"Renaissance" is a song by British electronic group M People, released on 28 February 1994 as the fourth and final single from their second album, Elegant Slumming (1994). In Australia, it was released as the third single from the album. It was written by Mike Pickering and Paul Heard and produced by M People. The song peaked at number five on the UK Singles Chart following the band's first win for Best British Dance Act at the 1994 BRIT Awards. Background At the time of "Renaissance"'s release, M People were touring the second leg of their 15-date Elegant Slumming UK Tour and riding the height of their musical fortunes with their double platinum album. "How Can I Love You More (Mixes)", "One Night in Heaven", "Moving on Up" and "Don't Look Any Further" had already provided them with four consecutive singles and this became their fifth. Composition The song features pounding italo-piano chords and is laden with synths alongside an insistent bassline and classic house beat. Lyrically, it is in total contrast to the angry "breaking free" sung in "Moving on Up" to looking forward to coming home to one glorious night when singer Heather Small promises to "make you scream aloud with joy" – but "there'll be no day there'll be no night". Critical reception Irish Evening Herald noted the "thudding pulse" of the song. Ben Thompson from The Independent viewed it as "very spirited" and a "potential single". Kingston Informer declared it as "a happening tune from a band who can do no wrong at the moment." Howard Cohen from The Miami Herald complimented its "steady drum kick, pumping bass and trance-like beat". A reviewer from Music & Media wrote that "the pineapple-shaped hairdo of Heather Small is the eyecatcher in the videos, and her massive voice the focal point for the ears, enjoying a renaissance of '70s disco." Andy Beevers from Music Week named it Pick of the Week in the category of Dance, saying "it looks certain to be another big hit". He added that "this piano-powered track, with its catchy "I'm coming home" hook, will be instantly familiar to many as the theme for the student documentary, The Living Soap." Chart performance Out of the nine M People previous single releases at that point, this single was only the second to chart and peak in its first week (the only other single to do so