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

[Maximillian]

Few thoughts:

1) For those saying its Bruno ft. Gaga -- yeah, sure. Its going on Bruno's album supposedly. I am sure Gaga just didn't want a "Feature" credit, understandably, since it was co-written and co-produced by Gaga as well.
2) Its an instant classic -- this is how you do a ballad. Turn this up on a speaker and wow. Going to be awards show fodder and performed a lot the next 6 months.
3) "It doesn't feel like a Lady Gaga song" -- not even sure what that means anymore. Gaga has been the most versatile artist we've had the last 20 years. Jazz, classic rock and more current rock, country, pop, ballads, piano, metal, grunge, EDM / Dance / Synths, and even has touched in r&b. I think its redundant to always expect Gaga to have a "certain sound".

[Marooned@Midnight]

Love this. Hope it gets pushed. This is much more the style of music I enjoy from both of them, compared to their more dance/pop offerings.

[Enigma.]

I think for certain audience and fans always think that Gaga has be edgy and release only uptempo bangers. Her so-called fans have always disliked her ballads, no matter how strong or successful they are, but the truth is - she wouldn't be even half as successful as she is now if she had just stayed on that RedOne/EDM lane for years. Look at where Katy Perry is now as she has kind of refused to embrace any change.

The first proper review:

Criss-crossing between dream pop production aspects, and those June & Johnny Cash moments, it pulls from the past before exploding outwards into its own timeline. An unexpected triumph, one that leans on the strengths of both artists, before presenting something new. 8/10

www.clashmusic.com/reviews/clash-verdict-lady-gaga-bruno-mars-die-with-a-smile/

[Dreams]

Aug 16, 2024 6:22:04 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

Aug 16, 2024 3:18:15 GMT -5 Dreams said:

Also, Gaga sounds like less than a feature on this. Like, when you see X artist feat. Y artist and you listen to the song only to find out that Y artist either does a little of the background vocals or just plays a guitar intermezzo or something, lol. Bruno totally SWALLOWED her UP here!

Shallow starts with Bradley Cooper, but it's still 50/50 Gaga/Bradley song. Same as this, Gaga has her own verse and in some parts her vocals are layered above Brunos. It's definitely a duet.

What you’re saying is true technically, but here it’s Bruno singing ON TOP of Gaga on her OWN verse hence basically stepping all over her. It's like...jaysus STFU and let her sing for one god damn moment! 🙄 Even when she sings it’s like he’s singing, pretty much, relegating her to a feature on a Bruno song.

On another note, I still don’t understand...is this the official lead single off The Joker 2 soundtrack or what?

[Maximillian]

I am going to take a wild guess and suggest this is not for the Joker. I feel like the Joker wouldn't squander the opportunity to have their marketing ****ALL OVER THIS**** for a lead single from the album, especially if the song features their lead and Bruno Mars. We would know by now if this was associated to the movie in some way (artwork, press releases, video).

I also expect the lead song from Joker to be all Gaga, front and center, something more chaotic, and not a sweet lovers ballad that Bruno plans to put on his album.

The team up of Bruno and Gaga is likely a long time coming -- they both had long residencies in Vegas, so this is probably just them teaming up after working in sync for the last few years.

[Juan Carlos]

Goes for Pop adds now.

[Taylor.]

They both sound incredible. No desire to ever listen to this again, though.

[schnetzka]

Okay so I haven't liked a Bruno Mars song this much in a long time. Hope he continues in this trajectory. Gaga also sounds great.

[Love Plastic Love]

This works shockingly well. I like it, but don't love it. It's not really my "type" of song.

[#LisaRinna]

A fucking hit! Wow.

[avamaxstan]

Aug 16, 2024 8:15:23 GMT -5 Taylor. said:

They both sound incredible. No desire to ever listen to this again, though.

Lol, this was my exact reaction.

[ObhiDonna]

I am outside for work the whole day and won’t be able to listen to it until very late ugh!! But reactions here bode well for me.
What do the chart prognosticators here think of its potential?

