Sophie Ellis-Bextor was catapulted to stardom by her hit Murder On The Dancefloor 23 years ago.
And the singer has enjoyed a career boost in recent weeks after the 2001 song had a resurgence after it was featured in the Bafta-nominated movie Saltburn.
But Sophie, 44, may have a competition on her hands – fellow noughties pop sensation Natasha Bedingfield is making a fresh bid for number one.
Natasha’s song Unwritten, which was released in 2004 and experienced chart success on both sides of the Atlantic, has grabbed the attention of music fans again.
The track has re-entered the top 20 on the UK’s Official Singles Chart after it featured in Sydney Sweeney rom-com Anyone But You.
Sophie Ellis-Bextor has enjoyed a career boost in recent weeks after her hit Murder On The Dancefloor had a resurgence thanks to movie Saltburn – but she may have some competition (pictured in November last year)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor was catapulted to stardom by her hit Murder On The Dancefloor 23 years ago (pictured in the song’s video)
Natasha’s song Unwritten, which was released in 2004 and experienced chart success on both sides of the Atlantic, has grabbed the attention of music fans again (pictured last month)
Natasha’s song has been trending on TikTok as people use it in their videos, bringing it back to the attention of the masses and giving the star her first UK hit since her 2007 song Love Like This, on which she collaborated with Sean Kingston, and which reached number 20.
The musician said of her music making a comeback on social media: ‘I’ve had songs in movies before but this time I really love the way it’s been used in such a special way that it makes you feel joyful.’
She added: ‘People are actually singing it as they leave the theatre! Over the years Unwritten has somehow become an anthem to sing at the top of your lungs. This makes me the happiest girl in the world.’
Reality television fans will also know Natasha’s song Unwritten when it was used as the theme tune for MTV show The Hills from 2006 until 2010.
Following her recent chart success, it emerged last week that Sophie Ellis-Bextor clinched a big-money deal with her old record label.
Her song Murder On The Dancefloor features in the finale of Emerald Fennell’s much talked about film, when main character Oliver – played by Barry Keoghan – dances naked to the song.
The film’s popularity – with the dancing scene trending on social media – meant that the week before last Murder On The Dancefloor was in the top five most played tracks in the world.
The hit has also handed the singer success in the lucrative American market for the first time – something that friends of the star say has ‘taken her aback’.
The track has re-entered the top 20 on the UK’s Official Singles Chart after it featured in Sydney Sweeney rom-com Anyone But You (pictured in June last year)
A music industry source told the Mail on Sunday: ‘Sophie has become a global star again.
‘Universal, her old record label, have snapped her up and she will be releasing new music later in the year.
‘She is likely to be a bigger star than she was back in the day.
‘It has come out of nowhere for Sophie and she is thrilled and really excited.’
Sophie said: ‘It’s just an extraordinary thing and it’s quite hard to get my head around.
Sophie’s 2001 hit features in the finale of Emerald Fennell’s much talked about film Saltburn, when main character Oliver – played by Barry Keoghan (pictured) – dances naked to the song
‘It’s feeling a bit more real now, but I’m trying my best to just enjoy it.’
After hearing Murder On The Dancefloor live, Saltburn director Emerald Fennel, 38, was convinced it was the right song to use in her movie smash – not least because the lyrics fitted the script of the film.
During the pandemic, Sophie – daughter of former Blue Peter presenter Janet Ellis – became a sensation after dancing in her kitchen and putting clips on social media.
It led to her making an album called Songs From The Kitchen Disco and also won her a deal with the BBC, which airs a playlist of hers each week on its Sounds app.
Sophie has clinched a big-money deal with her old record label to make a pop comeback at the age of 44
