Everyone knows Bruno Mars — 16 Grammy wins, ten No. 1 singles and over 150 million records sold. So when Mars recently announced his new album, The Romantic, it generated quite the stir. Fans were excited for the acclaimed artist’s return with his first fully solo record in a decade and after his 2021 collaboration release, An Evening with Silk Sonic. The Romantic is a blend of genres, including pop, R&B, soul and Latin influences.
While the instrumentals of the album are layered and fresh, the lyrics are slightly generic and repetitive. Some feel that compared to his 2025 collaboration tracks “APT” and “Die with a Smile,” with Rosé and Lady Gaga respectively, this music is nothing new. Both of these projects were unique from what he had previously released, so this new album feels like Mars is stepping back into his comfort zone. Some mention this album highlights that Mars has not evolved artistically. Others argue that this demonstration of his image of being a romantic is an attempt to bring back nostalgia. Madelyn Habershaw (III) notes, “I think that Bruno Mars has come up with more creative songs [in the past], and I feel the only song that really stood out to me was ‘I Just Might.’”
“I Just Might” is the lead single that was released on January 9 along with a music video. The song went No. 1 and found popularity on the airwaves. The track has a classic Bruno feel, with influences of ‘70s disco and funk. It features a catchy “doot-doot” melody that surely gets people moving. In a similar vein, “Cha Cha Cha” plays on the energetic style of flirting and club dancing with a partner. Its Latin beats remind people of moving closer to each other while being in a cheerful atmosphere and enjoying the music.
The opening track “Risk It All” has Latin influences, with mariachi incorporated as well. The premise of “doing anything for the one you love” is also quite reminiscent of Mars’ 2010 hit “Grenade.” Lines like “I would run through a fire/Just to be by your side” draw heavy comparisons to the line “I’d catch a grenade for ya.” Ada Karl (III) admits, “My favorite track was probably ‘Risk It All’ because I thought the romantic sentiment really came through.”
“Nothing Left” is another strong standout in contrast to the weak delivery of the rest of the album. Despite the more upbeat backing, lyrics like “Feels like I’m, I’m reaching out/With nothing left to hold on to” artfully illustrate the slow end of a relationship. This makes it one of the only songs on the album to focus on the negative impacts of love.
Mary Cunningham (IV) explains why she enjoyed the track: “‘Nothing Left’ hits just like prime Bruno Mars.”
Bruno Mars has always been known as an artist who enjoys singing his music live. In fact, his tour started on April 10. The Romantic Tour sold out instantly, before the album was even released, with additional dates being added due to high demand. The sold out tour will come to Gillette Stadium in early September.
Ultimately, the reviews for The Romantic were mixed. Many enjoyed the short and concise punch, but others thought the amount of variety and depth was a miss for a ten-year wait. Mars is a talented artist with a major following, but The Romantic shows that even giants of the music industry need to reinvent and add range in order to create a more memorable album.