[Dylan :)]

Aug 16, 2024 8:44:33 GMT -5 avamaxstan said:

Aug 16, 2024 8:15:23 GMT -5 Taylor. said:

They both sound incredible. No desire to ever listen to this again, though.

Lol, this was my exact reaction.

Same. I love it, but it isn't too earwormy. Good for a movie

[Love Plastic Love]

God Bruno's voice is just sublime. I had forgotten what a great singer he is and it works really well with Gaga. Just the vocals make me want to listen to this again lol.

[PGriffin]

I'm not a fan of this, but I expect this to be a hit and clean up during awards season.

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

What if this takes song and record of the year? Taylor/billie/charli/etc fans didn’t expect that little nugget

[Jose Polica]

Aug 16, 2024 8:13:13 GMT -5 Juan Carlos said:

Goes for Pop adds now.

[#LisaRinna]

Aug 16, 2024 9:20:32 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

What if this takes song and record of the year? Taylor/billie/charli/etc fans didn’t expect that little nugget

Tea! That's why the gerls are suddenly not fans. They smelled the THREAT.

[musiclife]

The first verse is flawless then it kind of drags.

[munx 🐒🎯]

Aug 16, 2024 8:15:23 GMT -5 Taylor. said:

They both sound incredible. No desire to ever listen to this again, though.

same. The video wasn’t that great either.

[wjr15]

I’m not really into ballads but this is cute. Bruno and Gaga both sound really good on this. I agree with other sentiments that this sounds more like Bruno Mars ft. Lady Gaga which makes me wonder this might be for Bruno’s album. I’m not sure how much I’ll have this on repeat but awards season will be generous to this and I can see it being a hit into the Fall.

Edit: On second listen, I really love how their voices sound together.

[jgarbary]

Just heard this on KIIS at the top of the 8am hour, they played it for New Music Friday. It’s good!

[avamaxstan]

Aug 16, 2024 9:20:32 GMT -5 Rose "Payola" Nylund said:

What if this takes song and record of the year? Taylor/billie/charli/etc fans didn’t expect that little nugget

The Grammys will pretty much award anything Bruno releases regardless of quality, so it wouldn't surprise me.

[jamatthews83]

But he'll probably not submit it so he doesn't get the blame when Beyonce doesn't win.

[Enigma.]

This has a point:

[SoMuchToSay]

I tried listening to this a few times today but can't get into it. It's way too Silk Sonic sounding for me, which I never cared for versus normal Bruno Mars stuff.

[Elusive Chanteuse]

Aug 16, 2024 10:39:43 GMT -5 jamatthews83 said:

But he'll probably not submit it so he doesn't get the blame when Beyonce doesn't win.

But there is Billie who definitely will submit and be a strong contender. So, either way, Bruno/Gaga should still submit!

[Rose "Payola" Nylund]

Aug 16, 2024 10:11:02 GMT -5 munx 🐒🎯 said:

Aug 16, 2024 8:15:23 GMT -5 Taylor. said:

They both sound incredible. No desire to ever listen to this again, though.

same. The video wasn’t that great either.

What I love about the video is how invested Gaga is in her character. She’s bodying it 1000%. It’s not an exciting video but I’d say it’s really well done and matches the song. As a fan, I wasn’t sure what to expect but the song way surpassed it so I’m pleased! New fav! Gaga has done it again! Bruno always delivers. I’m going to be annoying for a while! Essays pending….

[munx 🐒🎯]

Aug 16, 2024 10:51:59 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

This has a point:

Yes, but fun pop gaga can’t (and yet to) be beat. IMO ☺️

[Maximillian]

Aug 16, 2024 11:54:57 GMT -5 munx 🐒🎯 said:

Aug 16, 2024 10:51:59 GMT -5 Enigma. said:

This has a point:

Yes, but fun pop gaga can’t (and yet to) be beat. IMO ☺️

Thats the beautiful thing about art, it's subjective and the only person Gaga has to answer to at this point is her career is herself.