An accompanying music video directed by fashion photography duo Inez and Vinoodh was released on August 19 , 2013 , and broadcast on jumbotrons across Times Square . The video received positive reviews from critics , who saw it as a profile of Gaga herself and noted references to German Expressionist cinema and Andy Warhol . To promote the record , Gaga opened the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards with a performance of the song in which she represented her career through several on-stage wardrobe changes . She also performed it live on '' Good Morning America '' , '' Saturday Night Live '' , her tours ArtRave : The Artpop Ball and the Joanne World Tour , and residency shows Lady Gaga Live at Roseland Ballroom and Lady Gaga Enigma
2013 MTV Video Music Awards
2013 MTV Video Music Awards
Applause (Lady Gaga song)