Bruno Mars’ fourth solo studio album, The Romantic, was released on Friday, Feb. 27, after an almost decade-long hiatus from releasing music. With an upbeat track, the album walks through Mars’ experiences in his early 40s while conveying a Latin feel. This album varies from Mars’ albums around 2014 with catchy, vibey songs like “24K Magic” and “Finesse”. It’s closer to a mix of his 2021 album “An Evening With Silk Sonic” and 2024 single “APT” with Rosé from Blackpink, both of which have a dance-like feel.
One song of the new album, “I Just Might”, was released as a single on Jan. 9, teasing the album to jumpstart fans’ anticipation across social media platforms. As for the album itself, “Risk It All” starts it off with an intro of mariachi-style trumpets followed by a slow and melodic guitar solo with Mars’ soft voice singing that he would “risk it all for you.” This sets the tone for the rest of the album that combines drums and Latin instruments.
“Risk It All” is followed by “Cha Cha Cha,” a song that conveys a slow dance mood with music styles that resemble his previous records. The beat feels similar to his earlier single “That’s What I Like,” only slower. The tune speeds up towards the end, transitioning into a mix of more mariachi-style music and violin.
The album’s contrasting melodies add another level of depth to it. Unlike “Risk It All” or “Cha Cha Cha,” the next song “I Just Might” brings a more modern feel.
Mars’ millennial music style is especially showcased throughout the track, with cute and silly lyric techniques mixed with an almost 2010s-like beat. After the different beat of “I Just Might,” the Latin feel of the album returns with the song “God Was Showing Off.”
The album continues on with slow-starting songs that show off how much of a “lover” Mars is. This juxtaposes his previous albums that explore themes such as breakups and broken hearts, encapsulating his growth as not only a musician but also a person. Overall, The Romantic brings together Latin-American style, 2010s vibes, slow dance and pop genres. Even though it’s a spectrum of music, Mars makes the album feel like a perfect pop utopia.
