"Die with a Smile" is a song by American singer-songwriters Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. It was initially released as a standalone single on August 16,2024,through Interscope Records,and later included as the closing track of Gaga's studio album Mayhem (2025). It was written and produced by both artists alongside Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II and Andrew Watt,with James Fauntleroy providing additional songwriting. "Die with a Smile" began as an early sketch Mars created with D'Mile and Fauntleroy. Its final direction emerged after Mars presented the track to Gaga three years later,and they finished it on the same day.
Musically,the pop,pop-soul,and soft rock track displays the emotional style of a pop and soulsentimental ballad. Its country influences have also been noticed. It has been compared to Gaga's album Joanne (2016) and her single "Shallow" (2018) from the A Star Is Born soundtrack,as well as Mars's Silk Sonic project and his Jason Mraz style. Lyrically,it expresses a powerful longing to be with a loved one,highlighting the urgency and depth of love in the face of uncertainty and potential endings. The song received critical acclaim,with critics praising the vocals of both artists,the instrumentation,and the emotional weight of the lyrics.
"Die with a Smile" saw great commercial success,becoming the longest-reigning daily number-one song in Spotify history,the fastest track to surpass 3 billion streams on the platform,and Spotify's most-streamed song of 2025. It also became one of the longest-reigning number-one songs in the Billboard Global 200 history,with eighteen weeks at the top. The song topped the official charts in more than 30 countries,including the Billboard U.S. Hot 100,Canadian Hot 100,New Zealand,and the Netherlands,and peaked in the top ten in more than 20 countries. It earned multiple diamond certifications in Brazil and five times diamond in France.
An accompanying music video,directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos,was released simultaneously with the song. It features Gaga playing piano and Mars playing guitar and singing together in a studio inspired by 1970s television. The duo performed the song together for the first time at a Mars concert in Los Angeles in August 2024,and a later performance in Las Vegas was released officially. Both artists delivered solo renditions in concerts,including select shows of Bruno Mars Live (2022–2024) and Gaga's 2025–2026 Mayhem Ball concert tour. "Die with a Smile" was nominated for Song of the Year and won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards.
Background and development
According to American singer-songwriter James Fauntleroy,Bruno Mars first sketched what would become "Die with a Smile" in 2021,writing parts of the first verse and chorus before setting it aside as an unfinished demo.[1] American record producer and songwriter D'Mile recalled that Mars "had the hook,at least the lyrics or theme to the hook,about being next to someone if the world was ending",but was unsure how to develop it further and held the idea for a year before its release.[2] According to Fauntleroy,Mars initially considered pitching an early version of the song for the film Joker:Folie àDeux (2024),in which Lady Gaga stars,or for her project Harlequin (2024)—which first led him to consider her as a potential collaborator.[3] Mars,Fauntleroy,and D'Mile then resumed working on the track.[1] D'Mile noted that they created only "two or three" versions—fewer than usual—and that the second was already close to the final arrangement.[1][2] They experimented with different chords for the verse before Mars settled on a progression and the hook chords on guitar,while D'Mile played bass.[1]
American record producer Andrew Watt,who was working with Gaga on her sixth solo studio album,Mayhem (2025),was invited,alongside Gaga and Michael Polansky,to drive to Mars's studio to hear the song.[1][2][4] Gaga explained that the collaboration materialized while she was recording her upcoming studio album in Malibu,after Mars invited her to his studio one evening to listen to music he had been working on,and she was "blown away" by the track that became "Die with a Smile".[5][6] Regarding their collaboration,Gaga highlighted Mars's "inexplicable talent" and praised both his musicianship and his "next-level" vision,while Mars expressed that collaborating with Gaga had been "an honor" and said her talent brought a special magic to the song.[7]
Writing and recording
Lady Gaga cited the collaborations between Carole King and James Taylor (pictured left to right) as a major inspiration for the song's creative process.
