Bruno Mars released his fourth studio album “The Romantic” in February of 2026, celebrating the month of love.
Featuring nine tracks with a run time of 31 minutes, the album tells a story about love, infatuation and turbulence in a relationship between Mars and his mysterious lover. Rather than centering lust, Mars tells a story of feeling attraction that grows into something stronger and more real.
Born in Hawaii to a Filipino mother and Puerto Rican father, Mars’ album features the Bolero and Mariachi music style among other genres. The styles merge to create an album that inspires listeners to get up, dance and hold on tightly to the person they love most.
Here are The Eagle’s numerical ratings for the most romantic album of them all:
“Risk it All” 7.5/10
Mars’ opening track sets the stage for just how dedicated he is to his love. The song opens with the blare of trumpets and strumming of guitar strings that are the background of this romantic ballad. The tempo of this first track is on the slower side, with Mars saying he would climb a mountain, learn to fly and risk it all to make his love happy. There is nothing he wouldn’t do.
“Cha Cha Cha” 8/10
The second track of the album increases the tempo with instrumentals reminiscent of a lively Cuban cha-cha beat. The song is the background for a scene where Mars is out at a club with his lady. The vibes are high, and there is nothing he would rather do than take over the dance floor with her for the night. It’s a fun, upbeat song that highlights the beauty of dancing and having fun with the people you love.
“I Just Might” 8.5/10
Mars continues to keep the tempo and energy high with his third track. This song opens up with a heavy saxophone and drum beat overscored by scatting. This song is also set in a club where Mars first sees a “pretty little lady.” He immediately becomes infatuated and recruits the DJ to make sure that she can dance as good as she looks. If she does, he just might make her his baby. It’s an interesting concept, and it ties into the importance of dance to Mars as he loves dancing and incorporates it into almost all of his performances. It is a deeper way for him to connect to his love interest.
“God Was Showing Off” 8.5/10
This track opens up with a countdown in Spanish, and Mars’ impressive vocal range and riffs are on display in this track. The background instrumentals are both romantic and sincere as Mars spends three minutes and 31 seconds putting into words how beautiful she is, so beautiful that the only explanation is God intentionally made her look this way to show off. Some might consider it corny, but who wouldn’t want to be described in this way?
“Why You Wanna Fight?” 9/10
Arguably one of the better tracks on the album, Mars slows down the tempo to symbolize a lull in his relationship, taking on a blend of soul and R&B. The electric guitar chord progressions, drums and Mars’ earnest and desperate vocals make this track an enjoyable listen. Listeners can tell through Mars’ musical choices just how attached he has grown to his partner. Though his vocals are great, the lyrics are lacking in complexity compared to the other songs on the track. Still, this song is a top contender for the best song of the album.
“On My Soul” 9/10
The tempo of “On My Soul” shoots back up with bongos, electric guitar, drums and a symphony of brass floors coming together in perfect combination. Bruno Mars is on a mission to make him and his partner official, promising her that he will never break her heart and will love her like no one ever has. It is a hopeful and joyous song where Mars makes plans for the future and envisions a better tomorrow with his partner. He emphasizes that they would be better together; he doesn’t want to own her, but he wants to have her as a member of his team and as his equal.
“Something Serious” 8/10
Here, the album’s lyrics begin to get repetitive, as Mars is making the same plea for the two of them to end up together. However, Mars is able to keep listeners engaged through his change in instrumental style. It is one of the shorter songs in the album with a run time of two minutes and 46 seconds. It pays tribute to Carlos Santana’s song “Oye Como Va.” It is another track that shows Mars’ dedication to a lasting and serious relationship rather than a fleeting one.
“Nothing Left” 8.5/10
For the album’s last two songs, the tempo slows significantly with guitar and drums taking over the majority of the instrumentals. This track is the heaviest in the album as Mars sings of the pain and despair that comes from knowing his love has been lost. He describes the feeling of reaching out with nothing to hold on to and the betrayal that comes from looking back and not knowing where things went wrong. His vocals reflect this pain, taking listeners through his experience.
“Dance With Me” 9/10
Mars ends off the album on a hopeful note. It feels like a song one might slow dance to at a wedding. Mars asks his lover, who seemingly was lost in the track prior to this one, to dance with him again. Dancing with the woman he loves is a theme throughout this album, so it makes sense that dancing would be what hopefully brings them back together. It’s a cyclical ending that urges listeners that true love can always be found again through patience and dedication.
“The Romantic” was an unexpected and great album from Bruno Mars. It is no secret in the industry that Mars is known for his love and heartbreak songs. His ability to switch music styles and blend genres throughout the different tracks keep listeners engaged, even if the lyrics might not have the same complexity and depth as other artists.
With the music industry saturated with love and pop songs that sound the same, Mars cuts away from the crowd and tells a story about love that is uniquely his own.
This article was edited by Mina O’Dell, Jessica Ackerman and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Avery Grossman and Ava Stuzin.
