Initially I wasnโt much of a fan of Bruno Mars. I thought his music was too cheesy, but over time he grew on me and his sound matured. There was no denying that he was born to be a performer. He just has โitโ, and thatโs transferred into a large slew of hits over the years, with maybe his biggest one of all, โUpTown Funk!โ, taking over the entirety of 2015. Like really, that song was being played EVERYWHERE. Itโs flavor of nostalgic funk meshed perfectly with Marsโ immense presence and already old school sensibilities, making it too good to resist. Itโs a sound heโs seemed to fall in love with as heโs dedicated an entire album,ย 24k Magic, to try to catch that feeling again.
โThrow some perm on your attitude
Girl you gotta relax, ooh
Let me show you what you got to do
You gotta lay it back
Matter of fact? Band, show her how to lay it back!โ
24k Magic is pure old school funk/R&B nostalgia from front to back. The titular single kicks the nostalgia off with a funk filled ride thatโs very reminiscent in ways to the smash hit โUpTown Funk!โ; itโs definitely meant to get people on the dance floor. โPermโ is pure funk, full of call and responseย moments, and breakdowns that would make James Brown proud. โVersace On The Floorโ is 80โs era R&B, I can picture Mars now with a perm and blouse blowing in the wind. This stroll down memory lane doesnโt let up through the whole project, but it does it without feeling like some cheap imitation but instead as proper songs that could stand with any of the classics of the time.
โOoh, donโt we look good together?
Thereโs a reason why they watch all night long
Yeah, know weโll turn heads forever
So tonight Iโm gonna show you offโ
The thing thatโs most impressive aboutย 24k Magic is just how at home Bruno sounds on all of the songs. Iโve always known heโs had a special affinity for the old school but he fully embodies that sound and that spirit of the era heโs working in, whether thatโs in 70โs funk or 80โs/early 90โs R&B, he absolutely kills it. Iโll never question his immense talent ever again, his ability to transform to any genre or era of music is unparalleled.
Have you heard 24k Magic? Whatโd you think about it? Did you love the old school, nostalgic vibes like I did? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your rating for the album.