Regarding the writing and recording process, Gaga said, "I went to see him at like 10 o'clock at night. He played me the idea and then we wrote the second verse, then we cut it at 2 in the morning. Bruno had me singing for four hours. He had an exact way that he wanted to hear it and I wanted to give him that."[8] She also mentioned that they aimed for the harmonies to feel "very 1970s" and were inspired by the collaborations between Carole King and James Taylor during the creative process.[9] In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gaga said that what first drew her in was the concept of a song about what we would do if the world were ending. She added:
I just remember feeling like it was a song that people needed to hear. I write music all the time, and sometimes you feel like you're making something that some people will like. But there's other times that you work on something and you just know it's gonna deeply speak to all different kinds of people. I knew it right away.[10]
Gaga later noted that, although the title evoked associations with Joker: Folie à Deux,[11][12] the session with the singer focused on creating "a love song that would be for the ages".[13] For his part, Mars said that Gaga "was kind enough to let [him] be on it".[14] Watt recalls that the making of "Die with a Smile" was "old-school"; Mars and Fauntleroy began playing while Gaga wrote out the chords and bass changes.[15] According to Watt, they "started breaking down the song together, really singing together and organically arranging their harmonies", and he noted that "everything on that song is live—drums, bass, guitars, vocals", giving it a raw and organic sound.[15]
Watt also revealed that he, Mars, Gaga, and D'Mile worked on the song until 5 a.m., with her set for another commitment just hours later. The producer described their recording dynamic as a "healthy competition", recalling that watching the singers interact in the studio reminded him of the collaborative energy between Quincy Jones and Michael Jackson. Once the instrumentation was complete, Gaga began recording her vocals. She agreed to Mars being her vocal producer and being involved in how they would sing together. They kept "going back and forth" during this process.[4] Fauntleroy recalled that Gaga sat at the piano, learned the chords on the spot, and wrote them down by hand before singing through the song with Mars, which the team described as an unusually hands-on session for an artist of her profile.[1] After recording her vocals, Watt and Gaga recut her parts, while D'Mile and Watt continued working on the track over the following weeks.[1]
Release
In June 2024, Mars told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that he hoped to collaborate with Gaga on a song or join her onstage during her Jazz & Piano residency in Las Vegas.[16] On August 8, Hits Daily Double's "Rumor Mill" reported speculation about a possible collaboration between the two artists, allegedly titled "Die with a Smile" and expected to be released later that month, though it was not confirmed at the time.[17] Later in a press release in August, Gaga stated, "Bruno and I have a lot of mutual respect for each other and were talking about collaborating".[18] The two artists interacted on social media before confirming the collaboration and announcing that the song and its accompanying music video would be released on August 16, 2024.[17][19][5] Simultaneously, they revealed the single's cover art, which depicts them in coordinating red-and-blue retro Western outfits, with Gaga holding a cigarette and Mars wearing a white cowboy hat.[18][20][21]
The single was first released via digital download and streaming platforms on August 16, 2024, by Interscope Records.[22] On the same date, it was sent for radio airplay in Italy by EMI Records and Warner Music Group.[23] A CD single was also issued in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States by Interscope and Streamline.[24][25][26] On August 19, the track was sent for adult contemporary radio and hot adult contemporary radio by Interscope. The label also sent the song to contemporary hit radio on the following day.[27] On August 23 and August 27, the CD was released in Canada by Interscope and in France by Streamline.[28][29] On October 25, a 7-inch vinyl with the song and its instrumental was issued in the United States.[30] In late October and early November, Interscope made a live instrumental in Las Vegas and acoustic versions available for digital download and streaming platforms.[31][32][33] On November 20, an instrumental acoustic and a sped-up versions were released in the United States.[34][35] The 7-inch vinyl was released in Canada on November 29,[36] in Germany on December 9,[37] and in France and the United Kingdom on December 13.[38][39]
