The spooky Island of Dolls in Mexico City serves as the backdrop for Lady Gaga’s latest music hit.

Ringing in the spooky season and celebrating the release of Wednesday Season 2, Part 2,  Lady Gaga unveiled the music video for “The Dead Dance.” The song, released on September 3, soundtracks the Netflix show and celebrates Gaga’s cameo as Rosaline Rotwood. Fittingly, its music video features a ghostly location in Mexico. 

Nevermore welcomes Lady Gaga

The highly awaited Season 2 of Netflix’s Wednesday not only comes with a guest appearance by Lady Gaga, but the Grammy award-winning singer also lends her voice to the single “The Dead Dance.”

The track was specifically created for the show alongside “Mayhem” producers Andrew Watt and Cirkut. It channels Wednesday’s eerie inspiration in a full-circle moment for both Gaga and the Netflix production. If you need a refresher, Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary” became the unofficial anthem of Wednesday Season 1. Thanks to a TikTok edit, the song and Jenna Ortega became a viral sensation on the internet. 

Now, Gaga brings the spooky vibe herself with a special appearance as Rosaline Rotwood, “a legendary Nevermore teacher who crosses paths with Wednesday.” In tandem, Wednesday’s executive producer, Tim Burton, is responsible for directing Lady Gaga’s music video for “The Dead Dance.”

The Island of Dolls’ spooky history 

The chosen location was none other than the Island of Dolls, nearly 28 km south of Mexico City. To reach the island, visitors take boats across the famous Xochimilco canals, though the trip generally involves a degree of negotiation. Not seldom, rowers refuse to take visitors, afraid of the supernatural phenomena that supposedly take place on the island.

As per the urban legend, the Island of Dolls was once home to Julián Santana. The man claimed to be haunted by the spirit of a little girl. He presumably found a girl drowning in the canals, but despite his best efforts, he was unable to save her life. Shortly after, he found a doll floating in the water. He assumed it belonged to the girl. According to the island’s website, Julian “picked up the doll and hung it to a tree, as a way of showing respect.” 

Now a terror destination

Other accounts tell a different story. Julian was convinced the girl’s spirit followed him. In an attempt to protect himself, he started collecting dolls and hanging them on every surface in a little house on the island. 

“For over 17 years of his life, he collected dolls from trash cans or dumpsters, from friends, from the channels. The majority have a particularity: being ugly dolls, old dolls, burnt dolls, mutilated or deformed. That was the condition,” A local guide, José Gabriel González Franco, told the Associated Press.

Eventually, the island grew a reputation as a paranormal location. Julian’s death would only seal its notoriety. Julian’s nephew, Anastacio Santana, claims that before his death, Julian stated that a siren attempted to drag him into the canals. Anastacio didn’t take his uncle seriously and went to work. When he returned, he found his uncle in the same spot where Julian had found the drowned girl. The media reports that the cause of death was a heart attack. 

Lady Gaga Brings “The Dead Dance” to life

Nowadays, the island is a favorite spooky destination for local and international tourists. The doll collection has grown thanks to Anastacio and the visitors, who have made it a tradition to leave dolls on the island. Following Tim Burton and Lady Gaga’s visit in July, a fortune teller doll — supposedly Burton’s gift to the island — is the new celebrity doll in town. 

But the entire doll collection enjoys the spotlight in “The Dead Dance” music video. Gaga joins, taking the aspect of a creepy porcelain doll who comes back to life. She sings and dances to a tune reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Punchy synths and whimsical fashion accompany the highly choreographed dance. 

Watch Lady Gaga do the dead dance below and catch up with Wednesday, Season 2, Part 2 on Netflix.