Peak
34
Weeks
16
Score
1,305
Chart Year
1994
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 appears 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
This is the biggest hit from the British soul group M People. In it, a woman discards her cheating, boorish man, and is going to better her life now that he's gone. Frontwoman Heather Small provides very distinctive vocals. The song features on a number of film soundtracks, including The Full Monty, The Next Karate Kid, The First Wives Club and Trance. "Moving On Up" is the only chart entry for M People in the US, but they had a string of hits throughout Europe in the '90s, when every single they released charted in their native UK. M People's Mike Pickering (the M in the group's name) hit out at the use of the song at the 2022 Conservative Party Conference as the walk-on music for Prime Minister Liz Truss' keynote speech. Pickering said that the band had contacted their lawyers, who told them they couldn't stop Truss walking out to the song. He added that if Ms. Truss had "bothered to read the lyrics, it's hardly suitable" as it refers to "go and pack your bags and get out'" and taking a "sip from the devil's cup."
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 Just who do you think you are? Stop actin' like some kind of star Just who do you think you are? Take it like a man, baby, if that's what you are 'Cause I'm movin' on up, you're movin' on out Movin' on up, nothin' can stop me Movin' on up, you're movin' on out Time to break free, nothin' can stop me, yeah They brag a man has walked in space But you can't even find my place There ain't nothin' you can do 'Cause I've had enough of me, baby, bein' part of you Just who do you think you are? This time you've gone too far Just who do you think you are? Take it like a man, baby, if that's what you are 'Cause I'm movin' on up, you're movin' on out Movin' on up, nothin' can stop me Movin' on up, you're movin' on out Time to break free, nothin' can stop me Movin' on up, movin' on up, movin' on up Movin' on up, movin' on up, movin' on up Movin' on up, movin' on up, movin' on up Movin' on up, movin' on up, movin' on up Movin' on up, you're movin' on out Movin' on up, nothin' can stop me Movin' on up, you're movin' on out Time to break free, nothing can stop me Movin', movin', movin', nothin' can stop me Movin', movin', time to break free, nothin' can stop me
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 7, 1994 | 93 | 33 |
| 2 | May 14, 1994 | 81 | 45 |
| 3 | May 21, 1994 | 58 | 68 |
| 4 | May 28, 1994 | 57 | 69 |
| 5 | Jun 4, 1994 | 42 | 84 |
| 6 | Jun 11, 1994 | 42 | 84 |
| 7 | Jun 18, 1994 | 37 | 89 |
| 8 | Jun 25, 1994 | 34 | 92 |
| 9 | Jul 2, 1994 | 35 | 91 |
| 10 | Jul 9, 1994 | 42 | 84 |
| 11 | Jul 16, 1994 | 43 | 83 |
| 12 | Jul 23, 1994 | 60 | 66 |
| 13 | Jul 30, 1994 | 72 | 54 |
| 14 | Aug 6, 1994 | 75 | 51 |
| 15 | Aug 13, 1994 | 89 | 37 |
| 16 | Aug 20, 1994 | 98 | 28 |