"Die with a Smile" was originally promoted as a standalone single by Gaga's representatives.[6][40] In a December 2024 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gaga revealed that the song would be included on Mayhem, describing it as "a huge part" and the "missing piece" of the album.[20][10] She later explained that she chose to close the album with the track because she wanted it to end with a "sense of peace", noting it was the last song she wrote for the record.[41] Additionally, Andrew Watt revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone that, once the song was completed, the intention was for it to be part of Mayhem.[42]
"Die with a Smile" is a pop, pop-soul, and soft rock song,[43][44][45] displaying the emotional style of a pop and soulsentimental ballad.[46][47][48] Critics also noticed its country influences.[43][49] According to the sheet music published by BMG Rights Management on Musicnotes, "Die with a Smile" is composed in the key of A major with a slow tempo of 52 beats per minute. The vocal range spans from G3 to E5.[50]Billboard's Kyle Denis described the song as a "soaring ballad that blends pop, soul, country and rock",[49] while Luisa Calle from Billboard Español say it combines Gaga's emotive lyrical style with Mars's smooth R&B influence.[51] Critics found the sound to be influenced by 1970s ballads.[21][46] The song was written by Mars, Gaga, Dernst Emile II, James Fauntleroy, and Andrew Watt and produced by all but Fauntleroy. Mars and Gaga performed lead vocals, while the former played the guitar and Gaga the piano on the song. Watt also played the guitar, while D'Mile was in charge of the bass and drums. It was recorded at Shampoo Press & Curl Studios by Charles Moniz and Paul LaMalfa, who also served as engineers with Marco Sonzini. Alex Resoagli and Tyler Harris were recording engineering assistants. The track was mixed by Serban Ghenea with mix engineering by Bryce Bordone at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Randy Merrill mastered the song at Sterling Sound in New York City.[52]
Los Angeles Times's Mikael Wood wrote that it evokes classic duets such as Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald's "On My Own" (1986) and Diana Ross and Lionel Richie's "Endless Love" (1981).[10] Joey Nolfi of Entertainment Weekly called it "a string-laced ballad harkening back to the glistening passion of '60s and '70s pop ballads". Nofli defined the song as a "spiritual sequel" to Gaga's "Shallow" (2018),[46] while Vulture's Justin Curto stated that it recalls the singer's late-2010s work on Joanne (2016) and A Star Is Born (2018).[53] Ed Powers of The Irish Times likened "Die with a Smile" to James Bond movie themes and the collaborations between Gaga and Tony Bennett.[a][55]NME's Surej Singh noted its "soaring chorus" and felt it is comparable to Mars's Silk Sonic project.[47] According to The New York Times, it is also reminiscent of Mars's "days as a Jason Mraz-esque wedding song maestro".[45] Robin Murray of Clash described the opening guitar chords as "glacial", noting a "shoegaze ring" in the reverb-drenched production and adding that the track blends Lee Hazlewood-style songwriting with Slowdive-like atmospherics.[56]
"Die with a Smile" opens with Mars taking the first verse and Gaga the second, after which both vocalists play off each other for the remainder of the track.[57] It features what Variety's Jem Aswad described as "soaring vocals, a big chorus, gently strummed guitars", culminating in a "sky-scraping climax" on the final chorus.[11] Lyrically, it is presented as an intense love declaration centered on the strength of the narrators' feelings for each other against a hypothetical end-of-the-world scenario,[21][13][58] a theme Gaga has described as an "apocalyptic love song".[59] The chorus emphasizes the desire to be "next to you" if "the world was ending" or "our time on Earth was through", framing the relationship within a sense of urgency.[13]Capital's Abbie Reynolds described the song as a reminder not to take love for granted, noting lines such as "Nobody's promised tomorrow" and "I'ma love you every night like it's the last night."[13] Jake Viswanath of Bustle compared the song's lyrical perspective to Gaga's 2011 single "The Edge of Glory",[21] while Billboard Argentina noted its focus on "finding happiness and peace amid adversity".[60] Talking about the lyrics, Gaga further added that although singing about dying does not naturally align with smiling, it makes sense in the context of the song because it reflects the sweetness and emotional meaning behind what they are expressing.[10]
