:Judas (Lady Gaga song)

"Judas" was revealed as the name of the second single in Gaga's interview for Vogue.{{cite news|title=Lady Gaga: Our Lady of Pop|url=http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/lady-gaga-our-lady-of-pop/|first=Jonathan|last=Van Meter|work=Vogue|date=February 14, 2011|access-date=February 20, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512204613/http://www.vogue.com/magazine/article/lady-gaga-our-lady-of-pop/|archive-date=May 12, 2011}} Gaga confirmed the release of "Judas" as the second single, on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on February 14, 2011, and also revealed RedOne as the co-producer of the song.{{cite magazine|title=Lady Gaga Reveals Details About Her New Album to Ryan Seacrest|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lady-gaga-reveals-details-about-her-new-album-to-ryan-seacrest-20110215|first=Matthew|last=Perpetua|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=February 15, 2011|access-date=February 20, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110218180550/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lady-gaga-reveals-details-about-her-new-album-to-ryan-seacrest-20110215|archive-date=February 18, 2011}} At the 53rd Grammy Awards, RedOne told MTV News that if the previous single, the title track from Born This Way, polarized people, "Judas" was expected to shock them more.{{cite web|title=Lady Gaga Producer Calls 'Judas' Playful With A 'Serious Message'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658922/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|date=March 1, 2011|access-date=March 1, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303235422/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1658922/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|archive-date=March 3, 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657897/lady-gaga-grammy-awards.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga's Next Single Will 'Shock,' RedOne Says|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=February 14, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412030840/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657897/lady-gaga-grammy-awards.jhtml|archive-date=April 12, 2011}} On the talk show Last Call with Carson Daly, Gaga explained to the host that "Judas" was about always falling in love with the wrong man over and over again. "'Judas' is a very, very dark song. It's rad", she added.{{cite news|url=http://www.christianpost.com/news/lady-gaga-in-love-with-judas-iscariot-upcoming-second-single-leaked-49708/|title=Lady Gaga in Love with Judas Iscariot? Upcoming Second Single Leaked|last=Sun|first=Eryn|date=April 5, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011|work=The Christian Post|publisher=The Post Company|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723045410/http://www.christianpost.com/news/lady-gaga-in-love-with-judas-iscariot-upcoming-second-single-leaked-49708/|archive-date=July 23, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660335/lady-gaga-born-this-way-tour-plans.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Wraps Up Born This Way, Plans Tour|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=March 21, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|access-date=March 23, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903065121/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660335/lady-gaga-born-this-way-tour-plans.jhtml|archive-date=September 3, 2011}} With MSN Canada, Gaga revealed the metaphors and the meaning behind the song:

'Judas' is a metaphor and an analogy about forgiveness and betrayal and things that haunt you in your life and how I believe that it's the darkness in your life that ultimately shines and illuminates the greater light that you have upon you. Someone once said to me, 'If you have no shadows then you're not standing in the light.' So the song is about washing the feet of both good and evil and understanding and forgiving the demons from your past in order to move into the greatness of your future. I just like really aggressive metaphors—harder, thicker, darker—and my fans do as well. So it is a very challenging and aggressive metaphor, but it is a metaphor.{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/music/features/pop-culture-as-religion-lady-gaga-explains-the-controversial-biblical-imagery-in-her-upcoming-music-video-judas|title=Pop culture as religion: Lady Gaga explains the controversial biblical imagery in her upcoming music video "Judas"|last=Ritchie|first=Kevin|date=April 26, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|publisher=MSN. Microsoft|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501145740/http://entertainment.ca.msn.com/music/features/pop-culture-as-religion-lady-gaga-explains-the-controversial-biblical-imagery-in-her-upcoming-music-video-judas|archive-date=May 1, 2011|url-status=dead}}

Gaga further elaborated on the inspiration behind the song as walking towards the light force in her life and peering towards the devil in the back, while clutching onto the source of the light. "I sing about what a holy fool I am, and that although moments in my life are so cruel and relationships can be so cruel I'm still in love with Judas. I still go back again to those evil things," she said. During her interview with Google, Gaga added to the song's meaning as honoring one's inner darkness in order to bring themselves into the light. One has to learn to forgive themselves in order to move on with their life. With Popjustice she clarified that she has a lot of things that have haunted her from her past, including her choices, men, drug abuse, being afraid to go back to New York, confronting old romances. Hence "Judas" represented something that was not good for her, something she could not escape. Gaga said: "I keep going back and forth between the darkness and the light in order to understand who I am."

Garibay said that "Judas" sounded similar to many of Gaga's previous singles, like "Poker Face", "LoveGame", "Bad Romance", and "Alejandro". According to Jocelyn Vena of MTV, "Judas" finds Gaga in a similar territory music-wise but vocally she is in completely new territory; according to Popjustice, in the verses and pre-chorus, Gaga hurls herself into a decadent half-sung, half-rapped Jamaican Patois style." Jason Gregory of Gigwise called the song a "heavy slice of electro-house of the highest order".{{cite web|url=http://www.gigwise.com/blog/62586/Lady-Gaga-Judas-Review|title=Lady Gaga, 'Judas': Review|first=Jason|last=Gregory|work=Gigwise|publisher=Giant Digital|date=April 26, 2011|access-date=April 26, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110908010940/http://www.gigwise.com/blog/62586/Lady-Gaga-Judas-Review|archive-date=September 8, 2011}} The song contains three hooks, and begins with Gaga singing the line "Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh, I'm in love with Judas", accompanied by building synths. This is followed by a thumping electronic beat, as Gaga sings, "Judas/ Juda-a-ah/ Gaga". The utterance of these words are reminiscent of the opening verse in "Bad Romance". Gaga's vocals are partially spoken, and at times have a Caribbean accent. The first verse follows as: "When he comes to me I am ready/ I'll wash his feet with my hair if he needs/ Forgive him when his tongue lies through his brain/ Even after three times, he betrays me/ I'll bring him down, a king with no crown."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660468/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga To Direct 'Judas' Video With Laurieann Gibson|last=Dinh|first=James|date=March 23, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|access-date=March 23, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110324190933/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1660468/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|archive-date=March 24, 2011}} The tone lightens up on the song's chorus, which is influenced by '80s pop in its melody, as the beat picks up a bit and Gaga sings, "I'm just a holy fool/ Oh, baby, it's so cruel/ But I'm still in love with Judas, baby."

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After the second verse and chorus, the song features a break down influenced by house music. Gaga chants the lines in the same way she does in the middle of "Born This Way". Then she sings, "I wanna love you/ But something's pulling me away from you/ Jesus is my virtue, Judas is the demon I cling to, I cling to." In this section, Gaga's vocals drew comparison to that of Rihanna's by Matthew Perpetua of Rolling Stone. He also added that her voice sounded less dark and dramatic and was full of "bubbly sweetness".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/preview-six-songs-from-lady-gagas-born-this-way-20110218|title=Preview Six Songs From Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way'|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|date=February 18, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=February 20, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110223163431/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/preview-six-songs-from-lady-gagas-born-this-way-20110218|archive-date=February 23, 2011}} Popjustice wrote that the breakdown sounded like tribal-techno, and the whole song was "a turbo-charged electrogothic wrongness anthem". Dan Martin from NME wrote that the breakdown was in the dubstep genre with the chorus being "pure-pop". There were some similarities and influences of "Bad Romance" in the song, which Gaga said was deliberate. She explained that while sometimes it is important for her to push herself in new directions, she did want her characteristic sound to be imbibed in her records. "I wanted ['Judas'] to be an evolution from where I’ve been before but in terms of the formula I wanted there to be something about 'Judas' that reminded people of what I’ve done in the past," she added. According to the sheet music published on Musicnotes.com, the song is written in the time signature of common time, and is composed in the key of C minor with a tempo of 131 beats per minute. Gaga's voice ranges from the tonal nodes of B{{music|flat}}₃ to E{{music|flat}}₅ and the song follows a basic sequence of A{{music|flat}}–Fm₇–Cm–B{{music|flat}}–Cm as its chord progression.{{cite web|url=https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0092696|title=Lady Gaga 'Judas' Sheet Music|year=2011|publisher=Musicnotes.com|last1=Germanotta|first1=Stefani|last2=Khayat|first2=Nadir|access-date=February 14, 2019|archive-date=February 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215051131/https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0092696|url-status=live}}

Gaga had posted some of the lyrics of the song in February 2011,{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a314761/lady-gagas-judas-what-we-know.html|title=Lady GaGa's 'Judas': What we know|last=Corner|first=Lewis|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|work=Digital Spy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418024404/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/thesound/a314761/lady-gagas-judas-what-we-know.html|archive-date=April 18, 2011}} and next month she revealed more lyrics for "Judas" in the Google interview. Gaga also confirmed that the song was influenced by the Biblical Judas Iscariot. According to Popjustice, lyrically on the surface "Judas" is a song about being double-crossed and contemplating revenge, but being repeatedly drawn to awfulness. The middle eight of the song, with the lyrics "But in the cultural sense I just speak in future tense. Judas kiss me if offenced, or wear an ear condom next time", talks about Gaga being beyond the ability to redeem herself, in terms of the traditional views of what a woman is supposed to be. "But I don't want to redeem myself, because in the cultural sense I believe that I'm just before my time. And if you don't like it, wear an ear condom," she explained. The main portion of the song is about Gaga in private and the middle eight is about Gaga in public, two themes that are explored elsewhere on the parent album too.

