Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars - "Die With a Smile"

[Queen of Insomnia.]

http://instagram.com/p/C_EGx7nyoRn

This picture is so cute.

[Eloqueen™]

I don't agree with the insinuation Bruno is the "main" reason for this song's success. I think it's fairly evenly distributed. GaGa routinely has had hits with all her eras respectively, as she has a dedicated fanbase and people who always check for her, not to mention experienced a complete renaissance with the whole A Star Is Born/Chromatica eras, so I'm not quite sure why some are acting as if she has no appeal or draw and required a bigger name to foster a successful release. lol Personally I think it's the pairing coming together into an event single of sorts that drew interest and the fact the song is genuinely good sold it from there.

[Maximillian]

Aug 24, 2024 13:38:25 GMT -5 holdmecloser255 said:

Aug 24, 2024 9:07:18 GMT -5 Maximillian said:

Yeah, this discrediting of Gaga is WILD in this thread right now. I get that not all of her work lands with all her fans, but her body of work is insane the last 5-6 years and she deserves more credit than she's getting.

- Two #1 HIT songs (not accidental hits that ran to #1 for a week and fell, but actual long term hits) -- "Shallow" and "Rain on Me"
- Several Golden Globe & Oscar WINS and nominations for her music and acting skills (House of Gucci, Star is Born) -- with Joker on the way
- A relatively successful album with Chromatica that spawned an additional Top 5 hit with "Stupid Love", and has sold about 1.3m albums in the US (2024), and over 3.1m worldwide (as of 2022, so likely closer to 4m now).
- A wildly successful and legendary run with the late Tony Bennett
- Chromatica Tour was a great success, as was her residency in Vegas

Slice it up however you want, when this song hits #1, it will be Gaga's third #1 song in 6 years -- there are very, very few of her contemporary peers who can claim accomplishments anywhere close to this level. And for an artist who is now in her 17th year as a huge pop star, to still be cashing in regular #1 hits, thats incredible. Shes up there with Taylor and Beyonce (maybe not in pure music relevancy, but in overall fame and artistry) -- prove me wrong.

Successful collaborations are not a sign of her music career having legs. Christina Aguilera also had massive hits with Maroon 5, Pitbull and A Great Big World in the early 2010s. How did it work out for her? Unless Gaga manages to finally score a hit on her own with her studio album, I continue to stand by my point that she lost her commercial power in music more than a decade ago. Taylor and Beyonce comparisons are ludicrous since they recently secured #1s with their solo material. They don't need bigger or more relevant stars to score a hit. 

1) Both are collaborations. 
2) Irrelevant when it comes to her music career. 
3) It was not "relatively successful." It was not a complete commercial disappointment because of the streams that came from the collaborations with Ariana and Blackpink (two huge streaming acts). Gaga's solo efforts (SL and 911) were big commercial failures. SL is yet to crack 400M streams after more than four years. Chromatica is also on par with Joanne, Gaga's least successful album, in terms of total units. 

Gaga has so far failed to score a single hit on her own since 2011. "Million Reasons" could probably qualify as a local hit, but it required immense promotion (including the Super Bowl and the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show). It was probably one of the most promoted singles of all time.  
 

Yes, Gaga's last several hits are collaborations -- agreed. However, I doubt Shallow was carried far because of Bradley Cooper and Rain on Me would have likely been a decent hit without Ari. In fact, Shallow has racked up over 5b streams across all platforms -- thats insane.

As far as Chromatica, that was an album for the fans, but it certainly won't appeal to the mass audience she has garnered over the last 5 years who enjoy her acting and more AC/HAC styled hits, or collabs with Tony Bennett. Even so, Chromatica's ~3.5-4m in WW sales aren't shabby, and her debut numbers were still far better than many pop artists today. Hardly a commercial disappointment to open with 275k units sold in the US.

It should also be noted that the Star Is Born soundtrack, which is basically all Gaga, has sold over 6m copies as of 2019 -- 5 years ago. So those numbers should be much higher at this point.

All this to say, she is still relevant when it comes to music. Is she going to find the same CHR/pop success as the Lady Gaga pop star of 2010? No. That's why her music is evolving, the same way Beyonce, Taylor, and other artists have evolved to stay relevant. Notice artists like Katy Perry still trying to do the same thing and failing? You are just witnessing the evolution of Gaga. And to say her Oscar and GG nominated songs, movies, etc. aren't a factor in her career being as solid as it is today is silly -- she has garnered so many new fans over the years that will appreciate this type of hit from her (I think of people like my own mother who will never appreciate pop Gaga, but will LOVE this type of Gaga).