Critical reception
"Die with a Smile" received widespread critical acclaim,[61] with many reviewers praising the vocal interplay between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars. Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone commended their vocal delivery,[58] while Billboard's Stephen Daw noted that their voices complement each other effectively.[62] Critics from Vulture praised its vocal harmonies and restrained approach.[63] Kristen S. Hé remarked on the humility of the performance, observing that the singers' voices intertwine rather than compete.,[63] while Craig Jenkins emphasized its triumphant harmonies and weighty balladry shaped by countrypolitan and doomerist influences.[64] Robin Murray of Clash, in an eight-out-of-ten review, described it as a modern take on classic 1970s duets, noting their "undoubted chemistry."[56] Viswanath of Bustle praised how the track merges Gaga and Mars's musical styles into a "sweepingly romantic and devastating" depiction of two lovers sharing their last moments together.[21]
Reviewers also focused on the song's melodic and emotional qualities. Variety's Jem Aswad noted that it meets the scale and impact expected from a high-profile collaboration,[11] while Billboard's Paul Grein called it an "instant smash" and a strong awards-season contender.[65]The New York Times it as a romantic, lightly apocalyptic slow dance,[66] Jordi Bardají of Jenesaispop labeled it a "timeless ballad",[67] and Sam Damshenas of Gay Times characterized it as a cinematic pop-rock track with instantly recognizable romantic lyrics.[68] Alexa Camp from Slant Magazine praised its nostalgic charm and called it a "throwback to the love songs of the last century,"[48] while Hannah Dailey of Billboard regarded it as a "late-stage song of the summer contender".[69] Katie Atkinson of the same magazine reflected that she appreciated the song even more over time,[43] and Neil Z. Yeung of AllMusic described it as a deceptively simple yet elegant duet and one of Gaga's more enduring recordings.[70]
Not all assessments were unequivocally positive. Adam White of The Independent felt the song suited both artists stylistically but argued its artistic merit did not fully match its commercial success,[71] and Paolo Ragusa of Consequence considered it a satisfying love ballad that does not push either artist into new territory.[72]Consequence's Mary Siroki found the song pleasant but underwhelming compared to the duo's previous work, citing a lack of replay value,[72] while Drew Gillis of The A.V. Club described it as competent but unremarkable, suggesting it may fade into the background and observing that Mars's melody dominates while Gaga takes a secondary role.[73] Shaad D'Souza of The New York Times criticized the track for indulging the singers' weaker stylistic impulses,[45] and CJ Thorpe-Tracey of The Quietus dismissed it as an artificial mid-tempo ballad that never fully engages emotionally.[74]
Year-end lists
"Die with a Smile" was included in several year-end lists by music critics and publications. Melissa Ruggieri of USA Today ranked it as the fifth-best song of 2024. She praised the track's retro-inspired exploration of enduring love, the complementary artistic styles of the two performers, and Mars's rhythmic production choices—particularly his use of drums to enhance the song's emotional intensity.[75] August Brown and Mikael Wood, writing for the Los Angeles Times, placed the track at number 17. The latter commented, "Think Bruno ever wakes up and tries not to write a hit?"[76]Billboard, in its editorial list of staff picks for the best songs of 2024, ranked it 21st, complimenting its timeless production, theatrical vocal performances, and strong replay value.[77]Billboard Philippines ranked it in the year's top fifty and thought the duo's "passionate vocals and emotional harmonies are enough to leave you dazed and yearning for a love so encompassing".[78]Uproxx also listed "Die with a Smile" among the best songs of 2024, calling it "an epic return for both Gaga and Mars [...] propelled by effortless chemistry and vocal runs that aimed to scrape the clouds".[79]
"[The album] ends with love. That's the answer to all the chaos in my life is that I find peace with love. Every song that I wrote, I just kept getting kind of swept away in these different dreams I was having about the past — almost like a recollection of all these bad decisions that I made in my life. But it ends in this very happy place."
