24K Magic (album)

In early 2014, Bruno Mars was interviewed by ''that's Shanghai'' and gave some details of a new album, stating, "I want to write better songs ... put on better shows ... make better music videos. I want my next album to be better than the first and the second." In September 2014, Mars tweeted, "Now it's time to start writing chapter 3", hinting that he was working on new music. Following the release of British-American musician Mark Ronson and Mars's single "Uptown Funk" (2014), Mars went to the studio to record more songs; he said he had no plans to release a new album "until it's done". Mars's new album was due in March 2016 but its release was postponed for several months because of his appearance at that year's Super Bowl half-time show. At the time, seven songs were already recorded. Mars also worked with American musician Andrew Wyatt, who was involved in Mars's previous studio albums, and American bass guitarist Jamareo Artis, of The Hooligans, who said they had been "trying different ideas and experimenting" and "It's going to have a new sound ... the material is very groove-oriented". Mars also worked with American rapper Missy Elliott, but he said they were just hanging out. In an interview with New Zealand radio DJ Zane Lowe for the Apple Music podcast Beats 1, Mars said the album is filled with 1990s influences. Mars concluded; "I just want to do music. I want to be the guy that brings joy to your life through his music." Mars affirmed he felt he was correct to record nine songs, saying; "If I can't pull you in with nine songs, I'm not gonna pull you in with nineteen!" Mars stated this album contrasts with his others, on which he would experiment with genres: "I wanted to really hone it in and give myself a world in which I could keep it contained ... I want to sing more so than I did on the other albums". In November 2017, Mars was a guest on the Charlie Rose Show and said as he grew up pop music was "R&B-rooted songs", which he danced to at school balls and barbecues. Mars wanted to achieve the same "feeling and emotion", concluding "it was fun to dance, it was cool to smile on the dance floor with a girl and flirt with a girl on the dance floor". To achieve his aim to make people want to dance again, he needed the songs to make him dance. Mars was inspired by his passion "for R&B acts"; he said that was the feeling they wanted the album to have. He added, "it was all about the live show and the kind of party I want to throw". Although Mars was able to convince Atlantic Records of the album's sound, they were initially hesitant. A private album listening party was held at Atlantic's offices in New York City for several journalists. ==Recording==

Mars reunited with frequent collaborators, American songwriter, and producers, Philip Lawrence and Christopher Brody Brown, forming a new production trio, Shampoo Press & Curl, to record 24K Magic. It was recorded at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, California between the fall 2015 and September 2016. Nevertheless, the singer returned to the studio on the first week of October to complete the album. Mars revealed that he was not confident about returning to the studio after releasing "Uptown Funk" (2014) and was struggling to write new songs. "Finesse" underwent twenty different versions, including one in which Mars sang about "gold chains and cognac over a silky beat", and another which sounded "like a Seventies cop show". "Versace on the Floor" started with a "piña colada vibe" before the beat was remixed, though, Mars felt his vocal performance and lyrics were not emotive enough for a ballad, and changed the melody and re-wrote the track. American record producer and DJ Skrillex said he and Mars were creating something "different, awesome and next level and sounds like nothing else that's happened before". He also affirmed that they could work on "more of a Skrillex thing". The song they were working on was not completed in time for the album's release. The Stereotypes, a production team, were also involved in the album's composition. They have worked with Mars since 2007, however, after the singer signed a deal with Atlantic Records they did not collaborate very often. Nevertheless, in 2015, Jonathan Yip, a member of the Stereotypes, talked with Mars about working together. The latter asked for "some beats" for 24K Magic, but "nothing came of it". In June 2016, Mars asked Yip if they would like to help him finish a song for his album. He needed another song with a certain tempo and key. Yip sent Mars an idea that caught his attention, and he asked the Stereotypes to come to the studio. Once in the studio, it took them some time to "get the groove" on the track. They spent the first couple of hours catching up and having fun. The Stereotypes helped Mars finishing "24K Magic" and "That's What I Like". They also created "Finesse" with Shampoo Press & Curl. Moniz told they would felt great regarding a certain song and Mars wanted to "push it further" as he wanted 24K Magic to be "the foundation for his live show". The singer would ask to imagine the songs being performed live, to know their feeling and if they were danceable. The engineer confessed they would start to work in the afternoon and spent 14 hours in the studio each day, with the album taking 22 months to record and once the writing stopped, the singer would "bounce ideas around the room." He said Mars and his team were set to create an R&B album as "it's a part of who they are". Mars was close to the mixing process describing what he wanted for the album. ==Music and lyrics==

