Lady Gaga clings to Judas - but no fans get betrayed

The latest single from Lady Gaga has been released four days ahead of schedule because of yesterday's pre-release leaks online..Judas is the second single from her forthcoming album Born This Way, following the release of the title track in February.

That single broke the record for paid downloads, achieving 1 million in five days. Can she do it again with Judas?

Despite cynics saying she's straying too far into Madonna country - especially after rumours that she plans to play Mary Magdalene in the video -  first reviews suggest the answer's Yes.

Rolling Stone magazine says: "Though some of the songs we've heard from Gaga's new album find her embracing bombastic Eighties rock and early Nineties house music, Judas is a straight-ahead dance pop number that plays to the singer's established strengths."

MTV News reports enthusiastic fan reviews. "I've listened to it at least 20 times already...can't get enough....going 2 b another number one for sure! PAWS UP!" SHforlife commented.

Beatweek says: "As is often the case with Gaga songs, the verses are pretty good and the chorus is out of the park. Now listeners will get to chew over lines like Jesus is my virtue and Judas is the demon I cling to while adding another dance-tinged ethereal pop number to their iTunes collection."

Gawker comments: "It's nothing groundbreaking, but it's a nice, upbeat Lady Gaga track, and there's nothing wrong with that... It's got the synths, obtuse lyrics, and drum and bass breakdown that made fans fall in love with Lady G in the first place."

There's no date yet for the video release but with controversy already reported from the film set, expectations are high.

As Metro US reports: "Already there are breathless reports online about how Gaga's creative director nearly walked off the Judas video set because it was so offensive to her Christian beliefs. We can't wait!"

• Listen to Lady Gaga's single, Judas ·