Bruno Mars and Girl Gaga’s hit duet “Die With A Smile” got here out again in the midst of 2024, however it’s nonetheless dominating the world: Spotify revealed their year-end stats a pair days in the past and the observe was the most-played tune globally in 2025. For years, although, the unfinished observe simply sat amongst different Mars drafts.
In a Selection characteristic in regards to the tune printed yesterday (December 4), James Fauntleroy, one of many tune’s co-writers, stated:
“He was such a genius for pulling that out of the again of his unconscious reminiscence due to the timing of that film, which can be how Girl Gaga got here into his thoughts as a collaborator. Then once we came upon that wasn’t gonna be a factor, he had already sort of began the ball rolling as a result of the facility of Bruno compels you.”
“That film” is Joker: Folie a Deux; As Selection notes, Mars first wrote elements of the tune three years in the past earlier than placing it on the again burner. As soon as he realized that Gaga would star within the movie, Mars thought the observe might be a superb match for both that or Gaga’s accompanying Harlequin album.
Dernst “D’Mile” Emile II, a co-writer and co-producer on the tune, spoke in regards to the tune’s journey to its ultimate kind, saying, “We had a second model that felt nearer to what it ended up being. […] As soon as we obtained to it, [Mars] laid the guitar down. I laid the bass down. We simply obtained going, after which as soon as we obtained it to a spot, we actually laid it down.”
Learn the complete characteristic right here.