In the 42nd episode of Gaga's web video series, called Transmission Gagavision, it was revealed that the single's accompanying cover artwork was designed by Gaga in Microsoft Word and featured a black background with the word "Judas" written in red capital letters in Impact font. Below it was a red Christian cross with a heart in the middle. Gaga photographed the design on her computer screen using her cellphone "for texture," which resulted in visible pixels on the letters and cross, as well as a faint reflection of her face and hands holding the phone, to appear on the cover.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661864/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Talks 'Judas' Single, Influence Of Alexander McQueen|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|date=April 13, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416075738/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661864/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|archive-date=April 16, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662109/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|title=Gaga's 'Judas': Fans Weigh In!|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416194233/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662109/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|archive-date=April 16, 2011}} The episode showed Gaga sitting in a meeting with her creative team Haus of Gaga, discussing the specifics of her album release. Scattered around Gaga were a number of photographs, which were speculated by MTV as something "Judas"-related. On one photo the word "Judas" was printed with a cross on it. Jocelyn Vena from MTV felt that the artwork could have easily appeared in director Baz Luhrmann's version of Romeo + Juliet (1996).

On the 41st episode of Transmission Gagavision, Gaga announced that the song was going to be released soon.{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/04/06/lady-gaga-protester-judas/|title=Lady Gaga confronts Christian anti-gay protester; announces release date of 'Judas' single|first=Joseph Brannigan|last=Lynch|date=April 6, 2011|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=April 15, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409171316/http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/04/06/lady-gaga-protester-judas/|archive-date=April 9, 2011}} She added the abstract message along with the announcement: "Let the cultural baptism begin. If they were not who you were taught they would be, would you still believe?" "Judas" was scheduled to be sent to mainstream airplay on April 19, 2011, and digital retailers on the same day, but after the track was leaked to the internet, its release was brought forward to April 15, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|title=Top 40/M Future Releases|publisher=AllAccess.com. All Access Music Group|access-date=April 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110410071816/http://www.allaccess.com/top40-mainstream/future-releases|archive-date=April 10, 2011|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/04/lady-gaga-judas-single.html|title=New Lady Gaga single 'Judas' released today|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Randy|last=Lewis|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418233534/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2011/04/lady-gaga-judas-single.html|archive-date=April 18, 2011}} This was done to counteract the pre-release leaks. Before the release, Gaga tweeted about the single, saying: "#PawsUpForJudas! I've learned love is like a brick, you can build a house or sink a dead body." On April 15, 2011, hours before the song was played on radio she again tweeted: "Even After Three Times He Betrays Me," she wrote, harking back to the song's lyrics about love and betrayal. In the United Kingdom, the song premiered on The Capital FM Network on April 15, 2011, during their program Home Run.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662074/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Drops 'Judas' Early|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416194223/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662074/lady-gaga-judas.jhtml|archive-date=April 16, 2011}} Gaga addressed the leak in the 43rd episode of Transmission Gagavision, likening it to a disembodiment, saying, "A slow death! Just put me out of my f---ing misery, just put that sh-- out. They were tearing [the song] limb for limb. First it was the arm of the song, then the liver...."{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662318/lady-gaga-judas-leak.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Calls 'Judas' Leak 'A Slow Death'|first=Jocelyn|last=Vena|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=April 22, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424045537/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662318/lady-gaga-judas-leak.jhtml|archive-date=April 24, 2011}}

On May 28, 2021, a bounce cover by American rapper Big Freedia was released as the first single of the tenth anniversary edition of Born This Way.{{cite web |last1=Dresden |first1=Hilton |title=Big Freedia's Still In Love With Judas, Baby |url=https://www.papermag.com/big-freedia-judas-2653508646.html |website=Paper |access-date=September 5, 2021 |language=en |date=June 23, 2021 |archive-date=September 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210905141445/https://www.papermag.com/big-freedia-judas-2653508646.html |url-status=live }} Billboard ranked it as the best cover on the album, stating "her arrangement matches the original's manic energy with a totally different sonic palette: squawking horns, 808s, marching snares, and stacks of cheerleader backing vocalists."{{cite magazine|last=S. Hé|first=Kristen|title=Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way Reimagined': Every Cover Ranked|url=https://www.billboard.com/media/lists/lady-gaga-born-this-way-reimagined-ranked-9592670/|date=June 25, 2021|access-date=March 9, 2024|magazine=Billboard}}

File:Lady Gaga Judas BTW Ball.jpg tour, standing on top of the medieval castle prop (2012)]]

"Judas" was generally well received by most music critics. Jonathan Van Meter from Vogue gave the song a positive review, saying the song sounded like it was written for The Ronettes, but was set to a "sledgehammering" dance beat. MTV's James Dinh noted that the song was very similar in its composition to "Bad Romance".{{cite news|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2011/04/15/lady-gaga-judas-2/|first=James|last=Dinh|title=Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Draws Comparisons To 'Bad Romance'|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618094126/http://www.lady-gaga.de/releases/detail/product/176475/judas-the-remixes-pt-ii/|archive-date=June 18, 2011}} Popjustice also compared it to "Bad Romance" describing it as "a highly evolved, Titanium-plated 'Bad Romance' from the year 2511 travelling half a millennium back in time to save music from a tidal wave of 'in the club'-obsessed pop drivel, and that's 'Judas'."{{cite web|title=Listening to Lady Gaga's next single is an enjoyable experience.|url=http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5381&Itemid=206|publisher=Popjustice|date=April 6, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429015042/http://www.popjustice.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5381&Itemid=206|archive-date=April 29, 2011}} Kevin O'Donnel from Spin felt that the song sounded like a rowdy, industrial-disco banger, and described Gaga's performance as "insanely over the top: She alternates between rapping, a robotic monotone, and a crow-like squawk — before gliding into a more conventional chorus that hews closer to 'Bad Romance'."{{cite news|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/04/lady-gaga-gets-her-freak-judas/|title=Lady Gaga Gets Her Freak On With "Judas"|last=O'Donnel|first=Kevin|work=Spin|publisher=Spin Media LLC|date=April 16, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419032817/https://www.spin.com/2011/04/lady-gaga-gets-her-freak-judas/|archive-date=April 19, 2011}} He complimented the primal energy of the music of "Judas," and felt that the breakdown was one of the weirdest moments to hit the pop music scene in 2011. Slant Magazine{{'}}s Eric Henderson noted that the disconnection and deviation from Gaga's previous single "Born This Way" was more pronounced with "Judas". Musically he felt that "Judas" had the same "glitter-jackhammer level as 'Born This Way', though the big anthemic chords are almost inverted—not unlike Inner City's Big Fun vs. Good Life. It's a good twin, evil twin thing." Henderson continued that the song conjured the imagery of a disturbed vision of hell, and in a warped sense the song seemed more forward-thinking to him and less of a message, "than the 'gay = great' equation at the heart of 'Born This Way'."{{cite news|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/04/single-review-lady-gagas-judas/|title=Single Review: Lady Gaga's "Judas"|last=Henderson|first=Eric|work=Slant Magazine|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418205001/http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/04/single-review-lady-gagas-judas/|archive-date=April 18, 2011}}

