Written by band members Mike Pickering and Paul Heard, and produced by M People, it was released on 13 September 1993 by Deconstruction.
[19] 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.
[21] Anderson Jones from Entertainment Weekly viewed it as a number "that has set disco balls spinning across Europe".
[22] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report said that excitement about "this uptempo winner" is spreading fast and "one listen should explain why.
[26] Howard Cohen for the Miami Herald wrote, "The song's got a sassy hook, paired with a glossy fat beat and infectious melody.
"[31] 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.
[34] 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.
[36] 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.
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.
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".
[citation needed] 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.
[citation needed] "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?
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.