Gaga's Song - JUDAS

I have been compelled to write this after watching Gaga's music video clip 'Judas'. Unlike other Christians I praise Gaga for her work. I don't like how far she goes - but I believe she does a fantastic job in being a 21st century cabaret artist in the Hollywood environment.

Please notice the very culture she loves is the very culture she sends up. Compare her work to the movie 'Cabaret'. She gives a solid dose of truth in how much our society loves depravity.

Watch the videoclip for 'Money' from 'Cabaret' here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8P80A8vy9I

In comparison to Gaga's song 'Beautiful Dirty Rich': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nr33m1zXVE

Clearly they do not look beautiful and don't behave as the 'rich' should. (Gaga actually does dress up as a Cabaret dancer in this surprisingly - see picture.) Anyways, moving on. Below is my critique on Gaga's song 'Judas'. I hope you enjoy it.

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Critique on Gaga's Song - JUDAS:

I may be reading into some of her video clip – but Gaga actually emphasises her message by referring to herself and other objects in this clip to make certain point. Certain shots emphasise this too. I will say (emph) in the lyrics below so you can see where she wants you to read into the scene she is referring too. She does choreograph her music videos unlike other music singers. Therefore it is important to deconstruct and understand what Gaga is actually trying to say in this video clip.

I'm writing this because sometimes art can easily be misread, especially by prejudiced people of faith, that often being the church. As a teacher in arts, film and drama - it's important to hear what artists are saying. Gaga IS an artist and doesn't make art just for sexy reasons. She challenges many social conventions in our society and she has finally has blessed the church by doing this master piece. She has done the church a favour by trying to expose the harlot church from the true church in today's culture.

First the lyrics:

Judas

Ohohohoh - I’m in love with Judas, Judas
Ohohohoh - I’m in love with Judas, Judas

Judas! Juda-as Judas! Juda-as
Judas! Juda-as Judas! GAGA

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, bring him down, down (emph- pushes Judas downstairs)
A king with no crown, king with no crown

I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby

Ohohohoh - I’m in love with Judas, Judas
Ohohohoh - I’m in love with Judas, Judas

Judas! Juda-as Judas! Juda-as
Judas! Juda-as Judas! GAGA

I couldn’t love a man so purely
Even prophets (emph) forgave his crooked way
I’ve learned love is like a brick you can
(Emph) Build a house or sink a dead body
I’ll bring him down, bring him down, down (emph)
(Emph) A king with no crown, king with no crown (Emph)

I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby

Ohohohoh
I’m in love with Judas, Judas
Ohohohoh
I’m in love with Judas, Judas

[Techno break]
Ew! (Emph!)

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

I wanna love you, (emph)
But something’s pulling me away from you
Jesus is my virtue,
And Judas is the (emph) demon I cling to (emph)
I cling to

I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby
I’m just a Holy Fool, oh baby (emph) he’s so cruel
But I’m still in love with Judas, baby

(Emph) Ohohohoh -I’m in love with Judas, Judas
Ohohohoh -I’m in love with Judas, Judas

Judas! Juda-as Judas! Juda-as
Judas! Juda-as Judas!

At the start we see Gaga on the back of Jesus’ beast bike. Gaga leads the disciples with 'the Christ' in the opening shots with all of them on the bikes. Jesus as at the front draped with crosses, all his disciples with names on their backs are following behind (Thomas, Philip, John, Peter, etc). We see Judas shoot ahead and Gaga show shots of herself looking as though she wants Judas and not Jesus. Music starts and it’s when she starts singing Judas – she comes across like a possessive clingy, selfish girlfriend on Jesus’ back.

She clearly emphasises the colour of her clothes (purples) in contrast with black and white filming. Her clothes are purple, dripped and draped in jewelery and wealth. She is dripping in golden chains. Riding into the night scene, she is riding in with a giant purple/scarlet toga/cape/robe. The next few shots she is wearing the key colour SCARLET.

This is the colour of the harlot in the book of Revelations. She later wears the catholic 'sacred heart emblem' on her chest to make it clear who she is representing. We know she is definitely associating specifically the Catholic Church being the harlot in Revelations. The fact that she’s on a motorbike (often called ‘the beast’) can add further wit to the piece.

She is wearing stylised eyes of Ra of Egyptian mythology (the bible warning to the Israelites not to return to Egypt, a place of slavery, worldly wealth and temptations, promiscuity, sin and idolatry). The connection in Old Testament prophecy was God warning Israel to NOT return to Egypt. (We all see her having an Egyptian Cleopatra/Death-Mask hair style as she dresses as the bride at the end of this clip.)

At the first emphasis while she is singing ‘I’ll bring him down, I’ll bring him down! Down!’– Gaga pushes Judas down the stairs while she is with Jesus. (Note the burning bush that everyone is dancing around and the pagan elements she has around this?). At the end of the pre-chorus, we see a shot of a sign saying ‘Electro Chapel’.

In the chorus she is on the dance floor with all the cool girls and boys – girl’s pashing each-other in the background. A shot goes to Jesus on the side, not looking impressed at Gaga. The Jesus figure is hanging with freaks, weirdos and unattractive people.

A shot goes to Gaga when she sings the line ‘Even prophets forgave his crooked ways’, whacking her chest to signify that this is her. She dresses in a way that gives us an illusion that she is an Old Testament prophet. She is still next to Jesus – promoting herself to us.

Still dressed as an Old Testament prophet, Gaga refers to Peters Leather Jacket with Crossbones when she sings emphasis 3 about love being a 'brick you can build or sink a dead body' (obviously referring to the Catholic Church being built on St Peters Bones and the Catholic Church drowning witches or those against them by tying weights to their bodies.

