THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

430-M People-Moving On Up.

1993-Number 2 single.

Best Bit-At 4.37. The ‘Saxy’ bit.

M People were formed in Manchester, England, in 1990, by Mike Pickering who chose the stage name ‘M People’ from the first letter of his name. He was soon joined by Paul Heard who had previously been a member of the Acid Jazz band ‘Ace of Clubs,’ the percussionist Andrew ‘Shovel’ Lovell, whose previous band were called ‘Natural Life,’ and the vocalist Heather Small, who had just left the Soul band ‘Hot House.’ M People have gone on to sell in excess of 11 million records, releasing five studio Albums between 1991-1997, and five compilation Albums between 1998-2007. They have released 19 singles all of which have reached the UK top 40, with this track being the most successful, as well as being their only charting song on Billboard, when reaching Number 34 in 1993. In 1999 the band went on hiatus, but reformed to sporadically tour, and remain active, although there has been no new music since 1999.

Mike Pickering was born on February 21st, 1954, in Manchester, England, prior to forming M People he had been a member of the critically acclaimed Electronic Music group ‘Quando Quango,’ who had failed to break into the mainstream. The original idea was for M People to use different guest vocalists on each track, but after hearing Heather Small they had a change of mind.

Heather Small was born on January 20th, 1965, in West London, England, as well as providing the vocals for M People she has also released two solo Albums in 2000, and 2006. She has had hits with the song ‘Proud’ (UK Number 16) in 2000, and in the same year ‘You Need Love Like I Do,’ a duet with Tom Jones reached Number 24. Small has also provided vocals to two UK Number 1 singles. In 1997 as part of the charity single ‘Perfect Day,(see also best songs 131) and in 1989 for the re-recorded version of ‘Ride on Time’ by Black Box(see also best songs 501.)

‘Moving On Up’ was the seventh overall single release from M People, and the second from their second studio Album ‘Elegant Slumming’ from 1993, the Album went on to win the UK 1994 ‘Mercury Music Prize, and is currently closing in on 800,000 sales worldwide.’Moving On Up’ was co-written by Mike Pickering, and fellow M People band member Paul Heard, and has become one of the most popular Dance/Pop tracks of the 1990’s. Although the song sounds uplifting, and inspiring, it is actually about a woman telling her man he is no longer wanted, as he doesn’t treat her the way he should. She is taking control of the situation, and telling him to go, which of course is inspiring for people in a similar situation to hear.

‘You’ve done me wrong, your time is up. You took a sip from the Devil’s cup. You broke my heart, there’s no way back, move right out of here, baby, go on pack your bags.’