late 2001. The accompanying single "Always Be With You" also made the Australian top 30, with the appearance of comic character Guido Hatzis, breakdancing legend, making the video memorable.
Throughout 2002 and into early 2003, Toby took on the role of MC in a major production of the musical Cabaret. This portrayal earned him a prestigious Helpmann Award.
Human Nature's fourth studio album Walk the Tightrope was released on 26 April 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, a reworked cover of Guilty by Barry Gibb and Barbra Streisand, and a cover version of "To Be With You", a 1992 hit by glam metal band Mr. Big.
Mid-2005 saw Toby again hit the musical theatre scene, playing Kenickie in an arena version of the musical Grease.
With the realisation that they were perhaps outgrowing their original teen market, for their fifth studio album Human Nature decided to pay tribute to the music that influenced them from the very beginning, and released an album of Motown covers- Reach Out: The Motown Record- on 6 November 2005. It peaked at number one on the Australian charts 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 (Phil came in first, and Toby came in second).
On 29 October 2006, Human Nature won their first ARIA - highest selling album - after 15 nominations; band member Andrew Tierney joked saying they were the "John Wood" of the ARIAs.
The quartet's sixth studio album Dancing In The Street: The Songs Of Motown II was released on 13 October 2006 and debuted at number one, with 14 Motown cover songs, after the initial 'Motown' album sold over 350,000 copies and won the highest selling album ARIA award.
They toured Australia with Doug Parkinson as the MC for the Motown Tour 2005/06 and the Encore Motown Tour 2006, and again in mid-2007 with the Dancing In The Street Arena Tour 2007, with special guests Paulini and The Naturelles.
The 24th of November, 2007 saw Human Nature hit No.2 on the ARIA Albums Chart with Get Ready, the 3rd Motown-themed album, which this time featured appearances by several original Motown singing legends such as Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves, Mary Wilson of The Supremes and The Temptations. All three albums have now sold close to a million copies in Australia. Human Nature's total album sales in Australia number almost two million.
At the start of 2008, Human Nature headed over to perform for the first ever time in the USA, with a two-month engagement at Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino. They played the Imperial Palace and Casino in 2009.
On 22 April 2008, Human Nature took the stage with The Supremes' Mary Wilson on the television show It Takes Two. They performed two duets from their Get Ready album: "It Takes Two" and "River Deep, Mountain High".
Human Nature is currently in residency through May 2010 at the Imperial Palace Hotel in Las Vegas. Their show, "The Ultimate Celebration of the Motown Sound," is being presented by friend and mentor Smokey Robinson.
Official Website: www.humannaturelive.com
House Of Cards
Human Nature Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It shelters me every day
My house is a part of the world
Where live and let love is all we have to say
And if you want, you can go there
All you have to do is believe
And open your eyes and you can see them
In the middle of the madness
In the place where quiet can be found
If you don't see that or believe that
They disappear without a sound
'Cause we all live in a house of cards
Take one away and they all come tumbling down
They all come falling down
I live in a crazy world full of crazy things
That I never quite understand
But I know that the people that care for you
Are the measure of any woman or any man
And if you need anything then I'll share
If I need you, would you be there?
Open your eyes and you can see them
The little truths are scattered all around
In the middle of the madness
In the place where quiet can be found
If you don't see that or believe that
They disappear without a sound
'Cause we all live in a house of cards
Take one away and they all come tumbling down
They all come falling down
I live in a crazy world full of crazy things
That I never quite understand
But I know that the people that care for you
Are the measure of any woman or any man
And if you need anything then I'll share
If I need you, would you be there?
Hold on to what is close to you
'Cause letting it go is like losing a part of your soul
Of your soul
So baby, open your eyes and you can see them
The little truths are scattered all around
In the middle of the madness
In the place where quiet can be found
If you don't see that or believe that
They disappear without a sound
'Cause we all live in a house of cards
Take one away and they all come tumbling down
They all come falling down
I live in a crazy world full of crazy things
That I never quite understand
But I know that the people that care for you
Are the measure of any woman or any man
And if you need anything then I'll share
If I need you, would you be there?
The lyrics of "House of Cards" by Human Nature speak of the fragility of the world we live in, highlighting the importance of cherishing the little things and paying attention to the kindness and care bestowed upon us by the people we know. The singer in the song claims to live in a house of cards made of people they know, which provides them with shelter every day. The house symbolizes the world we live in, and the people in it are metaphorical cards that keep the house standing. The song expresses that if one card is taken away, the whole house falls apart, just like the world can fall apart if one person is lost.
The idea of the "little truths" scattered around us is evident in the lyrics, as they point out that amidst the chaos and madness of the world, there are quiet places where one can find peace. The song talks about the importance of holding on to what is close to our hearts, and the consequences of losing those things. The lyrics encourage the listener to open their eyes and see the people around them who care and support them, without whom life can be lost.
Overall, the song carries an important message about the significance of the people in our lives, reminding us that they are a part of the foundation that keeps our world standing.
Line by Line Meaning
I live in a house of cards made of people I know
My life is built on the relationships I have with people around me, and like a house of cards, it is fragile and uncertain.
It shelters me every day
Despite its fragility, my relationships provide comfort and protection in my daily life.
My house is a part of the world where live and let love is all we have to say
My relationships are rooted in love and mutual respect, and I believe that these values should guide the entire world.
And if you want, you can go there. All you have to do is believe
Anyone can be a part of my world if they share my values and are willing to believe in the power of love and respect.
And open your eyes and you can see them
The little things that matter most in life are all around us, if we take the time to notice.
The little truths are scattered all around
There are small truths and gestures of kindness all around us, if we are open to them.
In the middle of the madness
Even in chaotic and stressful situations, there is always the possibility of finding a moment of peace or clarity.
In the place where quiet can be found
If we look for it, we can always find a place or a moment of stillness and reflection.
If you don't see that or believe that
If we are closed off to the possibility of love, kindness, and reflection, we may miss the chance to find them.
They disappear without a sound
The things that matter most in life can be fragile and fleeting, and may slip away from us if we do not cherish them.
'Cause we all live in a house of cards. Take one away and they all come tumbling down
Our lives and relationships are interconnected, and even the smallest change or loss can have a profound impact on everything else.
I live in a crazy world full of crazy things. That I never quite understand
The world is a complex and confusing place, and there will always be things that are beyond our control or comprehension.
But I know that the people that care for you are the measure of any woman or any man
However confusing the world may be, the people who love and support us are the true measure of our worth and value.
And if you need anything then I'll share. If I need you, would you be there?
I am always willing to support and care for those who are important to me, and I hope that they will be there for me in return.
Hold on to what is close to you. 'Cause letting it go is like losing a part of your soul
We should treasure the things and people that are most important to us, because losing them can feel like losing a part of ourselves.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind