You’ve probably seen the clip. A blonde girl in a tracksuit, bathed in neon pink and blue light, looking absolutely exhausted but singing her guts out. It’s haunting. It’s raw. And it’s not Robyn. It’s Elle Fanning dancing on my own in a way that most people didn’t think an "indie darling" actress could pull off.
When Teen Spirit hit theaters in 2019, the internet had a collective "wait, what?" moment. We knew Elle Fanning from period pieces and Maleficent, but suddenly she was channeling a grime-adjacent pop starlet from the Isle of Wight. The centerpiece of the whole movie—and the reason it still pops up on TikTok and YouTube feeds years later—is her cover of Robyn’s "Dancing On My Own."
The big question: Is it really her voice?
Let's kill the skepticism right now. Yes, that is 100% Elle Fanning. Honestly, she didn't just step into a booth and record a track; she trained like an athlete for this.
Director Max Minghella (who you might know as Nick from The Handmaid’s Tale) was pretty adamant about authenticity. He didn't want a "shippy" pop record that sounded like it was manufactured in a lab. He wanted the grit. To get there, Fanning spent three months working with Marius de Vries. If that name sounds familiar, it should—he’s the music director behind La La Land and Moulin Rouge!.
They didn't just practice scales. De Vries reportedly filmed her and made her watch the footage back, forcing her to confront her own stage presence. It was about more than hitting the notes; it was about the "ugly" parts of singing. The gasps for air. The shaky vibrato when a character is nervous. When you watch Elle Fanning dancing on my own, you aren’t hearing a polished studio edit. You’re hearing a girl who spent her weekends watching Katy Perry and Taylor Swift concert films to figure out how to hold a microphone like she owned it.
Why this cover hit differently
The original Robyn version is the gold standard of "sad bangers." It’s a synth-pop masterpiece about isolation. Then Calum Scott came along and turned it into a piano ballad that, frankly, some people found a bit too sentimental.
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Fanning’s version sits in this weird, beautiful middle ground. It keeps the driving, industrial heartbeat of the original but strips away the "superstar" sheen. Her character, Violet, is a Polish immigrant living in a cramped house, working in a bar, and basically feeling like a ghost in her own life. When she sings "I'm in the corner, watching you kiss her," it doesn't feel like a club anthem. It feels like a private breakdown.
Breaking down the performance
The scene in the film isn't a massive stadium show. It’s an audition. She’s standing in front of judges who look like they’d rather be anywhere else.
- The Look: No sequins. Just a hoodie and messy hair.
- The Movement: It starts stiff. You can see her hands shaking.
- The Shift: About halfway through, something clicks. The "dancing on my own" part becomes literal. She stops caring about the judges and starts moving for herself.
Critics were surprisingly split on the movie, but almost everyone agreed on Fanning. The New York Times basically said the music might belong to Robyn, but the journey belonged to Elle. It's a "human" performance. It’s imperfect. That’s why it works.
What happened behind the scenes?
Interestingly, Max Minghella didn't even know Elle could sing when he cast her. He just knew she had the "vibe" of Violet. It was a massive gamble. Imagine hiring a lead for a musical and then finding out they’re tone-deaf. Luckily, Fanning had a history with choir and had even done a little singing in the sci-fi flick How to Talk to Girls at Parties.
She actually performed the songs live on set. That’s rare. Usually, actors lip-sync to a pre-recorded track to ensure perfect sound quality. But for the Elle Fanning dancing on my own sequence, they wanted the live energy. You can hear the physical strain in her voice, which is exactly what makes that specific scene feel so relatable to anyone who’s ever felt like an underdog.
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The "Teen Spirit" legacy
The movie didn't break the box office. It’s become a bit of a cult classic instead. But the soundtrack? That thing is a beast. It features covers of Sigrid, Ellie Goulding, and even an original song written by Carly Rae Jepsen called "Wildflowers."
But the Robyn cover remains the anchor. It’s the song that defines the film’s "neon-noir" aesthetic. Even if you haven't seen the movie, you've probably seen the "Dancing On My Own" music video version which uses clips from the film. It has millions of views for a reason. People love seeing a "serious" actress lose her mind to a pop beat.
How to get that "Violet" sound
If you’re a singer or a fan trying to figure out why her version sounds so distinct, it’s all in the "breathiness."
- Lower Register: She stays quite low in her range for the verses, which adds to the "muttering to yourself" feel.
- The Build: She doesn't belt early. She saves the power for the final chorus.
- Vulnerability: She lets her voice crack. In modern pop, cracks are usually autotuned out. Here, they're the highlight.
Basically, it’s a masterclass in acting through song. She isn't trying to be a better singer than Robyn—that’s impossible. She’s trying to be a girl who needs to sing that song to survive her day.
What to do next
If you're obsessed with this specific vibe, don't stop at the YouTube clip.
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Watch the full movie: Teen Spirit is worth it for the cinematography alone. It was shot by Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who also did Loki and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. It looks incredible.
Listen to the soundtrack: Check out Fanning's cover of "Don't Kill My Vibe" by Sigrid. It’s arguably even more energetic than the Robyn cover.
Follow the career pivot: Elle hasn't pivoted to a full-time music career (she’s too busy being an Emmy-nominated lead in The Great), but this performance proved she’s one of the most versatile actors of her generation. She’s not just a face; she’s a voice.
Next time you’re feeling a bit lonely or like the world is ignoring you, put on the Elle Fanning dancing on my own version. It’s the ultimate "sad girl" anthem for people who still want to dance through the mess.
Check out the official soundtrack on Spotify or Apple Music to hear the high-fidelity version of the track—it’s a much deeper experience than the compressed audio you’ll find on social media clips.