Judas as the second single was Interscopes decision.
I remember Fernando Garibay was asked about it before it was released, and I seem to remember he said it was "a typical Gaga/Red one collaboration". Made me think that his nose was a touch out of joint for them going backwards a bit, cock blocking the original lead (MTN) yet again.
I like the song enough, I'm just annoyed with how it effectively stalled the entire campaign. It killed the momentum BTW built. Had TEOG or MTN been the second (and third) single, she'd be in a much better position.
I mean, as we've seen with Katy Perry, once you reach a certain amount of smash singles you can release anything half-decent and live off the back of them, hits creating hits as it were. Gaga could have gotten away with Judas, and it may very well have been a hit had it been further down the line.
Doubt she'd have been a #1 machine, because the music just isn't as commercial/radio friendly, but she could have comfortably enjoyed successful hits with BTW, MTN, TEOG, Judas, Scheisse, Hair, Y&I and HML.
C'est la vie.