Bruno Mars took the phrase “I wish I were a fly on the wall during that conversation” and managed to embody that into an entire album. It is a story in itself, from the words sung in the songs to the setup of the setlist.

From the wall, we’re watching the beginning and end of a relationship. This album had high hopes, and it did not disappoint.

After building 10 years of anticipation, Bruno Mars has successfully translated that anticipation into the emotional rollercoaster of an unsuccessful love story.

“Risk It All”

The album starts off strong, but slowly, with a Mariachi band serenading in the background. Throughout the song, there is a yearning in his voice that goes back to his early albums, and many fans have missed it.

This could quite possibly be the mature “Grenade” level of yearning for the Bruno Mars fans who have grown up on his music. It begins the story of the album beautifully, as he talks about how he is ready to give up everything to pursue the woman he has fallen head over heels for.

“Cha Cha Cha” and “I Just Might”

This is where we see the building-up process of the album and of the relationship.

Bruno talks about what he would do to get the woman he loves. Now he has one foot in the door to pursuing her.

These songs are the rising action of the album and help demonstrate what it feels like before reaching the peak of a relationship.

“God Was Showing Off”

This song is the climax of the relationship and the album. It transitions slightly out of the soul and funk and more into the Latino jazz that we continue to see throughout the album.

If this song does not show how much Bruno loves his brass instruments, I’m not sure what song will. It being upbeat and mixing with the soul and funk heard in “I Just Might” makes it a song that can be visualized by dancing in the kitchen with your lover while making dinner.

It is the highs of the relationship where the compliments are showered all over each other, and nothing could possibly go wrong.

“Why You Want to Fight?”

Now we’re standing outside in the rain with a boombox outside of our partner’s window like we’re in a 90’s R&B video. The relationship is in the falling action phase, where everything wrong has exploded.

The honeymoon phase is gone.

This song is heavily influenced by 90s R&B and soul, from the way the song builds to the level of yearning that can be felt.

The bridges are constantly changing the pace, almost resembling the relentless change in emotions when yearning for something to go back to the way it was.

I would argue this is the best song on the entire album, but I also tend to listen to songs that I would want someone to stand outside my window and serenade me with in an effort to repair a relationship.

“On My Soul” and “Something Serious”

“On My Soul” and “Something Serious” are two sides of the same coin. The musical influences are very strong in these songs, with similar instrumental and beat as bands such as War, while being sung like Santana.

This is most apparent in “Something Serious,” as the intro sounds similar to waking up at 6 a.m. to George Lopez playing “Lowrider” after accidentally falling asleep with the TV on.

These two songs sound like the promises you hear when someone wants you back, just to go back to square one in two weeks.

They are much heavier on the Latino rock and jazz than previous songs, almost representing the phase after a breakup where you want that person back, so you begin to ramble on empty promises, attempting to repair what is already broken.

“Nothing Left” and “Dance With Me”

At this point in the album, there is no repairing this relationship. What’s done has been done, and these songs are the acceptance stage in grieving what once was a happy relationship.

If you ever feel pure regret after ending a relationship, these are the go-to heartbroken songs on the album. These are the final goodbyes, the acceptance, and the hurt of a breakup. They are on the same spectrum as “I Was Your Man” and “If I Knew.”

Parting thoughts

This album is the perfect length to tell a story. Every song represents a different stage and conveys the story perfectly without any filler songs.

There is love, there is yearning, there is heartbreak, all staples from Bruno that I have been looking to see from him once again.

His maturity, both vocally and emotionally, since 2016 has shown immensely throughout the album.

While I personally don’t believe this album is comparable to his past works, I would say he has exceeded the standards he set for himself.