Die with a Smile
"Die with a Smile" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars | ||||
Released | August 16, 2024 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:11 | |||
Label |
| |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Lady Gaga singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Bruno Mars singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Die with a Smile" on YouTube |
"Die with a Smile" is a song by American singer-songwriters Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. It was released on August 16, 2024, through Streamline and Interscope Records. The song was written by Mars, Gaga, Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II, Andrew Watt and James Fauntleroy while production was handled by the former four.
The collaboration was a result of Mars inviting Gaga to his studio where he had been working on new music. Mars presented the track in progress to Gaga and the duo finished writing and recording the song the same day.[1] An accompanying music video directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos showing the duo performing the song on a retro stage set was released simultaneously alongside the track.
Background and development
[edit]The artists first performed together at the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show on November 30, 2016, as part of the lineup.[2] In June 2024, Mars confessed he would like to collaborate with Lady Gaga on a song or "sing with her on her Las Vegas residency".
In a press release, Gaga revealed: "Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating".[3] She revealed that the collaboration materialized while she was recording her upcoming studio album in Malibu. At one night, after a long day, Mars invited Gaga to his studio to listen to music he had been working on and presented the track to her. At this point, she was "blown away" when she heard what he was working on.[4] The duo finished writing and recording the song on the same night. Gaga described Mars' talent as "beyond explanation" and "next level", while Mars added that Gaga made the song "magical".[5]
On August 12, Mars and Gaga started following each other on Instagram.[6] On the same day, Gaga posted a series of emojis on Mars's Instagram post from his tour stop in Mexico City. On August 13, Gaga shared a video of herself playing a few chords of the song on a piano. During the video, she wore a shirt with Mars's face.[7] The following day, Mars posted a photo wearing a t-shirt with Gaga's face on it.[8]
Release
[edit]Previously, a post from Hits magazine's "Rumor Mill", announced a collaboration between Gaga and Mars, revealing the song's title.[7] "Die with a Smile" was officially announced days later on August 15.[9] The accompanying artwork shows the artists dressed in "country-leaning" red-and-blue "Western" outfits with Gaga smoking on a cigarette and Mars wearing a cowboy hat.[10] Representatives for Gaga confirmed the song would be a standalone single and Gaga herself added in its Instagram announcement that it serves as new content for fans while they "wait till LG7", her upcoming eighth studio album.[11]
Composition
[edit]Die with a Smile" is a soft rock song.[12] It displays the emotional style of a pop and soul ballad.[13][14] It has been compared to Mars's collaboration project with Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic.[14] Critics found the sound to be closer to that of the 1970s soft rock.[12][15]
Reception
[edit]The song received positive reviews from music critics upon its release. Robin Murray of Clash magazine gave the song eight out of ten stars, describing it as an "homage to those lush 70s duets" that "also feels profoundly modern." He added that "both artists shine, but there's an undoubted chemistry here that lets 'Die With A Smile' have a character of its own." Murray noted that "there's a feeling of mutual respect on this latest single, with both artists serving to push each other to different spaces," and said that "it's camp in places, but that's simple exuberant fun and hyped-up colour – the essential songwriting remains intact, plucking at those heartstrings." He concluded that the collaboration is "an unexpected triumph, one that leans on the strengths of both artists, before presenting something new."[16] Jake Viswanath of Bustle wrote that the song "blends Gaga's emotive pop melodies with Mars' old-school R&B influences", with addictional "twang-y instrumentation", into a "sweepingly romantic and devastating" song which "portrays two lovers who want to experience their last moments with each other".[15] Joey Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly defined the song as a "spiritual sequel" to Gaga's "Shallow".[13]
Live performance
[edit]Gaga and Mars performed the song live for the first time on August 15, 2024 as part of Mars' show for the opening of the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The duo donned attire similar to what they wear in the song's accompanying visuals. After Mars welcomed Gaga to the stage as part of the show's encore, they replicated the song's music video on stage, with Mars at the guitar and Gaga playing on the keys.[12]
Music video
[edit]Gaga revealed via Instagram alongside the song's announcement that its accompanying music video would be released simultaneously with the track at 9 PM PDT.[17] The music video, directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos, shows Gaga and Mars in the blue outfits they are wearing on the song's cover art.[18][19] The clip shows the duo performing the song on a retro stage of a TV studio set, populated by faceless mannequins, as a black-and-white camera records them.[13][20] Mars plays the guitar wearing a cowboy hat as Gaga plays the keys while sporting red tights.[21]
Personnel
[edit]Credits adapted from the liner notes of the CD single.[22]
- Bruno Mars – lead vocals, songwriting, guitar
- Lady Gaga – lead vocals, songwriting, piano
- D'Mile – songwriting, production, bass, drums
