Every week, Consequence's The Songs of the Week column looks at the best new songs of the past seven days and the most notable releases. Find our new favorites and more in our The best songs on Spotify playlist and other great songs from emerging artists, check out our New Spotify sounds Playlist. This week, we attempt to analyze whether Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ new collaborative song, “Die with a Smile,” is actually any good.
Is Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars' song “Die with a Smile” any good?
Honestly, it's pretty good!
Bruno Mars has always been a 60s showman and he really reached the peak of his nostalgic soul alter ego with Silk Sonic, his collaborative project with Anderson Paak. His last three albums, An evening with Silk Sonic, 24K Magic, and Unorthodox jukebox, They were so focused on living in the past that it really seems too late for Mars to reverse course and do something that feels contemporary — not to mention “Uptown Funk,” the seismic hit that confirmed his status as the quintessential nostalgia singer.
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On “Die with a Smile,” Mars’ first single since his Silk Sonic days three years ago, he doesn’t change his classic, organic style. Smeezingtons pop for danceable rhythms and a Chromatic-The glow is similar to that of the cocaine-addicted, funkadelic backing musician who played on An evening with Silk SonicInstead, Mars comes along and does what he does best: simple, satisfying love ballads.
For many (like my colleague Mary), this simply isn't enough, especially when compared to Lady Gaga's incredibly varied catalog and chameleon-like personality. But she sounds emphatic and majestic on “Die with a Smile.” It's hard not to believe her when she sings “I'm gonna love you every night like it's the last night” over thumping drums and reverb-filled electric guitar.
Unsurprisingly, Lady Gaga pairs beautifully with Mars’ crisp top line, and her vocal charisma is on par with her duet partner’s from start to finish. Gaga is no stranger to the sounds of yesteryear, after all, and can seamlessly switch between roles and eras like she’s flipping through a fashion catalog. As we saw on Silk Sonic, Mars thrives when he has someone to work with in real time; while Gaga doesn’t have the same kind of brash attitude as .Paak, she does have powerful straps and luscious harmonies.
But the question remains: Is this a step forward for both artists? Or is it another pointless rehash of the past, an exploration of the bygone era of power duos a la “Endless Love,” which offends no one but satisfies only a select few? I hesitate to say the latter, if only because of the crisp, anthemic production on “Die with a Smile,” which is immaculately mixed and simply gorgeous. While it’s not a leap, it’s a collaboration that lives up to its star-studded package. Paul Ragusa
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