Amos Barshad of Vulture declared that the song reminded him of being drunk and dancing in a remote discothèque in Berlin.{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/lady_gagas_in_love_with_judas.html|title=Lady Gaga's In Love With Judas|last=Barshad|first=Amos|date=April 16, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|work=Vulture|publisher=New York Media LLC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418005717/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/lady_gagas_in_love_with_judas.html|archive-date=April 18, 2011}} NME{{'}}s Dan Martin was of the opinion that "Judas" was the song that Gaga should have come back with. But he understood why she did not choose it as the lead single from Born This Way, given the fact that the song was characteristic of Gaga's music.{{cite news|url=https://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=148&title=lady_gaga_judas_review&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1|title=Lady Gaga 'Judas' Review – The Song She Should've Come Back With|last=Martin|first=Dan|date=April 16, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|work=NME|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629031357/http://www.nme.com/blog/index.php?blog=148&title=lady_gaga_judas_review&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1|archive-date=June 29, 2011}} Pointing the same thing, Matthew Perpetua from Rolling Stone wrote that the song played to Gaga's established musical sensibilities. He added that although "Judas" certainly had its own charms and "at least three insanely catchy hooks it leans hard on Gaga's signature moves."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/listen-lady-gagas-new-single-judas-arrives-early-20110415|title=Listen: Lady Gaga's New Single 'Judas' Arrives Early|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|date=April 16, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418044726/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/listen-lady-gagas-new-single-judas-arrives-early-20110415|archive-date=April 18, 2011}} Maura Johnston of The Village Voice summarized the song as a twin of "Bad Romance" describing its "instantly memorable wordless vocalizing, a pummeling beat, lyrics about a romance that is, well, bad."{{cite news|url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2011/04/lady_gaga_judas_new_song.php|title=Lady Gaga's Glitchy, Catholicism-Drenched "Judas" Has Leaked|last=Johnston|first=Maura|author-link=Maura Johnston |date=April 16, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|work=The Village Voice|publisher=Village Media LLC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418184334/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/2011/04/lady_gaga_judas_new_song.php|archive-date=April 18, 2011}} Digital Spy's Robert Copsey gave the song five out of five stars, commending the "blasphemously camp" chorus and comparing it to be worthy of Eurovision – "a Scooch-meets-Lordi affair that, unsurprisingly, takes a few listens to get your head around."{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a314965/lady-gaga-judas.html|title=Lady GaGa: 'Judas'|last=Copsey|first=Robert|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 23, 2011|work=Digital Spy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419005822/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a314965/lady-gaga-judas.html|archive-date=April 19, 2011}} Mark Lepage from The Gazette praised the song and understood that as Gaga's music has progressed, so has her themes and inspirations, indicated by the conflicted relationship she has with the character Judas in the song.{{cite news|url=https://montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Lady+Gaga+divine+just+playing+dress/4661804/story.html|title=Is Lady Gaga divine or just playing dress-up?|last=Lepage|first=Mark|date=April 23, 2011|access-date=April 23, 2011|work=The Gazette|publisher=Postmedia Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110426122630/http://www.montrealgazette.com/entertainment/Lady+Gaga+divine+just+playing+dress/4661804/story.html|archive-date=April 26, 2011|url-status=dead}} Rick Fulton, while writing in the Daily Record, compared it to "'Like a Prayer' on steroids" and gave it three out of five points.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/music-news/2011/05/19/world-reacts-to-new-lady-gaga-album-here-s-our-review-86908-23140877/|last=Fulton|first=Rick|date=May 19, 2011|access-date=May 19, 2011|title=World reacts to new Lady Gaga Album: Here's our review|work=Daily Record|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522114445/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/music-news/2011/05/19/world-reacts-to-new-lady-gaga-album-here-s-our-review-86908-23140877/|archive-date=May 22, 2011}} NME called the song "Gaga's worst single so far" in November 2011.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/list/50-worst-music-videos-ever/253198/article/253219#article|title=50 Worst Music Videos Ever|access-date=December 4, 2011|work=NME|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203034550/http://www.nme.com/list/50-worst-music-videos-ever/253198/article/253219#article|archive-date=December 3, 2011}}

On August 4, 2011, Rebecca Francescatti, a Chicago-based songwriter, filed a lawsuit against Gaga and Interscope for allegedly ripping off the song "Juda" from her album, It's All About You.{{cite web|last=Warner|first=Kara|title=Lady Gaga Sued For Allegedly Copying 'Judas'|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1668591/lady-gaga-judas-copyright-infringement-lawsuit.jhtml|publisher=MTV|date=August 5, 2011|access-date=November 7, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101234656/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1668591/lady-gaga-judas-copyright-infringement-lawsuit.jhtml|archive-date=November 1, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Rebecca Francescatti, Chicago Musician, Claims Lady Gaga Stole Her Song|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/05/rebecca-francescatti-chic_n_919387.html|work=The Huffington Post|date=August 5, 2011|access-date=November 7, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110905144302/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/05/rebecca-francescatti-chic_n_919387.html|archive-date=September 5, 2011}} According to NBC Chicago, the bassist that worked on the song with Gaga, Brian Gaynor, also plays for Francescatti.{{cite web|last=Rodrigez|first=Robert|title=Lady Gaga Sued for Copyright|date=August 3, 2011 |url=http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Chicago-Woman-Sues-Lady-Gaga-Over-Copyright-Infringement--126742133.html|publisher=NBC|access-date=November 7, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920215604/http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Chicago-Woman-Sues-Lady-Gaga-Over-Copyright-Infringement--126742133.html|archive-date=September 20, 2011}} A copy of the lawsuit revealed Francescatti seeks a cut from the profits "Judas" has earned,{{cite web|title=Francescatti v. Germanotta et al|url=http://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1:2011cv05270/258497/#|date=August 4, 2011|access-date=November 7, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919024515/http://dockets.justia.com/docket/illinois/ilndce/1%3A2011cv05270/258497/|archive-date=September 19, 2011}} on a song that "copied and incorporated substantial, original portions" of the work.

In June 2014, the lawsuit was dismissed without trial by a Federal Judge in an act of Summary Judgment in Chicago, stating, in part, "The differences [between the songs "Juda" and "Judas"] so outweigh the purported similarities between the melodies that they cannot be said to be even remotely similar", "We agree with Defendants that the songs do not have common lyrics, the themes are different, and they do not sound at all alike musically," and "Thus, we find the similarity of expression to be, quite clearly, 'totally lacking'. The (two songs) are so utterly dissimilar that reasonable minds could not differ as to a lack of substantial similarity between them."{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-lady-gaga-chicago-lawsuit-20140617,0,6572126.story|title=Lady Gaga didn't rip off Chicago musician, federal judge rules|last=Schmadeke|first=Steve|date=June 18, 2014|access-date=June 18, 2014|work=Chicago Tribune|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618113741/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-lady-gaga-chicago-lawsuit-20140617%2C0%2C6572126.story|archive-date=June 18, 2014}}

