About this episode
Stereogum’s Tom Breihan returns to Pop Pantheon to dissect the career of pop history’s greatest mimic, Bruno Mars. Louie and Tom dive into how Bruno spent his childhood impersonating greats like Elvis and Michael Jackson, his failed start on Motown and early work for other artists, including via his production group The Smeezingtons. Then they discuss his tightly-stitched 2010 debut, Doo-Wops and Hooligans , 2012’s pop history grab-bag, Unorthodox Jukebox, and the cultural sensation of his 2014 Mark Ronson-collab, the Morris Day-tributing “Uptown Funk.” Next, they explore Bruno’s tour through Black pop and soul history on 2016’s 24K Magic and his Philly Soul and Parliament-Funkadelic-homaging super-duo with Anderson .Paak., Silk Sonic, as they parse whether Bruno is central to his music at all or simply a nostalgia curator. Finally, they rank Bruno Mars in the official Pop Pantheon. Read Tom's Number Ones Column write-ups of "Just The Way You Are" & "Grenade" Listen to Pop Pantheon's Bruno Mars Essentials Join Pop Pantheon: All Access, Our Patreon Channel, for Exclusive Content and More Buy Tickets to Pop Pantheon Live: Britney's Memoir, Music & Legacy on 11/2 In Pasadena Come to Gorgeous Gorgeous NYC: Halloween Edition on October 27 Come to Gorgeous Gorgeous LA on November 10 Come to Gorgeous Gorgeous X Who? Weekly on November 16 Shop Merch in Pop Pantheon's Store Follow Tom Breihan on Twitter Follow DJ Louie XIV on Instagram Follow DJ Louie XIV on Twitter Follow Pop Pantheon on Instagram Follow Pop Pantheon on Twitter