"Moving On Up"
Single by M People
from the album Elegant Slumming
Released13 September 1993 (1993-09-13)[1]
Genre
Length
  • 5:29 (album version)
  • 3:34 (single edit)
LabelDeconstruction
Songwriter(s)
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

"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 band members Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and produced by M People, it was released on 13 September 1993 by Deconstruction. The song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and number one on the UK Dance Singles Chart and was the biggest selling M People single. It also became a top-40 hit on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. The accompanying music video for the song sees the band performing in a club.

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 CD 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 (7 inch), yellow (cassette) or blue (12 inch).

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 chart in the United States. In Europe, it entered the top 10 in Finland (6), France (3), Ireland (4) and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single peaked at number two in its second week at the UK Singles Chart, on 26 September 1993.[4] It was held off reaching the top spot by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince's "Boom! Shake the Room". But on the UK Dance Singles Chart, it soared to the number one position. Additionally, "Moving On Up" was a top-20 hit in Austria (17), Belgium (17), Denmark (18), the Netherlands (11), Sweden (20) and Switzerland (19), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number 12 in October 1993. Outside Europe, it also peaked at number three in Israel, number four in both Australia and New Zealand, number 23 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada, number 34 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 16 on the US Cash Box Top 100.

The single earned a gold record in New Zealand (5,000), a silver record in the UK (200,000), and a platinum record in Australia (70,000).

Critical reception

Keith Farley from AllMusic described the song as a "nu-disco slant".[5] Another editor, Jose F. Promis, declared it as "electrifying".[6] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that here, 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."[7] Kendall Morgan from Dallas Morning News complimented it as "ear candy".[8] Anderson Jones from Entertainment Weekly viewed it as a number "that has set disco balls spinning across Europe".[9] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report said that excitement about "this uptempo winner" is spreading fast and "one listen should explain why."[10] Ben Thompson from The Independent called it "exceptionally feisty", adding that contemporary pop-soul does not get much better than this.[11] Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times declared it as a "glorious dancefloor record – as spirited a declaration of independence (from a bad relationship) as Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive"."[12] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton viewed it as "another piece of classic dance pop".[13] Howard Cohen for The Miami Herald wrote, "The song's got a sassy hook, paired with a glossy fat beat and infectious melody. The song – an "I Will Survive" for the '90s – is the highlight of M People's Elegant Slumming".[14] Pan-European magazine Music & Media concluded 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!"[15]

Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song five out of five and named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, complimenting it as "another dead catchy radio-friendly tune".[16] A reviewer from The Network Forty called it a "perfect uptempo fun springtime" track.[17] Newcastle Journal declared it as "one of the best releases of the year."[18] Stuart Bailie from NME felt that Small "is out in the clear, happy and brilliant, her voice is a thrill, and nobody messes it up with dopey flutes, or any of the other dance gimmicks. A blinder."[19] Reading Evening Post described it as "funky".[20] James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update viewed it as a "stunningly catchy "nothing can stop me" chanter".[21] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits gave it four out of five, adding, "'One Night in Heaven' proved M People are the finest exponents of the party garage sound. "Moving On Up" is in much the same vein, except it's better, being a proper happy happy disco record."[22] Jonathan Bernstein from Spin complimented Small's "smoky" alto on the "anthemic hit-the-road brio" of the song.[23] Steve Pick from St. Louis Post-Dispatch commented, "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."[24]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single and released in September 1993.[25] 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.[26]

Impact and legacy

In 2011, Australian music channel Max included "Moving On Up" in their list of the "1000 Greatest Songs of All Time".[27]

In 2014, Idolator picked it as one of "The 50 Best Pop Singles of 1994". John Hamilton praised it 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."[28]

In 2017, American entertainment company BuzzFeed ranked it number 63 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s".[29]

Use of the song at the 2022 Conservative Party Conference, to accompany the entrance of Liz Truss, drew strong criticism from the song's writer Mike Pickering, who said the band was "livid". Pickering said that the band had contacted their lawyers but had been advised "there was little that could be done." The song had also been used by Tony Blair and the Labour Party in the 1990s. Pickering said that he hoped Truss took note of the lyrics, as the song was "about, 'go and pack your bags and get out'" and taking a "sip from the devil's cup".[30][31]

Track listings

  • 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-inch 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)

•CD Maxi (US)

  1. "Movin' On Up" (M People Master Edit) 3:34
  2. "Movin' On Up" (M People Master Mix) 5:32
  3. "Movin' On Up" (MK Movin' Mix) 7:28
  4. "Movin' On Up" (Roger's Gospel Revival) 5:55
  5. "Someday" (Sasha's Full Master) 7:39

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Moving On Up"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[64] Platinum 70,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[69] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[70] Silver 200,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

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.