The song meets a moderate success compared to her others hits singles. After its release to the digital outlets and radio, Billboard theorized that "Judas" would need to sell between 350,000 and 400,000 copies in two and a half days, and make a large number of radio listener impressions through the end of the airplay tracking period on April 19, 2011, in order to debut at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472042/lady-gagas-judas-hits-itunes-could-battle-rihanna-for-no-1-on-hot-100|title=Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Hits iTunes, Could Battle Rihanna for No. 1 on Hot 100|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|magazine=Billboard|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529092010/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472042/lady-gagas-judas-hits-itunes-could-battle-rihanna-for-no-1-on-hot-100|archive-date=May 29, 2013}} The song debuted at number 30 on the Billboard Pop Songs chart with 1,405 detections on 118 of the Pop Songs panel's 132 reporting stations, translating to an opening audience of 13.6 million.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/472017/katy-perry-reigns-lady-gaga-debuts-on-pop-songs|title=Katy Perry Reigns, Lady Gaga Debuts On Pop Songs|first=Gary|last=Trust|magazine=Billboard|date=April 18, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130610234201/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/472017/katy-perry-reigns-lady-gaga-debuts-on-pop-songs|archive-date=June 10, 2013}} For the issue dated April 30, 2011, "Judas" debuted at number four on Hot Digital Songs chart with 162,000 copies sold.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471963/foo-fighters-earn-first-no-1-album-with-wasting-light|title=Foo Fighters Earn First No. 1 Album with 'Wasting Light'|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=April 20, 2011|first=Keith|last=Caulfield|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525020141/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471963/foo-fighters-earn-first-no-1-album-with-wasting-light|archive-date=May 25, 2013}} It debuted at its peak position of number ten on the Hot 100—Gaga's third debut in the top 10—and started at number 48 on the Radio Songs chart with 26 million audience.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471954/rihannas-sm-reigns-on-hot-100-lady-gagas-judas-debuts|title=Rihanna's 'S&M' Reigns on Hot 100, Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Debuts|magazine=Billboard|first=Gary|last=Trust|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=April 20, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110416044749/http://www.billboard.com/|archive-date=April 16, 2011}} The next week "Judas" dropped two places on the Hot 100, while selling 156,000 downloads (down 4%) in its first full week at retail.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472289/katy-perrys-et-rockets-to-no-1-on-hot-100|title=Katy Perry's 'E.T.' Returns To No. 1 On Hot 100|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=April 27, 2011|access-date=April 27, 2011|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508071128/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472289/katy-perrys-et-rockets-to-no-1-on-hot-100|archive-date=May 8, 2013}} However, on Radio Songs, "Judas" jumped from number 48 to number 36 (34 million impressions, up 29%), while also moving up to number 19 on the Pop Songs chart, reaching a peak of number 15 to date.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/lady-gaga/chart-history/|title=Billboard – Lady Gaga – Judas|access-date=May 5, 2011|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=November 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211121100422/https://www.billboard.com/artist/lady-gaga/chart-history/|url-status=live}} "Judas" also debuted on the Hot Dance Club Songs Chart at number 38, and on Adult Pop Songs at number 40, for the issue dated May 14, 2011.{{cite magazine|url=http://login.vnuemedia.com/bbbiz/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1005166592|title=Chart Highlights: Dance/Club Play, Country Songs & More|date=May 2, 2011|access-date=May 5, 2011|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618094126/http://www.lady-gaga.de/releases/detail/product/176475/judas-the-remixes-pt-ii/|archive-date=June 18, 2011}} It has since reached the top of the Hot Dance Club Songs chart. According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Judas" has sold one million copies digital downloads in the US as of February 2019.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8497475/lady-gaga-sales-streams-ariana-grande-ask-billboard|title=Ask Billboard: Lady Gaga's Career Sales & Streams; Ariana Grande Takes '7' to 1|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=February 10, 2019|access-date=February 11, 2019|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=February 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190210184426/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8497475/lady-gaga-sales-streams-ariana-grande-ask-billboard|url-status=live}}

In Canada, "Judas" debuted at number nine on the Canadian Hot 100 with three days of sales, entering the Digital Songs chart of Canada at number five with 16,000 copies sold.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/2011-04-30/canadian-hot-100|title=Canadian Hot 100: Week Ending April 30, 2011|date=April 30, 2011|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 22, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203180737/http://www.billboard.com/charts/2011-04-30/canadian-hot-100|archive-date=December 3, 2014}}{{cite news|url=http://ca.nielsen.com/content/dam/nielsen/en_ca/documents/pdf/newsletters/billboard_canadian-update/Nielsen%20Music%20Canadian%20Update.pdf|title=Foo Fighters Light Up Album Chart|last=Tuch|first=Paul|date=April 21, 2011|access-date=April 23, 2011|publisher=Nielsen SoundScan|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5yHal9xoP?url=http://ca.nielsen.com/content/dam/nielsen/en_ca/documents/pdf/newsletters/billboard_canadian-update/Nielsen%20Music%20Canadian%20Update.pdf|archive-date=April 28, 2011|url-status=dead}} The next week it moved up one position to its peak of number eight, while becoming the greatest gainer on the chart in terms of airplay. The song moved from number 66 to number 23 on the Canadian Hot 100 Airplay chart, with a 161% increase in audience.{{cite news|url=http://ca.nielsen.com/content/dam/nielsen/en_ca/documents/pdf/newsletters/billboard_canadian-update/Nielsen%20Music%20Canadian%20Update.pdf|title=Adele Tops Album & Digital Songs Chart|date=April 29, 2011|access-date=April 28, 2011|last=Tuch|first=Paul|publisher=Nielsen SoundScan|archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/5yHal9xoP?url=http://ca.nielsen.com/content/dam/nielsen/en_ca/documents/pdf/newsletters/billboard_canadian-update/Nielsen%20Music%20Canadian%20Update.pdf|archive-date=April 28, 2011|url-status=dead}} In the United Kingdom, "Judas" debuted at number 14 on the UK Singles Chart on April 17, 2011, with 20,729 copies.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13108479|title=Adele knocked off album chart top spot|date=April 17, 2011|access-date=April 18, 2011|publisher=BBC|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110418040626/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13108479|archive-date=April 18, 2011}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ozap.com/actu/charts-uk-ventes-disques-angleterre-foo-fighters-adele-lady-gaga-judas/413450|title=Charts UK : Adele Enfine Detronee, Le "Judas" De Lady Gaga Demarre Timidement|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=April 20, 2011|publisher=OZAP|language=fr|last=Decant|first=Charles|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423011613/http://www.ozap.com/actu/charts-uk-ventes-disques-angleterre-foo-fighters-adele-lady-gaga-judas/413450|archive-date=April 23, 2011}} The next week it moved to number nine.{{cite web|url=http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/lmfao-rock-on-adele-regains-nuumber-one-spot/|title=LMFAO Rock On & Adele regains nuumber one spot|date=April 24, 2011|access-date=April 24, 2011|publisher=The Official Charts Company|author=Press Release|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517063216/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/chart-news/lmfao-rock-on-adele-regains-nuumber-one-spot/|archive-date=May 17, 2011}} The song debuted at number nine on the French Singles Chart with 5,719 copies of the single,{{cite news|url=http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-73250.html|title=Tops : Colonel Reyel est n°1 des ventes d'albums|date=April 20, 2011|access-date=April 20, 2011|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Chartsinfrance.net|language=fr|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110423013818/http://www.chartsinfrance.net/actualite/news-73250.html|archive-date=April 23, 2011}} and has since reached a peak of seven, becoming Gaga's ninth top ten in the country, and the second of 'Born This Way' after the song of the same name, who debuted at number two. In New Zealand, "Judas" debuted at number 13 on the New Zealand Singles Chart on April 18, 2011, and also debuted at number six on the ARIA Singles Chart of Australia, which became its peak there. "Judas" was certified double platinum in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), for shipment of 140,000 copies of the single. In Ireland and Finland, "Judas" achieved a top-five debut at positions four and three respectively. Other top-ten debuts happened at Belgium (Wallonia), Norway and Spain. In Japan "Judas" debuted at number seven on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100/|title=Japan Hot 100: Week Ending May 2, 2011|date=May 2, 2011|access-date=May 1, 2011|language=ja|magazine=Billboard|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424203404/http://www.billboard-japan.com/system/jp_charts/hot100|archive-date=April 24, 2011|url-status=dead}} The song debuted and peaked at number 23 in the German Singles Chart, ending her consecutive top-ten placings in that charts since her debut "Just Dance".

File:Norman Reedus by Gage Skidmore 3.jpg played the role of Judas in the clip.|alt=Norman Reedus looking to the front]]

The music video for "Judas" was filmed on April 2–3, 2011, and was directed by Gaga and her then

choreographer, Laurieann Gibson.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661221/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Shoots 'Judas' Video|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|publisher=MTV News|date=April 4, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407013703/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661221/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|archive-date=April 7, 2011}} The singer's stylist Thierry Mugler and creative director Nicola Formichetti announced on the coming Monday that the filming for the clip was over. The cast included Norman Reedus as Judas, while Gaga played the part of Mary Magdalene and Rick Gonzalez as the Jesus-like character. Gibson and Gaga wanted to make sure the video's direction was perfect—so they directed it themselves. Gibson explained that while working with Nick Knight on the music video for "Born This Way", they had felt that the ideas presented did not execute in a way they wanted. But with the music video of "Judas", the whole idea and the inspiration was clear enough. They had initially approached a director, but the dates did not work out with him, so Gaga's manager asked her and Gibson to direct the video instead. With MTV News, Gibson explained that there was a "groundbreaking" message in the clip, which might "shock" the audience.

