We Boomers know from funk, for example Morris Day & The Time and ”Jungle Love” from 1984. Was that not great funk? Witty, with a big, polished sound? Did we not appreciate and give Morris Day his due?
But Bruno Mars? The bar was raised when he and Mark Ronson gave the world some “Uptown Funk,” the number one hit of 2015.
And now Bruno Mars is back. This past Thursday night radio programmers and the public got a first taste of his new album (due out next month) and his new single, released last Thursday, and both titled “24K Magic.” A very fitting title for a big funky song, with some hipster hip-hop thrown in, very catchy and polished. On Thurs. the song had 2 million youtube hits, by Friday there were 10 million, and on Sunday, over 16 million you youtube hits.
Some say Mars has outdone himself, that ”24K Magic” is a glorious return. Some disagree.
What’s for sure, though, is that listening to a good funk song, and Bruno Mars is very good, is an uplifting, positive experience, an utterly absorbing smooth groove, 3-minute respite from a turbulent world.
Mars, who tuned 31 years old two days ago, has been honing his act for 26 years, beginning when he was at five years old, and was known throughout his native Hawaii as “Llittle Elvis” for his impersonations of the King.
He’s an amazing and unstoppable hit maker, singer, producer, choreographer, dancer, and musician and superstar performer.
We expect this to rocket to the top of the chart and remain there for quite some time.