– Gaga talking about how "Die with a Smile" is connected to the rest of Mayhem[10]
Following the release of Mayhem, several journalists discussed how "Die with a Smile" functions within the album. Gaga has described Mayhem as an intentionally eclectic project that moves between contrasting sounds and moods before ultimately resolving in love, framing the album as a complete experience rather than a strictly cohesive genre piece.[10][82][83] Some critics regarded it as an effective closer, arguing that its cinematic and reflective tone provides a coherent conclusion to the record. Stephen Ackroyd of Dork highlighted its suitability as an album closer,[84] while David Cobbald of The Line of Best Fit noted that although its inclusion raises questions about whether Mayhem was adjusted to accommodate it, the song ultimately does not feel out of place.[85] Writers for Elle argued that its placement appeared artistically rather than commercially motivated,[86] and Donovan Livesey of MusicOMH called it an "almost cinematic" finale.[87]Variety's Steven J. Horowitz similarly found it coherent within the album’s closing sequence of ballads, though he criticized its lounge-pop stylings as "schlocky".[88]
Other reviewers were more skeptical, suggesting that the song clashes with Mayhem's tone or pacing. Thomas Stremfel of Spectrum Culture attributed its presence to label influence, claiming it "stick[s] out like a sore thumb".[89]Exclaim! and Stereogum likewise considered it "tacked on",[90][91] while The Wall Street Journal's Mark Richardson and Robin Murray of Clash similarly felt that the track disrupts the album's momentum, with Murray describing it as an uneasy tonal contrast.[92][93] Reviewers from Atwood Magazine and Paste also considered its placement anticlimactic.[94][95]Billboard's Daw characterized it as an "afterthought"—though an effective one if the intention was to close on a gentler moment—[62] and Nick Levine of NME expressed a comparable view, framing it as a "palate cleanser" after the album's heavier material.[96] Writing for The New York Times, Shaad D'Souza added that the track's significant streaming success also likely informed its inclusion.[45]
Commercial performance
Americas
In the United States, "Die with a Smile" sold over 14,000 digital copies in the United States during its first four days of availability.[97] It peaked at number one on Spotify's Daily Top Songs USA chart, and on Apple Music's and iTunes's charts during its release week.[97] The track debuted at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week dated August 31, 2024, becoming Mars's 19th and Gaga's 18th top 10 in the country.[98] The duet debuted at number one on the Digital Song Sales chart, becoming Mars's 10th chart topper and Gaga's 9th.[99] In its 11th week, it reached number two on the Hot 100, with 45.3 million radio airplay impressions, 22.6 million streams, and 16,000 copies sold. Three new versions were released during the tracking week, and all of them were discounted to 69 cents on the iTunes store.[100] In its 20th week, "Die With a Smile" reached the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart dated January 11, 2025, after selling 6,000 copies, reaching a 59.7 million radio audience, and getting 27.1 million streams.[101] It spent five non-consecutive weeks at the top of the Hot 100, becoming Gaga's first song to spend more than one week at number one since "Born This Way" in 2011, and Mars's third song to top the chart for five weeks or more.[102]
"Die with a Smile" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Gaga's sixth chart-topper and Mars's ninth (pictured left to right).[101]
Gaga became the third artist in history to achieve multiple U.S. number one songs in three different decades, after Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson.[103] "Die With a Smile" not only was the longest-charting song with a female lead but also the longest-charting duet ever in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100.[104][105] It also became the fourth longest-running Top 10 hit in Hot 100 chart history (51 weeks).[105][106][107] On October 20, 2025, Billboard updated its chart rules, removing songs outside the top 10 for more than 52 weeks. As a result, "Die with a Smile" dropped off the Billboard Hot 100 in its 60th week.[108] The 60 weeks spent on the aforementioned chart is a longevity record for both artists and also the most for a duet between a female and male artist.[105] Furthermore, it reached number one on the Mainstream Top 40 chart, marking Gaga's eighth number one hit and Mars's tenth.[109] He tied Justin Bieber as the solo artist with the most number ones on the chart, while Gaga became the fifth act to achieve at least one number one in each of the 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s.[109] As of July 2025, Billboard reported that "Die With a Smile" was the second most streamed and the most heard song on radio.[110] It later finished 2025 as the year's biggest song on U.S. radio, generating 3.054 billion audience impressions.[111] It topped the 2025 Billboard Hot 100 Year-End chart, becoming the first male-female duet to do so.[105]