You mentioned Christina -- on the Maroon 5 and Pitbull song she was just a featured artist -- not a lead artist. For the GBW song, she was a co-artist, but never actually attached it to any project. Big difference between being a featured artist on somebody else's hit and having a feature artist on your own hit. Additionally, Christina squandered her ability to drop a great album by waiting 5 years after those hits to push a mediocre album. So its not a fair comparison.

[pondereplay]

Aug 24, 2024 13:41:43 GMT -5 SPRΞΞ said:

Aug 24, 2024 12:59:10 GMT -5 shakemaki said:

I already argued this a bit in a different thread, but if it was so Bruno skewed as to why it’s doing so well, it would have been huge on streaming on day 1. He’s not some up and comer that needs to build buzz lol. The song is exploding because it’s a classic. I maintain it is a pretty even split between their appeal here, and either one could have taken a different duet partner and gotten a huge hit. This is a hit, period.

I don't entirely agree. You take Bruno off this and substitute someone else and you indirectly take away the Silk Sonic sound, which to me is why this song is so good.

This is a Silk Sonic/Bruno sound/production through and through. Gaga’s ballads are usually more stripped down. I do think this works because of them both. If you substitute Gaga with someone like Katy for example, it wouldn’t work IMO. She wouldn’t be able to deliver the vocals and harmonies like Gaga did. Maybe if you substitute her with someone like Adele, it could work. The same for Bruno, don’t know if any popular male artists could deliver it like he did. Maybe The Weeknd but his vocals are different from Bruno and the sound would also then be different.

But these are all ifs and buts scenarios. We’ll never know how well the song will do with different artists. I also say it’s a 50-50. People were checking this song out in the first place because of both artists and were curious how they would mesh together. And it worked well cause it’s honestly a great ballad and it stood out amongst the other more fast-paced/fun songs on the charts right now.

[Ling-Ling]

I kinda think both can be true? This is a love duet between two big names, both of them being involved automatically makes it a bigger deal than if it was just a solo track. The fact that the song is an absolute stunner and sounds timeless is icing on the cake.

Now if we wanted to do what ifs, if this was a solo track, I do think Bruno would have more success with it than if it were just Lady Gaga. But this is NOT just successful because of him. They both bring a certain level of star wattage that is gonna turn heads.

[Az Paynter]

POP:
38 24 LADY GAGA & BRUNO MARS Die With A Smile 2538 980 1558 5.611

+203 Spins
-110 Bullet
+0.531 Audience

HOT AC:
28 18 LADY GAGA & BRUNO MARS Die With A Smile 1808 578 1230 5.409

+108 Spins
-99 Bullet
+0.338 Audience

AC:
27 11 LADY GAGA & BRUNO MARS Die With A Smile 242 47 195 0.830

+46 Spins
+33 Bullet
+0.115 Audience

[#LisaRinna]

US Spotify run:
Day 1: #13 - 1,333,632 plays
Day 2: #10 - 1,340,972 plays (+7,340)
Day 3: #7 - 1,421,617 plays (+80,645)
Day 4: #4 - 1,977,990 plays (+556,373)
Day 5: #1 - 2,229,247 plays (+251,257)
Day 6: #1 - 2,302,933 plays (+73,686)
Day 7: #1 - 2,773,321 plays (+470,388)

Week 1 total: 13,379,712 plays

Day 8: #3 - 2,769,551 plays (-3,770)
Day 9: #4 - 2,418,970 plays (-350,581)

[No Brake$]

Stop posting Spotify numbers. They aren’t valid to humans playing them, seriously.

Whoever posted Jimin’s stats really opened my eyes.

I really like Gaga, Bruno Mars and his 50 Million in debt issues is whatever, he’s one of the best from the 2006-2015 time period.

However, there is no way this song naturally should see these numbers. The song is fine, but not THAT good. Come on now.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Aug 25, 2024 16:16:55 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Stop posting Spotify numbers. They aren’t valid to humans playing them, seriously.

Whoever posted Jimin’s stats really opened my eyes.

I really like Gaga, Bruno Mars and his 50 Million in debt issues is whatever, he’s one of the best from the 2006-2015 time period.

However, there is no way this song naturally should see these numbers. The song is fine, but not THAT good. Come on now.

