Bruno Mars: The Best-Selling Male Singer-Songwriter Since 2010
Bruno Mars, born in Hawaii and later making a name for himself in Los Angeles, has become one of the most successful and influential artists of the 21st century. Moving to Los Angeles in 2003, he soon became part of The Smeezingtons, a songwriting and production collective that would shape his early success.
Though his debut as a solo artist came later, Bruno’s career began with chart-topping hits that he co-wrote. His first big break came in 2009 with the hit song Nothin’ on You by B.o.B, which went #1 in the U.S. and marked the start of his journey into the limelight. He also lent his vocal talents to Travie McCoy’s Billionaire, another top-ten hit in 14 countries, and CeeLo Green’s Forget You, which sold over six million copies in the U.S. alone.
In 2010, Mars officially launched his career with the release of Doo-Wops & Hooligans. The album featured two smash singles, Just The Way You Are and Marry You, both of which reached #1 in multiple countries. The success of these songs helped the album sell over 15 million copies globally, and the album was praised for its Michael Jackson and Jason Mraz influences.
Bruno Mars followed up with Unorthodox Jukebox in 2012. While it didn’t sell as many copies as his debut, its tracks saw huge success on streaming platforms, indicating a shift in the music industry as digital streams became more prominent. Despite these shifts, Mars continued to reign as one of the most played and best-selling male artists, earning numerous accolades and solidifying his legacy in modern pop music.
Bruno Mars: A Journey Through Hits and Evolution
Bruno Mars’ influence on the music scene since his debut has been undeniable, with his songs consistently infiltrating playlists and becoming anthems for party-goers and covers bands alike. Among his biggest hits, Locked Out Of Heaven and Treasure have become mainstays on almost every covers band’s setlist, thanks to their catchy melodies and infectious energy. When I Was Your Man, while a successful single, hasn’t quite reached the same level of ubiquity but still resonated with fans globally.
In 2014, Mars teamed up with Mark Ronson for Uptown Funk, a funky, upbeat track that took over the charts and became an instant classic, reaching #1 in 19 countries and solidifying Mars’ position as a global superstar. Two years later, in 2016, he released 24K Magic. The title track became another instant party hit, though the album didn’t spawn as many chart-topping singles as his previous works, primarily due to its intricate lyrics and complex chord structures, which may have been too challenging for some bands to cover.
Mars continued to experiment with his sound in 2021, collaborating with Anderson .Paak on An Evening With Silk Sonic. While the ballad Leave The Door Open was a standout track, it didn’t enjoy the same widespread success as previous singles, topping fewer charts than his earlier hits.
Despite the changes in how music is consumed, with digital streaming dominating the landscape post-2010, Bruno Mars has sold an astonishing 130 million records worldwide. Given the shift away from physical albums and the rise of streaming services like Spotify, this feat highlights Mars’ lasting impact on the music industry, a testament to his skill as a hitmaker and a performer who continues to shape pop culture.
Bruno Mars Tunes | Related Pages
24K Magic | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play 24K Magic by Bruno Mars using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Fm9 | Cm7 | Dbmaj7 | Gm7b5 C7#9 |
Tonight, I just want to take you higher…
Forget You | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Forget You by Cee Lo Green using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| C (G A) | D (D E) |
I see you driving ’round town with the girl I love…
Leave The Door Open | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Leave The Door Open by Silk Sonic using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Fmaj7 |
What you doing? (What you doing?). Where you at? (Where you at?)…
Locked out of Heaven | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Locked out of Heaven by Bruno Mars using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| N.C C Bb | N.C F/A Gm | Gm | Gm C Dm |
Never had much faith in love or miracles (oh)…
Marry You | Chords + TAB
You can learn how to play Marry You by Bruno Mars using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| F | F | Gm | Gm |
It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do…
Check out the full TAB lesson here: Marry You (Bruno Mars) Guitar Lesson with TAB.
Treasure | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Treasure by Bruno Mars using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Abmaj7 Gm7 | Fm7 |
Give me your, give me your, give me your attention, baby…
Uptown Funk | Chords + Lyrics
You can learn how to play Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars using chords, lyrics, chord analysis, a chord chart, and the original recording.
| Dm7 | G7 G9 |
Doh. Doh doh doh, doh doh doh, doh…
Bruno Mars on the web
