I Like to Move It

Trinidadian-born American singer-songwriter The Mad Stuntman (a.k.a. Mark Quashie) took his moniker from the 1980s action/adventure television program The Fall Guy. He was introduced to Colombian-American producer/DJ Erick Morillo by Panamanian reggae artist El General. Morillo was looking for an act to be featured on his upcoming single "Go on Move" and to ultimately join him on tour as a group.{{cite web |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/3563927/Madagascars-hip-hop-hippo-likes-to-move-it.html |title = Madagascars Hip Hop Hippo |date = 3 December 2008 |publisher = Telegraph Co. UK |accessdate = 3 November 2024 }} "Go on Move" peaked at number six on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart, which began Reel 2 Real featuring The Mad Stuntman's ascent into popular mainstream music. Morillo made a new track and Quashie wrote the lyrics for it. He has said that "I Like to Move It" is an anthem song for women, telling them that they are beautiful without using any makeup, and that it took him five minutes to write the lyrics.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUVOH0vrgTo|title=The story behind "Reel 2 Real - I Like To Move It" with The Mad Stuntman|work=Muzikxpress|publisher=YouTube|date=2 May 2020|access-date=3 November 2024}}

In studio Morillo told Quashie to go into the vocal booth and try to come up with hooks. He tried different hooks and kept on repeating the line I Like to Move It, Move It, using the deep voice, while in the verses, his regular voice is used. Morillo would take the best parts of what he was saying and created the hook. To reply on the repeated line, Morillo and two other guys would add the Move It!. The verses of the song are performed in a reggae style. Morillo suggested Quashie to repeat and take certain parts from his lyrics and sing them repeatedly wherever he felt he wanted to do it while recording. Released in the fall of 1993, "I Like to Move It" was picked up by Positiva Records in the UK and started climbing on the charts in Australia, Canada, Europe, Southeast Africa and the US. It became the group's most commercially successful and recognizable song.

In 2020, an editor from AllMusic stated that Reel 2 Real's "I Like to Move It" "still sounds as hot today as it did when it first came out in 1993. The pulsing synths and sirens of the song made for an instant wall shaker."{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/move-it%21-mw0000178261|title=Reel 2 Real - Move It!|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=February 18, 2020}} Larry Flick from Billboard magazine noted that here, "Reggae beat sensibilities are woven around loose house and rave keyboards. The Mad Stuntman toasts with predictable speed, cutting through the fairly thick groove with a raspy edge. His energy transforms what could have been a laid-back record into a rousing peak-hour anthem."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-10-23.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=October 23, 1993|access-date=February 2, 2020|page=91|author-link=Larry Flick}} Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian complimented its "growly catchiness".Sullivan, Caroline (October 14, 1994). "Music: Your essential guide to the new CDs - Pop". The Guardian. In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "Straight from nowhere come Reel 2 Real to become the first dance act for several months to charge straight into the Top 10 without a previous hit to their name."{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending February 12th 1994|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1994/week-ending-february-12th-1994|website=Chart Watch UK|date=February 6, 1994|accessdate=September 6, 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} David Hemingway from Melody Maker viewed it as "a sonic equivalent of the tango advert — equal parts irritant/wonderful pop song."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Hemingway|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53168504542/|title=Singles Club|magazine=Melody Maker|date=June 4, 1994|page=8|access-date=September 7, 2023}}

