Keep On Movin' (Soul II Soul song)

"Keep On Movin'" is a song by British soul and R&B band Soul II Soul. It was the second single released in March 1989 from their debut album, Club Classics Vol. One (1989) (Keep On Movin' in the United States), after "Fairplay". It is one of two songs on the album that features British R&B singer Caron Wheeler (the other being "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)") and it became one of Soul II Soul's most successful songs. It reached number five on the UK Singles Chart upon its release in March 1989 and number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and was even more successful on Billboard's R&B charts, where it hit number one.

"Keep On Movin'"
Single by Soul II Soul featuring Caron Wheeler
from the album Club Classics Vol. One
Released6 March 1989 (1989-03-06)[1]
Recorded1988
Genre
Length
  • 6:02 (album version)
  • 3:38 (7-inch edit)
LabelVirgin
Songwriter(s)Jazzie B
Producer(s)
Soul II Soul singles chronology
"Feel Free"
(1988)		 "Keep On Movin'"
(1989)		 "Back to Life (However Do You Want Me)"
(1989)
Music video
"Keep On Movin" on YouTube

In October 1996, the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 31, minus the sleeve credit to Caron Wheeler, after its use in an episode of the highly popular series of Papa and Nicole commercials for the Renault Clio car on British television.

In October 2004, "Keep On Movin'" appeared in the popular video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, playing on fictional new jack swing radio station CSR 103.9.

Production

Produced by Nellee Hooper and Jazzie B, the song was originally to only feature Caron Wheeler as a guest vocalist on the song.[2] After recording the song in 1988, Wheeler was added to the lineup of Soul II Soul. The song became the titled-track for the group's American release Keep on Movin'.

Critical reception

Donald Ades from El Paisano complimented the song as "a refreshing rehash of the 70's soul/dance music explosion that promised for something more refreshing".[3] Robert Hilburn from Los Angeles Times wrote that it's "an especially well-designed blend of optimistic lyric and understated, almost melancholy vocal (by Caron Wheeler) and instrumental arrangement."[4] Another editor, Duff Marlowe, declared it as a "breezy, romantic composition".[5] Forrest Green III from The Michigan Daily named "Keep On Movin'" "the single of the year by way of its power, range, and scope." He felt that the beat is reminiscent of Eric B.'s "Paid in Full", "which is quickly becoming the blueprint for much of pop music", and also noted the song's "jazzy, semi-sweet piano groove and topped with violin undercurrents from the Reggae Philharmonic Orchestra — you've got something really delicious here. Featured singer Caron Wheeler's voice sounds like positivity in motion."[6]

Pan-European magazine Music & Media described the song as "slow and sensuous R&B with more than a hint of the 70s. Good string arrangement in a Rose Royce vein. Big in the UK."[7] Jerry Smith from Music Week said, "A lush, infectiously loping sound, it must be a massive hit."[8] Another editor, Alan Jones, praised its "serene majesty".[9] Malu Halasa, reviewer of British music newspaper Record Mirror, also found Wheeler's work as "extremely pleasant".[10] William Shaw from Smash Hits wrote, "A fine example of one of those slow, slithery disco smoochers where not much happens really: violins twiddle a bit, a piano tinkles lazily, a woman sings here and there, and yet, somehow, the whole lot slips together effortlessly to make a supremely luxurious noise. Undoubtedly, this will become a bit of a popular favourite on the dancefloors."[11]

Retrospective response

In an 2019 retrospective review, Justin Chadwick from Albumism remarked Caron Wheeler's "soaring vocals atop a stirring confection of deep bass and piano flourishes". He found that the song's "offering a more broadly applicable clarion call to those in need of a little motivation in their lives."[12] AllMusic editor Alex Henderson described "Keep On Movin'" as a "Chic-influenced gem".[13] In 2009, Daryl Easlea for BBC constated that the song, "with its upbeat message and Norman Whitfield-inspired strings, made a star of vocalist Caron Wheeler." He remarked that "her authoritative, classic R&B voice sounding electrifyingly soulful."[14] In another 2009 review, the Daily Vault's Michael R. Smith wrote that it "has an elegant, sweeping style that is set to a danceable beat."[15]