Gurl what are you on about? 😂😂

[lazer]

I don’t think Lady Gaga stans need streaming bot farms to prop their fave to the top. A lot of people know who Bruno and Gaga are.

[No Brake$]

Aug 25, 2024 16:29:49 GMT -5 lazer said:

I don’t think Lady Gaga stansneed streaming bot farms to prop their fave to the top. A lot of people know who Bruno and Gaga are.

I’m a big Gaga fan, check the tape (you won’t, but totally fine)

This sounds like the goofy failed 70s R&B project Bruno Mars tried to work with a few years ago. It’s a NICE song, but do you really think the demographic of CHR is really wanting to hear this?

Working with both HS and college kids, these two artists are old AF to them. This is a magnificent highly invested payola job. I really think people are in denial here.

[Mayman]

Aug 25, 2024 16:41:47 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:29:49 GMT -5 lazer said:

I don’t think Lady Gaga stansneed streaming bot farms to prop their fave to the top. A lot of people know who Bruno and Gaga are.

I’m a big Gaga fan, check the tape (you won’t, but totally fine)

This sounds like the goofy failed 70s R&B project Bruno Mars tried to work with a few years ago. It’s a NICE song, but do you really think the demographic of CHR is really wanting to hear this?

Working with both HS and college kids, these two artists are old AF to them. This is a magnificent highly invested payola job. I really think people are in denial here.

Do you have evidence of payola usage for this song by either artist? Any specific links or information that we're missing?

[arturo52311]

I have no clue what it is about Gaga that makes people froth at the mouth like a rabid rodent when she experiences an ounce of success.

The song is semi viral on TikTok with the sound trending upwards rapidly and has had a great start to radio. Not to mention the music video is holding up well on daily views. It's not far fetched to believe people genuinely like a song by artists who dominated the 2010s and were able to get #1's this decade as well. There's nothing suspicious about its Spotify numbers.

[ObhiDonna]

Aug 25, 2024 16:41:47 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:29:49 GMT -5 lazer said:

I don’t think Lady Gaga stansneed streaming bot farms to prop their fave to the top. A lot of people know who Bruno and Gaga are.

I’m a big Gaga fan, check the tape (you won’t, but totally fine)

This sounds like the goofy failed 70s R&B project Bruno Mars tried to work with a few years ago. It’s a NICE song, but do you really think the demographic of CHR is really wanting to hear this?

Working with both HS and college kids, these two artists are old AF to them. This is a magnificent highly invested payola job. I really think people are in denial here.

Hi, I am one of those college kids who love this track, but can I also have your dealer’s number, because mate what have you been smoking?

[Love Plastic Love]

CHR has always, always liked generic ass love ballads and we always have generic ass love ballad hits every year. My niece is posting this with stupid filters about her boyfriend who she has dated for two weeks. I mean, its not crazy wild to think this would succeed lol.

[No Brake$]

Aug 25, 2024 16:43:36 GMT -5 arturo52311 said:

I have no clue what it is about Gaga that makes people froth at the mouth like a rabid rodent when she experiences an ounce of success.

The song is semi viral on TikTok with the sound trending upwards rapidly and has had a great start to radio. Not to mention the music video is holding up well on daily views. It's not far fetched to believe people genuinely like a song by artists who dominated the 2010s and were able to get #1's this decade as well. There's nothing suspicious about its Spotify numbers.

People get so offended, just say it out loud,
“Slow Bruno and Gaga mediocre song is killing it on the charts”

Come on. Quit being so naive. You want to see some real hits?

Look at Shaboozey (I really hate that song, but get it), Tommy Richman (maybe the worst song I’ve ever heard, but get it also), Chappell Roan (duh, pop perfection)

Those have chart runs that make sense on the radio and Apple.

I’m sorry, Gaga is not on high demand and that being said she is one of the best artists of this century in my opinion. No way in h*** this song should have these numbers. When this stalls in two weeks, that’s when I’ll be proven right. Wait for it.

[No Brake$]

Aug 25, 2024 16:53:02 GMT -5 Love Plastic Love said:

CHR has always, always liked generic ass love ballads and we always have generic ass love ballad hits every year. My niece is posting this with stupid filters about her boyfriend who she has dated for two weeks. I mean, its not crazy wild to think this would succeed lol.

Not in the past 10-15 years.

[arturo52311]

Aug 25, 2024 16:59:36 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:43:36 GMT -5 arturo52311 said:

I have no clue what it is about Gaga that makes people froth at the mouth like a rabid rodent when she experiences an ounce of success.

