"The Dead Dance" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga. It was released as a single through Interscope Records on September 3, 2025,[1] and was included on the digital reissue of her studio album Mayhem (2025).[2] She wrote and produced the track with Andrew Watt and Cirkut, and its lyrics are inspired by a romantic breakup, depicting the feeling of hopelessness in love that eventually turns into the joy of dancing after overcoming it.[3]
The song received a mostly favorable response from music critics, who praised its production and rhythm, with several describing it as "catchy" and "infectious." An accompanying music video, directed by Tim Burton and filmed on The Island of the Dolls in Mexico, premiered on September 3, 2025. The video received praise for its gothic, horror-inspired aesthetic and choreography, and was favorably compared to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" clip. The song was featured in the soundtrack of the second season of Wednesday, in which Gaga also made a guest appearance.
Background and development
Following the release of the television series Wednesday in November 2022,[4] a sped-up version of "Bloody Mary" (2011) by American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga was used alongside the titular character's dance and its fan recreations for video-sharing platform TikTok, which soon achieved viral popularity.[5] Gaga herself acknowledged it and recreated the dance in a black-and-white video on December 9 that year, wearing goth makeup and an outfit similar to the one worn by actress Jenna Ortega.[6]
The series was renewed for a second season and began filming in Ireland, according to Deadline Hollywood on May 7, 2024.[7]Entertainment Weekly revealed on November 13 that Gaga had joined the cast in an undisclosed role.[8] A year later, Gaga and Ortega appeared as special guests for Tudum, a pop culture event for streaming service Netflix, and performed a medley of "Zombieboy", "Abracadabra", and "Bloody Mary" on June 1, 2025.[9] Gaga told Tudum.com that her involvement with Wednesday season 2 began when she was contacted about the show's search for new music. She already had a fitting song in mind, which ultimately also secured her a role in the series. She explained:
I immediately had a song in mind called 'The Dead Dance', and I had started working on it. But once I knew it was going to be for Wednesday, I decided that I was going to work on it even more, and I made it extra special for the show. To me, when you know that music and pop culture and Tim Burton all come together with this cast, that's a very special recipe.[10]
Promotion and release
In late August 2025, Gaga teased the song during a virtual "meet and greet" event on the gaming platform Roblox, where she and fans designed Mayhem-inspired outfits for a Dress to Impresscatwalk competition.[11] She later confirmed her participation by sharing a photo of herself playing the game on an iPad with the caption, "In case you were wondering if it was me."[11] On August 28, Gaga made a surprise appearance at Netflix and Spotify's Wednesday "Graveyard Gala" event in New York City, where she officially announced "The Dead Dance" and previewed the track for attendees inside themed coffins.[12][13][14] The song was released on September 3, 2025, coinciding with the release of the second half of Wednesday season two, featuring both the song in episode 7 and Gaga herself as new character Rosaline Rotwood in episode 6.[15][16] On September 2, Gaga unveiled the single's cover art and confirmed the release schedule for the track and its accompanying music video through a social media post.[17] Shortly after, the track was also added to the digital tracklist of Mayhem on streaming platforms, making it the album's latest single.[2] "The Dead Dance" was featured in the seventh episode of Wednesday's second season, where Enid (Emma Myers) and Agnes (Evie Templeton) perform a dance during the Nevermore Gala as a distraction.[18]
Composition
"The Dead Dance" was written and produced by Gaga, Andrew Watt, and Cirkut.[3] According to NME, the track blends spooky and funky elements, with Gaga urging listeners to join in a "dead dance" against a backdrop of pulsing bass, 1980s inspired synths, and flashes of electric guitar.[19] For Billboard, the song has "a vibrant 1980s electropop vibe, driven by funhouse keyboards and sparkling beats".[20] Various outlets noted the sonic influence of Michael Jackson's Thriller (1982) on the song.[19][20]Stereogum described it as an upbeat track, situated stylistically between Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (1983) and Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" (2013). In the chorus, Gaga predominantly uses her head voice, accompanied by bright funk guitar textures.[21]Los 40 viewed the lyrics as an extension of Wednesday's dark aesthetic, noting that they speak of "transformation through pain, resurrection through rhythm, and empowerment through rebellion", suggesting "a rebirth through music and movement, echoing Wednesday Addams's own journey of self-discovery and rebellion". The outlet also highlighted the chorus line "I'll keep on dancing until I'm dead", which they interpreted both literally and metaphorically as evoking dance as "resistance, survival, and affirmation of identity even in the face of emotional death".[22] At Netflix's "Graveyard Gala" event, Gaga explained that the track deals with the aftermath of a breakup and the shift from despair to finding joy with friends,[23] elaborating:
