Wednesday Music Supervisors Jen Malone and Nicole Weisberg discuss secrets and surprises.

      Like everything in Netflix’s Wednesday, the show’s musical choices are enveloped in secrecy until they become cultural phenomena.

      Take Lady Gaga's contribution with the previously unreleased track "The Dead Dance," which energized a dazzling dance sequence led by Enid (Emma Myers) and Agnes (Evie Templeton). Music supervisors Jen Malone and Nicole Weisberg report that it was recorded under strict confidentiality.

      “We had a streaming link available for just 24 hours,” Malone explains. “No downloads were permitted, and it was heavily watermarked. Even the choreographer only heard it once and practiced using a drum stem. We had to prevent any leaks.”

      This caution bore fruit. “It was immediate once we filmed the scene,” Malone continues. “Everyone realized — it was just right.”

      Adding to the allure, Gaga made a guest appearance in Season 2, Part 2 as Rosaline Rotwood, a psychic former instructor at Nevermore Academy.

      Jen Malone and Nicole Weisberg on Selecting the Perfect Songs for Wednesday

      Billie Piper as Isadora Capri in Wednesday. Photo by Helen Sloan/Netflix © 2025

      Another memorable moment from the season featured a haunting duet cover of “Bad Moon Rising” performed by Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Isadora Capri (Billie Piper). This song had been on Malone's radar for several years.

      “It always resonated with the essence of Wednesday,” Malone states. “But transforming it into a duet with Catherine performing it made it truly special.”

      Malone attended the recording session held in Ireland.

      “It was surreal,” she recalls. “Catherine is highly collaborative and very receptive to feedback. When you hear the final mix, you realize how seamlessly it aligns with the show.”

      This instinct — identifying the perfect song for the script — is fundamental to Malone and Weisberg’s methodology.

      However, Wednesday encompasses more than just well-timed song choices, viral TikTok hits, and reworking rock tunes from the ’80s and ’90s.

      The series' enchanting musical identity emerges from blending orchestral elements with pop and reinventing familiar songs to feel disturbingly fresh.

      “Every choice has intention,” Weisberg clarifies. “By the end, the music is woven into the narrative.”

      Highlights include a piano-driven rendition of “Zombie” and a hauntingly minimalist version of “Don’t Fear The Reaper.”

      “The cello plays a significant role in the show,” Weisberg notes. “It allows us to take something recognizable and integrate it into this universe.”

      The series is also renowned for its delightfully unexpected moments: In one episode, a body-swap dance plot introduces a surge of K-Pop, with Blackpink providing a striking visual and audio contrast to Wednesday's typical ironic tone.

      “It’s about perspective,” Malone explains. “What would be the most surprising choice for Wednesday to dance to? That’s where these decisions originate.”

      Securing song rights can be as intricate as selecting them. For the finale, the team endeavored to obtain a cover of “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This),” a song closely guarded by Annie Lennox.

      To gain approval, Wednesday executive producer Tim Burton, who frequently directs episodes, reached out to her directly.

      “Sometimes that’s necessary,” Malone remarked. “Artists want assurance that their work will be handled with respect.”

      As the show's popularity has increased, artists have become more inclined to approve usage. Even Bruce Springsteen permitted the inclusion of “Dancing in the Dark,” after initially consenting only to a lyrical reference.

      “By Season 2, people understand what the show entails,” Malone points out. “They want to be part of it.”

      Since Season 1, Malone and Weisberg have maintained a running playlist of “goth deep cuts, orchestral ideas, iconic tracks — and we’re always updating it,” Weisberg shares.

      “Then the scripts arrive, and everything finally falls into place,” she adds.

      They pitch hundreds of songs each season, with only a select few making the final cut.

      Burton's vision, according to Malone, provides a steady creative foundation.

      “He knows precisely what he desires,” she states. “That simplifies our work immensely.”

      “When we finally view the finished product, it’s like, ‘Oh, wow — we accomplished that,’” she remarks.

      Regarding future plans, the duo remains tight-lipped. Yet, if Season 2 demonstrates anything, it’s that Wednesday's most impactful musical moments are the ones that audiences don’t anticipate — until they are everywhere.

      Wednesday is currently streaming on Netflix. You can read more of our Emmy contender interviews here.

      Main image: Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, left, and Lady Gaga as Rosaline Rotwood on the set of Wednesday. Photo by Sophy Holland/Netflix © 2025