The Romantic Album Review: Bruno Mars Plays It Too Safe
Article by Parisa Nosrati, University Union Editorial Board
Staff Writer | Graphic sourced from Bruno Mars on Instagram
Bruno Mars’s The Romantic gives the audience exactly what they want and expect from the title—nostalgia, passion, and devotion. Mars combines pop and R&B to create a classic romantic sound rebranded for a modern audience.
Mars’s music is a staple of almost everyone’s childhoods, with tracks like “Treasure” to get you out on the dance floor, and ones like “Just the Way You Are” to give you a soft feeling. He’s bringing back the romantic tone he had, combining the vibes of his older music with the tone of Silk Sonic, to create this nostalgic album.
The Romantic is Mars’s first solo album in a decade, and already has a number one single: “I Just Might.” The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Mars co-wrote and co-produced every song with collaborators he has worked with in the past.
Mars seamlessly switches through genres in this album—pop, dance, soul—and does it with charisma, specifically employing styles from Latin inspiration. There are songs that encourage the audience to dance, and others that pull on their heartstrings, including a variety that he has also employed in his other albums.
The soft drums and guitar create a romantic sound, along with his passionate voice that the audience knows and misses. To listen to an album about romance in a world that has neglected it is refreshing, and to hear it from someone whom many see as the staple of romance is the cherry on top.
Some are upset with the album, stating that the style sounds unoriginal and similar to previous albums of his and other artists. They say he lacks the growth the audience was looking for after so long.
Others argue that this similar style was intentional, for the album was written to give the audience that sense of nostalgia. Many believe employing the same tone is refreshing, as he is staying true to himself and his voice.
Allegedly, the album centers around his long-term partner Jessica Caban, being together for more than a decade. They recently split, inspiring Mars to write an album about the nostalgia surrounding a grand romance. This nostalgia leads to a tone that romanticizes the idea of romance rather than exploring the intimate and personal moments with his partner.
“Dance With Me” and “Nothing Left”—my personal favorites—provide the sentimental experience that I was looking for from this album. They are quieter, written from raw emotion that the audience can feel.
The emotion and sense of desperation in “Risk It All” are especially prevalent, and it feels full of passion. However, it feels like throughout the album, all the audience gets are moments of this full passionate expression, rather than a cohesive experience of it.
The emotion and sense of desperation in “Risk It All” are especially prevalent, and it feels full of passion. However, it feels like throughout the album, all the audience gets are moments of this full passionate expression, rather than a cohesive experience of it.
While the album’s lyrics may not be deeply personal and reflect the experiences and struggles he has endured, it is just simple enough to still be appreciated. This is the album’s greatest weakness, that Mars leaned more towards familiarity than full expression.
