John Wayne (song)

Lady Gaga recorded "John Wayne" at four locations in the United States. She began recording at Shangri-La Studios, in Malibu, California, with Joshua Blair, assisted by David Covell. They also recorded the song at Pink Duck Studios in Burbank, California, with Justin Smith. He continued recording at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, assisted by Barry McCready. Recording concluded at Dragonfly Recording Studios, in Malibu, assisted by Charley Pollard. Tom Elmhirst mixed the song at Electric Lady Studios, with assistance from Joe Visciano and Brandon Bost. Other personnel included Mark Ronson, who played bass and guitar for the song, BloodPop, who processed the rhythm track and synthesizers and Josh Homme, who played drums and guitar.{{Cite AV media notes|title=Joanne|others=Lady Gaga|year=2016|type=CD|publisher=Streamline/Interscope Records|id=2580102 |location=United States}} Homme added a guitar part to the song after Ronson reached out to him.{{cite web|work=Stereogum|url=http://www.stereogum.com/1905800/mark-ronson-details-kevin-parker-father-john-misty-josh-homme-beck-roles-on-lady-gagas-joanne/news/|first=James|last=Rettig|title=Mark Ronson Details Kevin Parker, Father John Misty, Josh Homme, & Beck Roles On Lady Gaga's Joanne|date=October 18, 2016|access-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211195553/http://www.stereogum.com/1905800/mark-ronson-details-kevin-parker-father-john-misty-josh-homme-beck-roles-on-lady-gagas-joanne/news/|archive-date=February 11, 2017}}

File:John Wayne - 1961.JPG, the song's namesake, in 1961|alt=Black-and-white image of John Wayne looking to the left.]]

"John Wayne" is composed in the key of B minor with a tempo of 92 beats per minute. Gaga's vocals span the nodes of A₄ to D₆, and its chord progression follows a basic sequence of B₅–A₅–E–B₅–A₅.s {{Cite web|url=http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0172343|title=Lady Gaga 'John Wayne' Sheet Music|publisher=Musicnotes.com|access-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820202238/http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtd.asp?ppn=MN0172343|archive-date=August 20, 2017}} It is a pop rock song, which has influences of other genres including country,{{cite magazine|url= https://time.com/4664564/lady-gaga-john-wayne-music-video/|magazine= Time|first= Raisa|last= Bruner|title= Watch Lady Gaga Go for a Wild Ride in the Video for 'John Wayne'|date= February 8, 2017|access-date= February 9, 2017|url-status= live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170209082755/http://time.com/4664564/lady-gaga-john-wayne-music-video/|archive-date= February 9, 2017}} disco,{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/joanne-mw0002982993|title=Joanne: Review|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|publisher=AllMusic|date=October 21, 2016|access-date=July 29, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022220821/http://www.allmusic.com/album/joanne-mw0002982993|archive-date=October 22, 2016}} funk,{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lady-gaga-joanne-20161021-snap-story.html|title=Goodbye, meat dress. Hello, blue jeans: Lady Gaga goes classic rock on 'Joanne'|last=Wood|first=Mikael|date=October 20, 2016|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=October 20, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022161932/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lady-gaga-joanne-20161021-snap-story.html|archive-date=October 22, 2016}} and house music. According to Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times, classifying the genre of the song is difficult as it combines "tinny Euro-house synths, slowed-down funk drums and a boot-scooting bass line straight out of Nashville". The track has "tongue-in-cheek" lyrics, referring to a cowboy in the opening verse: "I just love a cowboy, I know it's bad, but I'm, like, can I just hang off the back of your horse and can you go a little faster?"{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lady-gaga-joanne-review-track-by-track_uk_5809ec32e4b056572d82528b|title=Lady Gaga 'Joanne' Review: Our Track-by-Track Guide to Her New Album|last=Welsh|first=Daniel|date=October 21, 2016|access-date=February 8, 2017|work=HuffPost|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024071509/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lady-gaga-joanne-review-track-by-track_uk_5809ec32e4b056572d82528b|archive-date=October 24, 2016}}

