A bouquet of heart-on-sleeve hits — from frisky funk tunes to sweet slow jams to begging, pleading ballads
Bruno Mars performs onstage during the 68th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 01, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Happy Valentine’s Day to all who celebrate. And to those who don’t, better luck next year. What more appropriate way to honor the occasion than by spending it with Bruno Mars. He’s an old-school showman and a master pop-R&B technician who wears his heart on his sleeve, whether he’s doing funky workouts, sexy slow jams or sweeping ballads. His new album, fittingly titled The Romantic, is out on February 27th. So while we wait for that blockbuster release, let’s walk hand-in-hand down memory lane with a rundown of the most romantic songs of The Romantic’s storied career. Light some candles and pour some bubbly.
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B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars, ‘Nothin’ on You,’ (2019)
Image Credit: youtube Bruno was still nine months away from his debut album when he broke through on B.o.B.’s first and last Number One song, co-producing the track and dismissing the global cadre of pulchritudinous pretties in favor of you … yes you, girl. B.o.B. may have given up trying to “chase skirts” in favor of a girl who pay her taxes, but the indelible Bruno croon earned this one multiple Grammy noms and music’s highest honor: a “Weird Al” parody.–Jason Newman
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‘Grenade’ (2010)
Image Credit: youtube “I’d catch a grenade for ya/Throw my hand on a plate for ya,” is a pretty intense way to express your affection. In the memorable video for this stormy song Bruno pulls a piano down the street while bystanders gaze on in wonder at his agony. “The concept of the video is my struggle to tell this girl I’d do anything for her,” he said of the clip. Maybe not the happiest, most requited Valentine’s Day pick but it’s one of his most powerful depictions of romantic deviation. Listeners agreed, making it a Number One hit.–Jon Dolan
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‘Count on Me’ (2010)
Image Credit: Peter Kramer/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal/Getty Images Mars dipped into the breezy folk vibes of Jack Johnson and Jason Mraz for this sweet, simple ode to love and friendship. “If you’re tossin’ and you’re turnin’ and you just can’t fall asleep/I’ll sing a song beside you,” he promises to the song’s irresistible, island-tinged acoustic melody. Unsurprisingly, it’s one of his most popular songs for people selecting the music to soundtrack their first wedding dance.–Jon Dolan
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‘Rest of My Life’ (2010)
Image Credit: Jeff Fusco/Getty Images Though never officially released this exaltant piano ballad has wracked up millions of YouTube views and remains a favorite among devoted Marsheads. “Rest of My Life” is pure wedding reception first-dance gold. Bruno songs about finding the right person a little later in life when it seemed like his options had run out. “As I stand here before my woman I can’t find back the tears in my eyes,” he sings. It the kind of moment that can have you sobbing right along.–J.D.
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‘When I Was Your Man’ (2012)
Image Credit: youtube In the video for this regret-riddled cut from 2012’s Unorthodox Jukebox, Mars performs this song on a CRT-era variety show, clad in a boutonniere-adorned green suit and sunglasses. It’s a fitting scenario for “When I Was Your Man,” which strips down Mars’ charms to its essence — particularly his strong yet sweet voice and his ability to summon ideals from pop’s past on command. Here, he channels the likes of Elton John and Billy Paul, pouring his heart out with enough passion to wonder if he’s hoping to turn back the clock via pure emotionalism.–Maura Johnston
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‘Treasure’ (2012)
Image Credit: youtube In a 2013 interview with American Songwriter, co-writer Rob LaDonne said that this effervescent Unorthodox Jukebox offering was “the kind of song where the whole band can get up and jam and have this Earth, Wind and Fire kind of moment.” But Mars and his associates aren’t the only ones having fun when this track comes on: It’s a roller-rink-ready slice of pop-funk with heart-eyed lyrics (“You’re everything I see in my dreams/ I wouldn’t say that to you if it wasn’t true,” he declares on one verse), a clap-along breakdown, and a giddy chorus, made for the sort of couples’ skates where both members aren’t afraid to delight in each others’ goofiness.–M.J.
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‘Finesse’ feat. Cardi B. (2016)
Image Credit: youtube Bruno and Cardi B got together for their great remix of ‘Finesse,” tapping an old-school new Jack Swing sound a la Bobby Brown and Bell Biv Devoe, with a fun video that paid homage to the classic sketch comedy show In Living Color. Yeah, I know we’ll turn heads forever/So tonight, I’m gonna show you off,” Bruno sings. It’s the perfect sweet, playful date-night jam if you’re stepping out with the arm candy of your dreams.–J.D.
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Silk Sonic, ‘Leave the Door Open’ (2021)
Image Credit: youtube The debut single from Silk Sonic, Mars’ 2021 side project with Anderson .Paak, channels your favorite 1970s romantic crooner into a world where the bathtub has rose petals, the haze is purple, and the filets are ready for in between (or during, we don’t judge) rounds. The minimalist soul throwback not only seduced fans, but Grammy voters, with the duo picking up four awards including Song of the Year.–J.N.
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‘That’s What I Like’ (2016)
Image Credit: youtube “Gold jewelry shining so bright,” “strawberry champagne on ice,” “sex by the fire at night” — these are a few of Bruno’s favorite things, and he’s happy to share them with you. In this cleverly constructed hit, he lists all the ways he can make your life more luxurious and adds, “lucky for you, that’s what I like.” If he didn’t like strawberry champagne on ice, in other words, you’d be out of luck. But he does. Really, you should be thanking him.–Simon Vozick-Levinson
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‘Just the Way You Are’ (2012)
Image Credit: youtube Taking inspiration from sweet classics like Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful” and Eric Clapton’s “Wonderful Tonight,” Bruno kicked off pop’s body positivity era with this saccharine hit. Over a simple kick drum and winkling piano, the singer reassures his lover she’s perfectly beautiful just as she is. As Mars told Blues and Soul magazine back in 2010, “What woman doesn’t wanna hear those lyrics?” It’s no surprise the track became Mars’ first solo single to reach Number One on the Billboard Hot 100.–Maya Georgi.
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‘Versace on the Floor’ (2016)
Image Credit: youtube Bringing the glossy slow jams that ruled R&B radio in the Eighties to the social media age, this sexed-up cut from 24K Magic has sonics as luxe as its designer-name-dropping title might suggest. Mars belts out his dreams of high-rolling seduction amidst synths that sparkle and snap, with a keyboard solo from studio king Greg Phillinganes sealing the deal. In 2016, Mars broke down the genesis of “Versace” to Rolling Stone, revealing that its first draft was more of a “poolside version” than the rendition that wound up on the album after a few more revisions. “At a certain point, I needed to stop telling you we’re gonna get down, and just get down,” Mars said of the song’s bedroom-sound-system-ready final cut.–M.J.
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‘Marry You’ (2010)
Image Credit: Dana Edelson/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images In 2017, Philip Lawrence, who was Bruno Mars’ songwriting partner as part of the Smeezingtons, revealed that that this beloved wedding song wasn’t inspired by anything all that romantic. “It was more of a racy kind of idea, as opposed to this classic marriage tune it has become.,” he told American Songwriter. Nevertheless, the track’s rushing heartbeat of drums and chiming wedding bells have soundtracked many a marriage proposal and wedding. Because, truly, what’s more romantic than getting so swept up in a relationship, it compels you to get hitched overnight, Vegas style?–M.G.
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