# Murder on the Dancefloor

"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 debut studio 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.
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 top-ten and overall first entry on the chart.

## Background and release

In 1994, Gregg Alexander first wrote the song's hook and melody during a moment of frustration when his Ford Mustang would not start. Realising he would not be able to go to the Detroit house clubs that evening, Alexander reached for an acoustic guitar left in the back seat and began to sing "It's murder on the dancefloor, but you better not kill the groove." He later told The Guardian that it was "just a dummy lyric that was kind of sung for fun, but then I couldn't better it." In 1998, Alexander planned to record the song with his New Radicals group on their sole studio album Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too, but ultimately chose to record "You Get What You Give" and release that as the lead single instead. After disbanding the New Radicals in 1999, Alexander moved to Notting Hill in London and 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. It was released as a single on 3 December 2001 by Polydor Records. In 2019, a re-recorded orchestral version was released on Ellis-Bextor's compilation album The Song Diaries. In 2024, Alexander's demo version of "Murder on the Dancefloor" was released on streaming services under the name New Radicals.

## Chart performance

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. 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.
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. The same week, it re-peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart. 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. 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". 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.

## Music video

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller, and it centres around a dance competition which was inspired by the film They Shoot Horses Don't They? (1969) about a dance marathon. 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 and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Read My Lips album booklet.
Studios
* Recorded at Mayfair Studios (London, England)
* Mixed at Townhouse Studios (London, England)
* Mastered at Sony Music Studios (London, England)
Personnel
* Sophie Ellis-Bextor – writing
* Gregg Alexander – writing
* Yoad Nevo – guitars, percussion, programming
* John Themis – guitars
* Guy Pratt – bass
* Wired Strings – strings
* Rosie Wetters – string leader
* Nick Franglen – programming
* Matt Rowe – production
* Jeremy Wheatley – additional production, mixing
* Marco Rakascan – vocal recording
* James Loughrey – engineering
* Laurence Brazil – engineering assistant
* John Davis – mastering

## Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Murder on the Dancefloor" :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 6× Platinum | 420,000$^‡$ |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Platinum | 80,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Gold | 310,927 |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 300,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Gold | 50,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Portugal (AFP) | Gold | 5,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | 3× Platinum | 1,800,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | Platinum | 1,000,000$^‡$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||
Certifications for "Murder on the Dance floor" Royel Otis version :
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | Platinum | 70,000$^‡$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

Release dates and formats for "Murder on the Dancefloor" :
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Version | Label(s) |
| United Kingdom | 3 December 2001 | 12-inch vinylCDcassette | Original | Polydor |
| Australia | 11 February 2002 | CD | Original | Polydor |
| Canada | 19 March 2002 | CD | Original | Polydor |
| United States | 9 September 2002 | Contemporary hit radiorhythmic contemporary radio | Original | Casablanca |
| Various | 12 January 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | Remixes | Polydor |
| Various | 19 January 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | Sped up V2 | Polydor |
| Various | 26 January 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | Sped up | Polydor |
| Various | 2 February 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | Edits | Polydor |
| Italy | 2 February 2024 | Radio airplay | Original | Universal |
| Various | 9 February 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | PNAU remix | Polydor |
| United Kingdom | 14 February 2024 | 7-inch vinylCD | Original | Polydor |
| United Kingdom | 8 March 2024 | Digital downloadstreaming | David Guetta remixes | Polydor |