- Andrew Watt – songwriting, production, guitar
- James Fauntleroy – songwriting
- Charles Moniz – recording, engineering
- Paul LaMalfa – recording, engineering
- Marco Sonzini – additional engineering
- Alex Resoagli – recording engineering assistance
- Tyler Harris – recording engineering assistance
- Serban Ghenea – mixing
- Bryce Bordone – mix engineering
- Randy Merrill – mastering
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
Various | August 16, 2024 | Interscope | [23] | |
Italy | Radio airplay | [24] | ||
Germany | CD |
|
[25] | |
United Kingdom | [26] | |||
United States | [27] | |||
Canada | August 23, 2024 | [28] | ||
France | August 27, 2024 | [29] |
References
[edit]- ^ Dailey, Hannah (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars Team Up on New Song 'Die With a Smile': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Lupica, Lilith Hardie (December 1, 2016). "Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2016: Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars to perform". Vogue. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Chelosky, Danielle (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars Share New Song "Die With A Smile": Listen". Stereogum. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Monroe, Madison Bloom,Jazz (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Share Video for New Song "Die With a Smile"". Pitchfork. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Mendez, Chris Malone (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars 'Die With A Smile' Together". Forbes. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Rossignol, Derrick (August 13, 2024). "Lady Gaga Seemingly Teases A Bruno Mars Collaboration As Rumors Of One Have Been Flying". Uproxx. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ a b Daw, Stephen (August 13, 2024). "Here's How Lady Gaga Hinted at a Rumored Bruno Mars Collab in New Teaser Video". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Carlin Cordaro, Aline (August 14, 2024). "Bruno Mars e Lady Gaga alimentam rumores de colaboração com postagens nas redes sociais". Rolling Stone Brasil (in Portuguese). Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (August 15, 2024). "Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars to Drop New Song, "Die With a Smile", Tonight". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Dailey, Hannah (August 15, 2024). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars Confirm "Die With a Smile" Collab & Share Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (August 15, 2024). "Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars to Drop New Song, "Die With a Smile", Tonight". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ a b c Breihan, Tom (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga Join Bruno Mars For Live Debut Of Their New Song "Die With A Smile": Watch". Stereogum. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c Nolfi, Joey (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars find doomsday love in 'Die With a Smile' video". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Singh, Surej (August 16, 2024). "Watch Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' '70s country-themed 'Die With A Smile' music video". NME. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ a b Jake, Viswanath (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars Get A Little Country On "Die With A Smile"". Bustle. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Murray, Robin (August 16, 2024). "CLASH Verdict: Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars – 'Die With A Smile'". Clash. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Dailey, Hannah (August 15, 2024). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars Confirm "Die With a Smile" Collab & Share Release Date". Billboard. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ Camp, Alexa (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Drop Retro Duet 'Die with a Smile'". Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Slingerland, Calum (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Duet on New Song "Die with a Smile"". Exclaim!. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Perkins, Njera (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Team Up for 'Die with a Smile' Video — Watch!". People. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Phillips, Zoe (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars Release "Die With a Smile" Love Song With Music Video". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ Die with a Smile (CD booklet). United Kingdom: Interscope Records, Streamline. 2024.
- ^ Release dates in various countries:
- ^ Fusi, Eleonora (August 16, 2024). "Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - (Radio Date: 16-08-2024)". EarOne (in Italian). Retrieved August 16, 2024.
- ^ "Lady Gaga - Offizieller Shop - Die With a Smile - Lady GaGa - CD Single" (in German). ladygaga.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "Die With a Smile CD Single - Lady Gaga". ladygaga.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "Die With a Smile CD Single - Lady Gaga Official Shop". Lady Gaga Official Shop. Archived from the original on August 15, 2024. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "Die With a Smile CD Single - Lady Gaga Official Store". ladygaga.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- ^ "Die With a Smile CD Single - Lady Gaga Official FR" (in French). ladygaga.com. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
- 2020s ballads
- 2024 singles
- 2024 songs
- American soft rock songs
- Bruno Mars songs
- Interscope Records singles
- Lady Gaga songs
- Male-female vocal duets
- Sentimental ballads
- Song recordings produced by Andrew Watt (record producer)
- Song recordings produced by Lady Gaga
- Songs written by Andrew Watt (record producer)
- Songs written by Bruno Mars
- Songs written by D'Mile
- Songs written by James Fauntleroy
- Songs written by Lady Gaga