Gibson said she took a moment before agreeing, as she had just wrapped up work on Gaga's Monster Ball HBO special but she could not resist in the end. "It's a phenomenal video: really powerful, really impactful," she added.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661567/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video Is 'Groundbreaking,' Laurieann Gibson Says|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=April 7, 2011|access-date=April 9, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110409220055/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1661567/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|archive-date=April 9, 2011}} With The Hollywood Reporter, Gibson explained that within the video they created a new Jerusalem. The team had two different views about the storyline and hence there were much debates about the content to be included.{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/laurieann-gibson-weve-created-a-176790|title=Laurieann Gibson: 'We've Created a New Jerusalem' With Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video|last=Halperin|first=Shirley|date=April 10, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110413051102/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/laurieann-gibson-weve-created-a-176790|archive-date=April 13, 2011}} The shock value in the video was purposefully added, but ultimately the story was about oppression; and about following one's heart and the glory of being free.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472038/lady-gaga-choreographer-laurieann-gibson-talks-bet-dance-show|title=Lady Gaga Choreographer Laurieann Gibson Talks BET Dance Show|last=Gallo|first=Phil|date=April 17, 2011|access-date=April 17, 2011|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913210606/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/472038/lady-gaga-choreographer-laurieann-gibson-talks-bet-dance-show|archive-date=September 13, 2014}}

With NME magazine Gaga revealed that the video involved motorbikes and a death sequence. She also described the portrayal of her character as being "beyond repentance", which evolved from the continuous media accusations towards her that "[she's] trashy. or pretentious or this and that. [The video] is my way of saying 'I've crossed the line, I won't even try to repent. Nor should I'."{{cite journal|last=Robinson|first=Peter|date=April 23, 2011|title=Freak Or Fraud? Lady Gaga: "I'm Not Full Of S**t. Are You?|journal=NME|pages=21–24|volume=43|location=London|issn=0028-6362}} Forgiveness and destiny also played a part in the video, and Gaga wanted to portray a Federico Fellini-esque story with apostles being revolutionaries in a modern-day Jerusalem. They are led to Jesus, by Gaga as Magdalene. Although initially reported to be premiered during an episode of the tenth season of American Idol,{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s91/american-idol/news/a316274/lady-gaga-judas-video-for-idol-premiere.html|title=Lady GaGa 'Judas' video for 'Idol' premiere|last=Harp|first=Justin|date=April 25, 2011|access-date=April 25, 2011|work=Digital Spy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110427080555/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/s91/american-idol/news/a316274/lady-gaga-judas-video-for-idol-premiere.html|archive-date=April 27, 2011}} the music video premiered on May 5, 2011, on E! News at 7 pm.{{cite news|url=http://uk.eonline.com/uberblog/b239573_lady_gagas_controversial_judas_video.html|title=Lady Gaga's Controversial "Judas" Video Premiering Exclusively—and Uncut—on E!|date=May 2, 2011|access-date=May 2, 2011|publisher=E!|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618094126/http://www.lady-gaga.de/releases/detail/product/176475/judas-the-remixes-pt-ii/|archive-date=June 18, 2011}}

{{multiple image

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| image1 = Judasmusicvideo.jpg

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| alt1 = A woman stands atop a rock, dressed in a metallic gown and coiffured hair. Behind her, a big wave approaches to engulf her.

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| image2 = Sandro Botticelli - La nascita di Venere - Google Art Project - edited.jpg

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| alt2 = Painting displaying a naked blond woman standing atop an oyster shell in water. To her left, another blond woman tries to cover her with a pink cloth. To her right a flying naked couple is seen, with a blue cloth wrapped loosely around them.

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| footer = The scene of Gaga standing atop a rock, as waves engulf her (left), is reminiscent of Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus (right).

}}

The video opens with a motorcycle gang cruising down a freeway, wearing studded leather jackets. The motorcycle gang are the Twelve Apostles who followed Jesus, including Judas. Gaga as Mary Magdalene clutches onto a Jesus-like figure (Rick Gonzalez) who wears a golden crown of thorns. Among the riders is Judas (Norman Reedus), who crosses Gaga's bike as she looks meaningfully towards him. The gang passes under a flyover, when the song starts. They reach their rustic hideout called "Electric Chapel" where Gaga dances wearing a red sarong and a bikini top with crosses covering her nipples. Gaga's character watches curiously as the wily Judas enters the biker club and immediately gets involved in a brawl. While trying to protect Jesus from the fights she attempts to warn him about his apostle's impending betrayal, but becomes hypnotized by Judas' allure. The storyline is interspersed with choreographed dance sequences and close-ups of Gaga with stark imagery, including artistic eye make-up, which was compared to the Egyptian Eye of Horus.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663416/lady-gaga-judas-video-references.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video: A Pop-Culture Cheat Sheet|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509022504/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663416/lady-gaga-judas-video-references.jhtml|archive-date=May 9, 2011}} Her flowing blonde hair is accented by a red bandana, blue leather top and puffy white dress in different parts of the clip. The blue top worn by Gaga displays the Sacred Heart, a depiction of what Jesus is said to have revealed as a symbol of his love for humanity. During the second verses, Gaga points towards Peter during the line "Build a house", and towards herself during "Or sink a dead body".

After the second chorus, in a climatic sequence, the singer holds a gun up to Judas' mouth, and a stick of red lipstick bursts out and smears his lips. The scene portrays Gaga's choice to refuse to shoot Judas through the heart. As the breakdown ends, the music stops and Gaga is seen in a bathtub with Jesus and Judas, washing their feet and cleaning it with her hair. The sequence is interspersed with Gaga standing lonely on a rock as waves engulf her, the scene being reminiscent of Sandro Botticelli's The Birth of Venus and Jesus marching towards his fatal destiny. The music restarts and Judas is shown pouring beer in the bathtub. Next Jesus is shown standing on a stage, surrounded by his supporters, the setting being inspired by scaffoldings present around newly constructed buildings in New York.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663388/lady-gaga-laurieann-gibson-judas-video.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga 'Judas' Video 'Fulfills Our Vision,' Laurieann Gibson Says|last=Ellias|first=Matt|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507073021/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663388/lady-gaga-laurieann-gibson-judas-video.jhtml|archive-date=May 7, 2011}} Gaga kneels in front of Jesus and tries to explain something to him, but he places his palm on her head as Judas looks on. After Judas delivers the fateful kiss upon Jesus' cheeks, marking him for his death, Gaga falls on the ground with a silent, anguished cry. The video ends with the death of neither Judas nor Jesus, but of Gaga as she's stoned to death by the crowd.

File:Eye of Horus bw.svg.|alt=Painting of an eye with its brow, in black lines. The eye is stretched at its end with a horizontal line, and has another spiral line coming out of its lower lid.]]

Before its release, the Catholic League's president William Anthony Donohue criticized the music video for its portrayal of Gaga as Mary Magdalene. He spoke exclusively to HollywoodLife.com about Gaga's focus on Judas and Mary Magdalene, calling her "increasingly irrelevant" compared to people with "real talent", and attacked her for seemingly purposefully debuting the song and video close to Holy Week and Easter.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/04/08/lady-gaga-judas-mary-magdalene-catholic-talentless-offended-bill-donohue/|title=Catholic League On Gaga's 'Judas': 'If She Had More Talent, We'd Be More Offended'|last=O'Neil|first=Lorena|publisher=HollywoodLife.com|date=April 8, 2011|access-date=April 15, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414033851/http://www.hollywoodlife.com/2011/04/08/lady-gaga-judas-mary-magdalene-catholic-talentless-offended-bill-donohue/|archive-date=April 14, 2011}} Gaga noted in an interview with E! that the video was not meant to cause controversy in any way, jokingly adding "the only controversial thing about this video is that I'm wearing Christian Lacroix and Chanel in the same frame".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663387/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Says 'Judas' Video Isn't 'An Attack On Religion'|last=Vena|first=Jocelyn|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507073016/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663387/lady-gaga-judas-video.jhtml|archive-date=May 7, 2011}} After its release, the Catholic League released a statement clarifying that they did not find the clip to be anti-Catholic, although Gaga toyed with religious iconography in it.{{cite news|url=http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/05/06/lady-gagas-judas-video-is-a-mess-catholics-say/|title=Lady Gaga's 'Judas' video is 'a mess,' Catholics say|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=May 6, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509070002/http://entertainment.blogs.foxnews.com/2011/05/06/lady-gagas-judas-video-is-a-mess-catholics-say/|archive-date=May 9, 2011}}