The song is semi viral on TikTok with the sound trending upwards rapidly and has had a great start to radio. Not to mention the music video is holding up well on daily views. It's not far fetched to believe people genuinely like a song by artists who dominated the 2010s and were able to get #1's this decade as well. There's nothing suspicious about its Spotify numbers.

People get so offended, just say it out loud,
“Slow Bruno and Gaga mediocre song is killing it on the charts”

Come on. Quit being so naive. You want to see some real hits?

Look at Shaboozey (I really hate that song, but get it), Tommy Richman (maybe the worst song I’ve ever heard, but get it also), Chappell Roan (duh, pop perfection)

Those have chart runs that make sense on the radio and Apple.

I’m sorry, Gaga is not on high demand and that being said she is one of the best artists of this century in my opinion. No way in h*** this song should have these numbers. When this stalls in two weeks, that’s when I’ll be proven right. Wait for it.

I'm sorry that Die With A Smile's chart run which is currently *checks notes*.... N/A 0 Weeks on Chart on Billboard is not comparable to A Bar Song (18 WoC), Million Dollar Baby (16 WoC), and Good Luck Babe (19 WoC).
Let's check back in about 4 months and make an actual comparison in good faith. 

Someone else said there was no way this was debuting Top 10 and tomorrow we're going to get official confirmation of its #3 debut. Wonder if it was you. Also, claiming to be a "fan" and praising an artist doesn't distract from bad faith arguments and baseless claims with no evidence to back it up.

[Mayman]

Aug 25, 2024 16:43:20 GMT -5 Mayman said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:41:47 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

I’m a big Gaga fan, check the tape (you won’t, but totally fine)

This sounds like the goofy failed 70s R&B project Bruno Mars tried to work with a few years ago. It’s a NICE song, but do you really think the demographic of CHR is really wanting to hear this?

Working with both HS and college kids, these two artists are old AF to them. This is a magnificent highly invested payola job. I really think people are in denial here.

Do you have evidence of payola usage for this song by either artist? Any specific links or information that we're missing?

The fact that you didn't respond to my post says all I need to know. You don't have any actual evidence, instead just come in here to troll with baseless accusations. You've done this for years, give it up.

[No Brake$]

Fans can say they don’t think a song is as good as their lunatic Stan’s think it is.

Take a look at Fortnight’s run or Jimin’s Spotify to Apple comparison on the charts. Katy Perry. Coldplay. All you need to know.

I’m not kidding around here. I’ve followed the charts like a total loser and nerd since the late 90s. Excel Spreadsheets “live from the basement.” But being real. What we’ve been seeing going on the charts the past few years is beyond insane.

Gaga is doing a favor for Bruno here.

[No Brake$]

Aug 25, 2024 17:07:48 GMT -5 Mayman said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:43:20 GMT -5 Mayman said:

Do you have evidence of payola usage for this song by either artist? Any specific links or information that we're missing?

The fact that you didn't respond to my post says all I need to know. You don't have any actual evidence, instead just come in here to troll with baseless accusations. You've done this for years, give it up.

Hahahaha. Look up recurrent. That’s your evidence (for years)

Quit embarrassing yourself. I openly admit to missing on Post Malone last summer. But been right about everything
else.

[Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ]

Whatttt

[Mayman]

Aug 25, 2024 17:14:50 GMT -5 Ｓｏｕｎｄｃｌ🕤ｃｋ said:

Whatttt

They can't even formulate proper sentences much less make any sense. Reporting and keeping it pushing.

[mccloud]

Aug 25, 2024 17:11:43 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Aug 25, 2024 17:07:48 GMT -5 Mayman said:

The fact that you didn't respond to my post says all I need to know. You don't have any actual evidence, instead just come in here to troll with baseless accusations. You've done this for years, give it up.

Hahahaha. Look up recurrent. That’s your evidence (for years)

Quit embarrassing yourself. I openly admit to missing on Post Malone last summer. But been right about everything
else.

What did you say about Post Malone last year? haha

[Love Plastic Love]

Aug 25, 2024 17:02:24 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:53:02 GMT -5 Love Plastic Love said:

CHR has always, always liked generic ass love ballads and we always have generic ass love ballad hits every year. My niece is posting this with stupid filters about her boyfriend who she has dated for two weeks. I mean, its not crazy wild to think this would succeed lol.

Not in the past 10-15 years.

Are you saying we haven't had generic love ballads as hits in 15 years?

