Keep On Movin’

“Keep On Movin’” is one of British soul and R&B band Soul II Soul most well loved and known songs. Released in 1989 from their debut album “Club Classics Vol. One”, “Keep On Movin’” is a soul/R&B track written by Jazzie B, the founder and frontman for Soul II Soul, with Jazzie B producing the track alongside British record producer Nellee Hooper.

“Keep On Movin’” discusses the importance of carrying on in life despite the hardship. In an interview with Billboard.com in October 2019, Jazzie B (Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE) talked about “Keep On Movin’” and how New York played a huge role in the group’s success:

“New York and the surrounding area played such a huge role in our success in the States,” Jazzie reveals. “People like Frankie Crocker, Red Alert and Bobby Konders played a pivotal role in terms of getting our music out into the streets and the car stereos. Frankie Crocker took ‘Keep On Movin” and made it his drive time anthem. The guy who really summed it up for us about that time was Fab 5 Freddy. I remember him saying that he couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but there was something about the sound that he said resonated real hip-hop for him. That was a pretty major point for Soul II Soul in terms of America embracing what we were doing.”

The music video for “Keep On Movin’” was uploaded to Soul II Soul’s official YouTube channel in June 2009. The video shows Caron Wheeler in front of piano singing, interloped with shots of dancing and choregraphed dances in front of a pink background. As of mid-August 2020, the video has 10.8 million views and over 78 thousand likes.

Release Date: March 1989

Songwriter: Jazzie B

Producer/s: Jazzie B & Nellee Hooper

Label: Virgin

Music Video Release Date: n/a

Music Video Director: n/a

Chart Rankings & Accolades: In its year of release, “Keep On Movin’” charted at #77 in Australia, #18 in Austria, #20 in Belgium, #15 in Canada, #46 in France, #13 in Germany, #10 in Ireland, #6 & #9 on various charts in the Netherlands; #14 in New Zealand, #18 in Switzerland, #5 in the UK, #11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and #1 on US Billboard Dance Club Play chart. “Keep On Movin’” built up quite a legacy, with Q Magazine ranking the song at #277 on their list of “1001 Best Songs Ever” in 2003, and Mixmag ranking the track at #87 in its “100 Greatest Dance Singles Of All Time” list in 1996.

The lyrics to “Keep On Movin’” can be read here: LINK