Melody Maker editor David Bennun commented, "The result is ridiculously, naggingly, excruciatingly simple, as you will have no doubt come to realise by the time it turns up on the radio for the 19th time that day and you put your boot through the dial."{{cite magazine|first=David|last=Bennun|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53070562517/|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=January 29, 1994|page=29|access-date=August 3, 2023|author-link=David Bennun}} Another Melody Maker editor, Sarra Manning, praised the song as "god-like genius".{{cite magazine|first=Sarra|last=Manning|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53332551814/|title=Singles|magazine=Melody Maker|date=November 26, 1994|page=36|access-date=November 18, 2023|author-link=Sarra Manning}} Maria Jimenez from Music & Media remarked that the "boomin'"{{cite magazine|first=Maria|last=Jimenez|title=Groovemix: Short Grooves|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-05-07.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=19|date=May 7, 1994|page=7|accessdate=October 8, 2022}} and "grinding scorcher is gaining much audience and radio support on this side of the ocean."{{cite magazine|first= Maria |last= Jimenez |title= Groovemix: Short Grooves |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 11 |issue= 15 |date= 9 April 1994 |page= 7 |accessdate= 8 October 2022 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-04-09.pdf}} Andy Beevers from Music Week gave the song a score of four out of five, adding, "Originally released by Strictly Rhythm, this inspired combination of NY house rhythms and The Mad Stuntman's ragga rhymes has been generating plenty of interest on import."{{cite magazine|first= Andy |last= Beevers |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-01-29.pdf |title= Market Preview: Dance |magazine= Music Week |date= January 29, 1994 |page= 16 |accessdate= April 13, 2021}} Another Music Week editor, Alan Jones, complimented it as a "fierce ragga house anthem".{{cite magazine|first= Alan |last= Jones |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-03-19.pdf |title= Market Preview: Mainstream - Albums |magazine= Music Week |date= March 19, 1994 |page= 13 |accessdate= April 15, 2021}} James Hamilton from the Record Mirror Dance Update named it a "madly happy gruff ragga rapped bogle/soca-style leaper" in his weekly dance column.{{cite magazine|first= James |last= Hamilton |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-02-05.pdf |title= Dj directory |magazine= Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) |date= February 5, 1994 |page= 7 |accessdate= April 14, 2021|author-link=James Hamilton (DJ and journalist)}} Gareth Grundy from Select wrote in his review of the Move It! album, "As idiot pop goes, it doesn't come more dafter — or more effective — than the title track of this album."{{cite magazine|first=Gareth|last=Grundy|url=https://selectmagazinescans.monkeon.co.uk/showpage.php?file=wp-content/uploads/2013/02/massiveattack.jpg|title=New Albums|work=Select|date=October 1994|page=102|access-date=February 11, 2025}}

"I Like to Move It" became a worldwide hit, peaking at number one on the singles chart of Belgian Flanders, France, Greece and the Netherlands. The single entered the top 10 also in Austria, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Lithuania, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100 and European Dance Radio chart, where it peaked at numbers two and three,{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-06-11.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=24|date=June 11, 1994|page=12|access-date=March 6, 2018}}{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-03-26.pdf|title=European Dance Radio Top 25|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=13|date=March 26, 1994|page=26|access-date=May 23, 2023}} respectively. In Austria and on the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number two behind "Without You" by Mariah Carey. In the UK, "I Like to Move It" shot into the charts with no mainstream media support, giving UK label Positiva Records its first big hit.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-02-26.pdf|title=Reel of Fortune|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental insert)|date=February 26, 1994|page=2|accessdate=April 30, 2025}} It peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart on March 27, 1994, in its eighth week on the chart. The single spent 21 weeks in total inside the UK Top 100 and also topped the Music Week Dance Singles chart on February 26 as well as peaking at number four on the UK Club Chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-02-26.pdf|title=Dance Singles|magazine=Music Week|page=26|date=February 26, 1994|access-date=April 24, 2021}}{{cite magazine|first=|last=|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1994/Music-Week-1994-01-15.pdf|title=The RM Club Chart 17.1.94|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)|date=January 17, 1994|page=4|accessdate=October 2, 2022}} Outside Europe, "I Like to Move It" peaked at number one on the Canadian RPM Dance/Urban chart and in Zimbabwe. It entered the top 10 in Australia and on the US Billboard Dance Club Play chart. On the Billboard Hot 100, the single reached number 89. In New Zealand, it was a top-20 hit, peaking at number 14.

"I Like to Move It" was awarded with a gold record in Australia (35,000), France (250,000), Germany (250,000), the Netherlands (50,000), and the United Kingdom (400,000).

The accompanying music video for "I Like to Move It" was directed by Craig K. McCall.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoWvpZnw3B4|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/XoWvpZnw3B4|archive-date=December 21, 2021|title=Reel 2 Real I Like to Move It|date=November 27, 2012 |via=YouTube|access-date=December 11, 2018}}{{cbignore}} It was shot in New York City, with notable filming locations including Times Square and Flatbush. It was really cold on the day the video was filmed, like 20 below and The Mad Stuntman was freezing, using no coat. Dele Fadele from NME noted that it featured "the mock-crazy ragga chatter dancing in the streets of New York with one trouser-leg rolled up."{{cite magazine|first=Dele|last=Fadele|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53192355168|title=Singles|magazine=NME|date=June 25, 1994|page=43|access-date=October 1, 2023|author-link=Dele Fadele}} The video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe and was A-listed on Germany's VIVA.{{cite magazine|title=Station Reports > MTV Europe/London|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-05-21.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=21|date=May 21, 1994|page=30|accessdate=December 18, 2022}}{{cite magazine|title=Station Reports > VIVA TV/Cologne|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-05-07.pdf|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=19|date=May 7, 1994|page=18|accessdate=December 18, 2022}}

