Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars have come together for the first time in a stunning love ballad titled “Die With a Smile.” Released as a standalone single along with an accompanying music video, the song dropped on Thursday, much to the delight of fans worldwide.
The video features Gaga and Mars performing on a retro stage, with Mars sporting a cowboy hat and Gaga making a bold fashion statement in bright red tights. The visual aesthetic complements the soulful energy of the song, creating a memorable and emotional experience for viewers.
Speculation about a collaboration between the two pop powerhouses had been swirling online for several days. The rumors were finally confirmed when both artists took to social media earlier in the day to announce the release.
In her announcement, Gaga revealed that the song was a gift to fans “while you wait for LG7,” referring to her highly anticipated upcoming album, which has yet to receive an official release date.
“Die With a Smile” marks a significant return to music for both artists, who have not released much new material in recent years. Gaga’s last major solo album was Chromatica in 2020, though she did release a collaborative album with Tony Bennett in 2021 and the hit single “Hold My Hand” for Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. Mars, on the other hand, hasn’t released a major solo project since 2016, though he did win two Grammys in 2022 for his Silk Sonic collaboration with Anderson .Paak.
Discussing the collaboration, Gaga shared, “Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating. 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. We stayed up all night and finished writing and recording the song. Bruno’s talent is beyond explanation. His musicianship and vision is next level. There’s no one like him.”
Mars echoed the sentiment, saying, “Getting to work with Gaga has been an honor. She’s an icon and she makes this song magical. I’m so excited for everyone to hear it.”
“Die With a Smile” is co-produced by Gaga, Mars, D’Mile, and Andrew Watt, with the video directed by Daniel Ramos and Mars himself.
Looking ahead, Gaga will also star alongside Joaquin Phoenix in the upcoming Joker: Folie À Deux, which will feature her singing. However, she recently hinted that her performance in the film would be “unlike anything I’ve done before.”
“People know me by my stage name, Lady Gaga, right? That’s me as that performer, but that is not what this movie is,” Gaga explained to Empire. “I’m playing a character. So I worked a lot on the way that I sang to come from Lee, and to not come from me as a performer…How do you take music and have it just be an extension of the dialogue, as opposed to breaking into song for no conceivable reason?”
With “Die With a Smile” now out and her role in Joker: Folie À Deux on the horizon, Gaga continues to push the boundaries of her artistry, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what’s next.
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