Lady Gaga “Abracdabra” released

Abracadabra Lady Gaga

Writer(s): Lady Gaga, Andrew Watt, Henry Walter, Susan Janet Ballion, Peter Edward Clarke, Steven Severin,John McGeoch (see lyrics here) Released: February 3, 2025 First Charted: February 12, 2025 Peak: 13 BB, 27 AC, 6 A40, 3 UK, 12 CN, 12 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.6 UK, 0.83 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 268.70 video, 693.33 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Billboard magazine proclaimed that Lady Gaga has “one of the strongest pop catalogs of the last 15 years.” BB’25 It really stretches back a bit farther to 2009 when she established herself as a new dance-pop star with “Just Dance” and “Poker Face.” She also gifted the music world with “Bad Romance,” “Born This Way,” “Shallow,” and “Die with a Smile.” Even amongst such gems, however, 2025’s “Abracadabra” is “one of Gaga’s best-ever singles.” PF Rolling Stone called it “2025’s most inescapable earworm.” RS’25 The “gothic fantasia” BB’25 of this “sleazy, slinky club banger” BB’25 is “a psychedelically weird acid-techno rager that’s so nasty, so potent, that it makes ‘Bad Romance’ sound like Kidz Bop.” PF “The synthesizers fade in and out like a slow-strobing disco light on a foggy dance floor.” RS’25 “Gaga managed to channel the mysticism of Stevie Nicks while remaining true to her singular unconventionality as she sang of devils, angels, self-doubt, love, death and, essentially the meaning of life, in under four minutes.” US She told Rolling Stone “I wanted to traverse old ground while breaking new ground, which I think is hard to do… Maybe the last four or so albums I’ve made, I moved away from that and tried some different things, but this was a return to those Gothic dreams.”RS’25 She told Elle magazine that the song was about “facing the challenge of life and the challenge of the night and finding the magic in it all.” SF She also said, “the song is about dealing with that challenge to yourself and very often the world around us can reflect it back to us as well. I wanted to explore the question, ‘What does it feel like to thrive and not just be surviving all the time?’” SF The song received Grammy nominations for Song and Record of the Year. Resources: BB’25 Billboard (12/11/2025). “The 100 Best Songs of 2025: Staff Picks” PF Pitchfork.com (12/1/2025). “The 100 Best Songs of 2025” RS’25 Rolling Stone (12/4/2025). “The 100 Best Songs of 2025” SF Songfacts US USAtoday.com (12/17/2025). 10 best songs of 2025, ranked” by Melissa Ruggieri Related Links: First posted 1/19/2026.

Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars hit #1 with “Die with a Smile”

Die with a Smile Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

Writer(s): Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga, Dernst Emile II, James Fauntleroy, Andrew Watt (see lyrics here) Released: August 16, 2024 First Charted: August 28, 2024 Peak: 15 BB, 18 BA, 12 DG, 13 ST, 12 RR, 2 AC, 110 A40, 2 UK 16 CN, 2 AU, 24 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 1.2 UK, 3.91 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, -- video, 2601.43 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: With thirteen #1 Hot 100 hits between them since 2008, a collaboration between Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars was a no brainer. The “soft rock-leaning” WK “Die with a Smile” didn’t disappoint; it gave Gaga her sixth chart-topper and was the ninth for Mars. Interestingly though, it took 20 weeks to reach the top in an era when songs often debut in the pole position. The song is about “a powerful longing to be with a loved one, highlighting the urgency and depth of their love in the face of uncertainty and potential endings.” WK Mars invited Gaga to the studio where he had started the track. She said she was blown away by what she heard. The duo finished writing and recording it the same day. WK Gaga said they were inspired by collaborations between Carole King and James Taylor, wanting harmonies that had a ‘70s vibe to them. WK Clash magazine’s Robin Murray said the song displays “undoubted chemistry” and “simple exuberant fun.” WK Rolling Stone’s Brittany Spanos said it “puts the duo’s soaing vocals on full display.” WK Songfacts.com says “the two bounce off each other’s vocals with all the chemistry of a well-matched tennis pair.” SF “Smile” became the longest-reigning daily number-one song (2oo non-consecutive days) in the history of Spotify WK and was the fastest song in Spotify history to reach both one billion (96 days) and two billion streams. WK It topped the charts in over 30 countries, including the United States and Canada. WK It was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year and won for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 6/15/2025.

Justin Bieber “Peaches” debuted at #1

Peaches Justin Bieber with Daniel Caesar & Giveon

Writer(s): Justin Bieber, Ashton Simmonds, Giveon Evans, Bernard Harvey, Luis Martinez Jr., Andrew Wotman, Louis Bell, Matthew Sean Leon, Felisha King-Harvey, Aaron Simmonds, Keavan Yazdani (see lyrics here) Released: March 30, 2021 First Charted: April 3, 2021 Peak: 11 BB, 11 ST, 14 RR, 17 AC, 4 A40, 17 RB, 3 UK, 13 CN, 12 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 4.0 US, 0.6 UK, 8.66 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 819.72 video, 1674.14 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Justin Bieber was born in 1994 in Ontario, Canada. He first charted in 2009 with the top-20 hit “One Time.” “Peaches” marked Bieber’s seventh ascension to the peak of the Billboard Hot 100. It was the fifth single from his sixth studio album, 2021’s Justice. Both debuted at #1 the week ending April 3, 2021, making Bieber the first male solo artist to achieve that feat. SF This was a monstrous achievement for the two guest artists on the track. Daniel Caesar (born Ashton Dumar Norwell Simmonds in 1995 in Toronto) had previously reached the Hot 100 only twice, peaking at #73. Giveon (born Giveon Dezmann Evans in 1995 in Long Beach, California) had also only charted twice, peaking at #16 in 2020 with “Heartbreak Anniversary.” Bieber and singer Shawn Mendes were hanging out at producer Andrew Watt’s house. Bieber recorded a drum beat in Watt’s home studio and then played some chords on the piano. Watt added bass and guitar and, according to Watt, they’d put together a demo in about half an hour. SF The result “is a laid-back pop, R&B and pop soul ballad that cruises along over a mid-tempo funk groove.” WK Lyrically, Bieber, Caesar, and Giveon “sing about their well-established relationships.” WK Bieber also sings about getting his peaches from Georgia, which doubles as a reference to the Peach State and “a hot and sweet girl from the state of Georgia.” SF Buzz Feed News’ Elamin Abelmahmoud called the song “a career high for Bieber.” WK Consequence of Sound’s Valerie Magain said it was “a colorful R&B adjacent fever dream.” WK The New York Times’ Jon Caramanica praised Bieber for being at “his most vocally flexible.” WK The song was nominated for Grammys for Record and Song of the Year. It set a record for most songwriters (11) on a Song of the Year nominee. Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 4/13/2024; last updated 10/14/2024.