"Keep on Movin'" is mentioned in the first chapter of Paul Gilroy's book The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness (1993). Gilroy uses this particular song because he considers the song emblematic of a black transatlantic conversation.[16] The song is notable for its expansion across nation-states, being produced in England by a group of people with Caribbean ancestry but having also been remixed into a Jamaican dub format in the United States. Gilroy describes the song as an expression of "the restlessness of spirit which makes the diaspora culture vital." "Keep On Movin" made reference to racialized issues experienced by groups within the Diaspora. The song is sung by Caron Wheeler; and it was remixed into a dub format in the United States by Teddy Riley.[16]

Music videos

Two music videos exist for "Keep on Movin'", the first being the official video one and the second being an alternate video. The first music video premiered on various music video shows. The other music video was released online.

Official video

This video features Caron Wheeler in front of a piano before a pink backdrop in wearing a white dress-suit, performing the song. Cutscenes featuring the other members of Soul II Soul including Aitch B and Jazzie B were used in the video. Another scene with Wheeler and Jazzie B in black outfits also used. The video also features the use of a group dancing to choreography of the song. It was published on YouTube in June 2009. The video has amassed more than 12,4 million views as of September 2021.[17]

Alternate video

The music video features Caron Wheeler wearing a red tribal jacket and head scarf with black top, performing the song against a black background. Jazzie B also appears wearing a green and yellow jacket. Singer and dancer Wunmi appears as one of the dancers in the video, wearing a red tribal jacket. Interspersed are some of the lyrics from the song. Later in the video, the group appears together dancing to the music with three violinists in the background.

Live performances

Soul II Soul performed "Keep on Movin'" on various televised appearances, including the Top of the Pops,[18] Soul Train, and Big World Cafe. Their performance from Top of the Pops aired on 16 March 1989.[18] At the end of 1989, Wheeler later departed from the group. Their performance on Soul Train featured the debut performance of then-new member Marcia Lewis; who performed the lead vocals.

The song was included in the group's set list for their A New Decade Tour in 1990 and was performed early in the set on tour dates. Victoria Wilson-James, a recent addition to group, performed the lead vocals to the song during the tour. Wheeler also included the song during her solo tours. A live recording of the song was released on Wheeler's live CD/DVD Live at Duo Music Exchange, which featured her performing live in Tokyo, Japan. In 2007, Wheeler reunited with the group and performed the song at the Lovebox Festival. In December 2012, Soul II Soul (composed of Jazzie B and Caron Wheeler) performed the song on Later... with Jools Holland.[19]

In December 2016, Soul II Soul released their live album Origins: The Roots of Soul II Soul which included a live recorded version on the song, sung by Wheeler.[20]

Impact and legacy

Q Magazine ranked "Keep On Movin'" at number 277 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever" in 2003.[21]

Mixmag listed the song number 87 in its "100 Greatest Dance Singles Of All Time" list in 1996, adding:

"Keep On Movin' was clearly a classic as soon as it came out in the early summer of 1989. The old soul vibe was glued on to the electronic swing and suddenly if you were British you could still be funky."