"Moving On Up" has been featured in many films, including the British blockbuster The Full Monty, The Next Karate Kid, the American comedies The First Wives Club and Are We Done Yet? and Danny Boyle's psychological thriller Trance. 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.[71][72][73]

References

  1. ↑ "Single Releases" (PDF). Music Week. 11 September 1993. p. 23. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  2. ↑ "Disc O Tech". Vibe. 2 (10). December 1994 – January 1995. ISSN 1070-4701.
  3. ↑ "Elegant Slumming - M People - Songs, Reviews, Credits - AllMusic". AllMusic.
  4. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 75 26 September 1993 - 02 October 1993". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  5. ↑ Farley, Keith. "M People - Elegant Slumming". AllMusic. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
  6. ↑ Promis, Jose F. "M People – The Best Of M People". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 November 2020.
  7. ↑ Flick, Larry (16 April 1994). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 63. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  8. ↑ Morgan, Kendall (23 June 1995). "M People's music is ear candy". p. 14. The Greenville News.
  9. ↑ Jones, Anderson (15 July 1994). "Elegant Slumming". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 26 February 2020.
  10. ↑ Sholin, Dave (15 April 1994). "Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  11. ↑ Thompson, Ben (31 October 1993). "Records". The Independent.
  12. ↑ Hilburn, Robert (7 July 1994). "Today's Top 10 List From Our Home Office". p. B8. Los Angeles Times.
  13. ↑ Masterton, James (19 September 1993). "Week Ending September 25th 1993". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  14. ↑ Cohen, Howard (6 July 1994). "Album Reviews: M People, Elegant Slumming". p. 7E. The Miami Herald.
  15. ↑ "New Releases" (PDF). Music & Media. 9 October 1993. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  16. ↑ Beevers, Andy (11 September 1993). "Market Preview: Dance - Pick of the Week" (PDF). Music Week. p. 14. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  17. ↑ "Mainstream: Music Meeting" (PDF). The Network Forty. 29 April 1994. p. 22. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  18. ↑ "M People". Newcastle Journal. 29 October 1993. page 27.
  19. ↑ Bailie, Stuart (18 September 1993). "Singles". NME. p. 21. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "M People Elegant Slumming". Reading Evening Post. 29 October 1993. page 44.
  21. ↑ Hamilton, James (18 September 1993). "Dj directory" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). p. 6. Retrieved 5 April 2021.
  22. ↑ Doyle, Tom (15 September 1993). "New Singles". Smash Hits. p. 51. Retrieved 29 December 2022.
  23. ↑ Bernstein, Jonathan (July 1994). "Heavy Rotation". Spin. p. 16. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  24. ↑ Pick, Steve (1 July 1994). "Steve Pick". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  25. ↑ "M People: Moving on Up (1993)". IMDb. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  26. ↑ "M People - Moving on Up (Official Video)". YouTube. 25 October 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "Top 1000 Greatest Songs of All Time – 2011". Max. 2011. Archived from the original on 25 April 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  28. ↑ Hamilton, John (20 November 2014). "The 50 Best Pop Singles Of 1994 (Featuring New Interviews With Ace Of Base, TLC, Lisa Loeb, Real McCoy & Haddaway)". Idolator. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  29. ↑ Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (11 March 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  30. ↑ "Nineties band M People 'livid' song Moving On Up was used in Liz Truss's Tory conference speech". Sky News. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  31. ↑ "Moving On Up: M People founder livid song was used by PM". bbc.co.uk. 5 October 2022. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
  32. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  33. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  34. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  35. ↑ "Moving On Up – M. PEOPLE" (in Dutch). Top 30. Archived from the original on 22 February 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2014. Hoogste notering in de top 30 : 17
  36. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2529." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  37. ↑ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 2512." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  38. ↑ Danish Singles Chart. 22 October 1993.
  39. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. 16 October 1993. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  40. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  41. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  42. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  43. ↑ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (25.11.1993 – 01.12.1993)" (PDF) (in Icelandic). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  44. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Moving on Up". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  45. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – M People – Moving on Up" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  46. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  47. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  48. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  49. ↑ "M People – Moving on Up". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  50. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  51. ↑ "Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 September 1993. p. 26. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  52. ↑ "RM Club Chart Number Ones Of 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  53. ↑ "M People Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  54. ↑ "M People Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  55. ↑ "M People Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  56. ↑ "M People Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  57. ↑ "M People Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  58. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending JULY 9, 1994". Archived from the original on 10 October 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  59. ↑ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
  60. ↑ "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 18 December 1993. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  61. ↑ "Jaarlijsten 1993" (in Dutch). Stichting Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  62. ↑ "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. 15 January 1994. p. 24.
  63. ↑ "The RM Club Chart 93" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert). 25 December 1993. p. 4. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  64. 1 2 "1994 ARIA Singles Chart". ARIA. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  65. ↑ "Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1994". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  66. ↑ "Classement Singles – année 1994" (in French). Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014.. Snepmusique.com. Retrieved 30 July 2014.
  67. ↑ "End of Year Charts 1994". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  68. ↑ "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Music Club Play Singles". Billboard. 24 December 1994. p. YE=74. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  69. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – M People – Movin' On Up". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  70. ↑ "British single certifications – M People – Moving On Up". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  71. ↑ "Old Top Gear Saloons 1/2". YouTube. 2 April 2017.
  72. ↑ "Old Top Gear Saloons 1/2". YouTube. 3 April 2017.
  73. ↑ "Old Top Gear Saloons 2/2". YouTube. 3 April 2017. Archived from the original on 10 April 2017.
  • Music video by M People performing Moving On Up.YouTube, 1993, Sony BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
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