If you watch either Netflix or TikTok regularly, chances are you have come across Wednesday (Jenna Ortega)’s (Jenna Ortega) stunning dance scene in The Addams Family series on both platforms – one which has gone viral, prompting users to recreate it themselves with an updated version of 2011 Lady Gaga song “Marry the Night”. This sequence has gone viral both ways!
‘Goo Goo Muck’ by The Cramps
Horror-inspired garage rock pioneers the Cramps have experienced an enormous boost to their profile since one of their iconic songs, ‘Goo Goo Muck’, became an unexpected breakout hit after its inclusion in Netflix series Wednesday and used for an iconic dance sequence featuring one of its protagonists performing to its tune. Following this performance scene in Wednesday, it quickly shot up iTunes charts to hit number 20 despite already being an audience favourite – this only being their second time ever that any single has reached either US rock charts or digital sales charts!
The Cramps, led by husband-and-wife duo Lux Interior and Poison Ivy, are widely credited with pioneering psychobilly, an offbeat genre of music which draws upon lowbrow cultural artifacts to create something campy, exaggerated and lewd. Their eclectic blend of rockabilly, schlock horror and deep south blues was a response to popular culture’s increasing sex deviancy of B-movie sexpoloitation flicks, serial killers pin up girls as well as comic books considered contributing factors towards juvenile delinquency.
Their 1981 cover of Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads’ classic track ‘Goo Goo Muck’ (originally recorded by Ronnie Cook and the Gaylads) is an absolute classic, packed with deviant rockabilly that could only come out of an illicit roadhouse or darkened basement played by an alluring baroness. From Ivy’s arching vocal to Lux’s distorded guitar licks – every part of this track exudes sexual frenzy that both predatory and insatiable!
Jen Malone and Nicole Weisberg of Black & White Music quickly found the ideal song to use for this show: ‘Goo Goo Muck. Its haunting yet atmospheric soundscape provides the ideal setting for Wednesday Addams’ struggles as an adolescent and psychic powers; plus its contributions from an all-star lineup including Shooter Jennings of Country Outlaws fame; goth metal titans The 69 Eyes; retro rockers Hillbilly Moon Explosion; Jerry Lee Lewis’ little sister Linda Gail Lewis make this musical composition an experience that truly spine-tingling ride!
‘Bloody Mary’ by Lady Gaga
Since Wednesday hit Netflix last November, TikTok has become home to an unexpected phenomenon: dance routines inspired by its goth princess character Jenna Ortega at Nevermore Academy have quickly become one of the most viral TikTok trends ever; garnering Lady Gaga many new admirers (including some celebrities).
On the Golden Globes 2023 red carpet, Ortega was asked about the success of her show and dance routine from it. She revealed that it was originally to The Cramps’ 1981 song ‘Goo Goo Muck, but then people started calling it Bloody Mary instead and it quickly became the big thing on TikTok.”
“Bloody Mary” is one of the songs featured on Lady Gaga’s second studio album Born This Way (2011) and written and produced by Gaga herself along with Fernando Garibay and Paul “DJ White Shadow” Blair, who also served as its producer. It’s an electropop song featuring elements of trance music as well as synth-pop with Gregorian chants for added flair.
Gaga covered this song during her 2017-2018 Joanne World Tour at both Encore Beach Club and Las Vegas Arena shows, while British rock band the Horrors also covered it. American electronic duo The Chainsmokers later covered it too. Additionally, English rock band the Horrors covered it, too, before covering Gaga herself for their show at both venues.
Although “Bloody Mary” doesn’t appear directly in the show, its use as the backdrop to a dance routine has significantly increased its streams on Spotify and brought it back into the charts eleven years after it was first released. This trend may continue as Season 11 progresses.
Furthermore, viral trends that endure typically make an impactful transition to other parts of pop culture. For example, Corn Kid from an internet video went viral has since collaborated with Chipotle and Green Giant to promote products made with corn; hopefully leading to more delicious treats that don’t pack too many calories! We can all support such trends. So let’s see where they go next.
‘Rich Man’s Frug’ by Bob Fosse
Bob Fosse was one of the most prominent choreographers ever seen on Broadway, known for groundbreaking productions like Sweet Charity, Cabaret and Damn Yankees which ran to record-breaking audiences on Broadway and won multiple Tony Awards(r) as well as one Oscar(r). A multifaceted American coreographer/screenwriter/actor with worldwide renown.
Fosse’s work can best be seen in his musical, Rich Man’s Frug. As one of three dances from this scene, it showcases his trademark humor and eccentricity with isolated movements that often reduced to simple thumb dances.
Fosse’s dance also demonstrates his remarkable storytelling through movement. Instead of simply having his dancers move, he encouraged them to explain to the audience why they were doing what they were doing, adding another level to performances and making them more relatable for audiences. It is this ability of Fosse to tell his tale through dance that distinguished him as one of the world’s iconic choreographers.
Even though the short clip only lasts a few minutes, it has become one of Wednesday Addams’ most iconic moments on the series. Our quirky protagonist steps outside her gothic shell and shows us her true ghoulish passion – her arms seemingly freeing themselves and showing some real movement for once! This particular scene perfectly encapsulated the show’s tone and atmosphere.
At its heart, this number highlights not only the cast but also the incredible talent infused by Fosse into his actors. Particularly striking was Kolton Krause who stole the show. Other incredible performances came from Dylis Croman, Yani Marin, Nando Morland, Khori Michelle Petinaud and Ron Todorowski who all gave powerful performances as well.
Fosse was an icon on Broadway for decades until his stress from choreographing dances started to take its toll on him in 1961 when he suffered an epileptic seizure on stage and died shortly afterward – sadly leaving a lasting legacy that inspired many dancers today to adopt his style of dancing.
‘Born This Way’ by Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga’s biggest hit ‘Born This Way’ also made a bold statement: it asserted, “Regardless of your sexual orientation or who you love, if you feel that you belong and feel you belong on this earth then you are on the path that leads towards happiness and self-realization.”
Netflix’s Addams Family spin-off Wednesday made waves with its release in November, instantly captivating viewers with Jenna Ortega’s performance as Wednesday, an outgoing yet misanthropic teenager. When Wednesday started dancing with abandon at her school’s Rave’N Dance event, everyone took notice – especially Ortega herself who choreographed this memorable sequence, drawing inspiration from Siouxsie Sioux’s “Goo Goo Muck”, Bob Fosse’s “Rich Man’s Frug”, and archive footage of goths dancing in clubs during this decade of 80s decadence.
TikTok users quickly put this sequence on the map by editing ‘Bloody Mary’ over an engaging sequence from Netflix show, and soon went viral – almost impossible to scroll through the popular social media platform without seeing someone dancing to this tune or recreating Wednesday’s memorable moves!
Mother Monster herself even joined in on the fun! Gaga released a music video for “Born This Way,” featuring herself dressed in all black with slip-on shower shoes similar to what she will be sporting Wednesday.
Gaga’s song itself is typically her trademark style, though with distinct Goth accents. The message it delivers – one especially meaningful for LGBTQ communities – is unmistakable: Gaga’s previous hits like “Poker Face” caused much debate due to their provocative lyrics or insinuations of same-sex love affairs.
Gaga’s ‘Bloody Mary’ song sets the scene perfectly for her video. A dark and seductive tune, its moodiness perfectly compliments Gaga’s style of performance and it would be difficult to imagine the show without Gaga’s haunting boogie tune playing in the background.