Is Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ ‘Die With a Smile’ a Flop?

Paying attention to pop music can be a wild ride. For example, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ “Die with a Smile” seemed like it would become a big hit based on star power alone. Now, there are reasons to doubt that. Here’s a look at the current reaction to “Die with a Smile.”

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars may have won the battle and lost the war with ‘Die with a Smile’

So far, “Die with a Smile” has reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. The track has become Gaga’s 18th top 10 single and Mars’ 19th. On some level, that seems impressive.

However, one would expect a duet with that much star power to top the charts immediately. Many big singles reach No. 1 in their first week. Why not “Die with a Smile?” Is this the sort of song that charts highly in its first week before falling off the Billboard Hot 100? “Die with a Smile” is going to get a lot of airplay just because of brand name recognition, but are listeners going to want to hear it for a fifth, tenth, or fiftieth time? 

Why would they? The song is no “Bad Romance” or “Uptown Funk!” It’s not even “Paparazzi” or “Just the Way You Are.” It’s a disposable track inspired by 1970s soft rock, one of the most disposable genres in rock history.

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars could become another pair that doesn’t work together

Plenty of hit songs are the result of two major stars working together. Beyoncé has put out hit collaborations with Shakira, Jay-Z, and Ed Sheeran. Meanwhile, Rihanna has put out hit collaborations with Eminem, T.I., and Kanye West. With that in mind, Gaga and Mars seem to be claiming a hit by birthright with “Die with a Smile.”

However, sometimes, these superstar duets fade into the ether. Does anyone think about Britney Spears and Iggy Azalea’s “Pretty Girls” anymore? How about Drake and Beyoncé’s “Mine?” Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, and Lana Del Rey once put out a song together and nobody even remembers its name. Could “Die with a Smile” be headed to the ash heap of music history?

What the 2 singers said about each other

In 2024, Page Six obtained a press release about the song, and the two stars seemed more concerned about artistry and talent than chart success. “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating,” Gaga said. “I was finishing up my own album in Malibu, and one night after a long day, he asked me to come to his studio to hear something he was working on. It was around midnight when I got there, and I was blown away when I heard what he had started making.”

Gaga discussed her feelings about Mars as a musician. “Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation,” she said. “His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him.”

Mars had similar feelings about Gaga. “She’s an icon, and she makes this song magical,” he said. “I’m so excited for everyone to hear it.”

“Die with a Smile” might not turn out to be the big hit it seemed destined to be but maybe Gaga and Mars would be alright with that.