The track's lyrics allude to smoking cannabis,{{cite web|work=Jezebel|url=http://themuse.jezebel.com/lady-gaga-gets-a-little-bit-country-and-a-little-bit-me-1788073432|first=Bobby|last=Finger|title=Lady Gaga Gets a Little Bit Country and a Little Bit Messy on Joanne|date=October 21, 2016|access-date=July 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827092244/http://themuse.jezebel.com/lady-gaga-gets-a-little-bit-country-and-a-little-bit-me-1788073432|archive-date=August 27, 2017}} and dating working-class men from Republican states, rather than urban men.{{cite web|work=Time Out|url=https://www.timeout.com/london/music/lady-gaga-joanne-album-review|title=Lady Gaga – 'Joanne' album review|date=October 20, 2016|access-date=July 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729003019/https://www.timeout.com/london/music/lady-gaga-joanne-album-review|archive-date=July 29, 2017}} In an interview with Zane Lowe at Beats 1, Gaga revealed that with "John Wayne" she explored her constant need to chase wild men, and how she keeps getting "bored of the same old John".{{cite magazine|last=Blistein|first=Jon|title=Lady Gaga Details New Album 'Joanne'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=September 15, 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lady-gaga-details-new-album-joanne-w440039|access-date=October 3, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104032426/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/lady-gaga-details-new-album-joanne-w440039|archive-date=November 4, 2016}} The song derives its title from John Wayne, an actor who starred in Western films. Sabienna Bowman of Bustle magazine felt that although Wayne did not have any connection with Gaga, his films served as the "perfect metaphor" for the song's protagonist and her craving for wild men.{{cite journal|last=Bowman|first=Sabienna|title=Who Is John Wayne In Lady Gaga's 'Joanne' Song? The Western Hero Is The Singer's Fantasy|journal=Bustle|date=October 26, 2016|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/190932-who-is-john-wayne-in-lady-gagas-joanne-song-the-western-hero-is-the-singers-fantasy|access-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801080905/https://www.bustle.com/articles/190932-who-is-john-wayne-in-lady-gagas-joanne-song-the-western-hero-is-the-singers-fantasy|archive-date=August 1, 2017}} Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone compared "John Wayne"'s lyrics with Paula Cole's "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" (1996); in the latter, Cole asks "Where is my John Wayne?"{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-lady-gagas-joanne-w446032|title=Review: Lady Gaga's Soft-Rock Turn 'Joanne' Is Her Best in Years|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Sheffield|first=Rob|date=October 21, 2016|access-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106224143/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/review-lady-gagas-joanne-w446032|archive-date=November 6, 2016}}{{cite magazine|last=Richin|first=Lesie|title=How Artists Pay Homage to 'Cowboy' John Wayne: Lady Gaga, Billy Idol and More|magazine=Billboard|date=October 26, 2016|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7556742/john-wayne-lady-gaga-hero-music-career|access-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827092241/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7556742/john-wayne-lady-gaga-hero-music-career|archive-date=August 27, 2017}} Andrew Unterberger of Billboard speculated that the lyrics, "He called, I cried, we broke," could relate to Gaga's breakup with her fiancé Taylor Kinney.{{cite magazine|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|title=7 Most Personal Lyrics on Lady Gaga's 'Joanne'|magazine=Billboard|date=October 21, 2016|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7549887/lady-gaga-joanne-lyrics-most-personal|access-date=February 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224093622/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7549887/lady-gaga-joanne-lyrics-most-personal|archive-date=February 24, 2017}} Bustle{{'}}s S. Atkinson noted that the song portrays an "intense, doomed relationship" comparable to Gaga and Kinney's; she concluded that the song is about Kinney, despite him being neither a blue-collar worker nor from a Republican state.{{cite journal|last=Atkinson|first=S.|title=Is Lady Gaga's "John Wayne" About Taylor Kinney? The Song Has Universal Appeal|journal=Bustle|date=October 21, 2016|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/190897-is-lady-gagas-john-wayne-about-taylor-kinney-the-song-has-universal-appeal|access-date=July 31, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801080800/https://www.bustle.com/articles/190897-is-lady-gagas-john-wayne-about-taylor-kinney-the-song-has-universal-appeal|archive-date=August 1, 2017}}

File:Josh Homme 2003.jpg, who also played drums and guitar on the track.|alt=Josh Homme playing guitar]]

