Sophie Ellis-Bextor makes tribute before singing Murder on the Dancefloor in venue where 90 were killed

Sophie Ellis-Bextor recently performed at the Bataclan in Paris, but before she sung one of her most famous songs, she paid tribute to the memory of 90 people who lost their lives as a result of a terrorist attack on the venue in 2015.

Ellis-Bextor is currently on a European tour and on 5 March played in Paris, but before she performed 'Murder on the Dancefloor' she had some words for the crowd.

On 13 November 2015, the Bataclan was attacked by three Islamic State terrorists who conducted a mass shooting at the venue during a performance from the American band Eagles of Death Metal.

Three gunmen wearing suicide vests entered the venue and started shooting randomly, as well as taking hostages.

Police later stormed the Bataclan and two of the terrorists detonated their suicide vests, while a third was shot dead by officers before he could set his off.

The Bataclan was reopened in November 2016, a year after the terrorist attack.

The 2015 attacks were part of coordinated terrorist strikes on Paris, as on the same day three suicide bombers detonated their bombs outside the Stade de France while a game between France and Germany was going on.

Another group fired on cafes and restaurants in Paris, and in total 130 people were killed and more than 400 wounded.

With that grim context it makes sense that Ellis-Bextor would pay tribute to their memory before performing her song.

She said: "'Murder on the Dancefloor' is not a song with any evil in its heart.

"The whole intention of that song, like this venue, is to bring joy and music onto the dancefloor.

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

"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'."

She then started the song, much to the appreciation of the cheering crowd, who showed Ellis-Bextor their approval of her tribute.

The response online has also been overwhelmingly positive.

One X user said it had become 'an unforgettable evening in the name of resilience' and that the Bataclan was 'a place wounded and resurrected'.

'Murder on the Dancefloor' has always been popular, but the 2001 song recently experienced a resurgence due to being featured in the final scene of the movie Saltburn, where Barry Keoghan's character dances naked through a mansion to it.