Jason Lipshutz from Billboard described it as a "motorcycle mayhem meets biblical betrayal."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471716/lady-gagas-judas-video-motorycle-mayhem-meets-biblical-betrayal|title=Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video: {{as written||Moto|rycle [sic]}} Mayhem Meets Biblical Betrayal|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609071525/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/471716/lady-gagas-judas-video-motorycle-mayhem-meets-biblical-betrayal|archive-date=June 9, 2013}} MTV News' James Montgomery called the video as a pure pop clip, "albeit one that looks great and is sure to earn the ire of a few folks on the religious right." He added that "Judas" is, at its sacred heart, an artistic explosion contained within the confines of a traditional pop clip.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663337/lady-gaga-judas-leaked.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga's 'Judas' Video Hits The Net|last=Montgomery|first=James|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507072955/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663337/lady-gaga-judas-leaked.jhtml|archive-date=May 7, 2011}} Christian Blauvelt from Entertainment Weekly did not like the video at first, calling it her weakest effort to date and attributing it to Gibson's choreography and the literal storyline. However, he admitted that after watching the video a few times, he became fond of it.{{cite magazine|url=http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/05/05/lady-gaga-judas-video/|title=Lady Gaga debuts 'Judas' video: Watch it here|last=Blauvelt|first=Christian|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506204507/http://music-mix.ew.com/2011/05/05/lady-gaga-judas-video/|archive-date=May 6, 2011}} Tris McCall from The Star-Ledger felt that there was neither anything blasphemous about the video, nor anything too daring about it. McCall explained that the dancing in the video is a "pleasure to watch", but would have been better if the camera work was more professional. According to him, the only eye-catching prop in the video was the gun that turned into a lipstick.{{cite news|url=http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2011/05/lady_gaga_judas_video_debuts_i.html|title=Lady Gaga 'Judas' video debuts: Is it as blasphemous as they say?|last=McCall|first=Tris|author-link=Tris McCall|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|work=The Star-Ledger|publisher=Advance Publications|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507030011/http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2011/05/lady_gaga_judas_video_debuts_i.html|archive-date=May 7, 2011}} Matthew Perpetua from Rolling Stone was certain that the video would offend some Christians for its irreverent and highly sexualized take on Jesus Christ; he also said that Gaga interpreted the Biblical story in her own style.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/lady-gaga-her-sexy-sacrilegious-judas-video-20110505|title=Lady Gaga: Her sexy, sacrilegious 'Judas' video|last=Perpetua|first=Matthew|date=May 5, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|magazine=Rolling Stone|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508213415/http://www.rollingstone.com/videos/new-and-hot/lady-gaga-her-sexy-sacrilegious-judas-video-20110505|archive-date=May 8, 2011}}

Oscar Moralde from Slant Magazine complimented the production of the video by calling it "visually stunning", while adding that "'Judas' is the work of a repertory, not a revolutionary. It takes familiar swatches from Gaga's palette (the leather-and-chain aesthetic of "Telephone"; the plaintive, tear-stained camera stare of "Bad Romance") and puts them all together for a competently executed work."{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/05/video-review-lady-gagas-judas/|title=Video Review: Lady Gaga's "Judas"|last=Moralde|first=Oscar|date=May 6, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|work=Slant Magazine|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110509064946/http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2011/05/video-review-lady-gagas-judas/|archive-date=May 9, 2011}} Phil Fox Rose, while reviewing the video for The Washington Post, gave it a positive review stating that he found it "moving, both artistically and spiritually." He then went on to explain how the religion related accusations against Gaga were completely biased.{{cite news|last=Rose|first=Philip Fox|date=May 6, 2011|access-date=May 6, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/lady-gagas-judas-video-sacrilege-or-sacred-art/2011/05/06/AFyvp17F_blog.html|title=Lady Gaga's Judas video: sacrilege or sacred art?|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112091625/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/lady-gagas-judas-video-sacrilege-or-sacred-art/2011/05/06/AFyvp17F_blog.html|archive-date=November 12, 2012}} VH1 found that the video was inspired by Madonna's "Like a Prayer", Hispanic Catholicism, the films Our Lady of the Assassins, The Wild Angels and Romeo + Juliet, and the sixth season of the American television series Lost.{{cite web|url=http://blog.vh1.com/2011-05-05/lady-gagas-judas-video-leaks-and-we-count-down-its-top-5-influences/|title=Lady Gaga's "Judas' Video Leaks, And We Cound Down Its Top 5 Influences|date=May 6, 2011|access-date=May 7, 2011|publisher=VH1. Viacom|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510132848/http://blog.vh1.com/2011-05-05/lady-gagas-judas-video-leaks-and-we-count-down-its-top-5-influences/|archive-date=May 10, 2011}} NME named 'Judas' the fourth worst music video ever, describing it as "an attempt to jump on the Madonna/Catholicism bandwagon that so incredibly misjudged it's quite comical."

At the 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards, Gaga won the Best International Artist Video award for "Judas".{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470388/lady-gaga-justin-bieber-win-at-muchmusic-video-awards|title=Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber Win at MuchMusic Video Awards|last=Bliss|first=Karen|publisher=Billboard|date=June 20, 2011|access-date=March 30, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324010511/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/470388/lady-gaga-justin-bieber-win-at-muchmusic-video-awards|archive-date=March 24, 2017}} The song's music video also received two nominations at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, in the categories of Best Choreography and Best Art Direction;{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2011/categories.jhtml|title=2011 MTV VMAs: Nominations|access-date=August 29, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110920171950/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2011/categories.jhtml|archive-date=September 20, 2011}} however, the video won neither at the award show, losing to Beyoncé's "Run The World (Girls)" in Best Choreography, and Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" in Best Art Direction.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2011/winners.jhtml|title=2011 MTV VMAs: Winners|access-date=August 29, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830214211/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2011/winners.jhtml|archive-date=August 30, 2011}}

On April 17, 2011, Gaga performed "Judas" at a nightclub called Kennedy Lounge, in Tampa, Florida, after her Monster Ball show in the city's St. Pete Times Forum.{{cite news|url=http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/04/video-photos-lady-gaga-surprises-club-goers-performing-judas|title=VIDEO & PHOTOS: Lady Gaga Surprises Club Goers By Performing Judas|date=April 17, 2011|access-date=April 17, 2011|work=RadarOnline|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421085600/http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/04/video-photos-lady-gaga-surprises-club-goers-performing-judas|archive-date=April 21, 2011}} Gaga performed "Judas" live on television for the first time on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on April 28, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/04/lady_gaga_-_thursday_april_28_2011.php|title=Lady Gaga – Thursday, April 28, 2011|date=April 22, 2011|access-date=April 25, 2011|publisher=Warner Bros. Television|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110621054353/http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2011/04/lady_gaga_-_thursday_april_28_2011.php|archive-date=June 21, 2011|url-status=dead}} She was accompanied by a string of male dancers, wearing black monk-like garments, by her side. The song was performed as a dance-filled number, with Gaga singing the lines while wearing a blue latex ensemble. According to James Dinh from MTV, the "choreography [of the performance] seemingly more difficult than in her usual performances, the singer showcased her best high-energy moves." As the music came to a close, she struck a pose before planting a kiss on the cheek of DeGeneres, who playfully replicated her stance.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662876/lady-gaga-on-ellen.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Talks Fame, Performs 'Judas' On 'Ellen DeGeneres Show'|last=Dinh|first=James|date=April 28, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110505002314/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1662876/lady-gaga-on-ellen.jhtml|archive-date=May 5, 2011}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/471833/lady-gaga-performs-judas-on-ellen-watch|title=Lady Gaga Performs 'Judas' on 'Ellen': Watch|last=Mapes|first=Jillian|date=April 28, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2011|magazine=Billboard|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080304/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/viral-videos/471833/lady-gaga-performs-judas-on-ellen-watch|archive-date=March 4, 2016}} At the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, Gaga sang the song for French television show Le Grand Journal. Wearing a gold-embellished ensemble, a red hood and a black-and-white hairstyle, Gaga performed an energetic version of the song accompanied by her male dancers, on a stage in front of the Mediterranean Sea. She explained to host Michel Denisot that the inspiration behind her look was the religious imagery and fashion portrayed in the "Judas" music video. "I've been wearing very romantic, very biblical arrangements, and I always throw in some punk rock for good measure," Gaga added.{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663727/lady-gaga-cannes-film-festival-2011.jhtml|title=Lady Gaga Steals Spotlight At Cannes Film Festival|last=Garibaldi|first=Christina|date=May 12, 2011|access-date=May 12, 2011|publisher=MTV (MTV Networks)|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515053646/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1663727/lady-gaga-cannes-film-festival-2011.jhtml|archive-date=May 15, 2011}}

File:Lady Gaga Judas GMA2.jpg{{'s}} "Summer Concert Series" (2011)|alt=A blond woman wearing black sunglass and her hair in a side ponytail. She wears a black and gold printed shirt through which her bustier is seen. The woman wears black stockings and has both of her hands raised a little upwards. She is flanked on her right by man, who strikes a similar pose, wearing black vest and pants. They are standing in front of a light blue backdrop.]]

