Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are both music icons from the 2010s, and they're back for a legendary collaboration. Their new single, “Die With a Smile” has been topping charts in countries all around the world. It sold thousands of physical and digital copies within its first few days of availability.

Despite being released just over a month ago, the song has over 400 million streams on Spotify and the official music video already has over 100 million views on YouTube. But why do people love the song so much?

slgckgc from Wikimedia Commons

The Lyrics

The song's lyrics resonate with many people, and detail themes of love and mortality. Lyrics like “nobody's promised tomorrow” are used to emphasize the uncertainty of the future, and the importance of making the best of every moment. The song's chorus, “if the world was ending I'd wanna be next to you” shows the importance of cherishing loved ones.

What's nice about the song is that it's not necessarily a romantic love song - it could be interpreted as platonic love as well. Given that the song deals with themes of both love and death, it is bittersweet.

RDNE Stock Project from Pexels

Take the Quiz: Which Bruno Mars Jam Matches Your Vibe?

Find out which Bruno Mars hit perfectly captures your unique style and energy!

The Music

Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars are both recognized for the singing talent. Nonetheless, fans were still pleasantly surprised by how harmonious their voices sounded together, adding to the song's appeal. The instrumental side of the song compliments the lyrics, forming a melancholic tone. All of these various elements of the song come together to form a beautiful, emotional ballad.

Kumtanom from Pexels

The Music Video

Many fans also appreciated the setup and aesthetic of the music video. Some thought the song was paying homage to 70s soft rock music, while still retaining a modern feel. The music video emphasized this, having a vintage aesthetic, with a 70s studio in the background.

Both Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars were wearing outfits which reflected 70s fashion trends. There were other various nice visual touches added to the music video as well, such as a heart forming around the artists at the end.

SMP Entertainment from Wikimedia Commons

What it Means for the Artists

This song demonstrates the versatility of Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. From the lyrics to the melody, this song is completely different from some of the artists' most popular songs - I wouldn't associate this song with “Poker Face” or “Uptown Funk”. For both artists, it shows how despite it having been a couple years since they came out with their last songs, they still have incredible talent. “Die with a Smile” is a beautiful single and demonstrates why Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga are some of the most iconic artists in the music industry today.