While reviewing Joanne, The Atlantic{{'}}s Spencer Kornhaber wrote that "John Wayne" was an indication of the musical direction the parent album could have gone, with Gaga's fascination with the Western genre. "When she screams 'go FASTER!' in the song's intro, it's one of the album's few examples of Gaga doing what Gaga got famous for, glorifying the extreme," he added.{{cite journal |journal= The Atlantic |url= https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/joanne-lady-gaga-review-guts-gimmicks/504842/ |access-date= February 8, 2017 |first= Spencer |last=Kornhaber |title= Lady Gaga's Joanne Has More Gimmicks Than Guts |date= October 21, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170204175234/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/10/joanne-lady-gaga-review-guts-gimmicks/504842/ |archive-date= February 4, 2017 }} Similar thought was echoed by Andy Gill of The Independent, who found that the "more stolidly rockist fare" and "rock n' roll authenticity" that Gaga sought with Joanne, works best on "John Wayne" and "A-Yo". He believed Homme's "gritty riffing and imaginative lead lines," and "spiky but fluid breaks" made it one of the album highlights.{{cite journal |first= Andy |last= Gill |title= Album reviews: Lady Gaga - Joanne |journal= The Independent |date= October 19, 2016 |url= https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-lady-gaga-joanne-leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-pretenders-alone-a7369836.html |access-date= October 2, 2017 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161020111954/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/album-reviews-lady-gaga-joanne-leonard-cohen-you-want-it-darker-pretenders-alone-a7369836.html |archive-date= October 20, 2016 }} Maeve McDermott of USA Today wrote that "Gaga proves she can still make pop songs that fit Joanne{{'}}s twangier direction, nailing the balance" on "John Wayne", along with another song, "Diamond Heart", calling them "stadium-sized tracks that sound written with her huge Super Bowl halftime stage in mind".{{cite journal |first= Maeve |last= McDermott |title= Review: Lady Gaga's 'Joanne' is a revealing triumph |journal= USA Today |date= October 21, 2016 |url= https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/10/21/review-lady-gaga-joanne/92452418/ |access-date= October 25, 2017 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161026081856/http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/entertainthis/2016/10/21/review-lady-gaga-joanne/92452418/ |archive-date= October 26, 2016 }}

Daniel Welsh of HuffPost was positive in his review of the track. He called it "one of the more important moments of Joanne, and a welcome relief". Welsh further described "John Wayne" as a stand-out of the album, and complimented Gaga's tongue-in-cheek references in the lyrics.{{cite journal |journal= HuffPost |url= http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lady-gaga-joanne-review-track-by-track_uk_5809ec32e4b056572d82528b |access-date= September 12, 2017 |first= Daniel |last= Welsh |title= Lady Gaga 'Joanne' Review: Our Track-By-Track Guide To Her New Album |date= October 21, 2016 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161022145720/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/lady-gaga-joanne-review-track-by-track_uk_5809ec32e4b056572d82528b |archive-date= October 22, 2016 }} Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine thought that "Gaga's fetishizing of blue-collar men as 'red-state treasure[s]' on 'John Wayne' is delivered with the same swagger she brandished on The Fame Monster{{’}}s 'Teeth.'"{{cite journal |first= Sal |last= Cinquemani |title= Lady Gaga - Joanne |journal= Slant Magazine |date= October 18, 2016 |url= https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lady-gaga-joanne |access-date= October 28, 2017 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171008215951/https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/lady-gaga-joanne |archive-date= October 8, 2017 }}

