Moving On Up (M People song)

Moving on Up is the seventh overall single from British band M People, and the second single from their second album, Elegant Slumming (1993). Written by Mike Pickering and Paul Heard and produced by M People, it was released on 13 September 1993.

"Moving on Up"
Single by M People
from the album Elegant Slumming
B-side"Remix"
Released13 September 1993
Genre
Length
  • 5:29 (Album Version)
  • 3:34 (Single Edit)
LabelDeconstruction
Songwriter(s)
  • Mike Pickering
  • Paul Heard
Producer(s)M People
M People singles chronology
"One Night in Heaven"
(1993)		 "Moving on Up"
(1993)		 "Don't Look Any Further"
(1993)
Music video
"Moving on Up" on YouTube

The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, and was the biggest selling M People single. The song also became a Top 40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100, and number one on the Billboard dance chart.

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Keith Farley described the song as a "nu-disco slant" in his review of the Elegant Slumming album.[3] Another editor, Jose F. Promis called it "electrifying".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that frontwoman Heather Small and the band "deftly blends state-of-the-charts club trends with a reverence for classic Motown and R&B sounds. After one spin, you'll be humming the chorus for a week, which is the mark of a true smash."[5] In 2017, BuzzFeed listed the song at number 63 in their list of The 101 Greatest Dance Songs Of the '90.[6] Anderson Jones from Entertainment Weekly called it a number "that has set disco balls spinning across Europe".[7] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented that "excitement about this uptempo winner is spreading fast and one listen should explain why."[8] John Hamilton from Idolator noted the song as "a confident pop-soul kiss-off", adding that "its funky sax and Small’s pissed-off vocals combined to create nothing short of a club classic, one that provided ample opportunity for gay and straight clubbers alike to bust a move on dancefloors across the nation."[9] Australian music channel Max placed "Moving On Up" at number 565 in their list of 1000 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2011.[10] Music & Media wrote that "the '90s will be type-cast as the age of retro, both in rock and in dance. These people restore Funky Town as the capital of good old disco. A floor filler annex airplay hit is born!"[11] The Network Forty called it a "perfect uptempo fun springtime" song.[12] Newcastle Journal said the single "was one of the best releases of the year."[13] Reading Evening Post described it as "funky".[14] Steve Pick from St. Louis Post-Dispatch wrote, "You can hear a straight line from the Stereo MC's "Connected" to this, a deep, in-the-pocket groove featuring a jazzy, funky break in the middle and, of course, subtle tenor saxophone honks. The big difference, aside from the fact that this one isn't quite as catchy, is the presence of a big-voiced disco diva whose alto tones conjure up dim memories of Donna Summer, especially on the soaring, nearly exuberant chorus."[15] Mark-Leon Thorne from Woroni called it a "classic anthem".[16]

Chart performance

"Moving on Up" proved to be M People's biggest hit worldwide, peaking at number-one on both the RPM Dance/Urban Chart in Canada and the Billboard Dance Club Songs in the United States. In Europe, it managed to climb into the Top 10 in Finland, France, Ireland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single peaked at number 2 in its second week at the UK Singles Chart, on September 26, 1993.[17] It was held off reaching the top spot by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Boom! Shake the Room". Additionally, "Moving On Up" was a Top 20 hit in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it hit number 12. Outside Europe, it peaked at number 3 in Israel, number 4 in both Australia and New Zealand, number 23 on the RPM Singles Chart in Canada and number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. The single earned a gold record in New Zealand and a platinum record in Australia.

Music video

A music video of the song was released in September 1993.[18] It features M People performing the song in a club. In the beginning, Small is seen arriving the club. At the same time a couple also arrives. Small begins to sing, standing in the crowd of dancing people. The couple then starts arguing and the man begins to dance with another woman from the bar. Small then goes up to her band on the scene and continues singing, while the man's girlfriend starts yelling on him and leaves. He continues dancing with the woman from the bar. A cat appear on the bar counter, being patted by the guests, and a lizard lies by the phone. Suddenly the girlfriend shows up, throwing the content of a glass on her boyfriend and smiling at him. The video ends with M People continuing playing on the scene, while the people are dancing. It was uploaded to YouTube in 2009. By August 2020, the video had more than 3,9 million views.[19]

Artwork

On United Kingdom and European versions of the single, the cover appeared with two thirds of the cover featuring a side profile of lead singer Heather Small, looking serious to hint that she's moving away. The bottom third of the single has a purple banner all the way across with the title written on it. On other versions of the single, the colour of this banner was red, yellow or blue.

Compilations/soundtracks

"Moving on Up" featured on many compilations including Now That's What I Call Music! 27, Telstar's Hits 93: Volume 4 in the United Kingdom, and many other across the globe. The single has also been featured in many films, including the British blockbuster The Full Monty, The Next Karate Kid the American comedy The First Wives Club.And Are We Done Yet ?.

In February 1998, the song was featured in an episode of Top Gear, during the reviews of the Citroën Xantia, Vauxhall Vectra, Peugeot 406, Subaru Legacy and the Volkswagen Passat, with a voice over by presenter Jeremy Clarkson.[20][21][22]

Track listings
CD single / 12" maxi — Promo
  1. "Moving on Up" (M People master edit) — 3:34
  2. "Moving on Up" (M People dub) — 4:35
CD maxi
  1. "Moving on Up" (M People master edit) — 3:34
  2. "Moving on Up" (M People master mix) — 5:29
  3. "Moving on Up" (M People dub) — 4:35
  4. "Moving on Up" (Roger S. gospel revival mix) — 5:55
12" maxi
  1. "Moving on Up" (M People master mix)
  2. "Moving on Up" (M People dub)
  3. "Moving on Up" (Roger S. gospel revival mix)
  4. "Moving on Up" (Roger S. moving mix)

Other versions

Moving on Up was also a dance hit for Belgian singer Roselle in 1995.

The chorus is interpolated in the song "Gloves" by Australian comedy group Thanks Pet, Next, a hidden track on their EP Frogstamp, which satirises invasive body searching. In that context, the phrase "moving on up" becomes a double entendre.

Charts and certifications

References
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