Sophie Ellis-Bextor had an awkward moment while performing Murder on the Dancefloor at the Bataclan, where dozens of people died in the Paris terror attacks.
The 44-year-old made no apologies for Tuesday’s performance at the infamous Paris venue and said it was an important tribute.
‘This is for everyone who has ever danced here at the Bataclan. “This is murder on the dance floor,” the singer said while on stage at the Bataclan, where 90 concertgoers were killed and 400 injured by Islamist terrorists on November 13, 2015.
Three gunmen linked to Isis burst into a concert by the American rock band Eagles of Death Metal and opened fire on around 1,500 people. This was part of a wider attack on Paris, which also hit cafes and restaurants and caused 130 deaths in total.
The show was Ellis-Bextor’s only concert in France after her 2001 dance hit regained international attention after appearing in the film Saltburn.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor (pictured during a show last year) had an awkward moment when she dedicated her song Murder on the Dancefloor to the victims of the 2015 Paris attacks during her concert at the Bataclan.
‘This is for everyone who has ever danced here at the Bataclan. “This is murder on the dance floor,” the singer said while on stage at the Bataclan (pictured), where 90 concertgoers were killed and 400 injured by Islamist terrorists on November 13, 2015.
Flowers tied to a fence outside the “Bataclan” concert hall during All Saints’ Day in Paris on November 1, 2016, one of the targets of the terrorist attacks of November 13, 2015, during which 130 people died and 413 others were injured in the French capital
“It didn’t feel right to just waltz to a song called Murder on the Dancefloor without noting and paying homage to the story,” he told the sold-out crowd.
‘All I want to say is that Murder on the Dancefloor is not a song with any evil at its heart.
“The intention of that song, like this place, is to bring joy and music to the dance floor.”
As the intro to the pop song began, Ellis-Bextor, who was wearing a bright pink jumpsuit and a purple glitter cape, added: “I love you, Paris.”
‘Murder on the Dancefloor’, co-written by Ellis-Bextor, is one of their biggest hits.
It was released in 2001 and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart, while also achieving great success abroad, including France and the United States.
As the intro to the pop song began, Ellis-Bextor, who was wearing a bright pink jumpsuit and a purple glitter cape, added: “I love you Paris.”
The 44-year-old (pictured singing at the BAFTAs) made no apologies for the performance at the infamous Paris venue on Tuesday and said it was an important tribute.
Flowers, candles and tributes line the pavement near the site of the Bataclan Theater terrorist attack on Friday, November 15, 2015 in Paris, France.
Ms Ellis Bextor, who is currently on a 10-date European tour, said she was delighted the song was used in the film Saltburn.
“What happened with this song and the fact that people who weren’t even born when it came out are listening to it is just spectacular,” he said.
The Bataclan, which has hosted some of the world’s biggest bands over the years, from Echo and the Bunnymen to the Velvet Underground, reopened a year after the 2015 attack, with a concert by Sting.
MailOnline has contacted representatives for Ms Ellis-Bextor for comment.