The inspiration for "The Dead Dance" was a breakup, and it was all about the way that we sometimes feel when it's over; how a relationship ending can kill our ability to feel hopeful about love. It's got this really cool, funky beat underneath it. And that is when the song becomes not just about the relationship; it becomes about having fun with your friends when you've been through something tough and amazing.[24]
Critical reception
The song received critical acclaim. Billboard's Gil Kaufman found "The Dead Dance" a "banger", while the outlet's Ralph Regis called it "an infectious pop anthem".[20][25] Daisy Carter of DIY opined the song is "an all-out instant classic that calls back to the pulsing synth-pop of Gaga's earliest days, while also incorporating an irresistible discobassline."[26] Tomás Mier and Emily Zemler of Rolling Stone called it a "vibrant pop track" and an "infectious contribution" to the Wednesday soundtrack, also praising its rhythm.[27] Joan Summers of Paper praised Gaga, Andrew Watt, and Cirkut for their work on the production, stating that “its most memorable parts are the pounding synths that kick in during the second verse.”[28] Javi Martínez of Los 40 (Spain) wrote that the track “perfectly unites Burton’s darkness with Gaga’s dancefloor appeal”, while the U.S. edition stated that it “continues the gothic pop legacy” started by “Bloody Mary” by combining “Gaga’s theatrical pop with Tim Burton’s macabre narrative”, placing it “at the intersection of horror and glam, a perfect match for Wednesday’s tone”.[22][29]
Music video
Development
The music video for "The Dead Dance" was directed by Burton and produced by Gaga and Michael Polansky, alongside Burton and Natalie Testa.[30][31] It was filmed at the Island of the Dolls in Mexico in mid-July 2025.[32][33]The Express Tribune reported on July 10, that Gaga and Burton had been seen filming a music video on the Island of the Dolls, located in the south of Mexico City, Mexico.[34] During the Giffoni Film Festival on July 25, Burton spoke about Gaga's contribution to Wednesday and hinted that he had "done something else with her".[35] Following the premiere of Wednesday's second season, Variety reported on August 4 that Gaga and Burton filmed a music video for a song supposedly titled "Dead Dance".[36] Regarding his experience developing the video, Burton praised Gaga's work and described her as "inspiring", while also expressing his desire to collaborate with her again in the future.[37][38] The choreography was handled by Parris Goebel, who had previously worked with Gaga on the music videos for "Disease" and "Abracadabra",[39] while the costumes were designed by Colleen Atwood.[30]
Synopsis
Gaga hanging on a wall among dozens of worn dolls in the opening scene of the black-and-white music video, wearing a Victorian-inspired outfit with cracked porcelain makeup.
The music video takes place in a graveyard and begins with Gaga perched on a wall surrounded by dozens of dolls, which gradually come to life as she starts to dance.[40] During the first chorus, masked dancers join her to perform a choreographed routine as night falls and more dolls awaken to the rhythm of the song.[41] The visual opens in black and white but introduces color as it progresses.[42][43] The choreography features abrupt, jerky movements that evoke a reanimated corpse.[18] Gaga wears a Victorian-inspired outfit and makeup that gives the illusion of cracked porcelain.[39][44] Her ensemble consists of a two-piece set with a corsetbustier and ribbon details, paired with a tiered skirt. Toward the end of the video, she removes both garments to reveal a babydoll tank top and puffed pants. Her look is completed with tightly coiled platinum blonde curls and makeup emphasizing pale, fractured skin with jet-black lipstick.[45]
Reception
The music video received positive reviews upon release. Slant Magazine praised the video, writing that it presents Gaga "looking like a cross between Baby Jane and Courtney Love" and portrays her as "a possessed doll who spasms to life with zombie dance moves that nod to the choreography from Michael Jackson's legendary 'Thriller' video". The outlet noted that the clip is largely black and white and highlighted Tim Burton's involvement as both director and executive producer of Wednesday.[46]Consequence also highlighted the visuals, noting the abundance of creepy dolls—including Gaga herself, who spasms to life before being joined by backup dancers—and observed that while the video begins in black and white, it briefly shifts to color during its final third.[47]Harper's Bazaar described the video as "quintessential Gaga" and praised it as a "fabulously frightening" visual, highlighting Burton's direction and Parris Goebel's choreography.[39]
Marie Claire also praised the production for its aesthetic and choreography, noting that it "revives one of Mexico’s most famous urban legends" by being filmed on the Island of the Dolls in Xochimilco, and highlighted the positive fan reaction to how it "spotlights Mexican culture".[48] Alba Benito of Los 40 considered it one of the most striking videos of Gaga's career, stating that "with a black-and-white film aesthetic, it recalls horror classics but with a modern, pop twist", while The Express Tribune described it as "a spectacle that feels both theatrical and sinister".[49][50]NME highlighted the "black-and-white visuals with abandoned dolls brought to life by the song's funk-inspired hooks", adding that Gaga's "angular dance moves invoke 'Thriller' and The Rocky Horror Picture Show".[51] Shortly after the video's release, a viral post on Twitter accused the production of using artificial intelligence (AI) to animate the dolls. Members of the production team, including line producer Carlos Llergo, denied the allegations, clarifying that the moving dolls were created in a VFX studio.[52]
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