24K Magic explores several genres, including, R&B, funk, pop, and new jack swing. "24K Magic", "Chunky" and "Perm" are funk tracks, while "Calling All My Lovelies" is an R&B heartbreaker song. "Chunky" is an electro-funk track that features synthesizers and drum machines. It is an anthem for big buttocks. "Straight Up & Down" opens with a choir and samples of Shai's "Baby I'm Yours" (1993). Lyrically, it demonstrates the happiness and positive outcomes of being with one's lover. ==Cover==

The cover of 24K Magic shows Mars sitting on a chair and wearing a red shirt and shorts, and a white cap. Mars and Greg "Giden's Dad" Burke created the artwork, which was shot by Chinese photographer Kai Z. Feng. According to Mars, the cover art was inspired by a "musky cologne" advertisement and the Cadillac Allanté convertible that felt like "bootleg luxury". During its development, Mars thought about a man driving the Cadillac that would wear his best silk clothing, a style inspired by his father that included "the pinkie rings, the pompadour", the hairstyle and the "flashy" glasses. The album's cover art was styled to resemble a 1990s album; the song titles are printed in a basic font. During a photography season, Feng was unaware of the reason for Mars "throwing up the number 24 with his fingers". Feng asked Mars whether his pose had anything to do with the album; Mars told Feng to be quiet. He said Mars gave him "a lot of trust" and added Mars "is not shy in front of the camera; he's always moving and dancing, as long as you have the right music playing". ==Release and promotion==

festival in Chicago, Illinois On October 3, 2016, Mars announced the release of the album's first single "24K Magic" via Instagram, dubbing it "the invitation to the party". On October 7, 2016, Mars unveiled the album's title, cover and release date, and a link to a pre-order on iTunes, along with the release of "24K Magic" and its music video. The record was made available for pre-order worldwide via Mars's official site with four buying options. On November 4, 2016, "Versace on the Floor", was issued as a promotional single in several countries. He also performed "24K Magic" live on The X Factor UK on October 30, 2016. The Daily Expresss Becca Longmire called the performance "epic". On November 2, 2016, Mars performed several songs for Radio 1 at the BBC's Live Lounge, including "24K Magic", "Treasure", "Locked Out of Heaven" and a cover of Adele's "All I Ask". A couple of days after, the singer performed "24K Magic" at the MTV Europe Music Awards. Later the same month, Mars performed "24K Magic" on the Norwegian television talk show Skavlan and the following day at the 2016 NRJ Music Awards. A week later, Mars performed the same track at the 2016 American Music Awards. The performance included a break dance. On December 2, 2016, Mars performed at the 2016 Jingle Bell Ball, an annually held event promoted by 102.7 KIIS FM that took place at the Staples Center, Los Angeles, California. He sang the same songs on December 6, 2016, at the 2016 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. During The Late Late Show with James Corden on December 13, 2016, Mars sang "24K Magic", "Locked Out of Heaven", "Grenade", "Versace on the Floor", "If I Knew", "Uptown Funk" and "Perm" on the popular segment Carpool Karaoke. Mars embarked on the 24K Magic World Tour, which started on March 28, 2017, at the Sportpaleis in Antwerp, Belgium. The second row of shows consisted of concerts throughout North America and ran from July to November 2017. The 24K Magic World Tour ended on December 31, 2018. On September 12, 2017, it was announced that Mars and his band would be performing a television special concert titled, Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo at the Apollo Theater. Subsequently, CBS confirmed they would air the program on December 14. Singles The title track "24K Magic" was released as the album's lead single on October 7, 2016, along with its music video. The song was generally well received; reviewers complimented Mars's vocals and compared them to those of James Brown. The song was listed by several publications, including Billboard and Entertainment Weekly, as being among the best songs of the year. The recording was a success, topping the charts in Argentina, Belgium (Flanders), France and New Zealand, and reached the top ten in several other countries, including Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and the United States. "24K Magic" received a Grammy Award for Record of the Year at the 2018 Grammy Awards. "That's What I Like" was released on January 30, 2017, as the album's second single. Critics gave the song mixed reviews; some considered it to be one of the best on 24K Magic but others criticized its lyrical content. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Mars's seventh number-one single in the United States, and peaked at number two on the Philippine Hot 100. It also reached the top twenty in other territories, including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, and New Zealand. "That's What I Like" received three Grammy Awards; Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song. the original version had been premiered as the promotional single from 24K Magic, on November 4, 2016. The track received generally favorable reviews from critics; some considered it to be the soundtrack to school dances while others said its lyrics are sexually driven. The song charted moderately, reaching number 33 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the top three of the Philippine Hot 100 while its remix peaked at number eight in Belgium (Wallonia). "Chunky" was released as a single in Australia with a radio release date of November 29, 2017. It received mixed reviews from music critics, who noted the track's resemblance to the works of rhythm and blues artists of the 1980s and 1990s. Its charting was influenced by the release of its parent album 24K Magic; "Chunky" reached number 79 on the UK Singles Chart and 34 on the French Singles Chart. "Finesse" was announced as the fifth and final single from the album; unlike the original track, the single version features verses rapped by Cardi B. It was released on January 4, 2018, to digital stores and streaming services. The single was received well by music critics, who complimented Cardi B's verses and noticed the resemblance to the sound of Bobby Brown's album ''Don't Be Cruel'' (1988), Bell Biv DeVoe's track "Poison" (1990) and Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" (1992). ==Critical reception==

