Singer Bruno Mars answers five questions for USA TODAY.
Carly Mallenbaum, USA TODAY 2:02 p.m. EDT September 8, 2013
Bruno Mars, shown performing at the MTV Video Music Awards, will play the Super Bowl halftime show.(Photo: Scott Gries Scott Gries/Invision/AP)
Fans of pop music are no doubt familiar with baby-faced hitmaker Bruno Mars. But if you're a football fan who first heard the singer's name when it was announced he'd be the Super Bowl's halftime show performer, you probably live on a radio-less planet (not called Mars). But we're not here to judge. Here's a refresher on who the fedora-wearing pop juggernaut is:
He's the guy who sings that falsetto-heavy pop song called...
From album Unorthodox Jukebox: Treasure (the song that sounds straight out of the '70s), When I Was Your Man (melodramatic love ballad, gets me every time), Locked Out of Heaven (sounds like a Police song-- he's actually performed it with Sting), Gorilla (his newest single about animalistic lovemaking, he has a thing for gorillas)
From Grammy-nominated Doo-Wops & Hooligans: Grenade (he proves how much he loves you by describing unnecessary extremes he'd go to for you, like "catch a grenade"), Just the Way You Are (the Grammy-winning single explaining your perfection), The Lazy Song (that fun whistle tune)
He's a pop force who's sold literally MILLIONS of records.
According to the RIAA, 2010's Doo-Wops & Hooligans went 2x multi-Platinum, and included the singles Just the Way You Are and Grenade which each went 5x multi-Platinum. 2012's Unorthodox Jukebox is RIAA Platinum certified. (Keep in mind, Platinum means 1 million units, while multi-Platinum means 2 million or more units.) He's sold over 100 million singles worldwide as a solo artist and writer/producer/featured performer. Which brings us to our next fact...
He's not just a solo star.
Know those chart-topping songs Nothin' On You by rapper B.o.B and F--- You by CeeLo Green? Bruno Mars wrote and produced those with his Grammy-nominated production team, The Smeezingtons. Mars also sang the hook on Nothin', which was up for Grammys, and has been featured in hit songs like Eminem's Lighters and Travie McCoy's Billionaire
The former Elvis impersonator can put on a show.
Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez in Honolulu, began performing around age 5 in the family band. After singing Elvis tunes as a pre-adolescent, he has become a go-to live performer. He's played VMAs, Billboard Music Awards, Saturday Night Live (as host and musical guest) and the Grammys, twice, after Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich convinced him to play a Bob Marley tribute this year.
"I'll readily confess I have my favorite (performers) and they're people who understand the dynamics of live performance and deliver. Bruno picked the house off the floor with his James Brown impersonation (last year)," Ehrlich told USA TODAY.
Mars is currently headlining his second worldwide tour, the Moonshine Jungle tour. Fans compare Mars' flashy, vocally-demanding performance style to Michael Jackson and Prince.
He's on Twitter.
Of course he is, he's a pop star! Get to know more about the halftime performer by reading his goofy tweets.
Carly Mallenbaum, USA TODAY 2:02 p.m. EDT September 8, 2013
Bruno Mars, shown performing at the MTV Video Music Awards, will play the Super Bowl halftime show.(Photo: Scott Gries Scott Gries/Invision/AP)
Fans of pop music are no doubt familiar with baby-faced hitmaker Bruno Mars. But if you're a football fan who first heard the singer's name when it was announced he'd be the Super Bowl's halftime show performer, you probably live on a radio-less planet (not called Mars). But we're not here to judge. Here's a refresher on who the fedora-wearing pop juggernaut is:
He's the guy who sings that falsetto-heavy pop song called...
From album Unorthodox Jukebox: Treasure (the song that sounds straight out of the '70s), When I Was Your Man (melodramatic love ballad, gets me every time), Locked Out of Heaven (sounds like a Police song-- he's actually performed it with Sting), Gorilla (his newest single about animalistic lovemaking, he has a thing for gorillas)
From Grammy-nominated Doo-Wops & Hooligans: Grenade (he proves how much he loves you by describing unnecessary extremes he'd go to for you, like "catch a grenade"), Just the Way You Are (the Grammy-winning single explaining your perfection), The Lazy Song (that fun whistle tune)
He's a pop force who's sold literally MILLIONS of records.
According to the RIAA, 2010's Doo-Wops & Hooligans went 2x multi-Platinum, and included the singles Just the Way You Are and Grenade which each went 5x multi-Platinum. 2012's Unorthodox Jukebox is RIAA Platinum certified. (Keep in mind, Platinum means 1 million units, while multi-Platinum means 2 million or more units.) He's sold over 100 million singles worldwide as a solo artist and writer/producer/featured performer. Which brings us to our next fact...
He's not just a solo star.
Know those chart-topping songs Nothin' On You by rapper B.o.B and F--- You by CeeLo Green? Bruno Mars wrote and produced those with his Grammy-nominated production team, The Smeezingtons. Mars also sang the hook on Nothin', which was up for Grammys, and has been featured in hit songs like Eminem's Lighters and Travie McCoy's Billionaire
The former Elvis impersonator can put on a show.
Mars, born Peter Gene Hernandez in Honolulu, began performing around age 5 in the family band. After singing Elvis tunes as a pre-adolescent, he has become a go-to live performer. He's played VMAs, Billboard Music Awards, Saturday Night Live (as host and musical guest) and the Grammys, twice, after Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich convinced him to play a Bob Marley tribute this year.
"I'll readily confess I have my favorite (performers) and they're people who understand the dynamics of live performance and deliver. Bruno picked the house off the floor with his James Brown impersonation (last year)," Ehrlich told USA TODAY.
Mars is currently headlining his second worldwide tour, the Moonshine Jungle tour. Fans compare Mars' flashy, vocally-demanding performance style to Michael Jackson and Prince.
He's on Twitter.
Of course he is, he's a pop star! Get to know more about the halftime performer by reading his goofy tweets.