Applause.

'Applause'! Both of them were personal chart #1s for me but 'Perfection Illusion' peaked very early in my affections.

I consider Applause to be Gaga on autopilot. I enjoyed it enough at the time of its release, but that was probably driven by it being her new song and that in itself being exciting, it felt like she'd been away for a long time. But when the dust settled... it's just ok. Gaga is more than just ok, and there were better songs on the album to kick off the album campaign in a more exciting way.

This! Same goes to the video as well. Everything just bordered on being Gaga-parody rather than a natural next step in her career.

'Applause' for me. When I first listened to it, I honestly thought wtf, is that it? lmao. But sometime after that it just became this exhilarating listen. It does kinda feel like a sort of tongue-in-cheek moment though. And of course I must not forget it inspired that parody of Gaga that had me rolling on the floor for days. I can't really remember it now, it was probably really stupid but yeah.

 

'Perfect Illusion' never really connected or came together for me I'm afraid.

I love Applause but I definitely take the point that it's basically Gaga on autopilot

Imagine falling out of favour slightly with the hetties and choosing Applause with those verses and that video.

 

Gypsy was right there. It sounded like one of those songs that wouldn't have left the radio at the time, and it was so basic and anthemic that it was screaming to be used on an X-Factor montage every week. A hit~

I do prefer Perfect Illusion, but you can tell it was one of the last songs to be made for Joanne.

 

I feel like they should have gone with A-YO and a really hammy video. It probably wouldn't have been a hit — but catchy enough and represents the album more than Perfect Illusion did.