In Canada, it debuted at number nine on the Canadian Hot 100 and subsequently climbed to the top in its 20th week, marking Gaga's sixth number one hit and Mars's fifth.[112][113] The song was later certified eight-times platinum by Music Canada (MC).[114] According to the previously mentioned Luminate report, the track had 51.7 million On-Demand audio streams, taking the top spot on Canada Top 10 Songs.[115] In Brazil, "Die with a Smile" peaked at number four on the Billboard Brasil Hot 100 and certified five times diamond by the PMB for 800,000 units.[116][117]
Europe
In the United Kingdom, it entered the UK Singles Chart at number seven, marking the highest debut of the week, as well as Gaga's 15th top-ten hit and Mars's 11th.[118][119] In its ninth week on the chart, it reached number two and spent a year on the chart.[120] The British Phonographic Industry (BPI) awarded it double platinum certification.[121] In Ireland, it also achieved the biggest debut of the week by entering at number 13, and in its sixth week, it achieved its best position at number three.[122] In the Netherlands, it debuted at 19th and then climbed to the top in its fifth week, where it became Gaga's third number one and Mars's second; Gaga also became the first artist to achieve a number one hit in three different decades in the country.[123] Moreover, "Die with a Smile" also topped the Dutch Top 40.[124] In the Flemish Region of Belgium, it reached number one, while it reached number two in the Walloon Region.[125][126] In Switzerland, it reached number one in its ninth week, becoming Gaga's fourth number one hit and Mars's second, remaining in that position for four consecutive weeks.[127] It was awarded a platinum certification by IFPI Switzerland.[128]
Among the Nordic countries, it reached number one in Norway in its third week, making it Gaga's fifth number one hit in the country and Mars's second.[129] It also reached number two in Sweden, number four in Denmark, and number thirteen in Finland.[130][131][132] In the Baltic countries, it reached number one in Estonia, number three in Lithuania, and number two on Latvia's streaming chart.[133][134][135] In Germany, it reached number five, while in France, it reached number eight.[136][137] Other countries in Europe where it reached number one were Croatia, Greece, and Portugal.[138][139][140] The song received several certifications on the continent, including a diamond record in France, six times platinum in Portugal, and four times platinum in Greece.[141][142][143] Among the three charts in Romania, the song only topped the Romania TV Airplay[144]
Asia and Oceania
"Die With a Smile" enjoyed widespread commercial success in Asia, reaching number one on the weekly charts in Indonesia and Malaysia, as well as in the Philippines, where Gaga and Mars became the first non-Filipino act to reach number one on the Philippines Hot 100 since the chart's reintroduction in July 2024.[145][146][147] It became the international song with the longest run at the top spot in the Philippines during the 2024 calendar year.[148] Within the Middle East, it reached number one in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.[149][150][151]
In Australia, it debuted at number 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart, becoming Gaga's 16th top-10 hit and Mars's 17th. It then climbed to number two, where it remained for two consecutive weeks.[152][153] It was certified seven times platinum by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA).[154] In New Zealand, it debuted at number one on the Top 40 Singles Chart, marking Gaga's fourth number one hit in the country and Mars's sixth, and it remained at the top for nine consecutive weeks.[155] It was certified five times platinum by Recorded Music NZ (RMNZ).[156]
International
In 2024, "Die with a Smile" generated 1.08 billion global streams, making it the fourteenth most successful song of the year, according to the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI).[157] In its first week, it garnered 75.1 million streams across various platforms and sold 31,000 copies worldwide, debuting at number two on the Global 200 chart. It was Gaga's first top ten hit and Mars's third since the chart's inception.[158] In its second week, the single topped the Billboard Global 200 and Global Excl. US singles charts, becoming the first chart-topper for both artists, having accumulated 97.2 million streams globally and selling 12,000 copies.[159][160] It spent a total of eighteen weeks atop the chart and overtook Harry Styles's "As It Was" (2022) to become the second longest-reigning overall (and the longest-running non-holiday) number-one song in the chart's history (behind Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You" (1994)).[161][162] It also overtook "APT." (2024) by Rosé and Mars for the most weeks spent by any song released in 2024.[163][164][165] According to Luminate's 2024 year-end music report, "Die With a Smile" was the fifth most streamed song in the world, with 1.874 billion on-demand audio streams.[166] The following year, the same report's follow-up cited "Die with a Smile" as the overall most streamed song in the world, with 1.920 billion on-demand audio streams.[115] The song was also ranked second on the 2025 Billboard Global 200 year-end chart.[167]
