Bruno Mars defied his label to create the genre-bending sound of Unorthodox Jukebox
In short: After his debut, Bruno Mars was told by label executives to pick a single lane and stop being all over the place. He refused, choosing instead to embrace artistic freedom. The result was a multi-genre record that became a global success and proved his creative instincts were right all along.
Released in December 2012, Unorthodox Jukebox was the follow-up to the singer's 2010 debut. While his first record was produced under tight deadlines and label pressure, Mars spent a year crafting this second project with his team, the Smeezingtons. He was determined to avoid being boxed into a single genre, instead pulling from R&B, pop, reggae, rock, disco, funk, and soul. This variety had previously led label presidents to reject his ideas, claiming they did not know how to market such a diverse sound. Mars felt disgusted by these demands, fearing that conforming would make him feel like a fake performer.
To achieve his vision, Mars invited producers like Mark Ronson, Jeff Bhasker, and Emile Haynie into the studio without a rigid master plan. The goal was to create something unforeseen, allowing the music to dictate its own path. The track Gorilla, which set the tone for the entire project, became the album's mascot. Other songs emerged from spontaneous moments, such as Money Makes Her Smile, which was inspired by a trip to a strip club with Diplo. By prioritizing a pulse and a heartbeat in every song, the team moved away from the safety of radio-friendly formulas.
The album was a commercial triumph, reaching number one in countries including Australia, Canada, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. It sold six million units globally by 2016 and earned the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2014. Critics were generally favorable, with some praising the songwriting as exceptional and others noting that the record allowed Mars to showcase his artistry more authentically. While some reviewers found the lyrics occasionally aggressive or shallow, the album solidified his status as a versatile performer, supported by the massive success of singles like the reggae-rock anthem Locked Out of Heaven and the piano-led ballad When I Was Your Man.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Unorthodox Jukebox
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-unorthodox-jukebox.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
