Sophie Ellis-Bextor performs “Murder on the Dance Floor” on stage during the EE BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall in February 2024 in London, England.Photo:Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty
Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty
Sophie Ellis-Bextordelivered an important tribute at one of her recent shows.
On Tuesday, the British pop star, 44, honored victims of the 2015 Paris tragedy at the Bataclan — where90 people were killedincoordinated terrorist attacksduring an Eagles of Death Metal concert — during her tour stop at the same venue amid her European tour.
Ellis-Bextor spoke about the horrific events before performing her 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor,” which found acultural resurgence after the release of Emerald Fennell’s filmSaltburnin November.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor in London in February 2024.Joe Maher/BAFTA/Getty
“It didn’t feel right to me to just waltz into a song called ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ without noting and paying tribute to the history,” she said, according toSkyNews.
Infan-recorded footageof the performance, Ellis-Bextor continued, “All I want to say is that ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’ is not a song with any evil in its heart."
She added: “The whole intention of that song, like this venue, is to bring joy and music onto the dancefloor. So in tribute to that spirit, and in tribute to everybody who has ever danced right here at the Bataclan, this is ‘Murder on the Dancefloor’.”
Sophie Ellis-Bextor in Reading in July 2023.Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty
Jed Cullen/Dave Benett/Getty
Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor,” originally released on her 2001 debut solo albumRead My Lips, has gone viral on TikTok and become somewhat of a pop culture phenomenon. (In the film, the tune plays for an extended period while starBarry Keoghandances through the titular mansion in the nude.)
“Murder on the Dancefloor” received itsmost-ever streams in a single day on Spotifyon New Year’s Eve heading into 2024, and it’s since appeared on theBillboardHot 100for the first time ever and returned to theU.K. Singles Chart.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor in Los Angeles in November 2023.Frazer Harrison/Gett
Frazer Harrison/Gett
The hitmaker has also performed the infectious dance-pop track onThe Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallonand during the2024 BAFTAs.
She added: “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. I think it’s such a clever, funny, smart film. I really enjoyed it.”
source: people.com