24K Magic was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 70, based on 14 reviews. HipHopDXs Carl Lamarre gave it a 4.3/5 rating. Lamarre felt Mars "succinctly gets his point across by instilling that much needed old-school nostalgia lacking in music today with nine tracks. Nolan Feeney from Entertainment Weekly gave it a B+ and stated that "With only nine songs, there's not an ounce of fat on Magic, and nearly every track sounds like Top 40 gold", describing the record as a fusion of 70's funk and 90's R&B. The New York Times Jon Caramanica said "the new songs – his most diverse set to date, and mostly rigorously executed and fun – show Mr. Mars to be interested in different musical eras, different production approaches and different singing voices without veering into chaos". Karen Gwee of Consequence awarded the album a B− score, calling it a "fun, nostalgic R&B album from one of pop's best performers today". Pitchforks Katherine St. Asaph rated it 6.2 out of 10, and likened it to a theme-park version of funk and R&B: "rebuilt shinier and glitzier and safer, every element engineered to please more than the real thing, and with a hell of a tour guide. It's not history, not even historical fiction, but harmless fun." Jim Carroll from The Irish Times, Caroline Sullivan from The Guardian, and Victoria Segall from Q all rated 24K Magic three stars out of five. Carroll said, "Mars shows he's a smart operator when it comes to the sort of pop which has all the accoutrements needed to engineer earworms, yet is sussed enough to know a little dab of special sauce is often required". Sullivan wrote, "though Mars styles himself as a playa here ... the core of the album is his passion for the early 90s period when hip-hop met soul". In a negative review, Andy Gill from The Independent gave it two stars out of five, saying, "the final product is a much tamer beast, taking its lead more from Mars' position as frontman of Mark Ronson's "Uptown Funk" (2014)". Gill heavily criticized "That's What I Like" and "Chunky". In a top-twenty list, Rolling Stone rated it the twelfth-best pop album of 2016. Keith Harris wrote the recording has the "high-energy Eighties dance-pop homage Mars perfected on "Uptown Funk" with some Nineties retro flavor for retro escapism". According to Rap-Up, it was the seventeenth-best album of 2016. Digital Spy's Lewis Corner considered it the eighteenth-best album of 2016, saying it "resulted in Bruno's most confident and seductive collection yet". Complex, in its list of 50 Best Albums of 2016, ranked the record in the twentieth-eight position. Ross Scarano asked, "If I told you Bruno Mars recorded an album that sounded like a middle school dance, would you know I meant that as a compliment?" The Associated Press named 24K Magic the tenth-best album of the 2010s; according to Mesfin Fekadu, "Bruno Mars released three epic albums this decade, but 24K Magic was a whole mood". The record was also deemed the sixty-ninth best album of the decade by Billboard. In 2017, 24K Magic was nominated for Top R&B Album at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards. It won Best Selling Album at the 2017 RTHK International Pop Poll Awards and was nominated for Album of the Year at the BET Awards. The record was also nominated for Best International Album at LOS40 Music Awards 2017. The album was awarded Favorite Pop/Rock Album and Favorite Soul/R&B Album at the 2017 American Music Awards. The album won Album/Mixtape of the Year at the 2017 Soul Train Music Awards. It was named Modern Pop-Rock Album/Voice Recording of the Year at the 2017 Fonogram Awards. The next year, 24K Magic was nominated for seven Grammy Awards at the 2018 Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best R&B Album. Mars won six of the Grammy Awards for the album while the seventh Grammy Award, Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical, went to the album's audio engineers Charles Moniz, Jacob Dennis, Ghenea, John Hanes and Tom Coyne. It received Record Production/Album at the 2018 TEC Awards. The album also won International Album of the Year at the Danish GAFFA Awards and Top R&B Album at the 2018 Billboard Music Awards. It was nominated for International Album of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2018. ==Commercial performance==