"Die with a Smile" broke the record for the most weeks generating more than 100 million streams globally, previously held by "Stay" by The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber, after exceeding that amount.[168] It is the only song to be streamed weekly over 100 million times globally for a twenty-week period.[169] On November 20, 2024, it became the fastest song to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify and the only song to do so in under 100 days (96 days).[170][171] Gaga became emotional when the song surpassed one billion streams, saying she "couldn't believe" the milestone and thanking listeners for its success.[172] On December 4, 2024, "Die with a Smile" was established as the most viral song of 2024 on Spotify, amassing over 1.6 billion streams within 17 weeks and becoming the most shared song from the platform on social media.[173] Its success, along with that of "APT.", enabled Mars to gain the all-time largest monthly listenership on Spotify for any artist, with more than 150 million listeners,[174] and Gaga to third place with more than 124 million listeners, the second-largest monthly listenership for any female artist on Spotify.[175] On June 6, 2025, the song spent the most days at number one on the Spotify Global daily chart with 201 non-consecutive days, surpassing Tones and I's "Dance Monkey" (2019).[176] In October 2025, "Die with a Smile" surpassed 3 billion streams on Spotify, becoming the fastest song to reach the milestone (410 days). It also became the most-streamed track in the catalogues of both Gaga and Mars.[177] In 2025, "Die With a Smile" topped the global year-end lists of most streamed songs on YouTube, Spotify, and Deezer.[178][179][180] It ranked third place on Apple Music.[181] According to Luminate, it was also the most streamed song globally by on-demand audio streams, with a total of 2.858 billion streams.[182]
Music video
Gaga smoking in a scene with Bruno Mars in the music video, reflecting the subversive character choice she later described to the Los Angeles Times.
Gaga revealed via Instagram alongside the song's announcement that its accompanying music video would be released simultaneously with the track at 9 p.m. PDT.[20] The video length is four minutes and 12 seconds.[183] It premiered on her YouTube channel and was directed by Mars and Daniel Ramos, showing them in the light blue and red outfits they wear on the song's cover art.[183][48][184] Gaga appears in red tights with a hairstyle eminiscent of Dolly Parton, whereas Mars wears a white cowboy hat.[183] The duo is seen performing the song on a retro stage of a TV studio set, populated by faceless mannequins, as a black-and-white camera records them.[46][185] It opens with Mars singing and playing the guitar before the camera pans out to reveal Gaga sitting at a piano with a cigarette in her mouth; later, she leaves the instrument to dance beside him.[185] The pair perform alongside a live band as flashing lights accentuate the stage atmosphere.[186] The video concludes with a heart shape forming around the performers as they face each other.[46]
In her interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gaga disclosed that the idea behind the video was to present her and Mars as a long-standing television variety-show couple. The concept drew on the aesthetic and tone of classic variety programs, imagining them as performers who have shared a long career together. Gaga emphasized that her character is not portrayed merely as a traditional "wife" figure; instead, she asserts agency and remains "one of the boys". Although this was their first real collaboration, the video is crafted to give the impression of an established duo with years of shared history.[10] She also explained why she chose to smoke a cigarette in the video right up until the moment before her first verse: "I wanted to create the semblance of a character who had something to say. And it's slightly subversive — like, you're talking about the world ending and I'm having a cigarette. There’s something kind of dark about it."[10]
Billboard and Variety described the video as a "Nashville", with the former publication adding "retro" as well.[11][187] while other outlets noted it pays tribute to duos such as Elton John and Kiki Dee or Sonny Bono and Cher and suggested it could reference the relationship between Joker and Harley Quinn in Joker: Folie à Deux.[11][18][188] Fashion publications pointed out the 1970s Western influence in the wardrobe, noting Gaga's blue minidress designed by Ashley Eva Brock and styled by Chloe and Chenelle Delgadillo. Her hair was done by Evanie Frausto and makeup by Alexandra French using Haus Labs products. Mars appears in a coordinated blue suit and red shirt reminiscent of Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner's duets.[189][190] Calum Slingerland from Exclaim! dubbed the video "unapologetically schmaltzy".[184]The A.V. Club's Drew Gillis described the video as unengaging as he felt that it offered little visual material beyond the pair singing to each other, though he cited Gaga's playful use of a cigarette prop throughout as a "fairly hilarious" element.[73] The video reached one billion views on YouTube in April 2025, becoming Gaga's fourth and Mars's tenth video to reach the milestone.[191] It was nominated for Best Music Video at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards and Video of the Year at the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.[192][193]
