If you’ve been on social media recently, you may be aware that singer Bruno Mars has dropped his new album, “The Romantic,” on February 27, almost a decade after his last solo effort, “24K Magic.” Listeners and critics have accused the pop singer of recycling looks and sounds from his previous album eras in his new release. However, I’d argue that if you understand R&B’s history and nuances, you would be better equipped to see this new album not as repetition but exploration. Through “The Romantic,” Mars is exploring different subgenres, decades and geographic regions across R&B and other genres.
Doo-Wops & Hooligans
Bruno’s first album, “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” released in 2010, borrows sounds from Reggae, his home state of Hawaii, and Motown. Songs like “Our First Time” and “Liquor Store Blues,” featuring reggae star and son of Bob Marley, Damian Marley, reflect reggae’s resonance. Meanwhile, songs like “Count on Me” have the tropical, acoustic sound found in Hawaiian music. It is evident that Mars explores a variety of R&B genres, even incorporating his appreciation and respect for Motown, as seen in songs like “Marry You” and “Runaway Baby.”
unOrThodox JukeBoX
Bruno’s sophomore album, “Unorthodox Jukebox,” was released in late 2012. Distinct from his first album, Mars explores genres such as New Wave, Reggae-Rock and Synth-Pop. Tracks like “Treasure”, “Locked Out of Heaven” and “Show Me” are some of the most prominent examples on the album. During this era, Bruno started working closely with Mark Ronson. This era is when Bruno started shedding the “nice guy with a fedora” image. Take, for example, his 3rd track, “Gorilla,” which is considered his most sexually explicit song. “Unorthodox Jukebox” is the only album in Bruno’s discography where a parental advisory sticker was issued. I would also consider this his most musically rebellious album and my personal favorite project by Bruno.
24K Magic
“24K Magic,” the third album by Mars, features ’90s-era New Jack Swing and ’80s funk, crediting his inspiration to legendary music producers like Babyface, Teddy Riley, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In the intro to the lead single “24K Magic”, a talkbox is utilized, which pays direct homage to Roger Troutman and Zapp, who popularized talkbox singing. Meanwhile, tracks such as “Finesse” utilize elements that are a meticulous homage to the New Jack Swing era. Even the music video for “Finesse,” featuring rapper Cardi B, is a recreation of the iconic 90s sketch comedy show “In Living Color.” In terms of sound and direction, particularly within the R&B genre, this may have been his most cohesive work so far.
The ROmantic
Bruno’s fourth and most recent album, “The Romantic,” is where these “same sound” allegations become more prominent, with many critics claiming the album is a Silk Sonic ripoff. Though both albums are inspired by the same time period, their sounds are different. While the Silk Sonic sound reflected the smooth 70s atmosphere, paying homage to Philly Soul, “The Romantic” takes us to Los Angeles with its heavily Chicano soul sound. Some social media users have extended their arguments, claiming that the seventh track on the album “Something Serious” is similar to “Low Rider” by War. What these critics neglect to acknowledge is that these songs overlap in musical genres. In Bruno Mars’ “The Romantic,” he combines Latin music with 70s soul to create a new sound that he has yet to explore on previous albums.
Therefore, I think it may be low-hanging fruit to label Bruno Mars as “predictable” due to his pop superstardom and his universal appeal. Maybe that’s why his music is associated with weddings and so-called Target music, but I see him as much a musical historian as a pop star. I believe he’s someone who can transport listeners through different time periods, locations, sounds, and eras.