Mike Schiller of PopMatters had a negative view of "John Wayne" and gave it a 4/10 rating. He said the track has "lot of energy but [it] can't find a memorable melody to save its life". Scott Zuppardo of the same publication was dismissive of the song, writing, "Gaga makes more bubble gum pop, shocking!"{{cite web |work= PopMatters |url= http://www.popmatters.com/post/lady-gaga-john-wayne-singles-going-steady/|title=Lady Gaga - "John Wayne" (Singles Going Steady) |date= February 15, 2017 |access-date= July 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170729002317/http://www.popmatters.com/post/lady-gaga-john-wayne-singles-going-steady/ |archive-date= July 29, 2017 }} Jezebel writer Bobby Finger called the song "silly", while Anna Gaca of Spin described it as "overstuffed".{{cite web |work= Spin |url= http://www.spin.com/2017/02/video-lady-gaga-john-wayne/ |last=Gaca |first=Anna |title= Video: Lady Gaga – 'John Wayne' |date= February 8, 2017 |access-date= July 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170218063112/http://www.spin.com/2017/02/video-lady-gaga-john-wayne/ |archive-date= February 18, 2017 }} The Chicago Tribune{{'}}s Greg Kot wrote that the song is an "embarrassing hoedown ... which piles on the bad-boy-goes-to-the-rodeo cliches".{{cite web |work= Chicago Tribune |url= http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/kot/sc-music-lady-gaga-joanne-review-ent-1021-20161021-column.html |last=Kot |first=Greg |title= Lady Gaga's latest reinvention on 'Joanne' a retro drag |date= October 21, 2016 |access-date= July 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170728213921/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/music/kot/sc-music-lady-gaga-joanne-review-ent-1021-20161021-column.html |archive-date= July 28, 2017}} Mic writer Mathew Rodriguez felt that the song was a rehash of "4x4" (2013) by Miley Cyrus that "exposes how uncomfortable Gaga feels in her new persona".{{cite web |work= Mic |url= https://m.mic.com/articles/157269/lady-gaga-s-joanne-review-joanne-fixes-all-the-wrong-problems-with-gaga-s-music#.v0hxVJSg7 |last= Rodriguez |first=Mathew |title= Lady Gaga 'Joanne' Review: 'Joanne' fixes all the wrong problems with Gaga's music |date= October 20, 2016 |access-date= July 28, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170211195542/http://www.vulture.com/2017/02/see-lady-gagas-john-wayne-music-video.html#.v0hxVJSg7 |archive-date= February 11, 2017 }} Time Out said that "John Wayne" took Joanne{{'}}s country theme "too literally" and panned its title. Writing for Contactmusic.com, Eoin Hanlon said that "John Wayne" and another Joanne track, "Come to Mama", "are possibly some of the worst songs Gaga has ever released".{{cite web|publisher=Contactmusic.com|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/lady-gaga/music/lady-gaga-joanne-album-review|last=Hanlon|first=Eoin|title=Lady Gaga - Joanne Album Review|date=November 30, 2016|access-date=July 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728210923/http://www.contactmusic.com/lady-gaga/music/lady-gaga-joanne-album-review|archive-date=July 28, 2017}}

{{clear}}

File:Lady Gaga John Wayne music video.gif.|alt=A moving image showing Gaga peering out of a moving car, as well as dancing energetically under blue lights.]]

The song's music video, directed by Jonas Åkerlund, premiered on Apple Music on February 8, 2017.{{cite web |url= http://pitchfork.com/news/71361-watch-lady-gagas-wild-john-wayne-video/ |title= Watch Lady Gaga's Wild 'John Wayne' Video |website= Pitchfork |date= February 8, 2017 |access-date= February 8, 2017 |last= Phillips |first=Amy |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170211081109/http://pitchfork.com/news/71361-watch-lady-gagas-wild-john-wayne-video/ |archive-date= February 11, 2017 }} Gaga had previously worked with Åkerlund on the "Paparazzi" (2009) and "Telephone" (2010) music videos, and wanted to work with him again. She enlisted him to direct "John Wayne" thinking the song "perfect" for them to work on together. Gaga said, "[Åkerlund] got from me the visions on the song, like falling off the back of a horse but I hold on and carry on enjoying it, or a scene with a guy and me in a car and being reckless to see how reckless love can be. He has a very cinematic approach but doesn't forget to make it a music video."{{cite magazine|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7685862/lady-gaga-talks-amazing-super-bowl-performance-a-star-is-born-metallica-grammys|title=Lady Gaga Talks 'Amazing' Super Bowl Performance, 'A Star is Born' & Metallica|date=February 8, 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220172901/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7685862/lady-gaga-talks-amazing-super-bowl-performance-a-star-is-born-metallica-grammys|archive-date=February 20, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