[mccloud]

Idk why these two have been putting out the same dull ballads for over half a decade. We get it, Leave The Door Open and Shallow were hits. Drop something uptempo like Gen Z's artists have been having success with. Greedy, Espresso, Good Luck Babe...etc

[arturo52311]

Aug 25, 2024 17:09:04 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Fans can say they don’t think a song is as good as their lunatic Stan’s think it is.

Take a look at Fortnight’s run or Jimin’s Spotify to Apple comparison on the charts. Katy Perry. Coldplay. All you need to know.

I’m not kidding around here. I’ve followed the charts like a total loser and nerd since the late 90s. Excel Spreadsheets “live from the basement.” But being real. What we’ve been seeing going on the charts the past few years is beyond insane.

Gaga is doing a favor for Bruno here.

Comparing this to Jimin is wild when that song:
1. Fell 100+ spots on Spotify UK the other day clearly pointing towards fraudulent activity
2. Members here with access to data have literally posted about how more than half of the song's activity is from ad supported accounts which is indicative of streaming farms. Most songs have about 80% paid tier streams and 20% ad supported streams. No mention of Die With A Smile's ratio being off because there is no fraudulence. 

You either love trolling or love being subtly called an idiot on this forum judging by the way members are reacting to your baseless claims.

[Mayman]

Aug 25, 2024 17:19:28 GMT -5 mccloud said:

Idk why these two have been putting out the same dull ballads for over half a decade. We get it, Leave The Door Open and Shallow were hits. Drop something uptempo like Gen Z's artists have been having success with. Greedy, Espresso, Good Luck Babe...etc

I mean there was various sounds on Bruno's album and Gaga's last album was dance pop. Clearly the public is here for this sound from both of them as that's why it's doing well on multiple platforms. I'm sure once we get their solo singles they'll have something you're looking for.

[No Brake$]

Generic Love Ballads is 90’s somewhat 2000’s.

Bruno had some very good ones…..late 00’s.

Look, I get it. I sound like an a-hole, that’s fine, but I know these numbers and trends better or as good as anyone, this song is falling in that category. (Honestly, sigh, like most of Gaga’s latest singles)

This is basically the new Woman’s World for a few weeks yet we have people, maniacs, saying “single of the year” and what not. Get a grip.

I’d kill for Gaga to make a run again but that’s such an old person fantasy, and surely this song, which is clearly a reference to the Joker ain’t it.


Not everyone can have a real chart run like Chappel Roan these days.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Aug 25, 2024 16:41:47 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Aug 25, 2024 16:29:49 GMT -5 lazer said:

I don’t think Lady Gaga stansneed streaming bot farms to prop their fave to the top. A lot of people know who Bruno and Gaga are.

I’m a big Gaga fan, check the tape (you won’t, but totally fine)

This sounds like the goofy failed 70s R&B project Bruno Mars tried to work with a few years ago. It’s a NICE song, but do you really think the demographic of CHR is really wanting to hear this?

I've explained this countless times before, but I don't mind explaining it again.

Think back to like 2013 or 2014 when new Apple and Samsung phones were major deals every fall. Remember how retailers that sold those phones advertised them as a way to get people into their stores to buy those phones from them rather than the competition? Okay, now think of a new single from (insert big-name artist here) as a new phone and those retailers as radio stations. Phone retailers know people will want to buy those phones ASAP and will line up for them. Similarly, radio stations know that people will want to hear the new song by (insert big-name artist here) and will use that song as leverage to get people tuned in, therefore, from the getgo, they might play it more than they would other new singles by (lesser-known artists, or 2nd/3rd singles from albums already available). They know there's hype and they're using it to their advantage.

Now, to be fair, new Apple/Samsung devices don't have the pull they used to. Similarly, neither does radio. But radio doesn't have a lot of opportunity to grab listeners but they'll still do what they can to do it and when (insert big-name artist here) releases something new, it's a chance for radio to say "hey listeners! Tune in at the top of every hour today to hear the new song by (insert big-name artist here)" because why the hell not?

I know going the "payola" route is such an easy (read: lazy) one to go to explain why a song you personally don't like/understand is doing so well, but when you attempt to look at it from the other side, it really does make sense. Just like artists and labels, radio stations also have a business to maintain and can and do use big-name artists as leverage to get people to tune in. In cases like these, it is win-win.

Aug 25, 2024 16:41:47 GMT -5 No Brake$ said:

Working with both HS and college kids, these two artists are old AF to them.

HS and college kids who listen to radio though? C'mon