Many versions of the song have frequently been used throughout the Madagascar franchise, with many of them with lyrics changed or altered to match with each film's plot and the film's subject matter (usually replacing "sexy" with "sassy"). The first film used a version recorded by Sacha Baron Cohen as King Julien, the second film used a version by will.i.am, who played Moto Moto, and the third film used a mix-up with the original tune "Afro Circus" in the number "Afro Circus/I Like to Move It". The "I like to move it" part was sung by Baron Cohen in the film while Danny Jacobs, who voices King Julien in the spinoff TV series and games, sang it on the soundtrack; both versions alongside Chris Rock as Marty on the "afro circus" part. The original version appeared in the first and last episode of the Madagascar Netflix series All Hail King Julien and the "Afro Circus/I Like to Move It" tune was played near the start of the Madagascar spin-off film Penguins of Madagascar. Jacobs, as Julien, also sang a Christmas song called "Santa Claus Is Coming to Madagascar", a modified cover of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" which uses a similar beat as "I Like to Move It" in Merry Madagascar. The song was also included in the stage adaptation of the film, sung again by King Julien.

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• CD single, United States

1. "I Like to Move It" (US Radio Edit) – 3:43
2. "I Like to Move It" (Erick 'More' Club Mix) – 5:45
3. "I Like to Move It" (Reel 2 Reel Dub) – 5:00
4. "I Like to Move It" (More's Instrumental) – 4:35
5. "Toety" - 5:00

• CD maxi

1. "I Like to Move It" (UK Radio Edit) – 3:52
2. "I Like to Move It" (UK Vocal House Remix) – 5:47
3. "I Like to Move It" (UK Moody House Remix) – 5:05
4. "I Like to Move It" (Reel 2 Reel Dub) – 4:25

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• CD single

1. "I Like to Move It" (Radio Edit) – 3:52
2. "I Like to Move It" (More's Instrumental) – 3:57

• CD seven-track remixes

1. "I Like to Move It" (UK Radio Edit) – 3:52
2. "I Like to Move It" (Erick 'More' Club Mix) – 5.51
3. "I Like to Move It" (UK Vocal House Remix) – 5.47
4. "I Like to Move It" (UK Moody house Remix) – 6.19
5. "I Like to Move It" (Vocal Dattiman Remix) – 6.37
6. "I Like to Move It" (UK Dattiman Dub) – 6.22
7. "I Like to Move It" (Reel 2 Reel Dub) – 4.25

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=1994|certref={{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/LHigR9p.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994|publisher=ARIA|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151025122130/http://i.imgur.com/LHigR9p.jpg|archive-date=October 25, 2015|access-date=February 2, 2016}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|title=I Like to Move It|artist=Reel 2 Real|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=1994}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|type=single|title=I Like to Move It|artist=Reel 2 Real|award=Gold|relyear=1994}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|type=single|title=I Like to Move It|artist=Reel 2 Real|award=Gold|relyear=1994|id=1236421}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Will.I.Am|title=I Like to Move It|award=Platinum|relyear=2008|access-date=March 3, 2025|certyear=2023|note=will.i.am version|source=radioscope}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=I Like to Move It|artist=Reel 2 Real ft Mad Stuntman|award=Gold|relyear=1994|certyear=2018|id=3113-4771-1|access-date=November 16, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=I Like to Move It|artist=will i am|award=Silver|relyear=2008|certyear=2022|id=3113-2744-1|access-date=November 18, 2022|note=will.i.am version}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true}}

The song appeared in the films The Master of Disguise{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0295427/soundtrack|title=The Master Of Disguise|publisher=IMDB|access-date=December 30, 2014}} and Saving Silverman. The song appeared in the American Dad! episode "The Dentist's Wife".{{fact|date=September 2023}}

A reworked parody version, titled "I Like to Shake It, Shake It", was used in an April 2018 commercial for the dishwasher brand Fairy.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/ZmnbBZWVc7A Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20191212110946/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmnbBZWVc7A Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmnbBZWVc7A| title = FAIRY Shake Up. 2018 Advert. I like to shake it, shake it | website=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} It was posted on their official British YouTube channel, but it was since deleted.{{fact|date=September 2023}}

