The artist will be the protagonist of two evenings at the São Paulo megafestival; research done in 2019 can indicate what the shows will be like
Songs composed already thinking about the shows. Sturdy band, no electronic gimmicks on instruments or vocals. Nonetheless, there is room for choreography throughout much of the presentation, with an old-fashioned ‘boyband’ look. A puppy Elvis with Prince, full of other references.
The above summary gives a taste of it Bruno Mars, one of the biggest pop and R&B male names of the last decade. She’s the type of artist who has topped the charts multiple times, won 15 Grammys and had her first halftime at the Super Bowl.
The singer, who will land in Brazil in the next few days to perform at the megafestival The city, they won two dates to define their own: 3 and 10 September, when will you be the title? horizon, main stage. Both days sold out quickly.
If expressive sales are to suggest one thing, it’s that Bruno’s work always deserves special attention. I realized this some time ago, more precisely when I chose the artist as an object of study for my final work in Social Communication.
The TCC, who won the title Guess who’s back: musical intertextuality in Bruno Mars’ album 24k Magic, was a study on the visual, aural and stylistic references of the artist’s third album. She doesn’t hide her inspirations: she leaves traces of her idols in everything she does. My job was simply to follow the tracks, understanding that Bruno’s repertoire is a great tribute to African-American music.
That was the point; the side effect was admiration for the artist, who, in turn, loves black music very much and treats it with respect. Along the way, I learned a lot about who Bruno Mars is, his talents and what he does best: a good show.
My TCC was delivered in 2019. Since then, Mars hasn’t released another solo album. His appearance at The Town is also not part of a world tour, as the artist has only performed sporadically in the United States and a few performances in Asia. So my research may remain relevant and even up-to-date, considering how little Mars’ repertoire has changed since then.
I’m not sure what next weekend’s shows will be like. But with what I’ve already learned you can imagine what won’t be missing:
Impressive vocals – and no playback
The artist takes the stage very seriously: he is the type who composes already thinking about the shows. Their songs (especially the more recent ones) are made to be perfectly playable live, without too many electronic resources and with a robust band. Traditionally, Bruno Mars’ show features piano/keyboards, guitar, bass, drums, saxophone, trumpet and trombone.
During the presentation Bruno is rarely alone in the spotlight: he is usually accompanied by hooligans, artists who make up the choir, accompany it in dances and play various instruments. All live, with lots of delivery.
The best part is that Bruno sings, yes, all those high or hard to tune parts. Vocally and musically, the concert is a show in itself, even for those who are not fans of the singer.
The instrumentalists also dance
Bruno Mars and the Hooligans unleash several synchronized dance moves on stage, forming a sort of old-school boy band. Much of the performance is choreographed, even when the performers play the instruments.
You know American R&B bands from the 80s and 90s, for example New edition OR Boyz II Men? This is the time.
And, of course, Bruno is known for being able to dance, so much so that fans joke that he is “Michael Jackson and Billie Jean’s son.” So if you ever wanted to see an artist do lunar walk while he sang and couldn’t see MJ himself, Bruno Mars is the man.
Party atmosphere, no “bad atmosphere”
For those who knew Bruno Mars at the time of his romantic ballads, I like it grenade AND Talking to the moon, the show he presents today is quite different. During his later work, Mars increased the BPM and incorporated many more danceable songs into his repertoire: Uptown Funk, Finesse, Locked Out of Heaven, Treasure… the list is long.
The purpose of the show is not to excite you, but to excite you. Romantic and slower songs may appear throughout the set list, but the rhythm should pick up shortly after. For Bruno it is as if everything is one big party and he, as host, has to make sure that the guests have a good time.
“You say you wanna have some fun? Here I am honey,” she sings This is what I like.
A journey through time
Mars’ professional career shows what his references are: the singer began his artistic life as a mini cover of Elvis, at the age of 4, and has already paid tribute to Prince and Michael Jackson. He often mentions R&B, pop and funk idols from the 70s, 80s and 90s, with clear references to musical movements such as new jack swing.
Thus, the compilation of their repertoire forms a show that feels like a journey back in time. It’s a complete dish for anyone who has danced a lot Earth, wind and fire, Jackson 5 OR James Brown. Or, of course, for anyone who is a Bruno Mars fan.
Source: Terra
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