As Jesus starts to bless people –she starts doing things like that too. However, each time Gaga sings the pre-chorus about bringing 'him down' - we see she is doing brilliant double speak as in the first pre-chorus she pushes Judas down the stairs. The second time she's telling us she will 'bring 'him' down' while holding a golden mace next to Jesus – giving the viewers a malice scheming look that she wants to bring Jesus down with her weapon. The one that she says she will bring down is the 'king with no crown' and emphasises her head. The music stops for a second and moves to a shot of Jesus looking down. It is CLEAR that Gaga is now communicating that she will bring Jesus down.

The fact that she claims the title prophet and seems to have the motivation to destroy Jesus with the mace indicates that she is a false prophet. Once again, this ties in beautifully with her being the false church. So the image of her dressed this way echoes more the Sanhedrin clothing, the Sanhedrin being the false prophets that condemned Jesus to the cross.

Now come’s the bridge of the song that truly stresses that she is playing the harlot church. Let us read the first line of the lyrics in the bridge:

‘In the most Biblical sense, I am beyond repentance’

The only one ‘beyond repentance’ in ‘the most biblical sense’ is Satan, who in is pride fell and cannot escape God’s judgment. It is also Satan that entered Judas as Judas went off to betray Jesus. We see Gaga drawn out before man, Jesus and Judas. She is about to be revealed who her allegiance truly is with – Jesus or Judas. She is dressed like the devil’s advocate. She has a gun. We think she is going to defend Jesus BUT when she pulls the trigger – she turns out to be a anti-John the Baptist, painting his lips with lipstick to help betray Jesus with Judas’ famous kiss.

This is an ‘Ew!’ moment. This harlots intentions, desires and mind are manifest. This ‘fame hooker, prostitute, wench’ seemingly ‘vomits her mind’. And in ‘the cultural sense’ as the harlot church does its best to do so, it does indeed ‘speak future tense’. A lot of immorality in the pleasure-seeking church is justified ‘for the glory of God’. Even wordly pleasure – which explains the obscene imagery Gaga uses in the final line of the bridge, ‘Judas kiss me if offenced, or wear an ear condom next time’.

Take note that Gaga is calling herself, ‘fame, hooker, prostitute, wench’, as she says, ‘In the most Biblical sense I am beyond repentance’. To justify being ‘fame, hooker, prostitute, wench’, she says ‘but in the cultural sense I just speak in future tense’ as she seeks worldly pleasures and answers. She overlooks what she is as she only speaks what she wants of the worldly Judas.

Remember that Judas sold Jesus over to the world to gain money. The Roman Catholic, as also does the mega-Protestant church does the same. It’s sad to say that many churches today in the world have reduced in selling Jesus for money to get people in and supporting those in these false ministries.

Gaga prepares the lips of the betrayer and is in agreement with Judas who is happy to sell his Saviour for money. It's the time of judgment where this 'church' is playing 'righteous judge' and is exposed.

Gaga chooses to do a seg-way in the midst of her video clip. We see two women after the bridge. The one that lipsticks Judas' lips falls before Jesus and the masses. As she falls - two new Gaga's. One rising from the waters in a rather demon-lilith-like manner. The other standing on the 'Rock' going beneath the waters. The one standing on the rock looks virtuous and faithful.

The true church on the rock, raises her hands in surrender (like a cross of true virtue) and is taken by the brilliant crashing waters. It looks as though Gaga is portraying the rapture and the harlot is now doing all that she can to please Jesus and Judas in the same baptism pool. It is visually and purposely confronting and brilliant in juxtaposition.

With the true church gone, Gaga (the harlot church) washes the feet of Jesus. At the same time, Judas finally kisses Jesus with his famous kiss of betrayal.

Truly Gaga, playing the false church today, IS in love with Judas! She uses baptism and water for the final moment of her song to reveal who truly owns her heart. She washes the feet of Jesus from the front, but behind her she delights how Judas pours liquid down her back and turns to him sprinkling him with water... She has confirmed who owns her heart (if the lyrics haven't given it away already).

She is judged by Jesus and cast to the side. You actually see a very good portrayal of what does happen in the end times with Jesus and his disciples.

Jesus then kisses her - and then seemingly hands her over to be judged. As she is cast down, the setting is almost like a seaside jetty. They are standing on a wooden walkway with thick rope behind them. Elevated, they are overlooking the crowds with their hands outstretched to Jesus. All the glory is going to Him and His disciples are standing with him – Gaga on the ground in utter rejection. People start throwing their hands up to Jesus and the disciples when she falls.

Finally the Gaga harlot church (finger nails give it away) is dressed as a bride waiting for Jesus in her plastic toy glory. She is stoned by people who like Christians. (Observe the crosses and church like structures around everyone.) Their costumes are a mixture of early protestant clothing and ancient Jewish dress wear or middle-eastern clothes. Gaga is judged by death the old Jewish way. She is stoned. She cries and is bought down in the dust, dead.

I'm writing this because sometimes art can easily be misread. Especially by prejudiced people often in the church. As a teacher in arts, film and drama - it's important to hear what artists are saying. Gaga IS an artist and doesn't make art just for sexy reasons. She challenges many social conventions in our society and she has finally has blessed the church by doing this master piece. I believe she has done the church a favour by trying to expose the harlot church from the true church in today's culture.

Gaga has come from a religious background – from what I’ve heard, she came from a Roman Catholic background. This may be her reaction to what she experienced in her religious upbringing. With a lot of Cabaret elements in her music – I believe she is telling the truth when she says it is about her boyfriend relationships. Cabaret ALWAYS has another agenda. The song ‘Judas’ no different.