In BBC Radio’s 2008 listeners & DJs poll "The Greatest Ever Dance Record", "Keep On Movin'" came in at #6 after Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean", James Brown's "Sex Machine", Donna Summer's "I Feel Love", Derrick May's "Strings of Life" and Alison Limerick's "Where Love Lives".[22]

The Daily Telegraph ranked "Keep On Movin'" #33 in their "Top 50 Dance Songs" list in 2015.[23]

Track listing

A-side

  1. "Keep On Movin'" (Club Mix ft. Caron Wheeler) — 5:46
  2. "Keep On Movin'" (Big Beat A Capella) — 3:32
  3. "Keep On Movin'" (Nellee Hooper 7-inch) — 3:38

B-side

  1. "Keep On Movin'" (Teddy Riley's Rubba Dub) — 5:59
  2. "Keep On Movin'" (The First Movement) — 6:03
  3. "Keep On Movin'" (Teddy Riley's Bonus Beats) — 5:54

Charts

Certifications
Certifications and sales for "Keep On Movin'"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Silver 200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "New Singles". Music Week. 4 March 1989. p. 35.
  2. Jazzie B and Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul discuss 1989’s Club Classics Vol. One (Keep On Movin’) Archived 21 February 2020 at the Wayback Machine. WaxPoetics. Retrieved on 31 October 2017
  3. Ades, Donald (16 November 1989). "Just 'Keep on Movin'". El Paisano. p. 5. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  4. Hilburn, Robert (1 July 1989). "Henley, Cherry Lead the Pack for Midyear Picks". Los Angeles Times.
  5. Marlowe, Duff (14 July 1989). "Indian summer for Summer?". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. Green III, Forrest (11 October 1989). "Records: Soul II Soul - Keep on Movin'". The Michigan Daily. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  7. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 April 1989. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  8. Smith, Jerry (18 March 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 23. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  9. Jones, Alan (12 October 1996). "Talking Music" (PDF). Music Week. p. 26. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  10. Halasa, Malu (11 March 1989). "Review: Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'" (PDF). Record Mirror. London: Spotlight Publications Ltd. p. 29. ISSN 0144-5804. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021 – via World Radio History.
  11. Shaw, William (8 March 1989). "Singles". Smash Hits. p. 45. Retrieved 9 March 2023.
  12. Chadwick, Justin (9 April 2019). "Soul II Soul's Debut Album 'Club Classics Vol. One' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  13. Henderson, Alex. "Soul II Soul - Club Classics, Vol. 1". AllMusic. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
  14. Easlea, Daryl (2009). "Soul II Soul Club Classics Vol One Review". BBC. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  15. Smith, Michael R. (14 June 2009). "Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin'". The Daily Vault. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  16. Gilroy, Paul (1993). The Black Atlantic: Modernity and Double Consciousness. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
  17. "Soul II Soul - Keep On Movin' (Official Video)". YouTube. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  18. Top of the Pops. Internet Movie Database. Retrieved on 25 October 2017
  19. Soul II Soul - Back To Life, Episode 10, Series 41, Later... with Jools Holland. BBC Two. Retrieved on 25 October 2017
  20. Origins: The Roots of Soul II Soul - Soul II Soul. All Music Guide. Retrieved on 25 October 2017
  21. "Q - 1001 best songs ever (2003)".
  22. "Billie Jean voted top dance song". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  23. "Top 50 dance songs". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 7 March 2017.
  24. "Chartifacts (from The ARIA Report Issue No. 1 – Week Ending 14 Jan 1990)". ARIA. Retrieved 16 April 2016.
  25. "Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  26. "Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  27. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 April 1989. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  28. "Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  29. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 21, 1989" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  30. "Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  31. "Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  32. "Soul II Soul – Keep On Movin'". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  33. "Soul II Soul: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  34. "Soul II Soul, HSI". Billboard. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  35. "Soul II Soul, DSI". Billboard. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  36. "Soul II Soul, BSI". Billboard. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
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  38. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 26 October 1996. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  39. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 13 October 1996 - 19 October 1996". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  40. "Official UK Singles Chart (13 October 1996 - 19 October 1996)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  41. "Official UK Dance Singles Chart (13 October 1996-19 October 1996)". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  42. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  43. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1989". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  44. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1989" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  45. "Year End Singles". Record Mirror. 27 January 1990. p. 44.
  46. "Billboard Top 100 – 1989". Retrieved 15 September 2009.
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