"Judas" was performed by Gaga on The Graham Norton Show on May 13, 2011,{{cite news|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a319317/lady-gaga-on-graham-norton-in-pictures/|title=Lady GaGa on Graham Norton: In Pictures|last=Love|first=Ryan|date=May 13, 2011|access-date=February 13, 2023|publisher=Digital Spy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230213162052/https://www.digitalspy.com/music/a319317/lady-gaga-on-graham-norton-in-pictures/|archive-date=February 13, 2023}} and two days later on Radio 1's Big Weekend in Carlisle, Cumbria. "Judas" was the final song of the setlist, and she finished her performance by taking a bow with her dancers and musicians, as confetti rained on the crowd.{{cite news|publisher=Digital Spy|date=May 15, 2011|access-date=May 16, 2011|last=Sperling|first=Daniel|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a319632/lady-gaga-closes-radio-1s-big-weekend-video.html|title=Lady GaGa closes Radio 1's Big Weekend|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518164920/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a319632/lady-gaga-closes-radio-1s-big-weekend-video.html|archive-date=May 18, 2011}} Gaga sang "Judas" on the season finale of Saturday Night Live on May 21, 2011, after performing the piano version of "The Edge of Glory".{{cite news|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2011/05/21/lady-gaga-performs-on-snl-video/|title=Lady Gaga Performs on 'SNL'|work=Rap-Up|date=May 21, 2011|access-date=May 22, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525183144/http://www.rap-up.com/2011/05/21/lady-gaga-performs-on-snl-video/|archive-date=May 25, 2011}} She was dressed in a black shiny top and knee high boots, with a metallic headgear.{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/television/Lady-Gaga-Rocked-SNL-122408504.html|title=Lady Gaga rocked SNL|date=May 22, 2011|access-date=May 22, 2011|last=Chiu|first=David|publisher=NBC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913045840/http://www.nbcnewyork.com/entertainment/television/Lady-Gaga-Rocked-SNL-122408504.html|archive-date=September 13, 2012}} On May 27, 2011, Gaga also performed the song on Good Morning America as a part of their "Summer Concert Series". She wore a black sheer dress with a gold bejewelled jacket, and gold-studded bikini top and bottom. The stage was filled with steam billowing out of controlled machines.{{cite news|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/lady-gaga-makes-zipline-arrival-good-morning-america/story?id=13694695|title=Lady Gaga Wows Crowd, Ziplines Onto 'Good Morning America' Concert Stage|last=Marikar|first=Sheila|date=May 27, 2011|access-date=May 27, 2011|page=2|publisher=ABC News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530001502/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/lady-gaga-makes-zipline-arrival-good-morning-america/story?id=13694695|archive-date=May 30, 2011}} Gaga performed "Judas" on the X Factor in Paris on June 14, 2011, as a medley with "The Edge of Glory". The performance started with Gaga playing a keytar for "The Edge of Glory", wearing a fringed coat as well as a teal wig. She then removed the keytar and fringed coat, revealing a lingerie outfit which included a thong, and transitioned into "Judas".{{cite news|url=http://www.starobserver.com.au/celebrity-2/2011/06/15/gaga-has-the-x-factor/54618|title=Gaga Has The X Factor|last=Marcic|first=Mike|date=June 15, 2011|access-date=June 15, 2011|work=Sydney Star Observer|publisher=Gay and Lesbian Community Publishing Limited|archive-date=June 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620073936/http://www.starobserver.com.au/celebrity-2/2011/06/15/gaga-has-the-x-factor/54618|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.heatworld.com/Entertainment/Music/2011/06/Watch-Lady-Gagas-performance-on-X-Factor-France/|title=Lady Gaga can't speak French, so she lets the funky music do the talking|date=June 15, 2011|access-date=June 15, 2011|work=Heat|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618151322/http://www.heatworld.com/Entertainment/Music/2011/06/Watch-Lady-Gagas-performance-on-X-Factor-France/|archive-date=June 18, 2011}} A medley of "Judas" and "Born This Way" was the closing performance on the Paul O'Grady Live show. Ryan Love of Digital Spy had a preview of the show's recording, and felt that this was the best performance of the two songs by Gaga.{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a324430/lady-gaga-paul-ogrady-interview-behind-the-scenes.html|title=Lady GaGa 'Paul O'Grady' interview: Behind the scenes|last=Love|first=Ryan|date=June 13, 2011|access-date=June 16, 2011|publisher=Digital Spy|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616054019/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a324430/lady-gaga-paul-ogrady-interview-behind-the-scenes.html|archive-date=June 16, 2011}}

"Judas" was part of the setlist of the Born This Way Ball (2012–2013) concert tour. After a speech about betrayal and loyalty, Gaga performed the track atop a turret of the big castle prop. The song contained elements of the DJ White Shadow Remix.{{cite web|title=Lady Gaga Delights Fans As She Begins 'Born This Way Ball' Tour In South Korea - Video|url=http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/lady-gaga/news/born-this-way-ball-tour-south-korea-review/|work=Capital FM|publisher=Global Radio|date=April 27, 2012|access-date=June 12, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120507225840/http://www.capitalfm.com/artists/lady-gaga/news/born-this-way-ball-tour-south-korea-review/|archive-date=May 7, 2012}} Prior to the concert scheduled in Manila, Philippines, Gaga faced threats of incarceration and lawsuits from nearly 200 Christians from the Biblemode Youth Philippines organization. The group marched to protest about her "blasphemous" music, taking particular offense to the song "Judas", which they asserted as demeaning Jesus Christ. Responding to the protests, Gaga said in an official statement, "I'm not a creature of your government, Manila" and performed "Judas". Following the controversy, Roman Catholic legal authorities greenlit the concerts for May 21, 2012, and the following Tuesday, restricting nudity and acts deemed vulgar from the performance.{{cite web|title=Lady Gaga Launches Her Own Protest in the Philippines – And Could Now Face Arrest|url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/lady-gaga-launches-protest-philippines-face-arrest-162936894.html|publisher=Yahoo!|access-date=May 21, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216221845/https://sg.news.yahoo.com/lady-gaga-launches-protest-philippines-face-arrest-162936894.html|archive-date=February 16, 2015}}{{cite web|title=Filipino Christian group protests Lady Gaga shows|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/filipino-christian-group-protests-lady-gaga-shows-article-1.1080548|work=Daily News|date=May 18, 2012 |location=New York|access-date=May 21, 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120520072754/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/filipino-christian-group-protests-lady-gaga-shows-article-1.1080548|archive-date=May 20, 2012}}

