Bruno Mars’ 10 most iconic songs
As we await ‘The Romantic,’ let’s take a look back at Bruno Mars’ music career
What's your favorite Bruno Mars song?
Graphic by Ryan Quan
Words by Samantha Pak
On New Year’s Day, I was hanging out with my best friend, and somehow the topic of Bruno Mars came up. I told her that he needed to release new music because it had been so long since we’d heard any new solo songs from him.
And as if I’d spoken it into existence, on Jan. 5, Mars announced on social media, “My album is done.” In quick succession, he shared the title of the aforementioned album, The Romantic, and its release date of Feb. 27, announced a world tour, released the first single—the highly danceable disco-pop track, “I Just Might”—and then set the record for the largest single-day ticket sales in Live Nation history across North America, Europe and the United Kingdom. Demand was so high for The Romantic Tour, which kicks off in April and ends in October, that Mars added more than 30 new dates to meet demand. This included three additional dates in Vancouver, Canada, just north of where I am in Seattle—all of which I was sadly unable to snag any tickets for.
But just because I won’t be catching him on tour this time around, as of right now, that doesn’t make me any less of a Hooligan (the name for his fandom, though if you ask me, with the last name Mars, Martians was right there!).
In honor of Mars’ comeback after nearly a decade-long hiatus from producing solo music, and in anticipation of The Romantic, I think it’s only right we take a look back at some of his greatest hits.
Obviously, we all have differing opinions of what constitutes a hit. So this is my highly subjective and completely biased top 10, but unranked, list of Bruno Mars songs—starting with the most recent.
1. “Smokin Out The Window” (Silk Sonic) (2021)
From Mars’ collaboration project with Anderson .Paak, Silk Sonic, “Smokin Out The Window,” with its playful lyrics, shows how Mars may take his craft seriously, but he doesn’t take himself too seriously. Off of the duo’s debut album, An Evening with Silk Sonic, the song is about a man, basically complaining about his demanding, unfaithful girlfriend. And as great as the song is, the music video really makes it. True, the old school TV set vibes and dance moves really play up the track’s—as well as the album’s—retro 1970s R&B, funk, and soul vibes. But for me, it’s all about .Paak and every time he pops up (literally) on screen, I just can’t help but laugh.
2. “BLOW” (Ed Sheeran with Chris Stapleton & Bruno Mars) (2019)
The most different song from anything else on this list, “BLOW” is a rock song performed by a British singer songwriter, Filipino Puerto Rican American popstar, and country music singer. Off of Ed Sheeran’s No.6 Collaborations Project album, this track is one not many saw coming, but the collaboration we didn’t know we needed. And you can’t say the music video—featuring female versions of Sheeran, Mars, and Chris Stapleton, backed by an all-female band—doesn’t also rock.
3. “Wake Up in The Sky” (Gucci Mane, Bruno Mars, Kodak Black) (2018)
While Mars may only sing the chorus on the track, “Wake Up in The Sky” is an example of how he can make any song a “Bruno Mars song.” With lyrics all about feeling yourself, the combination of Gucci Mane’s and Kodak Black’s rap verses and Mars’ smooth singing makes this a great song to just chill to. In a sparkly silver suit, or a floor-length fur coat, of course, as one does.
4. “Too Good to Say Goodbye” (2016)
A song about heartbreak, with old school R&B vibes, “Too Good to Say Goodbye” off of 24K Magic is my favorite song by Mars. It’s as if it were tailor-made for me. I love a sad song—the sadder the better. With lyrics lamenting how Mars and his partner are still in love, and that this can’t be the end of their story, this song is peak wallowing. This track is highly underrated in my opinion (probably because he’s only performed it live a couple times due to its vocal difficulty), and doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
5. "Versace on the Floor" (2016)
One of the signatures of Mars’ music is the way he pays tribute to those who came before him. And 24K Magic is all about 80s and 90s R&B, funk, and new jack swing—which is my musical sweet spot. "Versace on the Floor" has 90s slow jams written all over it, and I’m not mad at it.
6. "Gorilla" (2012)
If “Versace on the Floor” is about making love, taking your time, and connecting, the equally sexy “Gorilla” is about wild animal sex. While this isn’t Mars’ only song explicitly about sex, or even his first (that would be, fittingly, “Our First Time” from his first album), it is definitely one of his horniest. This song, off of Unorthodox Jukebox, is literally about a couple going at it like a pair of gorillas (as well as the source of the gorilla on the album cover). And the opening line of, “Ooh, I got a body full of liquor/With a cocaine kicker,” adds an air of danger to the track’s whole vibe, making it all the more sexy.
7. "It Will Rain" (2011)
From the soundtrack for The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1, “It Will Rain” is just as melodramatic as the vampire series. Lyrically, Mars is obsessed and puts a lot of pressure on his lady love (which is fitting for a track from a Twilight film). When you break it down, it’s downright toxic the way he tells her his life would essentially be over if she left him. And while in real life, I’d tell a woman in this situation to run as fast and as far away as possible, apparently I don’t mind toxic obsessive behavior in a song.
8. "Liquor Store Blues" (feat. Damian Marley) (2010)
As a debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans really showcased Mars’ versatility and his ability to jump between styles and genres. “Liquor Store Blues” is his reggae-vibe track, lamenting about financial woes. As a fellow Millennial living in a post-Great Recession world, unemployed and looking for work at the time, I related to this so hard. And of course having Damian Marley on the track just pushes it over the edge.
9. "The Other Side" (feat. Cee Lo Green & B.o.B) (2010)
Originally on Mars’ EP, It’s Better If You Don’t Understand, and released on Doo-Wops & Hooligans a few months later that same year, “The Other Side” always gave me spooky supernatural vibes—which I love. From lyrics about being complicated and hiding from the sun, to the literal howling to close out the track, this would fit right in on any Halloween playlist.
10. "Nothin’ On You" (B.o.B feat. Bruno Mars) (2010)
While this is technically a B.o.B track, “Nothin’ On You” was the song that introduced Mars (as well as B.o.B) to the world. From Mars crooning to his lady, telling her that there may be beautiful girls all over the world, but he’s not going to waste his time chasing them because they’ve got nothing on her, to a pre-Flat-Earther B.o.B rapping about how she’s the whole package, a girl can’t help but dream for a partner as smitten as they are.
Published on February 19, 2026
Words by Samantha Pak
Samantha Pak (she/her) is an award-winning Cambodian American journalist from the Seattle area and co-editor in chief for JoySauce. She spends more time than she’ll admit shopping for books than actually reading them, and has made it her mission to show others how amazing Southeast Asian people are. Follow her on Twitter at @iam_sammi and on Instagram at @sammi.pak.
Art by Ryan Quan
Ryan Quan is JoySauce's social media manager, associate editor, and all-around visual eye. This queer, half-Chinese, half-Filipino writer and graphic designer loves everything related to music, creative nonfiction, and art. Based in Brooklyn, he spends most of his time dancing to hyperpop and accidentally falling asleep on the subway. Follow him on Instagram at @ryanquans, and check out his work on his website.