For the better part of two decades, Bruno Mars has functioned as pop music’s premier stylistic chameleon.
He has successfully navigated the 1960s soul of Motown, the 1970s funk of James Brown and the 1980s synth-pop of Prince.
But on his latest studio effort, “The Romantic,” released Feb. 27, Mars doesn’t just visit the past; he moves into a new territory entirely.
By leaning into the rich musical textures of Mexican music, he has created his most vibrant and personally resonant work to date.
“I just feel like Bruno Mars has good songs… generational songs,” junior forensic science major Sarah Recendez said. “Growing up, I listened to majority of the songs [he made], so him coming back was good.”
What struck me immediately upon the first listen was how authentically Mars treats his influences. This isn’t a vacation into a new genre; it is a deep-seated appreciation of the culture he was exploring.
For some, the shift was unexpected. Dominic Neufeld, a computer science freshman, admitted to being “more than too shocked” by the pivot.
“He’s been gone for a while, and he came back with just, [with] like, this Latino type [of] music,” Neufeld said.
The first song, “Risk It All,” is one of my personal favorites. It is a slow, beautiful song that uses traditional Mexican instruments. It sounds very different from his older, faster hits like “24K Magic.”
Students are already finding personal parallels in the track’s heavy themes. Neufeld noted a deep connection to the song’s title.
“As of recently, I’ve mostly just been risking most of my life. I’ve been in a pickle, but I’m trying my best.” Neufeld said.
After the slow start, the album picks up the pace.
The song “Cha Cha Cha” is a fun dance track, followed by “I Just Might,” which is a song that makes you want to clap along. Other songs like “God Was Showing Off” and “Why You Wanna Fight?” keep the smooth, romantic mood going.
Mars also shows off his soulful side on tracks like “On My Soul,” “Something Serious” and “Nothing Left.”
Recendez recalls that the romantic nature of these tracks is what defines Mars’ appeal.
“I feel like Bruno Mars has good love songs, and I feel like that one was really nice,” Recendez said, describing the music as something that is “definitely gonna be stuck in your head.”
The album ends with my other favorite song, “Dance With Me.” This one is perfect for a party or a wedding. It has a great beat that makes it hard to stay in your seat. It shows how much Bruno has grown as a singer over the years.
In the end, to me “The Romantic” is a great album because every song is good, not just one or two like most albums. There are no boring parts. The nine tracks all work together perfectly.
Bruno Mars didn’t just make a new album; he made a love letter to a culture that clearly means a lot to him. It’s the kind of music that just makes you feel good.
End Credit: Adrian Gonzalez Jr. is a staff reporter for The Prospector and may be reached at [email protected]