Serial Pictures production company created the video with Violaine Etienne as executive producer, assisted by Scott Pourroy and Michel Waxman. Åkerlund was helped by Andy Coffing as first assistant director. Other personnel who worked on the video include: Par Ekberg as cinematographer, Emma Fairley as production designer, Matt Nee as the editor and Chimney Pot for the post-production scenes.{{cite web|url=https://www.ladygaga.com/news/lady-gaga-john-wayne|title=Official Video / John Wayne / Out Now / Lady Gaga|work=LADY GAGA |date=February 8, 2017 |publisher=LadyGaga.com|access-date=October 28, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028201335/https://www.ladygaga.com/news/lady-gaga-john-wayne|archive-date=October 28, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

The "John Wayne" video begins with a clip from the end of the music video for "Million Reasons".{{cite magazine|url=http://ew.com/music/2017/02/08/lady-gaga-john-wayne-music-video/|title=Lady Gaga debuts rollicking 'John Wayne' music video|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=October 28, 2017|last=Noelfi|first=Joel|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829040419/http://ew.com/music/2017/02/08/lady-gaga-john-wayne-music-video/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Gaga wears her characteristic Joanne-era outfit: a pale pink suit and matching cowboy hat. Shortly after the video begins, she removes that clothing in favor of more-revealing cowgirl-inspired clothing.{{cite web |url= http://www.mtv.com/news/2980626/lady-gaga-john-wayne-video/ |publisher=MTV News |title=Lady Gaga Breaks About 100 Traffic Laws in 'John Wayne' Video |date=February 8, 2017 |access-date= February 9, 2017 |last=Roth|first=Madeline|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211080813/http://www.mtv.com/news/2980626/lady-gaga-john-wayne-video/|archive-date=February 11, 2017}} It continues with scenes of fast driving in cars and on motorcycles. The video cuts among a variety of exaggerated set pieces, and shots of Gaga dancing and singing.{{cite magazine|last=Unterberger|first=Andrew|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7685145/lady-gaga-john-wayne-new-video|title=Lady Gaga Releases Eye-Popping, Action-Packed New Video for 'John Wayne'|date=February 8, 2017|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 8, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170209090636/http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/7685145/lady-gaga-john-wayne-new-video|archive-date=February 9, 2017}} At the end of the video, Gaga is seen firing bullets from the heels of her thigh-high boots.{{cite journal|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/lady-gaga-john-wayne-music-video|title=Lady Gaga Is Having a Very Good Week|date=February 9, 2017|journal=Vogue|access-date=October 1, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002021727/https://www.vogue.com/article/lady-gaga-john-wayne-music-video|archive-date=October 2, 2017}} The singer did her own stunts in most of the scenes, including jumping in high-heels from the top of a truck onto the cars.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/2980858/lady-gaga-own-stunts-john-wayne-video/|publisher=MTV News|title=Lady Gaga Did Her Own Stunts (in Heels) in the 'John Wayne' Video|date=February 9, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017|last=Geffen|first=Sasha|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211164533/http://www.mtv.com/news/2980858/lady-gaga-own-stunts-john-wayne-video/|archive-date=February 11, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

Several critics noted that the video was comparable to Gaga's earlier music videos. Hunter Harris of New York magazine wrote that the video was "like something from Gaga's The Fame Monster or Born This Way (2011) eras".{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2017/02/see-lady-gagas-john-wayne-music-video.html|last=Harris|first=Hunter|work=New York|title=Watch Lady Gaga Shoot Bullets From Her 12-Inch Heels in the Wild 'John Wayne' Music Video|date=February 8, 2017|access-date=February 9, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211195542/http://www.vulture.com/2017/02/see-lady-gagas-john-wayne-music-video.html|archive-date=February 11, 2017}} Andrew Unterberger of Billboard said that the music video for "John Wayne" was like the video for "'Telephone' ... if it used the Grindhouse double-bill as its primary Tarantino influence instead of Natural Born Killers." Kaitlyn Tiffany of The Verge considered the video an "entire B movie in under three minutes". She also felt the video was inspired by 1980s monster movies, the action film Mad Max (1979), as well as cowboy films starring Wayne. Tiffany compared the dance sequences to those in Michael Jackson's Thriller (1984), while another writer Lizzie Plaugic recommended watching the last sequences of the video, with all scenes mashed together.{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/10/14578982/one-video-john-wayne-by-lady-gaga|title=One Video: 'John Wayne' by Lady Gaga|last1=Tiffany|first1=Kaitlyn|last2=Plaugic|first2=Lizzie|date=February 10, 2017|access-date=October 28, 2017|work=The Verge|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028201724/https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/10/14578982/one-video-john-wayne-by-lady-gaga|archive-date=October 28, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