"Judas" was performed on Gaga's 2014 ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour in a bondage-inspired black leather outfit, and between 2018–2019 at her Las Vegas residency show Enigma, where she wore an armor-like bodysuit with light-up panels and played the guitar.{{cite web|last=Barnes|first=Candice|title=Lady Gaga review: 'Mother monster' delivers a show fit for Queen|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/lady-gaga-review-mother-monster-delivers-a-show-fit-for-queen-20140820-106j74.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=September 9, 2017|date=August 21, 2014|archive-date=October 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221016180819/https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/lady-gaga-review-mother-monster-delivers-a-show-fit-for-queen-20140821-106j74.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Barlow|first=Eve|title=A Star Is Born Again: Lady Gaga's Vegas Residency Dazzles|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/lady-gagas-vegas-residency-reviewed.html|access-date=January 23, 2019|work=Vulture.com|date=December 30, 2018|archive-date=August 16, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816200920/https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/lady-gagas-vegas-residency-reviewed.html|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Mackelden|first=Amy|title=Lady Gaga Served so Many Epic Looks on Her Las Vegas Residency's Opening Night|url=https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/g25706684/lady-gaga-las-vegas-residency-enigma-outfits-looks-photos/|access-date=January 23, 2019|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|date=December 29, 2018|archive-date=October 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221008115246/https://www.harpersbazaar.com/celebrity/latest/g25706684/lady-gaga-las-vegas-residency-enigma-outfits-looks-photos/|url-status=live}} During her Coachella 2025 set, it was part of the first act of the show, and saw Gaga recreate the original choreography from the music video.{{cite web |last1=Mier |first1=Tomás |title=Lady Gaga proves why she's a once-in-a-generation pop icon during Coachella set|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/lady-gaga-coachella-performance-2025-review-1235315933/ |website=Rolling Stone |access-date=April 12, 2025 |date=April 12, 2025|archive-url=https://archive.today/20250412103106/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-live-reviews/lady-gaga-coachella-performance-2025-review-1235315933/|archive-date=April 12, 2025|url-status=dead}}

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Digital download{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/judas-single/id432534186|title=Judas – Single by Lady GaGa|date=April 15, 2011|access-date=April 16, 2011|publisher=iTunes Store|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110417032732/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/judas-single/id432534186|archive-date=April 17, 2011}}

1. "Judas" – 4:09

German CD single

1. "Judas" – 4:10
2. "Born This Way" (Twin Shadow Remix) – 4:19

Judas – The Remixes, Pt. 1{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0050TK22M|title=Judas: Lady Gaga: MP3 Downloads|website=Amazon|date=May 16, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618094126/http://www.lady-gaga.de/releases/detail/product/176475/judas-the-remixes-pt-ii/|archive-date=June 18, 2011}}

1. "Judas" (Goldfrapp Remix) – 4:42
2. "Judas" (Hurts Remix) – 3:57
3. "Judas" (Mirrors Une Autre Monde – Nuit) – 6:14
4. "Judas" (Guéna LG Club Remix) – 7:41
5. "Judas" (John Dahlbäck Remix) – 6:01
6. "Judas" (Chris Lake Remix) – 5:09
7. "Judas" (R3HAB Remix) – 4:56

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Bonus track single{{efn|This song was initially made available for free for users of the American iTunes Store if they had purchased either version of Born This Way before May 29, 2011, via a code sent before June 2.|name=TGRemix}}

1. "Judas" (Thomas Gold Remix) – 5:32

Judas – The Remixes Part 1{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/judas-the-remixes-pt-1-ep/438033530|title=Judas (The Remixes, Pt. 1) – EP by Lady Gaga|date=May 16, 2011|access-date=May 16, 2011|publisher=iTunes Store|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524113951/http://itunes.apple.com/au/album/judas-the-remixes-pt-1-ep/id438033530|archive-date=May 24, 2011}}

1. "Judas" (Goldfrapp Remix) – 4:42
2. "Judas" (Hurts Remix) – 3:56
3. "Judas" (Mirrors Une Autre Monde – Nuit) – 6:14
4. "Judas" (Guéna LG Club Remix) – 7:40

Judas – The Remixes Part 2{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/judas-remix-pt-2-ep/1444595206|title=Judas (The Remixes, Pt. 2) – EP by Lady Gaga|date=May 31, 2011|access-date=June 2, 2011|publisher=iTunes Store|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618075822/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/judas-remix-pt-2-ep/id440281568|archive-date=June 18, 2011}}

1. "Judas" (Röyksopp's European Imbecile Mix) – 3:51
2. "Judas" (John Dahlbäck Remix) – 6:00
3. "Judas" (Chris Lake Remix) – 5:09
4. "Judas" (R3HAB Remix) – 4:56
5. "Judas" (Mirrors Une Autre Monde Mix – Jour) – 4:17

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Credits adapted from the liner notes of Born This Way.{{cite AV media notes|title=Born This Way|title-link=Born This Way (album)|others=Lady Gaga|year=2011|first=Stefani|last=Germanotta|page=4|type=CD liner notes|publisher=Interscope Records|id=2771838|location=Manhattan, New York}}

• Recorded at Gang Studios (Paris)
• Mixed at Henson Studios (Los Angeles)
• Mastered at Oasis Mastering (Burbank, California)

• Lady Gaga – vocals, songwriter, producer, background vocals
• Nadir "RedOne" Khayat – songwriter, producer, vocal editing, vocal arrangement, background vocals, audio engineering, instrumentation, programming, recording
• Trevor Muzzy – recording, vocal editing, audio engineering, instrumentation, programming, audio mixing
• Dave Russell – additional recording
• Gene Grimaldi – audio mastering

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Judas"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|access-date=March 8, 2024|refname=ariacert }}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Gold|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|access-date=November 20, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Diamond|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|access-date=April 19, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Gold|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|id=14547|access-date=October 22, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Gold|relyear=2011|access-date=November 11, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=ringtone|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Gold|note=Full-length ringtone|relyear=2011|relmonth=4|certyear=2011|certmonth=7|certref={{cite web | script-title=ja:レコード協会調べ 4月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：4月度認定＞ |trans-title=Record Association report: April digital music download certifications|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w110820.html|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|language=ja|date=August 20, 2011|access-date=August 20, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914075014/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w110820.html|archive-date=September 14, 2011}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Gold|digital=true|note=PC download|relyear=2011|relmonth=4|certyear=2011|certmonth=8|certref={{cite web|script-title=ja:レコード協会調べ 4月度有料音楽配信認定＜略称：4月度認定＞ |trans-title=Record Association report: April digital music download certifications|url=http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w110920.html|publisher=Recording Industry Association of Japan|language=ja|date=September 20, 2011|access-date=September 20, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104034148/http://www.riaj.or.jp/data/others/chart/w110920.html|archive-date=November 4, 2013}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Lady Gaga|title=Judas|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|certref={{cite web|url=https://www.radioscope.co.nz/2024/00/00/single-cert-search/|title=Single Certification Search – Lady Gaga – Judas|website=RadioScope|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|access-date=December 16, 2024}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=South Korea|nocert=true|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|salesamount= 367,533 |salesref={{cite web|url=http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?serviceGbn=S1020&termGbn=year&hitYear=2011&targetTime=2011&nationGbn=E|title=South Korean Gaon Chart: Online download – 2011|work=Gaon Chart|publisher=Korea Music Content Industry Association|access-date=May 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072149/http://gaonchart.co.kr/main/section/chart/online.gaon?nationGbn=E&serviceGbn=S1020&targetTime=2011&hitYear=2011&termGbn=year|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Gold|relyear=2011|relmonth=4|certyear=2011|certmonth=8|access-date=January 27, 2012|certref=}}

{{Certification Table Entry|type=single|region=Spain|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|award=Gold|id=lady-gaga-judas|refname=2024Spain|access-date=September 16, 2024|note=Since 2015}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Platinum|relyear=2011|certyear=2011|access-date=January 31, 2012}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|award=Platinum|relyear=2011|certyear=2023|id=10853-2312-1|access-date=August 21, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|relyear=2011|certyear=2016|title=Judas|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|access-date=February 25, 2025|refname=RIAA}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

• List of Billboard Hot 100 top-ten singles in 2011
• List of Billboard Dance Club Songs number ones of 2011

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• [http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/16/lady-gagas-judas-whats-the-verdict/ Lady Gaga's 'Judas': What's the verdict?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022051009/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2011/04/16/lady-gagas-judas-whats-the-verdict/ |date=October 22, 2013 }} at CNN
• [https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/04/a_line-by-line_biblical_analys.html A Line-by-Line Biblical Analysis of Lady Gaga's 'Judas'] on New York

{{Lady Gaga songs}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Judas (Song)}}

Category:2011 singles

Category:2010 songs

Category:Christianity-related mass media and entertainment controversies

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Cultural depictions of Judas Iscariot

Category:Lady Gaga songs

Category:Music videos directed by Laurieann Gibson

Category:Religious controversies in music

Category:Songs involved in plagiarism controversies

Category:Depictions of Jesus in music

Category:Song recordings produced by RedOne

Category:Songs written by Lady Gaga

Category:Songs written by RedOne

Category:Music video controversies

Category:Big Freedia songs

Category:Songs based on the Bible

Category:Electro house songs

Category:American house music songs

Category:Music videos directed by Lady Gaga