"Shut Up and Dance" (stylized as "SHUT UP + DANCE") is a song by American pop rock band Walk the Moon from their third studio album Talking Is Hard (2014).[1] It was written by the band members and songwriters Ben Berger and Ryan McMahon. The song is based on an experience lead singer Nicholas Petricca had at a Los Angeles nightclub. His girlfriend invited him to dance, inspiring the title. Petricca envisioned the song as an anthem for letting go of frustration and having fun. The song was digitally released as the lead single from Talking Is Hard on September 10, 2014.