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.

The song peaked at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart 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. Grime artist Skepta sampled the track on "Love Me Not" on his 2019 album Ignorance Is Bliss.

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 and was included in her album, "心口不一". The songwriting was also attributed to Gregg Alexander.

Reception

Critical reception
The song is deemed to be among Ellis-Bextor's fan favourite songs, with over 32 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, staying in the top fifty for twenty weeks, being accredited Platinum by ARIA and becoming the eleventh-highest selling single for 2002.

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

Cassette single
 "Murder on the Dancefloor" – 3:37
 "Murder on the Dancefloor" (Jewels & Stone Mix Edit) – 4:52

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

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

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications and sales

References

External links
 

Category:2001 singles
Category:2001 songs
Category:Sophie Ellis-Bextor songs
Category:Number-one singles in Poland
Category:Polydor Records singles
Category:Songs written by Gregg Alexander
Category:Songs written by Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Category:Music videos directed by Sophie Muller
Category:Song recordings produced by Gregg Alexander