Judas by Lady Gaga: meaning, release, credits and chart history

Judas at a glance Lady Gaga's song 'Judas' is a dance-pop and electropop track from her 2011 album Born This Way. Released on April 19, 2011, it was the second single from the album. The song was written by Lady Gaga and RedOne and produced by RedOne. It is released under Interscope Records and KonLive Distribution.

What the song is about The song explores themes of betrayal and emotional haunting, reflecting a woman's repeated experience of falling in love with the wrong man. It embodies personal darkness that, according to Gaga, ultimately helps illuminate a greater inner light. The core idea is about confronting and honoring the negative parts of life to achieve personal growth.

How it was made Lady Gaga and RedOne wrote the song. It shares musical similarities with previous tracks like 'Poker Face' and 'Bad Romance'. Gaga's vocal style in the verses and pre-chorus includes a Jamaican Patois-influenced delivery. The song was produced by RedOne and is categorized as electro house.

Release and music video The music video was filmed from April 2 to 3, 2011. It was directed by Lady Gaga and choreographer Laurieann Gibson. The video features Norman Reedus as Judas, Lady Gaga as Mary Magdalene, and Rick Gonzalez as a Jesus-like character. Gaga and Gibson directed the video themselves to ensure its direction was precise.

Reception and charts The song was generally well received by critics, who compared it to 'Bad Romance'. There are no chart peak figures reported in the sources. Critics noted it should have been the album's lead single.

Credits Written by: RedOne, Lady Gaga Produced by: RedOne Label: Interscope Records, KonLive Distribution

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