Sophie Ellis-Bextor has released a new 7-track digital EP featuring her classic 2001 hit “Murder On The Dancefloor” along with its original B-side “Never Let Me Down” and a series of remixes of “Murder On The Dancefloor.” The remixes – including versions overseen by the likes of Jewels & Stone, Danny D and the Twin Club Murder mix – were all originally released in 2001, but the majority of them are brand new to streaming services. You can check out the Jewels & Stone remix below.
The release of the digital EP coincides with the news that Ellis-Bextor has become a Billboard Hot 100-charting hitmaker for the first time, thanks to the viral success of her 2001 song “Murder on the Dancefloor.”
The song, on Polydor/Republic/UMe, debuts at No. 98 on the January 13-dated Hot 100 with 3.9 million official U.S. streams (up 131%) and 2,000 downloads sold (up 92%) in the Dec. 29-Jan. 4 tracking week, according to Luminate.
“Murder on the Dancefloor” has surged in popularity recently thanks to its inclusion in the film Saltburn. The track appears in the final scene of the movie, in which the film’s lead Barry Keoghan dances nude to the song. The scene has resulted in many fans recording their own dances to the track on TikTok.
Speaking in an interview with the NME, the singer said ““I didn’t really know exactly how it would play in terms of the role it was in the movie until I saw it at the screening, but I absolutely loved it,” she added. “I think it’s such a clever, funny, smart film. I really enjoyed it.”
Ellis-Bextor added that she was happy for Saltburn director Emerald Fennell to use her song, because they “didn’t really have a plan B” for the film.
She added “She just felt like it tied everything together in terms of the tone of the film and the juxtaposition of the sort of sweetness of the pop song, but also a little sting in the tail with the lyrics as well,” she said. “I think it works. But how lovely for me, I mean, look, I’ve been singing ‘Murder’ for over 20 years and it’s so nice that it still has the power to surprise me.”
