Releasing in November 2023, Emerald Fennel’s second feature film, Saltburn, saw viral popularity across all social media platforms. Saltburn is responsible for boosting the director’s career into the stratosphere, with the film being nominated earlier this month for two awards at the Golden Globes. One byproduct of Saltburn’s popularity is the resurgence of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 pop classic ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ .The track is played at the climactic end of the thriller, where actor Barry Keoghan dances nude around the titular estate. This, somewhat humorous scene, has been shared across the internet.
On TikTok, the track has been used in a trend where people show of their luxurious houses, drawing a parallel to between their own home and the film’s Saltburn House. The use of the track, particularly on TikTok, where the average user is likely to have missed ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ the first time round, has given the song a new lease on life. Back in 2001, Ellis-Bextor’s ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ peaked at the #2 spot on the UK’s top 100. Since Saltburn’s release ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ has climbed its way back up the top 100, finishing in second place last week.
Not only has the track from Ellis-Bextor’s debut album regained popularity domestically, but it has managed to squeeze itself into the US Billboard Top 100, taking the 58th spot. Unlike the track’s original 2001 run, ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ is seeing popularity on both sides of the Atlantic. Speaking to Vulture about the song’s cultural resurgence, Ellis-Bextor said: “the song is actually providing all the momentum and I can just sit back and be like, “Wow, this is special, is really unique.””
Again, speaking with Vulture, Ellis-Bextor said: “luckily for me, I had already starting working on the new album”. For Ellis-Bextor, the stars have aligned, and her new project will release off the back of her recent success. According to The Mail this project has been signed to Ellis-Bextor’s former label, with a music industry insider having said: “Sophie has become a global star again. Universal, her old record label, have snapped her up and she will be releasing new music later in the year.”
For those wanting to see Ellis-Bextor live, she is performing in a few venues across London, as well as touring throughout Europe in March of this year. Whether you are a new fan, drawn in by one of the catchiest hits of the 2000s, or you are a long-time fan of Sophie Ellis-Bextor, 2024 is proving to be an exciting year for the star.