Live performances
Gaga performing "Die with a Smile" during the Mayhem Ball tour
Gaga and Mars performed "Die with a Smile" live for the first time on August 15, 2024, as part of Mars's show for the opening of Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. The duo donned attire similar to what they wear in the song's accompanying visuals.[194] 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 the keys.[195]Rolling Stone's Brittany Spanos described the performance as "sublime" and "emotionally charged",[196] while Thania Garcia of Variety wrote that Mars "saved the best [...] for last" by bringing out Gaga, who sang "with fervent passion, building up to the song's big chorus where the pair of hitmakers' powerful vocals melt as one".[197] Jason P. Frank of Vulture highlighted the pair's powerful vocal delivery during the debut performance.[194] On August 27, 2024, the duo performed the song together at the concert residency, Bruno Mars at Park MGM (2016–2025) in Las Vegas.[198] On October 29, 2024, Gaga announced via her social media that a recording of the performance would be released as part of a double feature alongside the music video for her single "Disease" in celebration of Halloween.[199] The video was uploaded to Mars's YouTube channel the same day.[200]
In 2024, Mars performed a solo piano version of "Die with a Smile" as part of a medley. He first sang it during the Brazil leg of his Bruno Mars Live tour (2022–2024).[201][202] Gaga's first solo performance of the song took place on September 30, 2024, at The Belasco in Los Angeles, within a set that mostly consisted of songs from her album Harlequin.[203] Gaga also sang the track solo during a Christmas special of Carpool Karaoke, released on Apple TV+ on December 15, 2024.[204][205] She and Mars were scheduled to perform "Die with a Smile" at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards on February 2, 2025, but due to the California wildfires that occurred in the days leading up to the ceremony, they instead delivered a tribute to those affected by performing "California Dreamin'" (1965).[206][207] Later, during her 2025 promotional concerts for Mayhem, which included a headlining set at Coachella, Gaga again performed the track solo, wearing a regal blue dress and black headpiece and playing on a piano decorated with skulls.[208][209] The song was later added to the set list of the Mayhem Ball tour (2025–2026),[210] where Gaga performed it on piano, wearing a sheer black hooded cloak.[211] On January 14, 2026, Gaga performed it at Mayhem: Requiem, a one-off concert held at The Wiltern Theatre in Los Angeles.[212]
Cover versions
On September 24, 2024, Filipino singer Julie Anne San Jose shared a cover of the song on her social media accounts, performing vocals, guitar, piano, and drums.[213] Italian singer Damiano David recorded an acoustic rendition during a SiriusXM Hits 1 session at the network's New York studio, accompanied by backing vocalists and a live band.[214]NME's Tom Skinner described the performance as "minimalist, intimate and emotional".[215] On October 18, British singer Perrie Edwards performed her version of "Die with a Smile" on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge, which was later released on the station's YouTube channel.[216][217] American singers Jessica Sanchez and Benson Boone also performed the song in 2025, with Sanchez singing it during the September 23 finale of the 20th season of America's Got Talent and Boone performing it on September 30 during one night of his American Heart World Tour.[218][219] In December 2025, Norwegian musician Sondre Lerche released a version of the song as part of his annual tradition to cover a pop song during the holiday season, in partnership with producer Matias Tellez and the website Stereogum.[220]
↑Besides standalone recordings, Gaga and Bennett released two collaborative albums consisting of their renditions of various jazz standards: Cheek to Cheek (2014) and Love for Sale (2021).[54]
12Brown, August; Wood, Mikael (December 10, 2024). "The 30 best songs of 2024". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
12"Media Forest – Weekly Charts". Media Forest. Note: Select 'Songs – TV'. Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart. Retrieved May 19, 2025.
↑"Media Forest – Weekly Charts". Media Forest. Note: Romanian and international positions are rendered together by the number of plays before resulting an overall chart. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
↑"המצעד השנתי 2025"[The Annual Parade 2025]. Mako Hit List (in Hebrew). September 21, 2025. Archived from the original on December 23, 2025. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
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