Sight-Sound Relationships in Lady Gaga's "Judas"

In Goodwin's model, there are three modes used in visualizing music- illustration, amplification, and disjuncture. Among these modes are also their codes-lyrics music, and performance. Through using the taxonomy chart, one can find inspiration to look at music videos in a different sense. One may learn to find specific ways in which the video conveys literal or metaphorical meaning behind the song. Does it tell the story? Does it add a new kind of meaning? How many different ways can we read the music video as a medium?

Various opinions state that Lady Gaga's song "Judas" contradicts Christianity. But in another light,Gaga's "Judas" represents her struggle with the bad men who she had relationships with. Their betrayal inspired her to write "Judas." Love and forgiveness seem to be the theme of the song.

The video definitely illustrates the song's literal lyrics as Lady Gaga is portrayed as Mary Magdalene herself.As the catchy electro-gothic pop tune quotes "I'm just a holy fool/ Oh baby, he's so cruel, but I'm still in love with Judas, baby." This can represent being in love with someone even if they treat you wrong and are full of sin. The lyrics can be taken both literally or metaphorically. Biblically, Gaga speaks as Mary Magdalene as she sings:

"In the most Biblical sense,
I am beyond repentance
Fame hooker, prostitute wench, vomits her mind
But in the cultural sense
I just speak in future tense
Judas kiss me if offenced,
Or wear an ear condom next time"

The video definitely tells the story of the lyrics as they are nearly literally portrayed across the screen. Of course, one must understand the biblical context in order to undertand the video or song itself.

In Lady Gaga's "Judas" music video, Gaga is Mary Magdalene on her way to "Jerusalem." The video portrays the "12 apostles" in a Kenneth Anger biker format. The bikers zoom down the highway on their way to Jerusalem as Gaga looks back to see if "Judas" is still there (which he is). This could represent whether he is or is not betraying her. Judas zooms past Gaga on his bike as she gives him a very unsure look. As she smiles and rides along holding "Jesus," this represents her faith in him. When she arrives to Jerusalem, she dances wearing a red dress next to nearly no clothing. The dance moves involve a move in which she gestures pushing Judas down. This act of pushing down illustrates the lyrics "I'll bring him down." At this point, Judas himself represents her dark side. As the lyrics state "I'll bring him down." As she repeats "down, down," Gaga holds a rosary as if she is using her faith to suppress the darkness. Jesus continues to look on as it represents Gaga (Mary Magdalene) trying to do the right thing. In the same sense, Judas is portrayed as evil and does evil things.

Gaga eventually ventures into her darkness causing a fight to break out between Jesus and Judas. This symbolizes her struggle between good and evil. Gaga then stops the fight between Jesus and Judas as she tries to keep in check with both of her sides. This represents that with lightness and darkness, both can be used for a greater good. Jesus leads Gaga safely away as she clutches onto him embracing her faith. Gaga is shown protecting Jesus as she lifts what appears to be a loaded gun to Judas' mouth. But the gun is only filled with lipstick as she smears it across Judas' face. The gun can represent the creativity that the darkness allows her to have. She therefore does not kill Judas, but uses his darkness for creativity. This makes Gaga feel guilty as she falls to Jesus' feet crying.

There is a "cultural baptism" that takes place in one scene as Gaga is shown washing the feet of both Jesus and Judas. Her realization that she can merge both "good" and "evil" for her own use, she is therefore cleansed by waves of water which surround her being. Therefore, she can be in the light, but also use the darkness for creative purposes. In the next scene, Gaga is dressed as a saint-like clown. This shows that society is only mocking her and that they do not understand. In the end, Lady Gaga is stoned to death which can represent society's misunderstanding of her art and what she is trying to do with it. Although her aim is to guide people "into the light," the video ends with her dead as it appears her realization that society will never understand her.

The song includes three hooks and a house-influenced breakdown.Popjustice states,

in the verses and pre-chorus, Gaga hurls herself into a decadent half-sung, half-rapped Jamaican Patois style." 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, "Judahhh/ Juda-a-ah/ Gaga"."

This half-rapped Jamaican style is illustrated through Gaga's fist-pumping movement as she is telling Judas "kiss me if offenced or wear ear condom next time."

Indeed, much can be seen and heard throughout this video. Using Goodwin's taxonomy helps one to value the video as a creative masterpiece. As one of my favorite artists of all time, Lady Gaga's creativity continues to inspire me throughout her self-produced music and videos themselves.