The viral hit from 2001 has experienced a major resurgence since it appeared in the 2023 Emerald Fennell film Saltburn
The 2024 BAFTA Awards isn’t exactly the proper place to recreate Barry Keoghan’s freewheeling naked dance scene in Emerald Fennell’s film Saltburn. But Sophie Ellis-Bextor will deliver a far more appropriate performance of her 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor,” which is currently experiencing a major resurgence thanks to the movie, at the 2024 BAFTA Awards.
“We are excited to announce that the amazing Sophie Ellis-Bextor will be performing live at the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2024! Tune in on Sunday 18 February on BBC One and iPlayer and BritBox in North America,” BAFTA shared on Instagram in a shared post with Ellis-Bextor, who added: “I am so excited … I’m already practicing some looks and I cannot wait.”
Saltburn racked up a number of nominations at this year’s BAFTAs, including Outstanding British Film. That award would be presented to producers Fennell, Josey McNamara, and Margot Robbie. Keoghan earned a nomination for Leading Actor for his role as the scheming Oliver Quick, with Jacob Elordi and Rosamund Pike earning nods for Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress, respectively. Anthony Willis, who helmed the film score, is nominated for Original Score.
“It actually feels really magical, and if I’m honest, I don’t think I’ve completely processed it really,” Ellis-Bextor recently told the BBC about the 23-year-old song’s resurgence. “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.”
The record sparked a TikTok trend of people, including Ellis-Bextor herself, dancing through hallways and stairwells. “One of the things I never prepared for is the fact that when you release anything into the world, any new music, it goes off and has its own journey,” she added. “And you’re along for the ride a bit. It also goes places you’re not expecting to go. So what’s happened with the song and how it’s got new people who weren’t even alive the first time it came out listening to it, it’s just spectacular.”