Could Judas have gone #1

[TheQueenEnthusiast 937]

I honestly, without a doubt, believe Scheiße and TEOG could've gone #1. They both sounded so dance and epic. Scheiße should've been a promotional single or whatever its called before BTW came out as the hype was being built up from the VMAs to BTW era. That European-dance club sound was still huge at the time. Even though I love the Judas music video, I don't think it deserved single status. 

[Chromaticunt 5,529]

No, not in Bible bashing America. 

[JustJames 688]

Sorry to be late, but a lot of the responses are speculatory and/or subjective based on how the GP eventually handled Judas upon consumption. There's no denying that the controversy surrounding it derailed the era, and that its debut was going to be its peak; BUT, I think the OP has a very interesting question regarding what could have happened had it had an entire week of charting. 

It went #10 with half of the tracking week due to the rushed release. That means it couldn't have done worse. The chart for that week had (vulnerable tracks italicized in my opinion):

#1: S&M Remix (14 weeks; vulnerable without the remix), #2: E.T. (10 weeks), #3: Just Can't Get Enough by B.E.P. (9 weeks), #4: Down on Me by 50Cent (23 weeks), #5: F**k You by CLO (34 weeks), #6: Rolling in the Deep (15 weeks; climbing obv.), #7: Look at Me Now by C.Brown (11 weeks), #8: On the Floor (8 weeks), #9: Til the World Ends (7 weeks)

I think that, with a full week of tracking, she had #7 on lock, and given that Rolling in the Deep hit #3 the following week and E.T. went back to #1, that would be my best guess. #3 was definitely a possibility, though, given how long the songs #3 - #5 had been on the charts for, and that Rolling in the Deep was still in its climb. #3 and even #7 would have been strong numbers to fight the controversial reception, and may have allowed it to survive a bit longer before the 3rd single was released (letting the MV settle in, more radio play, etc.). The #10 debut was a big deal... even my local radio hosts were talking about how much hype this album had and everyone had been anticipating another #1 debut from the 2nd single.

BTW was truly a disastrous era for Gaga, and it would have been LEGENDARY had common sense been used. Despite a 1/2 week of tracking, controversy, and generally GP-unfriendly sound, Judas still went top 10 in its first week. Can you imagine how Edge of Glory or Marry The Night would have done in its place? Then, consider how hyped up the GP was in general for the era... and how ANY song would have debuted #1 as a lead. Marry The Night > Born This Way > Edge of Glory would have been 3 straight #1 hits, I am sure of it. 

What is most confusing is that the mistakes just kept compounding. Born This Way was a terrible choice as the lead as people were already expecting it and they knew it could chart high as a later release, but instead wasted the hype. Then, they chose Judas to release - a mid-tier track on the album that had controversial religious content - as a 2nd single right around EASTER...? Then, even with it being clear that the GP was starting to get sick of Gaga, they released TWO PROMO SINGLES, one of which was one of her greatest songs ever and still debuted at #3 with digital sales only. Then, they threw a dagger into the heart of the album by force-feeding You & I down the GPs throat to get it to chart.

Like, literally, why would you release EOG as a PROMO? After a flop single? EOG as a full single release alone would have gone #1 and changed course for the momentum of the era. I DON'T GET IT.

[LadyLuca 2,449]

I love love love Judas. The video, the song, the lyrics , the remixes. But no. It could not go 1. I see why people dont like it. 

but hey. Why care for #1 when u get ur personal bop.

I dont give a duck for Stupid loves charting. I will have a new Gaga song with her voice and thats enough for me.

[Economy 47,013]

Probably top 5 but I don't think #1

 

Radio was kinda weak and even sales were not as impressive and Born This Way

 

A full first week still wouldn't have placed it at #1

[ssslyboy 3,273]

Top 5 for sure

[Leoj305 3,001]

Maybe a top 5 during the full week. But the GP was alienated after that. A lot of her little pop girl and conservative fans were turned off.