The Bottom Line
Watch "Grenade" live
If you thought Bruno Mars was just about happy, cheerful pop songs, "Grenade" is your wake-up call. He has been wronged, and now he's telling the tale. This immaculately constructed pop song takes its place among the great break-up songs. Bruno Mars cements his position as the top new artist of 2010.
Pros
- Lyrics that cut to the heart
- Bruno Mars' gorgeous vocals
- Gentle backing track
Cons
- No serious issues here
Description
- Written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Brody Brown, Claude Kelly, and Andrew Wyatt
- Produced by the Smeezingtons
- Released October 2010 by Elektra
Guide Review - Bruno Mars - "Grenade"
It's not only men who can be lousy and uncaring in a romantic relationship, and Bruno Mars knows that. He's a born romantic who has had his heart stomped flat. He would literally "catch a grenade" and die for his lover, but she "won't do the same." Bruno Mars should have known she was bad news from the start, because she kissed with her eyes open. The words here cut right to the heart and are delivered in Bruno Mars' now familiar and quite beautiful croon.
With his production and songwriting partners in the Smeezingtons, Bruno Mars puts this song in a gentle, pulsating backdrop that lays every word bare for the listener. Drums and backing singers help ramp up the intensity on the chorus, but they never threaten to bury Bruno Mars' lead. This is classic pop song construction with romantic depth.
It has been a whirlwind year for Bruno Mars, and "Grenade" should not slow things down. Check out the live studio session of the song linked above. It is every bit as powerful as the original recording. "Grenade" is likely to be Bruno Mars' fourth trip to the top 5 on the pop chart this year.
