Lady Gaga has shared her highly anticipated new single “The Dead Dance,” accompanied by a music video directed by Tim Burton. The song, along with previously CD-exclusive tracks, “Can’t Stop the High” and “Kill For Love,” has been added to her number one album, MAYHEM, on streaming platforms.
The release coincides with her cameo as Rosaline Rotwood in the Netflix show Wednesday, directed and executive-produced by Burton. Gaga stumbled upon the Wednesday universe in 2022, when her song “Bloody Mary” saw a resurgence after a video of the show’s main character, Wednesday Adams (played by Jenna Ortega), dancing along to it went viral on social media. Now, in a full-circle moment followed by months of fan speculation, the singer-turned-actress returns to form in the dance floor-ready banger.
Known for frequently referencing monsters in her music, Gaga picks up where she left off with MAYHEM, a predominantly dark pop record with hits like “Disease” and “Abracadabra.” On “The Dead Dance,” she builds an eerie ambience in the verses with 80s-inspired synths before fully breaking into an irresistible disco-heavy chorus where she sings, “‘Cause when you killed me inside / That’s when I came alive / Yeah, the music’s gonna bring me back from death / I’m dancing until I’m dead.”
While speaking to Tudum about the meaning of the song, Gaga revealed:
“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.”
The music video for the new single marks Tim Burton and Lady Gaga’s first post-Wednesday collaboration. Filmed on the Island of the Dolls, Mexico, a destination famous for its haunted dolls, the video features the singer dressed as a haunted doll herself while she dances to zombie-like choreography.
Written and produced by Gaga and MAYHEM collaborators Andrew Watt and Cirkut, “The Dead Dance” is yet another reminder that no one can create a catchy chorus like Lady Gaga. As she is currently on The Mayhem Ball tour, we hope to see a live debut of the new track soon. She has also been recently announced as a performer at MTV’s Video Music Awards on September 7.
Watch the official music video of “The Dead Dance” here:
Buy tickets to see Lady Gaga at the Mayhem Ball Tour here.
MAYHEM Ball Tour Dates:
9/6 – New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden
9/7 – New York City, NY – Madison Square Garden
9/10 – Toronto, ON – ScotiaBank Arena
9/11 – Toronto, ON – ScotiaBank Arena
9/13 – Toronto, ON – ScotiaBank Arena
9/15 – Chicago, IL – United Center
9/17 – Chicago, IL – United Center
9/18 – Chicago, IL – United Center
9/29 – London, UK – The O2
9/30 – London, UK – The O2
10/2 – London, UK – The O2
10/4 – London, UK – The O2
10/7 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
10/8 – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
10/12 – Stockholm, SE
10/13 – Stockholm, SE
10/15 – Stockholm, SE
10/19 – Milan, IT
10/20 – Milan, IT
10/28 – Barcelona, ES
10/29 – Barcelona, ES
10/31 – Barcelona, ES
11/4 – Berlin, DE
11/5 – Berlin, DE
11/9 – Amsterdam, NL
11/11 – Antwerp, BE
11/13 – Lyon, FR – LDLC Arena
11/14 – Lyon, FR – LDLC Arena
11/17 – Paris, FR – ACCOR Arena
11/18 – Paris, FR – ACCOR Arena
11/20 – Paris, FR – ACCOR Arena
11/22 – Paris, FR – ACCOR Arena
12/5 – Melbourne, AU
12/6 – Melbourne, AU
12/9 – Brisbane, AU
12/12 – Sydney, AU
12/13 – Sydney, AU
1/21/26 – Osaka, JP
1/22/26 – Osaka, JP
1/25/26 – Tokyo, JP
1/26/26 – Tokyo, JP
1/29/26 – Tokyo, JP
1/30/26 – Tokyo, JP
