Song Spotlight: Bruno Mars & Lady Gaga's "Die With A Smile"

    Everybody who lived through 2010-2011 has probably checked this song out. Two juggernauts on one song? What's not to love?! And after listening to "Die With A Smile," we surely want a full-length collaboration album from Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga. It's like a 70s duet. Each artist contributes just about equally with Mars edging out Gaga just a bit. 

    Don't let the vintage country-influenced single-cover fool you. We're soft-rock here with some slight surf-rock influences. It's a delicious blend of modern and old school. Vocal harmonies are the highlight. That vocal production is so sharp it could pierce a tank. 

    But we're groovy here, Mars and Gaga are killing it, and it's romantic and fun. The touch of tragic fate pushes it over the edge.

    If I had a gripe, I'd say the lyrics are a touch cliche and tired at times. Rhyming "you" with "through" and "smile" with "awhile" seems a little lazy. I'm not dissing. I absolutely love the song. It has hit written all over it. But Mars and Gaga have both written some crazily forward-thinking songs. And surprisingly, lyrics are where this song lacks a bit. 

Rank: A Rank

Recommendation: when you're tragically sad but tragically in love. Or at a karaoke. Whichever comes first.