"The Dead Dance" is a song by American singer and songwriter Lady Gaga. A synth-pop and disco track, it was released as a single through Interscope Records on September 3, 2025, and was included on the digital reissue of her 2025 album Mayhem.[1][2] She wrote and produced the track with Andrew Watt and Cirkut, and described its lyrics as inspired by a romantic breakup, reflecting a shift from despair to joy and resilience through dance.[3]
"The Dead Dance" received positive reviews from journalists. 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" (1983) clip. The song is featured in the soundtrack for the second season of Wednesday (2025), in which Gaga also makes a guest appearance. Gaga performed "The Dead Dance" for the first time at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards, with a staging that referenced its music video. It has charted within the top 20 in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Slovakia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom as well as the top 30 in Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, and the Netherlands.
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]
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, series creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar explained that Gaga had reserved the song specifically for the show, saying: "When we heard the lyrics, it was almost as if she had written the song for the series. We always planned a big moment in episode seven, and this incredible track became the icing on the cake, turning it into a celebration of friendship and renewal for Enid and Agnes."[11]
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.[12] 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."[12] 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.[13][14][15] The song was released on September 3, 2025, coinciding with the release of the second half of the second season of Wednesday. The season featured the song in the seventh episode "Woe Me the Money", in which Enid (Emma Myers) and Agnes (Evie Templeton) perform a dance during the Nevermore Gala as a distraction.[16] Gaga herself also appeared as new character Rosaline Rotwood in the preceding episode, "Woe Thyself".[17][18] 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.[19] Shortly after, the track was also added to the digital tracklist of Mayhem on streaming platforms, making it the album's latest single.[2]
Composition
Cirkut (pictured) co-wrote and co-produced "The Dead Dance".
"The Dead Dance" was written and produced by Gaga, Andrew Watt, and Cirkut.[20] 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.[21] For Billboard, the song has "a vibrant 1980s electropop vibe, driven by funhouse keyboards and sparkling beats".[22] Various outlets noted the sonic influence of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (1982) on the song.[21][22]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.[23]
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".[24] According to GO, the song musically feels like a mix between the rhythms of Chromatica (2020) and the darker textures of Mayhem, while its lyrics "walk a line between defiant and somewhat more unsettling."[25] 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,[26] 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.[3]
Producer Andrew Watt told Rolling Stone that the team aimed to make the track "as danceable as possible" and that the production shifted several times depending on the title and the way Gaga sang. He added that "when we were working on the bridge, it got really funky, and that's where the line 'do the dead dance' came from".[27]
Critical reception
Billboard's Gil Kaufman found "The Dead Dance" a "banger"; one week later Jason Lipshutz, also from Billboard, called it a "twitchy, propulsive pop anthem".[22][28] On the day of its release, Daisy Carter of DIY opined that 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."[29] 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.[30] Joan Summers of Paper praised Gaga, 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."[31] Juliana Ukiomogre of Elle highlighted the chorus as "eerily haunting, with Gaga singing about dancing beyond the grave."[32] Javi Martínez of Los 40 wrote that the track "perfectly unites Burton's darkness with Gaga's dancefloor appeal", while Ana Rojas of the magazine's 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".[24][33]
Commercial performance
Internationally, "The Dead Dance" debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard Global 200, becoming the fourth track from Mayhem to reach the chart’s top 15.[34] It also entered at number ten on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, accumulating 28 million streams and 5,000 copies sold during the tracking week of September 5–11.[35]
In the United States, the track debuted at number forty on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated September 20, 2025, with 8.7 million official streams, 7.8 million in radio airplay audience, and 5,000 sold during the tracking week of September 5-11.[36] This achievement marked marked Gaga’s 29th career top-forty entry on the chart and the fourth from Mayhem, after "Die with a Smile", "Disease", and "Abracadabra".[36] Within Canada, it peaked at number 28 on the Canadian Hot 100.[37]
In the United Kingdom, it entered at number thirteen on the UK singles chart, marking the second-highest debut of the week and Gaga's 33rd top-40 song in the country.[38] This made Mayhem become her second album to place five songs within the top 40 in the UK.[39] In Germany, the track debuted at number twelve,[40] while in Switzerland it entered at number 17 and in Ireland it opened at number 30.[41][42] In France, the song debuted at number 38 on the French Singles Chart, becoming Gaga's thirty-first top-forty entry in the country.[43] Within Australia, "The Dead Dance" opened at number 50 and was the only new entry on the chart that week, rising to number 43 in its second week.[44]
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.[45][46] It was filmed at the Island of the Dolls in Mexico in mid-July 2025.[47][48]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.[49] 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".[50] 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".[51] 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.[52][53]
The choreography was handled by Parris Goebel, who had previously worked with Gaga on the music videos for "Disease" and "Abracadabra", with assistance from Corey Baker, while the costumes were designed by Colleen Atwood.[54][45] The visual effects were handled by the Mexican studio The Roots Production Service under the direction of Carlos Llergo,[55] with cinematography by Andrés Arochi and additional set and doll design provided by the art department under Burton's supervision.[56][57][58]
Synopsis
Gaga in a Victorian-inspired gown with cracked porcelain makeup, sitting among dolls in the graveyard set of the black-and-white video.
