Sophie Ellis-Bextor honored victims of the 2015 Bataclan terror attack before performing Murder on the Dancefloor at the Paris venue.
One hundred and thirty people lost their lives and more than 500 were injured in coordinated attacks by Isis-linked militants across the French capital on the night of November 13, 2015.
The most devastating attack occurred at the Bataclan, where terrorists opened fire on a crowd enjoying a performance by the American band Eagles of Death Metal.
As part of her European tour, Ellis-Bextor performed at the 1,500-capacity venue on Tuesday night, and recognised the sensitivity surrounding the song's lyrics in light of past events.Before the song started, she addressed the sold-out crowd: “It didn’t feel right to me to just waltz into a song called Murder on the Dancefloor without noting and paying tribute to the history.
“All I want to say is that Murder on the Dancefloor is not a song with any evil in its heart.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor dice due parole prima di cantare “Murder on the Dancefloor” sul palco del Bataclan di Parigi pic.twitter.com/BfwSgpbewL
— Bianca Chiriatti 🎙 (@BiancaBerry88) March 5, 2024
“The whole intention of that song, like this venue, is to bring joy and music onto the dancefloor,” she continued.
“So in tribute to that spirit, and in tribute to everybody who has ever danced right here at the Bataclan, this is Murder on the Dancefloor.”
The 44-year-old singer is currently touring Europe, after receiving fresh attention following the inclusion of her 2001 hit at the finale of Emerald Fennell's thriller Saltburn.
The film's scenes - namely Barry Keoghan’s nude dance scene - propelled the track back into the UK charts top 10, a remarkable feat 23 years after its initial release, and made its debut on the Billboard 100 in the US.
The Standard has contacted Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s rep for comment.
