Murder on the Dancefloor

"Murder on the Dancefloor" is a song written by Gregg Alexander and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, produced by Alexander and Matt Rowe for Ellis-Bextor's first album, Read My Lips. After the release of "Take Me Home" in August 2001, Ellis-Bextor released her best-selling single to date in December 2001.

"Murder on the Dancefloor"
Single by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
from the album Read My Lips
B-side"Never Let Me Down"
Released3 December 2001
Recorded2001
StudioMayfair Studios
(London, England)
GenreNu-disco
Length3:52 (album version)
3:38 (radio edit)
LabelPolydor, Universal
Songwriter(s)Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Gregg Alexander
Producer(s)Gregg Alexander, Matt Rowe
Sophie Ellis-Bextor singles chronology
"Take Me Home"
(2001)		 "Murder on the Dancefloor"
(2001)		 "Get Over You / Move This Mountain"
(2002)

The song peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart[1] and stayed on the charts for 23 weeks. It became a top 10 hit all around the world, except in the United States, where the song was not published as a physical single. The song is reported to have been the most played song in Europe in 2002.[2] Grime artist Skepta sampled the track on "Love Me Not" on his 2019 album Ignorance Is Bliss.[3]

Background and release

The follow-up single to "Take Me Home (A Girl Like Me)" was originally planned to be "Lover", an album track from Read My Lips, as read in first edition album stickers and announced by the label, but for unknown reasons the release was cancelled and replaced by "Murder on the Dancefloor" that turned out to be Sophie's biggest hit..

In January 2019, a re-recorded orchestal version was released as the third single off Ellis-Bextor's greatest hits package The Song Diaries.

Covers

A Chinese version by Hong Kong singer Kelly Chen entitled "最愛你的是我" was produced in 2003[4] and was included in her album, "心口不一".[5]

A reggae version was released in 2005 by Swedish rapper Papa Dee with reworked lyrics under the title of "Murder In The Dancehall", it features Richie Stephens & General Degree.

The songwriting for the covers is attributed to Gregg Alexander.

Reception

Critical reception

The song is deemed to be among Ellis-Bextor's fan favourite songs, with almost 50 million combined views on YouTube.

Charts and certifications

The song is Ellis-Bextor's greatest hit so far internationally. It was a hit in Australia, peaking at number 3,[6] staying in the top fifty for twenty weeks,[6] being accredited Platinum by Australian Recording Industry Association,[7] and becoming the twelfth-highest-selling single for 2002.[8]

Music video

The music video was directed by Sophie Muller and it centres around a dance competition. The winner's prize consists of a pair of golden high-heel shoes and a substantial amount of money. Desperate to win, Ellis-Bextor proceeds to sneakily injure and disqualify the majority of the other dancers. She causes one to slip on butter, before tripping up another, who sees her do it and angrily points at her to no avail. Next she slyly poisons a trio of potential rivals by spiking the punch during a refreshment period and then unstraps a female contestant's clothes causing her to run off. She finally frames a male 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 then turns her attention to the trio of judges. By using what seems to be chloroform, she incapacitates the only female judge on the panel. Once the competition is down to the final four couples, Ellis-Bextor notices that the lead judge (played by Colin Stinton) has a weak spot for beautiful women. Using this to her advantage, Ellis-Bextor approaches him when he is alone at the judging table and seduces 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.

Track listing

UK CD single

  1. "Murder on the Dancefloor" – 3:53
  2. "Never Let Me Down" – 3:46
  3. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Parky & Birchy Remix) – 7:24
  4. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (video) – 3:50

Cassette single

  1. "Murder on the Dancefloor" – 3:37
  2. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Jewels & Stone Mix Edit) – 4:52

German CD single

  1. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (radio edit) – 3:37
  2. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (extended album version) – 5:32
  3. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Jewels & Stone Mix Edit) – 4:50
  4. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (G-Club Vocal Mix Edit) – 5:10
  5. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Phunk Investigation Vocal Edit) – 5:07
  6. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Parky & Birchy Remix) – 7:22
  7. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Twin Murder Club Mix) – 7:11

France CD single

  1. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (album version) – 3:57
  2. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (French & Fresh Club Remix By RLS & Jeepee) – 6:20
  3. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Phunk Investigation Vocal Edit) – 5:09
  4. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Energized Mix By Guéna LG) – 5:32
  5. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (G-Club Vocal Mix Edit) – 5:11

Brazil CD maxi-single

  1. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (album version) – 3:50
  2. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (extended album version) – 5:30
  3. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (G-Club Vocal Mix Edit) – 5:08
  4. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (G-Club Vocal Mix) – 8:05
  5. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (G-Club Dub Mix) – 6:36
  6. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Jewels & Stone Mix Edit) – 4:51
  7. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Jewels & Stone Remix) – 5:39
  8. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Phunk Investigation Vocal Edit) – 5:07
  9. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Phunk Investigation Vocal Mix) – 8:30
  10. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Parky & Birchy Remix) – 7:23
  11. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Twin Murder Club Mix) - 7:07
  12. "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Danny D Remix) – 7:56

Charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[7] Platinum 70,000^
Belgium (BEA)[50] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[51] Gold 250,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[52] Platinum 600,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
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  2. Stadlen, Matthew (27 December 2014). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: 'I'll forgo anything to be there for my children'". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 1 October 2018.
  3. Bassett, Jordan. "Skepta – 'Ignorance Is Bliss' review". NME. Retrieved 31 May 2019.
  4. "Yahoo! Entertainment - 最愛你的是我" Yahoo! Entertainment; Retrieved 26 September 2018
  5. "KKBOX - 心口不一" KKBOX; Retrieved 26 September 2018
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