Bruno Mars album cements easy listening king status with 'The Romantic'

Melissa Ruggieri, USA TODAYFri, February 27, 2026 at 1:53 PM UTC

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Bruno Mars has spent so much time collaborating with other artists, it will take a minute to remember his last solo hit.

That is, of course, excluding the first single from his new album, "The Romantic," the jaunty soul-pop throwback "I Just Might," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in January.

But prior to that, our appetite for Mars' musical bars could only be fulfilled with his assorted pairings. There was the '70s-influenced Silk Sonic project with Anderson .Paak (driven by their 2022 record and song of the year Grammy winner "Leave the Door Open"). A visceral musical marriage with Lady Gaga (another Grammy winner in 2025 for best pop duo/group performance, "Die with a Smile"). And most recently, his caffeinated bop with Blackpink’s Rosé (three Grammy nominations this year for their "APT.").

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Pop superstar Bruno Mars is setting out on his first full headlining stadium tour in nearly a decade. See some of his unforgettable performances through the years, starting here with the Super Bowl 50 Halftime Show at Levi's Stadium on Feb. 7, 2016, in Santa Clara, California. He joined Coldplay's headlining halftime set, two years after serving as the halftime show headliner himself in 2014.

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Bruno Mars 'Risk It All' and 'Cha Cha Cha' open smooth album

"The Romantic" marks Mars' first solo release since 2016's triple-platinum "24K Magic."

With nine songs that clock in at slightly more than 30 minutes, the new release is efficient (and for that in itself we thank him), impeccably produced, often lyrically slight but brimming with Mars' innate ability with melody.

Bruno Mars will follow the release of "The Romantic" with a stadium tour launching April 10, 2026 in Las Vegas.

Considering the bouncy groove of "I Just Might," it's a bit surprising that the opening two tracks tiptoe in, with mariachi as the backdrop to Mars' pining on new single "Risk it All" and swirling strings that evoke a '70s-era TV theme coating "Cha Cha Cha."

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The airy fingerprints of producer Dernst "DMile" Emile, who worked with Mars on Silk Sonic's material, are prevalent throughout the album, both as Mars' de facto co-writer on every song and in the music's sheen. Influences are gleaned from the vintage sounds of The Chi-Lites (the pleading ballad "Why You Wanna Fight?"), Santana (the percussive thrust of "Something Serious") and the founding fathers of Philly soul, Gamble and Huff ("God Was Showing Off").

Mars, 40, shimmers when he can wrap his velvety voice around a loverboy lament. But when he unfurls lyrics such as, "the fire don't burn like it used to, girl," in "Nothing Left" and "Girl, ooh, you're in trouble tonight / little mama you turn me on" in "Cha Cha Cha," it's time to commence eye rolling.

Bruno Mars releases his first new album in a decade, "The Romantic," Feb. 27, 2026.

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Bruno Mars new album crowns him the easy listening king

Still, much of "The Romantic" is irresistible, owing to Mars' keen sense of soul and ability to knit classic sounds into his music with a coolness that keeps it current.

The standout track "God Was Showing Off" christens Mars as the easy listening king of contemporary music. He's a smooth talker as comfortable in a polyester leisure suit as he is sporting a Western-style hat, a singer who can sell the drama while taking the fall.

The closing "Dance With Me" also spotlights Mars at his old-school best with a circular guitar melody evoking images of a late-night dance floor, cleared except for the couple swaying in their own world. The production is cinematic and Mars is again imploring his girl to "fall in love again" under twinkling stars to guide their romance. But this time, his begging sounds like more than an empty come-on.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bruno Mars 'The Romantic' album review – Smooth grooves and lyrics

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