Amy Phillips of Pitchfork wrote, "it's a return to the cheeky, fun maximalism of old Gaga videos", "there's a car chase, lots of fire, explosions, crazy costumes, and jokes. At one point, Gaga shoots bullets from her high heels." Time magazine's Raisa Bruner described the video's content as "return to peak Gaga": "shocking costumes, uninhibited group choreography and over-the-top stunt work for maximum visual impact". She gave the video's direction a positive review: "Gaga and Åkerlund aren't afraid to make the viewer uncomfortable and play with the destructive impacts of violence and passion, which is a good match for the masochism of the song." Spin{{'}}s Anna Gaca wrote in her review of the video: "This Jonas Åkerlund-directed acid horror Western is a hell-on-wheels bad trip, jam-packed with neon lighting, vampy looks, and 'professional driver on a closed course' stunts." Gaca commented that the video was even more "overstuffed" than the song. At the 2017 Clio Awards, the clip was awarded the Silver Winner category for music videos.{{cite web |url=http://clios.com/awards/winner/26369 |title=Lady Gaga Serial Pictures |work=Clio Awards |access-date=September 19, 2017 |date=September 19, 2017 |archive-date=October 13, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013173909/http://clios.com/awards/winner/26369 |url-status=live }}

File:Lady Gaga "John Wayne", Coachella '17 (cropped).jpg]]

Gaga first performed "John Wayne" live at the Satellite in October 2016, which was the third stop of her Dive Bar Tour, a brief promotional tour of dive bars in the United States.{{cite magazine |last=Nolfi |first=Joey |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/28/lady-gaga-dive-bar-tour-trayvon-angel |title=Lady Gaga Dive Bar Tour: Singer changes Angel Down lyrics to Trayvon Angel |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=October 28, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031195358/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/10/28/lady-gaga-dive-bar-tour-trayvon-angel |archive-date=October 31, 2016 |df=mdy-all }} She next performed the song along with "A-Yo" during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in November 2016.{{cite magazine|last=Briones|first=Isis|title=Lady Gaga Performs "A-Yo" and "John Wayne" at the VS Show 2016|magazine=Teen Vogue|date=December 5, 2016}} The singer wore a glittering, black bodysuit with a big leather belt, high platform boots and a black, Swarovski-crystal-embellished hat for "John Wayne".{{cite news|url=http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/01/lady-gaga-rocked-some-eye-watering-shoes-in-her-victorias-secret-performance-6294094/|title=Lady Gaga rocked some eye-watering shoes in her Victoria's Secret performance|newspaper=Metro|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=December 1, 2016|first=Sarah|last=Deen|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221225519/http://metro.co.uk/2016/12/01/lady-gaga-rocked-some-eye-watering-shoes-in-her-victorias-secret-performance-6294094/|archive-date=December 21, 2016|df=mdy-all}} Near the end of the performance, two women came on stage, putting a white leather jacket on the singer, with angel-wing-like white feathers attached to it.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/lady-gaga-conservatively-dressed-woman-victorias-secret-show/|title=Lady Gaga was the most conservatively dressed woman at the Victoria's Secret show|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=November 30, 2016|first=Bethan|last=Holt|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201104449/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people/lady-gaga-conservatively-dressed-woman-victorias-secret-show/|archive-date=December 1, 2016|df=mdy-all}} The wings enlarged when Gaga walked the runway during the end of the performance.{{cite magazine|last=Fasanella|first=Allie|url=http://www.teenvogue.com/story/lady-gaga-vs-show-2016-victorias-secret-fashion-show-performance-wings|title=Lady Gaga Wears Wings for Her VS Show 2016 Performance|magazine=Teen Vogue|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=November 30, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910040850/http://www.teenvogue.com/story/lady-gaga-vs-show-2016-victorias-secret-fashion-show-performance-wings|archive-date=September 10, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

