"I'm in the Mood" is a song by American singer and songwriter CeCe Peniston, released in December 1993 by A&M Records as the first commercial single from her second studio album, Thought 'Ya Knew (1994). The composition scored the singer her fourth number one on the US Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, and also entered the top 10 of the Billboard Hot R&B chart, peaking at number seven. On the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100, the song peaked at number 32 and 28, respectively. In Europe, "I'm in the Mood" made number 16 on the UK Top 75, as well as entering the top 30 in the Netherlands and Switzerland. The music video was directed by Antoine Fuqua. In a 2011 interview for Boy Culture, TypePad's blogging service, Peniston disclosed that she had actually expected a better reception of the single. A special extended remix of "Keep On Walkin'", one of the Peniston's previous singles, appeared on the B-side.

Critical reception

Jose F. Promis from AllMusic described "I'm in the Mood" as "fun, jazzy, finger-snapping R&B". Upon the release, Larry Flick from Billboard declared it as "a chipper, hiybound jack/pop tune that is rhythmically similar to her previous hit, "Keep On Walkin'". The difference lies within the song's bouncy chorus and in her more flexible, well-developed vocal." He concluded, "Excellent single is proof that lightning can certainly strike twice." Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report wrote, "Who better to get audiences in a groove mood than the one-time Miss Phoenix? Some very cool mixes are sure to keep this track fresh all the way into summer." Another Gavin Report editor, Annette M. Lai, named it one of the "outstanding" tracks of the Thought 'Ya Knew album. Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "Finally, CeCe is riding the radio charts again with a dance single which at first seems to lack that pop sparkle of her old song material. Consider that the logical process of maturity." Andy Beevers from Music Week stated, "After lying low in 1993, Ce Ce Peniston is poised to kick off 1994 in fine style with this single" that is "almost as infectious as her first hits", and "a Top 40 contender." A reviewer from People Magazine said that her "triumphant wail" is "harnessed" on the song, viewing it as "conneet-the-dots dance pop". Tim Jeffery from the Record Mirror Dance Update wrote that Peniston "seems to have got that knack of combining impossibly catchy and uplifting songs with dancefloor appeal". Mark Frith from Smash Hits gave it four out of five, complimenting it as "another energic piano-laden number with her trademark wonderful vocals and one of those nagging basslines." Mike Joyce from The Washington Post felt songs like "I'm in the Mood" "are catchy and clever dance tracks, all right, and savvy too".

Credits and personnel

Track listings and formats

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts