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Lady Gaga combines motorcycle mayhem with biblical betrayal in the music video for "Judas," the second single from the pop star's forthcoming sophomore album "Born This Way." The five-minute-plus clip, which re-imagines the singer as Mary Magdalene and actor Norman Reedus as Judas Iscariot, leaked online today (May 5) hours before its official premiere tonight at 7 p.m. EST on E!
The video opens with a motorcycle gang cruising down a freeway, as Gaga clutches onto a Jesus-like figure who wears a golden crown of thorns. As the gang reaches its rustic hideout, Gaga's character watches curiously as the wily Judas enters the biker club and immediately gets involved in a brawl.
Gaga's Mary Magdalene becomes hypnotized by Judas' allure, and in a climactic sequence, the singer holds a gun up to Judas' mouth -- and a stick of red lipstick bursts out and smears his lips. After Judas delivers the fateful kiss upon the Jesus figure's cheeks, the video ends with Gaga's supporters publicly stoning the shocked singer.
Lady Gaga Performs 'Judas' on 'Ellen': Watch
Like the video for "Born This Way's" title track, the "Judas" clip intersperses choreographed dance sequences and close-ups of the pop star with stark imagery, such as shots of Gaga bathing with Jesus and Judas in front of a fire, and waves crashing down upon the motionless singer after nightfall. Of course, Gaga's outfits are equally eye-popping this time around, with the singer's flowing blonde hair accented by a red bandana, blue leather top and puffy white dress in different parts of the clip.
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The "Judas" music video was co-directed by Lady Gaga and choreographer Laurieann Gibson, and continues Gaga's fascination with motorcycles after she physically became part of one on the "Born This Way" album cover. Last month, Gibson told Billboard about the video, "Ultimately, it's a story about oppression; a story about following your heart and the glory of being free."
"Judas," whose parent album is set for a May 23 release, clocks in at No. 20 in its third week on the Hot 100.
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