"John Wayne" was part of Gaga's set list at the 2017 Coachella Festival. She dedicated the track to all the "dangerous men" who come to music festivals.{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lady-gaga-coachella-20170416-story.html|title=Lady Gaga's Coachella performance was an absolute thrill — until it wasn't|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=April 16, 2016|first=Mikael|last=Wood|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417100643/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-lady-gaga-coachella-20170416-story.html|archive-date=April 17, 2017|df=mdy-all}} For the Joanne World Tour (2017–2018), Gaga performed "John Wayne" after her first costume change. It was preceded by a video interlude showing Gaga driving a vintage car, spinning up pink dust.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/reviews/lady-gaga-joanne-world-tour-concert-review-1202520967/|title=Concert Review: Lady Gaga Embraces Every Era of Her Career at the Forum|magazine=Variety|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=August 9, 2017|first=Alex|last=Stedman|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816013811/https://variety.com/2017/music/reviews/lady-gaga-joanne-world-tour-concert-review-1202520967/|archive-date=August 16, 2017|df=mdy-all}} After the clip, Gaga returned to the stage wearing black leather fringe costume-made by Alexander Wang, along with a black cowboy hat and over-the-knee boots.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/g11664839/lady-gaga-joanne-tour-costumes/?slide=3|title=Lady Gaga's Joanne Tour Costumes Include Swarovski Crystals, Leather Fringe, and Cowboy Hats|magazine=Harper's Bazaar|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=August 10, 2017|first=Lauren Alexis|last=Fisher|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171116222239/http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/art-books-music/g11664839/lady-gaga-joanne-tour-costumes/?slide=3|archive-date=November 16, 2017|df=mdy-all}} Flamethrowers accompanied Gaga and her dancers, spitting fire in the background.{{cite web|url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/02/lady-gaga-gives-beyonce-a-run-for-her-money-with-oodles-of-costume-changes-during-first-gig-of-joanne-world-tour-6823879/|title=Lady Gaga gives Beyonce a run for her money with oodles of costume changes during first gig of Joanne world tour|website=Metro|access-date=September 10, 2017|date=August 2, 2017|first=Katie|last=Baillie|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910083009/http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/02/lady-gaga-gives-beyonce-a-run-for-her-money-with-oodles-of-costume-changes-during-first-gig-of-joanne-world-tour-6823879/|archive-date=September 10, 2017|df=mdy-all}}

Management

• Stefani Germanotta P/K/A Lady Gaga (BMI) Sony ATV Songs LLC / House of Gaga Publishing, LLC / BIRB Music (ASCAP)
• All rights administered by BMG Rights Management / Songs of Zella (BMI)
• Recorded at Shangri-La Studios, Dragonfly Recording Studio (Malibu, California), Pink Duck Studios, (Burbank, California), Electric Lady Studios (New York City)
• Mixed at Electric Lady Studios (New York City)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound Studios (New York City)

Personnel

{{Div col}}

• Lady Gaga – vocals, production
• Joshua Blair – recording
• BloodPop – rhythm track, synthesizer, production
• Brandon Bost – mixing assistant
• David Covell – recording assistant
• Tom Elmhirst – mixing engineer
• Josh Homme – drums, guitar
• Barry McCready – recording assistant
• Charley Pollard – recording assistant
• Mark Ronson – bass, guitar, production
• Justin Smith – recording assistant
• Joe Visciano – mixing assistant

{{Div col end}}

Credits adapted from Joanne liner notes.

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

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|title=John Wayne|artist=Lady Gaga|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2016|certyear=2024|access-date=April 18, 2024}}

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

{{Reflist}}

• {{YouTube|o9iQ8lIfyEs|"John Wayne" (music video)}}
• {{YouTube|id=6Ooj2W68_m8|title="A-Yo" / "John Wayne" medley}}

{{Lady Gaga songs}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2016 songs

Category:American pop rock songs

Category:Cultural depictions of John Wayne

Category:Lady Gaga songs

Category:Music videos directed by Jonas Åkerlund

Category:Song recordings produced by BloodPop

Category:Song recordings produced by Lady Gaga

Category:Song recordings produced by Mark Ronson

Category:Songs about cannabis

Category:Songs written by BloodPop

Category:Songs written by Josh Homme

Category:Songs written by Lady Gaga

Category:Songs written by Mark Ronson