Netflix’s Wednesday series has resurrected the iconic Addams Family for a new generation, becoming a phenomenal success and captivating audiences worldwide. Garnering over 341 million viewing hours in its debut week, the show’s impact extends beyond streaming numbers, permeating internet culture through memes and, most notably, a viral dance craze fueled by the Wednesday Addams Dance Song.
The series, fronted by Jenna Ortega’s compelling portrayal of Wednesday Addams, ignited a social media frenzy, particularly on TikTok. This explosion was largely due to a uniquely quirky and self-assured dance sequence performed by Ortega in the show. This scene, intentionally awkward yet strangely captivating, transcended the screen, morphing into a ubiquitous meme and inspiring countless recreations across the TikTok platform.
In the fourth episode of Wednesday, viewers are introduced to this now-iconic dance. Wednesday unleashes a flurry of unconventional movements on the dance floor, a liberating display of self-expression unburdened by typical dance norms. The series soundtrack features “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps during this scene. However, TikTok creators gravitated towards a different musical backdrop: Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary”.
While “Bloody Mary” is undeniably a popular song, it holds no direct connection to the Wednesday narrative. Despite this, TikTok users organically paired the track with Wednesday’s dance, finding an unexpected synergy that resonated widely. This pairing gained such momentum that it began to overshadow the original song, becoming the de facto Wednesday Addams dance song in the viral sphere.
Although some TikTokers still utilize “Goo Goo Muck” for their dance interpretations, “Bloody Mary” has solidified its position as the predominant audio choice for the Wednesday Addams dance song trend. This preference is so strong that many creators overlay “Bloody Mary” onto clips of the original Netflix scene, effectively replacing the intended soundtrack.
Speaking with NME, Jenna Ortega revealed the surprising level of autonomy she had over the dance’s creation. “I choreographed that myself!” Ortega stated. “I’m not a dancer and I’m sure that’s obvious.” She further explained her improvisational approach, “I’d gotten the song [‘Goo Goo Muck’] about a week before and I just pulled from whatever I could… it’s crazy because it was my first day with COVID so it was awful to film …” Despite feeling she could have refined the performance, time constraints prevented a reshoot, leaving the now-iconic, slightly imperfect take as the final cut.
Lady Gaga herself acknowledged the surge in popularity of her older track, “Bloody Mary,” due to its association with the Wednesday Addams dance song phenomenon. Clearly appreciative of the unexpected resurgence, Gaga publicly embraced the trend, tweeting her support for the series: “Slay Wednesday! You’re welcome at Haus of Gaga anytime (and bring Thing with you, we love paws around here 😉).”
Still image from Netflix's Wednesday series featuring Jenna Ortega dancing
The cultural sway of TikTok is so considerable that even Spotify integrated the “Bloody Mary” and Wednesday connection. On the music streaming platform, playing “Bloody Mary” now displays a video backdrop featuring Wednesday’s dance scene, further cementing the unexpected link between the song and the visual.
While The Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck” was poised for a viral resurgence thanks to its feature in Wednesday, it was ultimately Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary,” a song absent from the series, that became the defining Wednesday Addams dance song of this viral moment, showcasing the unpredictable nature of online trends and the powerful influence of platforms like TikTok in shaping pop culture.
