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What We Do in the Shadows has become a beloved horror-comedy series, known for blending dark humor with the eccentric lifestyles of Staten Island vampires. From its very first moments, the show sets the tone with an unforgettable opening theme—You’re Dead by Norma Tanega.
The eerie, folksy tune, with its catchy yet haunting lyrics, has captured fans' attention, offering an atmospheric start to each episode's hilarity and chaos.
Though What We Do in the Shadows is packed with humor and mockumentary-style antics, the theme song adds an extra layer of macabre charm. It was originally used in the 2014 film that inspired the FX series. The theme song for What We Do in the Shadows, titled You’re Dead by Norma Tanega, comes from her 1966 album Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog.
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Theme song of What We Do in the Shadows explained
The opening theme of What We Do in the Shadows, You’re Dead, was written and performed by American folk singer-songwriter Norma Tanega. Released in 1966 as part of her album Walkin' My Cat Named Dog, You’re Dead stands out as a sharp, satirical commentary on life and mortality.
The lyrics are both cautionary and darkly humorous, delivering lines like "Don’t sing if you want to live long" and "Stay dead, stay dead, stay dead." It’s a song about death and detachment from worldly concerns, making it a spot-on choice for a show centered around ancient vampires grappling with the absurdities of modern life.
The lyrics of the song are as follows:
“Don't sing if you want to live long/they have no use for your song/you're dead, you're dead, you're dead/you're dead and outta this world./You'll never get a second chance/plan all your moves in advance/stay dead, stay dead, stay dead/stay dead and outta this world.”
In What We Do in the Shadows, the song’s lyrics resonate with the vampires’ eternal struggles and ironic detachment from the living world around them. Tanega’s haunting voice and the darkly playful lyrics provide an instant mood-setting for viewers, inviting them into a world where undead beings ponder the trivialities of human life.
By using the same theme for both the original film and TV series, creators Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi established continuity between the two while also grounding both works in Tanega’s unique, somewhat ominous, folk melody.
More details on the theme song of What We Do in the Shadows
Norma Tanega was a multi-talented artist whose career was filled with unique achievements and contributions to music and visual art. Born in 1939, Tanega grew up with a love for music and showed exceptional talent from a young age, becoming a piano prodigy at nine.
She later joined the 1960s folk scene in New York, where she developed her style in an era buzzing with musical experimentation. Her first and biggest hit, Walkin' My Cat Named Dog, introduced her to mainstream audiences in 1966, reaching the top 40 on the Billboard charts.
You’re Dead, however, was far from mainstream. The song didn’t achieve the same commercial success as her earlier work, but it has since become iconic, thanks in large part to What We Do in the Shadows.
Unlike the cheerful tune of Walkin' My Cat Named Dog, You’re Dead presented Tanega’s biting perspective on the pressures of life, competition, and consumerism that were becoming prevalent in the folk scene of her time. Its tone captures Tanega’s complex worldview, her fascination with death, and a satirical take on the value society places on ambition.
Beyond her musical career, Tanega had a significant relationship with British singer Dusty Springfield, which influenced both artists creatively. Tanega contributed lyrics to some of Springfield’s songs and her songs appeared on the B-sides of the British pop singer's singles.
While Tanega eventually drifted away from the limelight, working as an art teacher and painter, her music continued to influence those who stumbled upon her records, bringing a unique sense of irony and introspection.
How You’re Dead became the theme for What We Do in the Shadows?
Years after its initial release, Tanega’s song resurfaced in an unexpected way. When Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement were developing What We Do in the Shadows (the 2014 film), they stumbled upon You’re Dead and were immediately captivated by its dark humor and haunting feel.
The song’s sardonic lyrics and folksy sound perfectly aligned with the tone they envisioned. The film centers around vampires who are caught between the grandeur of their immortal pasts and the absurdities of the modern world. By reintroducing it as the theme song for the FX television series adaptation of their film, Clement and Waititi created a sense of continuity for fans of the original movie and reinforced the show’s atmosphere.
Tanega, who passed away in 2019, was able to see her work gain new appreciation in her later years. Her song found a fitting home in a show that celebrated its darkly comic perspective on life, death, and everything in between.
What What We Do in the Shadows is about?
What We Do in the Shadows follows a group of vampires, Nandor, Laszlo, Nadja, and Colin, who have been roommates for centuries and now live on Staten Island. The mockumentary-style series captures their daily lives, relationships, and misunderstandings as they try to navigate the 21st century.
From trying to pay rent to managing conflicts with werewolves and other supernatural beings, the vampires experience the comedic clash between ancient customs and contemporary society.
The series, created by Jemaine Clement and based on the 2014 film, has garnered critical acclaim, especially for its writing and cast, including Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillén, and Mark Proksch. Its unique blend of horror and comedy has made it a favorite among fans, and its success has led to multiple Emmy nominations.
Each season has taken the characters on increasingly bizarre adventures, from vampire councils to energy-sapping creatures, all while keeping the audience laughing.
Interested viewers can watch What We Do in the Shadows on Hulu and Amazon Prime Video.
