For the final twenty years, English pop singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor has been more than pleased to divert her followers with performances of her deliciously cutthroat nudisco anthem “Homicide on the Dancefloor.” With prime 10 chart placements throughout Europe and Australia upon its 2002 launch, the track grew to become an indelible a part of the star’s profession.
“That track took me locations I’d by no means been earlier than, and it was at all times fairly a particular one for me,” Ellis-Bextor tells Billboard over a Zoom name, sporting a knit-pink sweater and perched atop a cushioned wicker chair. “[It] took me to Latin America and Southeast Asia and throughout Europe — it was already a track I related to journey and new issues and a pleasant, superb chapter of my life.”
So, when the star came upon that her track in the end debuted at No. 98 on this week’s Billboard Sizzling 100 (dated Jan. 13, 2024), greater than 20 years after its unique launch, she was naturally flabbergasted. “It’s superb, it’s magical, actually,” she says, disbelief nonetheless tinging her voice. “Nevertheless it’s very arduous to course of, if I’m sincere.”
The brand new wave of consideration for “Homicide on the Dancefloor” comes largely due to the track’s inclusion within the pivotal remaining scene of Emerald Fennell’s twisted 2023 thriller, Saltburn [spoilers ahead!]. On the conclusion of the movie, Oxford pupil and licensed maniac Oliver Fast (performed by Barry Keoghan) revels in having murdered his crush/obsession Felix Catton (Jacob Elordi) and his complete household the one method he is aware of how — dancing buck bare via the sprawling property he inherited from them to Ellis-Bextor’s gleeful observe.
It’s a scene that’s equal elements disturbing and hilarious, which Ellis-Bextor says is the right tone for her track’s inclusion. “I believe Barry Keoghan’s character within the film and mine within the music video usually are not so dissimilar,” she gives.
Under, Sophie Ellis-Bextor chats with Billboard about her track’s revival into pop cultural dialog, the bevy of TikTok developments it’s spawned over the past month and why she’ll by no means develop bored with singing her seminal single.
“Homicide on the Dancefloor” is formally having a renaissance! What does it imply so that you can have this track re-entering the general public consciousness 20-plus years into its existence?
I believe I’m nonetheless getting my head round that a little bit bit! My relationship with the track is nice, I carry out it on a regular basis — it’s been the track that folks affiliate probably the most with me. However to have it having this little wild journey on the charts is definitely bonkers.
I’m positive this was not in your bingo card for this 12 months.
It wasn’t, however I believe I discovered a very long time in the past that the bingo playing cards — they’re probably not what they’re made out to be. It’s a must to be open to the sudden. As a result of it’s good to be shocked, truly.
This track now formally marks your first-ever entry on the Sizzling 100, debuting at No. 98 this week. I do know the brand new wave of consideration has been very latest, however have you ever seen any distinction within the response between the U.Ok. audiences who actually responded to it initially, and the newer American viewers that’s discovering it at this time?
Yeah, nothing actually occurred in America with the track when it got here out in 2002. To have it doing new issues now could be actually extraordinary. To have new folks uncover it now, individuals who didn’t know in any respect, is insane.
The one method I’m actually seeing that’s via all of the viral stuff, as a result of it’s all fairly latest. A lot of thrilling issues occurred for me due to “Homicide on the Dancefloor” when it first got here out — actual profession highlights. However this resurgence is one thing that’s subsequent degree, as a result of while you begin out your profession, the whole lot’s about asking “the place may that lead?” Or, “if that occurs, then you definitely get to do that.” This time, I don’t actually need to assume like that. Momentum is such a wonderful, thrilling factor, and I simply need to take pleasure in no matter occurs.
The newfound success for the track is basically due to its inclusion within the wild remaining scene of Saltburn. Stroll me via the method of how you bought concerned within the film — when did Emerald Fennell or the manufacturing first attain out to you? How a lot of the plot have been you conscious of?
I knew only a few info! They requested for permission a couple of 12 months in the past, perhaps round springtime final 12 months. I knew the identify of the movie. I knew that Emerald Fennell was the author and director, so it was in protected arms. And I knew the scene would contain a personality dancing to the whole lot of the track utterly bare. That was it! And that was all I wanted, so I stated “sure,” instantly. After we obtained to the summer time, I began to listen to a little bit little bit of buzz across the film, and I used to be invited to go to a screening. So I went together with my entire household — my mother, my teenage son, my husband, my brother. Truly, they coped very properly, even once I had a few difficult moments.
I’m positive you probably did — having your son subsequent to you thru that movie should have been intense!
Effectively, he’s 19, so it wasn’t too unhealthy — although he was nonetheless sitting between his mom and his grandma! However not solely did we survive, all of us actually cherished it, and my son stated it was considered one of his favourite movies he’d ever seen. I believed it was sensible; it entertained me, it was darkish, it was humorous, it appeared stunning, and the music is used all through the film in a extremely intelligent method.
