"Murder on the Dancefloor" is a song written by Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Gregg Alexander, produced by Alexander and Matt Rowe for Ellis-Bextor's first album, Read My Lips (2001). Released on 3 December 2001, the song peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart and became a top-10 hit worldwide, charting within the top three in Australia, New Zealand, and four European countries. In the United States, the single reached number nine on the Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales chart. "Murder on the Dancefloor" is reported to have been the most played song in Europe in 2002.^[2]

In January 2024, following its use in the film Saltburn and its subsequent popularity on TikTok, "Murder on the Dancefloor" again reached number two on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Ellis-Bextor's first top-10 appearance since 2007. It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 the same month, making it Ellis-Bextor's first appearance on that chart. It also peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Global 200, her first overall and top-10 entry on the chart.^[3]

The music and the chorus of the song were written by Gregg Alexander, and the lyrics were completed by Sophie Ellis-Bextor. The song initially started out as a partially completed demo by Alexander, with only half of the lyrics done. The song was originally planned to be a New Radicals track for the album Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too. Alexander revealed in numerous interviews that it was intended to be the New Radicals' first single, but ultimately was unfinished due to budget constraints. He instead chose to complete a different first single for the album: "You Get What You Give". Murder on the Dancefloor was shelved thereafter due to Alexander dissolving the band. In early 2001, Alexander met Ellis-Bextor, providing her with his unfinished demo. They ultimately re-tooled parts of the song and completed the lyrics together later that year.^[4] It was released as a single on 3 December 2001 by Polydor Records.^[5][6] In 2019, a re-recorded orchestral version was released on Ellis-Bextor's greatest hits package The Song Diaries.^[7]

The song is Ellis-Bextor's greatest hit internationally, reaching the top 10 in several European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada, as well as on the US Billboard Maxi-Singles Sales chart. In the UK it peaked at number two and spent 13 weeks in the top 40. Since its release, it has accumulated one million chart units and 71 million combined audio and video streams in the UK.^[8] It was a hit in Australia, peaking at number three, staying in the top 50 for 20 weeks, being accredited platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), and becoming the 12th-highest-selling single of 2002.^{[9][10][failed verification][11]}

After appearing in the film Saltburn, the song gained new popularity and re-entered the UK Dance Singles Chart, reaching number one on the chart dated 18 January 2024.^[12] The same week, it re-peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart.^[13] It entered the US Billboard Hot 100 at number 98 on the chart dated 13 January 2024, making it Ellis-Bextor's first song to chart on the Hot 100, before peaking at number 51 three weeks later.^[14] Commenting on the song's new popularity as a result of its use in the film, Ellis-Bextor was quoted as saying, "It actually feels really magical. And if I'm honest, I don't think I've completely processed it really...It's extraordinary. It's a song I've been singing for over 20 years, I still love singing it. I love the way people react when I do it live. But for new people to be discovering it, for it to be making new memories with people is kind of beautiful".^[15] In February, a cover performed by Royel Otis on Triple J's Like a Version charted in the ARIA Top 50 Singles and the Official New Zealand Music Chart.^[16]

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller,^[1] and it centres around a dance competition that spoofs the gym dance sequence in Grease (1978). The winner's prize consists of a pair of golden high-heel shoes and a substantial amount of money. Desperate to win and sizing up the competition, Ellis-Bextor proceeds to sneakily injure and disqualify the majority of the other dancers. She trips one then unties another's dress and snatches it off her, causing her to run off. Next she slyly poisons a trio of potential rivals by spiking the punch during a refreshment period. Then she causes another to slip on a pat of butter and finally frames a dancer for cheating on his partner by planting a G-string on his person; this results in his partner slapping him and exiting the dance floor.

Ellis-Bextor also turns her attention to the trio of judges. By using what seems to be chloroform, she incapacitates the only female judge on the panel. Noticing that the lead judge (played by Colin Stinton) has a weak spot for beautiful women, Ellis-Bextor approaches him when he is alone and beguiles him. Lovestruck, the lead judge succeeds in persuading the remaining judge to have Ellis-Bextor declared the winner, much to her fellow dancers' disapproval.

The video concludes with the other dancers grudgingly applauding (before promptly deserting) Ellis-Bextor and her dance partner, as she happily clutches her cash prize and the golden shoes on the winner's podium.

Credits are lifted from the Read My Lips album booklet.^[23]

Studios

• Recorded at Mayfair Studios (London, England)
• Mixed at Townhouse Studios (London, England)
• Mastered at Sony Music Studios (London, England)

Personnel