The song has also been used in numerous other advertisements and was used in the video games SingStar Dance, the first Just Dance,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3hyTHWI-xs |title=Just Dance - I Like To Move It by Reel 2 Real Gameplay |publisher=justdancebr |date=August 11, 2011 |access-date=January 3, 2025 |via=YouTube}} Just Dance: Best Of,{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rap77YcEgcs |title=Just Dance Best Of - I Like To Move It Wii Footage [UK] |publisher=Just Dance UK |date=March 20, 2012 |access-date=January 3, 2025 |via=YouTube}}{{cite web|title=Just Dance: Best Of Tracks|url=http://just-dance-thegame.ubi.com:80/jd-portal/en-AU/just-dance-games/just-dance-bestof/index.aspx|website=Just Dance|publisher=UbiSoft|access-date=January 3, 2025|archive-date=March 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328024927/http://just-dance-thegame.ubi.com:80/jd-portal/en-AU/just-dance-games/just-dance-bestof/index.aspx|url-status=dead}} Just Dance: Greatest Hits, and Just Dance Kids 2014. It was featured on Just Dance 3 as a downloadable track but became unavailable for purchase following the shutdown of the Wii Shop Channel on January 30, 2019, and the removal of most DLCs from the Xbox 360 Marketplace on August 20, 2023.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krUefpl-Ehc |title=Just Dance 3 | I Like To Move It |publisher=Just Dance |date=January 11, 2012 |access-date=January 3, 2025 |via=YouTube}} Basshunter sampled "I Like to Move It" on his 2010 song "Saturday".{{cite web |first = Robert |last = Copsey |title= Basshunter: 'Saturday' |url= http://www.digitalspy.com/music/single-reviews/review/a242333/basshunter-saturday |publisher=Digital Spy | date = July 13, 2010 | access-date=September 4, 2020}}

In the second season of Norwegian reality singing competition Maskorama, based on the South Korean television series King of Mask Singer, the song was performed in episode three in November 2021. It was performed by the contestant masked as a Nisse, which later was revealed to be Abid Raja.{{cite news|author1=Catherine Gonsholt Ighanian|author2=Tor Martin Bøe|title=Havfruen Haddy Njie ute av "Maskorama": − Det føles som jeg knapt kan reise meg|url=https://www.vg.no/rampelys/tv/i/G351Ol/havfruen-haddy-njie-ute-av-maskorama-det-foeles-som-jeg-knapt-kan-reise-meg|newspaper=VG|date=November 21, 2021|access-date=November 23, 2021|language=no}}

A new Fortnite dance emote based on the song was introduced on January 28, 2022.{{fact|date=September 2023}}

In February 2023, the song was featured in a television commercial for the United States Postal Service.{{cite web|url=https://adage.com/article/hot-spots/new-commercials-usps-new-mail-truck-dominos-homegoods-natures-way-proper-no-twelve/2475411|title=Watch the newest commercials from USPS, Domino's, HomeGoods and more|date=February 23, 2023 |publisher=Ad Age|access-date=February 24, 2023}}

It was used in the New York Undercover episode "If this world were mine" on Season 2, Episode 26 in the entry montage.{{fact|date=September 2023}}

In May 2025 an a capella version was used in an AUDI add.{{cite web|url=https://musebyclios.com/eurovisions/audi-likes-to-move-it-move-it-and-more-european-treats/

|title=Audi Likes to 'Move It Move It'—and More European Treats|date=May 20, 2025 |publisher=musebyclios.com|access-date=May 29, 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.erickmorillo.com/ Erick Morillo website]
• {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071110162350/http://www.clubbing-uk.com/erick_morillo_interview.htm |date=November 10, 2007 |title=Erick Morillo Interview }}

{{will.i.am}}

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Category:1993 songs

Category:1993 singles

Category:Reel 2 Real songs

Category:Bob Sinclar songs

Category:Crazy Frog songs

Category:Dutch Top 40 number-one singles

Category:Music Week number-one dance singles

Category:Number-one singles in the Netherlands

Category:Number-one singles in Zimbabwe

Category:SNEP Top Singles number-one singles

Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles

Category:Songs written by Erick Morillo

Category:Songs written by The Mad Stuntman

Category:Positiva Records singles

Category:Strictly Rhythm singles