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.[59] 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.[60] The visual opens in black and white but introduces color as it progresses.[61][62] The choreography features abrupt, jerky movements that evoke a reanimated corpse.[16]
Gaga wears a Victorian-inspired outfit and makeup that gives the illusion of cracked porcelain.[54][63] 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.[64]
Reception
The music video received positive reviews upon release. Natalia Cano of Billboard described the video as combining "dark, gothic and fantastical elements" characteristic of both Gaga and Burton's work. She highlighted its filming on the Island of the Dolls in Xochimilco, a site filled with decaying dolls that create "a chilling and eerie atmosphere", and noted the choreography reminiscent of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" (1983) video.[65] Alexa Camp of Slant Magazine praised it, 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 movements that nod to the choreography from Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. She noted that the clip is largely black and white and highlighted Burton's involvement as both director and executive producer of Wednesday.[66] Bianca Betancourt of 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.[54]
Tim Burton (pictured in 2012) directed the song's music video.
Scott Sterling of Consequence 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.[67] Max Pilley of 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 (1975)".[68] Bianca Cosulich of Marie Claire praised the production for its aesthetic and choreography. She noted that it "revives one of Mexico's most famous urban legends" by being filmed on the Island of the Dolls in Xochimilco, and emphasized the positive fan reaction to how it "spotlights Mexican culture".[69] 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".[70][71]
Tyler Damara Kelly wrote for The Line of Best Fit that "the cinematic video shifts between stark black-and-white and bursts of vivid color, interweaving unsettling images of dolls with Gaga’s performance."[72] Sonal Pandya of Times Now noted the video's "macabre feel with porcelain doll imagery", highlighting Gaga's cracked doll styling and the shift from black-and-white to pink-tinted color.[73] Ricardo Vidal of ¡Hola! said that the video "dazzled with its dark and fantastical aesthetic" and added that "Lady Gaga and Tim Burton joined forces on a project as surprising as it is theatrical."[74]La Nación praised the choreography, describing the video as a "mega production" and noting that "the Mother Monster did it again", while also pointing out its nod to Michael Jackson's "Thriller".[75]Página 12 similarly described it as "a gothic visual that pays homage to 'Thriller' while reinterpreting it for a new generation", and emphasized the collaborative blend of Burton's style with Gaga's energy.[76] Andi Ortiz of TheWrap described the video as "about exactly as creepy as you would expect a collaboration between Lady Gaga and Tim Burton to be," while Sam Damshenas of Gay Times called it "a camp horror spectacle."[77][78] Mexican outlets such as El Universal and Telemundo praised the video's gothic and cinematic aesthetic, highlighting how the use of Xochimilco's Island of the Dolls added a "haunting atmosphere" and "cultural resonance" by bringing the site's legends to life.[79][80][81][82] Shortly after the video's release, a viral post on Twitter accused the production of using artificial intelligence (AI) to animate the dolls, citing alleged distortions in their hands during the chorus.[55] The claim sparked debate online, but official credits listed a VFX supervisor and a full team behind the animation. Line producer Carlos Llergo also denied the allegations, clarifying that the moving dolls were "animated in a VFX studio," and the video's on-location filming at the Island of the Dolls further reinforced its practical production.[83][84]
Live performances
Gaga performed "The Dead Dance" for the first time at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards on September 7,[85] in a pre-recorded segment filmed at Madison Square Garden in New York City the previous day, where she was performing as part of The Mayhem Ball.[86][87] The performance began with "Abracadabra", sung atop the Tudor-style red gown characteristic of the tour,[88] which opened to reveal the dancers. She then descended to the stage and launched into "The Dead Dance", wearing a white Victorian outfit and doll-like makeup with curly gray hair, similar to the music video.[89][90] Outlets such as Billboard, Rolling Stone, Harper's Bazaar, and Pitchfork highlighted its haunted-doll persona, gothic ballroom aesthetic, and hypnotic choreography.[89][91][92][93]Billboard also ranked it the third best performance of the event, writing that it "managed to cause one of the biggest sensations of the night", while Cosmopolitan considered it the best of the night, noting that "20 years into her career Gaga still has the vocals, choreo and fashion sense that made fans fall in love".[94][95]
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 37. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
↑ "מדיה פורסט – המצעד הבינלאומי השבועי – Week 38 – 14/09 – 20/09/2025"[Media Forest – International Weekly Chart – Week 38 – 14/09 – 20/09/2025] (Select the year 2025 and the option "38 14-09-25 20-09-25" from the stretched lists, then click "שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי" to see the chart.) (in Hebrew). Media Forest. September 21, 2025. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 38. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved September 22, 2025.
↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 37. týden 2025 in the date selector. Retrieved September 15, 2025.
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