Lady Gaga and Tim Burton. The pair share aesthetics — eccentric, edgy, and dark — and they execute them well. So, when news dropped that Burton was directing Gaga’s latest music video, ‘The Dead Dance’, expectations were high.
Let’s start with the song itself — a catchy pop song that will likely make it onto your Halloween party playlist. Whilst not as vocally ambitious as Gaga’s other standout tracks, it is fun and energetic, and whether you like it or not, ‘The Dead Dance’ is undeniably memorable.
It is filmed on the Island of the Dolls in Mexico, where approximately 4,000 dolls reside. Terrifying — and a brilliant choice of location.There are some great scenes that show off the island, such as shots through the trees with Gaga running in the distance.
At the beginning, Gaga dances alone — and unsurprisingly she looks incredible. Her Victorian gown, ghostly and withered, captures the glamorous horror one may expect from a Tim Burton and Lady Gaga collaboration. The dancers’ costumes are equally as impressive, as despite their plainness in comparison to Gaga, they are withered and creepy, and all match well.
Gaga’s moves are fun, and perfect to bust out on the dance floor. The choreography seems designed with Netflix’s Wednesday in mind, a series also directed by Burton. While this makes sense, it occasionally feels as though the video is serving the show more than the song itself. The strongest moment of the video is when Gaga is crawling through the tunnel, singing to the camera with manic eyes as the dancers crowd on top of her. It is busy, exciting, and unsettling, but is unfortunately cut short, in favour of a solo dance clip. To put the dead in ‘The Dead Dance’, the music video needs more edge — something Burton and Gaga are more than capable of delivering.
‘The Dead Dance’ music video is undeniably fun — it gets you moving, bopping your head or jerking your knee. It is a strong first collaboration, but if they fully unleash their shared vision, they could create something truly iconic.
Words by Amy Gaffney
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