24K Magic debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 231,000 equivalent album units (194,000 in traditional album sales), becoming Mars's best sales week to that point and his third top-ten album in the United States. The next week, it sold 73,000 units, dropping to number four. The album remained in the US top ten for a third consecutive week despite a 20% fall in sales to 58,000 units. The album remained in the top ten for the next few weeks, returning to number two for four nonconsecutive weeks; one of these followed Mars's two performances at the 2017 Grammy Awards. As of July 7, 2017, 24K Magic had sold 1,110,000 equivalent units in the United States. On January 3, 2018, Billboard announced the best-selling albums of 2017 in the United States, with 24K Magic selling 710,000 copies and 1,626,000 total equivalent album units. It was the country's fourth-highest-selling and overall fifth-most-consumed record of the year. It was Mars first album to enter the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, debuting at number one. The album has spent 54 weeks on the top ten and eight non-consecutive weeks at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. In 2017, 24k Magic was the second-most popular record on the Billboard 200. Its equivalent album units of 600,000 in the UK, earned a double platinum certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI). The album returned to number two in New Zealand, becoming the singer's third consecutive record to do so. The Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) certified it platinum. In the second week the album jumped to number three on the chart, selling 15,000 copies. It spent 89 weeks on the Canadian Albums Chart and was certified five times platinum by Music Canada (MC). ==Track listing==

Credits adapted from the liner notes of 24K Magic. Notes • signifies an additional producer • signifies a co-producer Sample credits • "Straight Up & Down" contains an interpolation of "Baby I'm Yours" performed by Shai. ==Personnel==

Credits adapted from the liner notes of 24K Magic. Technical and composing credits • Shampoo Press & Curl – executive production, production (all tracks) • Bruno Mars – lead vocals, background vocals (tracks 1–9), talk box (track 1) • The Stereotypes – additional production (tracks 1, 4, 8), additional drum programming (track 2) • Emile Haynie – production (tracks 6–7) • Jeff Bhasker – production (track 7) • Philip Lawrence – background vocals (tracks 1–9) • Christopher Brody Brown – background vocals (tracks 1, 3) • James Fauntleroy – background vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4, 5) • Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds – background vocals (track 9) • Lisenny – background vocals (track 2) • Halle Berry – additional vocals (track 7) • Byron "Mr. TalkBox" Chambers – talk box (track 1) • David Foreman – guitar (track 1) • Dwayne Dugger – horns (track 3) • Jimmy King – horns (track 3) • Kameron Whalum – horns (track 3) • Ken Lewis – additional horns (track 3) • Homer Steinweiss – drums (track 3) • Eric "E-Panda" Hernandez – live drums (track 4) • Greg Phillinganes – keyboard solo (track 5) Creative credits • Bruno Mars – album art • Greg "Gigen's Dad" Burke – album art • Kai Z. Feng – photography • Shmuel Dolla Sign – jeweler Recording personnel • Charles Moniz – engineering, recording (all tracks) • Jacob Dennis – engineering assistant (all tracks) • Serban Ghenea – mixing (all tracks) • John Hanes – engineered for mix (all tracks) • Tom Coyne – mastering (all tracks) ==Charts==

Weekly charts Monthly charts Year-end charts Decade-end charts ==Certifications==