How ‘Saltburn’ Revived ‘Murder On The Dancefloor’ And Other Songs

SPOILER ALERT: This article discusses major plot points, including the ending for “Saltburn.”

Set in 2006 UK, Emerald Fennell’s film “Saltburn” has created a buzz with its nostalgic soundtrack, featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s “Murder on the Dancefloor,” MGMT’s “Time to Pretend,” and Flo Rida’s “Low.” These songs, now 20 years old, have experienced a surge in streaming, listening, and viewership since the film’s release, similar to the success of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” driven by “Stranger Things” and TikTok.

In “Saltburn,” Jacob Elordi plays Felix, an Oxford University student, and Barry Keoghan portrays Oliver, who becomes captivated by Felix’s world. As the plot intensifies at Saltburn, Oliver’s obsession with inheriting the family’s fortune takes a dark turn. The film culminates with a viral scene of a naked Oliver dancing through the empty halls of the estate to “Murder on the Dancefloor.”

Originally released in 2001, “Murder on the Dancefloor” was a massive hit for Sophie Ellis-Bextor, reaching No. 2 on the UK charts and becoming a global top 10 hit. Incredibly, the single recently returned to the Official Singles Chart Top 10 in the UK after 22 years, reaching No. 8 with its best-ever streaming week (2.2 million streams).

Fennell explained, “I just love that song so much. It was the only song that seemed fitting to tie the end of the film together.” Ellis-Bextor added, “It’s a dark, twisted, and witty ride… Lucky me, how nice to be surprised by an old friend like that song.”

Since the film’s release, “Murder on the Dancefloor” has had its highest daily global streams on Spotify, with a staggering 1.5 million streams on New Year’s Eve alone (an increase of 340% compared to the previous year). The single also entered Spotify’s Global chart for the first time, reaching No. 130. Additionally, it topped the DSP’s Viral 50 chart in the United States, gained new fans on TikTok through viral dance trends, and saw a 496% increase in global viewership for its music video on Vevo.

Other songs from the film’s soundtrack have also seen a boost in popularity. MGMT’s “Time to Pretend” experienced a surge of 115% in global views for its music video, and Princess Superstar’s club mashup with Mason, “Perfect (Exceeder),” reached No. 5 on Spotify’s Viral 50 chart in the US.

“Saltburn” has proven that even after years of release, songs can be revived and introduced to a new generation of fans. The film’s standout singles may have a long way to go before entering the Hot 100 Songs chart, but their resurgence shows that anything is possible when you set your mind to it.

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