Bruno Mars has been quiet as of late. Too quiet. His Twitter account went inactive in February, save for an April shout-out tweet to an ailing Jamie Foxx. That’s around the time he called collaborator Brody Brown into the studio to work on his fourth album, the follow-up to his comeback to the charts as part of Silk Sonic. Mars’ previous full-length release was 2016’s 24K Magic, seven years ago. The pressure was on going into Memorial Day Weekend as he prepares to resume his Las Vegas residency.
Miley Cyrus filled the void in Mars’ absence earlier this year with her monster hit “Flowers,” its chorus both paying homage to and answering Mars’ “When I Was Your Man.” Cyrus flipped the script on Mars’ 2014 song about wistful regret with a self-care anthem that embraces empowerment and having no regrets, a final word on the end of a relationship.
Mars’ attitude is more along the lines of Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” when it comes to former or future flames. Now the door is wide open for him to reply to and reference Cyrus’ interpolation of his words, whether live or in the studio. He and Brown co-wrote “All I Ask” for Adele, in which the singer requests her lover to grant her one more night as their relationship burns out. A clap back to “Flowers” being a result of their recent recording efforts could ride the pop culture lightning Cyrus has surfed so well this year.
The album itself needs to be a move of the kind Mars has been making since he was a pint-sized Michael Jackson impersonator. He came up through the music industry ranks as part of a production collective and introduced himself to the world at large in 2010 by being the featured vocalist on B.o.B’s No. 1 hit “Nothin’ on You” and Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire” in 2010.
Lyrics from the latter song’s chorus (“Oh, every time I close my eyes / I see my name in shining lights / A different city every night”) now seem like a prophecy that Mars proved true. His net worth is considerably short of 10 figures, but when he says, “I swear the world better prepare / For when I’m a billionaire,” the audience can believe he still means it.
Beyond concerts scheduled for Korea and the Philippines during the summer, Brazil and Chile come September, and his Vegas residency dates, Mars’ touring schedule is sparse. Witnesses to his 2023 concerts may get the first tastes of new material, but he does not appear to be gearing up for a promotional tour of a new album. You’ll have to buy a ticket to find out.
The second artist in Grammy history to win Record of the Year three times is going to make a lot of noise as he forges the next phase of his career. Meanwhile, fans who come to get down to “Uptown Funk” now know the drill: Bruno Mars makes them put their phones away, because dancing and devices don’t mix.
Park MGM, 9 p.m. May 28, 31 and June 2-3, starting at $99 plus tax and fee. ticketmaster.com
Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. In addition to the latest edition emailed to every week, you’ll find plenty of great, money-saving offers from some of the most exciting attractions, restaurants, properties and more! And Las Vegas Magazine is full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.