Agreed, and I believe that’s very true for “Homicide on the Dancefloor” — it matches completely into this darkish, campy ending, and while you’re listening to the lyrics of the track on this context, they grow to be a bit extra sinister. Did you expertise any of that feeling while you have been first watching it?
Sure, positively. However then I believe that track kind of lent itself a bit to that initially, as properly. As a result of within the music video, I’m not enjoying a goodie. I’m a nasty one that’s been very mischievous — I kill folks, I poison somebody, I chloroform somebody, I’m whipping folks out far and wide simply to win a dance competitors.
As you talked about, the scene additionally ended up creating a number of viral TikTok developments, the preferred exhibiting folks executing the movie’s choreography whereas transferring via their houses. Did you ever think about a track of yours changing into a Tiktok pattern?
Completely not! I’m a 44-year-old lady; I’m not saying you’ll be able to’t use TikTok in case you’re that age, however it’s lots much less probably, proper? I’ve my eldest son, and my subsequent one down is sort of 15, so we’ve got TikTok in the home, however it’s by no means coming from my cellphone. It’s fascinating, although, as a result of one minute [my sons] can be listening to The Shangri-Las, after which it’ll be Wham!, after which it is going to be a contemporary pop file. The songs come from throughout, from totally different many years. It’s like a file store that’s obtained the whole lot in inventory. It’s actually modified the way in which that youngsters take heed to music — it doesn’t need to be about what’s newly launched, it’s about what actually makes them really feel good within the second.
I do assume generally it seems like I’ve been invited to a celebration that I by no means thought I’d be a part of. I noticed Vogue used [the song] for a sequence of clips of individuals on the pink carpet of an awards present, after which it’s just a few youngsters and their canines dancing to it. That provides me a lot pleasure, as a result of no one needs their songs to only peter out. You need the dialog to maintain going, you need to know that somebody someplace is getting a raise from it.
It’s additionally price noting that this isn’t the one sync that this track obtained earlier this 12 months — considered one of my private favorites was the track being featured as a lip sync on season 3 of Drag Race Down Beneath final 12 months. What did you make of that efficiency?
It was so wonderful. I imply, simply being included in Drag Race is such an honor, full cease. I obtained to be a guest judge on Drag Race UK final 12 months, and I simply love the truth that that’s so mainstream now, as a result of it’s so groundbreaking. I believe the factor about Drag Race that I really like is that there’s this facade that’s very pulled collectively and thought of and unimaginable, however then you definitely’ve obtained the story behind it. That’s at all times the bit that brings the center and the vulnerability and I simply assume the juxtaposition of that’s so unimaginable.
That is a part of an ongoing pattern in music, the place these songs get syncs in main films and TV reveals, after which see record-breaking features. “Operating Up That Hill” involves thoughts, as does Matchbox Twenty’s “Push” from Barbie. What do you assume it’s about these track placements that results in such enormous outcomes for artists like your self?
Oh, golly. I suppose for me the dialog most likely begins earlier than that, while you ask why these administrators wished to make use of these songs. And generally, it’s one thing that’s a little bit bit within the ether already. With “Operating Up That Hill,” Stranger Issues was actually the tipping level, however I bear in mind seeing it utilized in Pose a number of years earlier than that on this scene was actually transferring. It may possibly really feel like there have been a number of little seeds you planted, after which abruptly you flip round and there’s a forest. Nothing like this occurs in a void. I believe that’s why it’s actually vital to understand how particular it’s, as a result of there is no such thing as a equation the place it may be completely manufactured. You want folks to really feel like they’re a part of it.
This has lengthy been the track that folks know you finest for. Some performers get fatigued with their “signature songs” — have you ever discovered your self feeling in any respect fatigued with “Homicide?”
Oh, no. I imply, I wouldn’t need to do a gig the place I simply sang it seven instances in a row, however I’m a music fan earlier than I’m a singer. So I at all times assume like I’m within the crowd; I at all times need to create a fine condition for the present, the place it’s obtained to complete with one thing that hopefully seals the deal. That journey has invariably, for 20-odd years, at all times ended with “Homicide on the Dancefloor.” I really feel like generally, when artists get humorous in regards to the songs that they’re identified for, I need to sit them down and say “Don’t take that with no consideration, mate! Don’t do some bizarre totally different model. Sing the one I understand how I do know it!”
Clearly, I hope that folks come to me via this track after which discover a few different issues they like. That might be great, I’ve laid numerous work out for them to go have a little bit look-see. But when I’m identified for one track for the remainder of my life, I’m not going to be churlish about it. I’ve already had a humiliation of riches as it’s — this is only one extra.