Music Review: Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars "Uptown Funk"

Mark Ronson & Bruno Mars

Uptown Funk

Album: Uptown Special

Year: 2014

         Bruno Mars time travel to the 70s in the fabulous “Uptown Funk.”

           A cool talkbox and handclaps open the single, setting a modern tone. He says the song is going to be a hit. It will make people think of Scarface, starring Michelle Pfeiffer. It’s going to make the ladies dance. (“This hit, that ice cold/Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold/This one, for them hood girls/Them good girls/Straight masterpieces/Stylin', wilin'/Livin’ it up in the city/Got Chucks on with Saint Laurent/Gotta kiss myself I’m so pretty.”)

                In the pre-chorus, he says he’s the entire package. He and his band are going to tour around, making tons of process. (“I’m too hot (hot damn)/Call the police and the fireman/I’m too hot (hot damn)/Make a dragon wanna retire man/I’m too hot (hot damn)/Say my name you know who I am/I’m too hot (hot damn)/And my band 'bout that money/Break it down.”)

            In the chorus, he says funk music is going to be the new trend. (“Girls hit your hallelujah/Girls hit your hallelujah/Girls hit your hallelujah/Cause Uptown Funk gon’ give it to you/Cause Uptown Funk gon’ give it to you/Cause Uptown Funk gon’ give it to you/Saturday night and we in the spot/Don’t believe me, just watch (come on)/Don’t believe me, just watch/Don’t believe me, just watch/Don’t believe me, just watch/Don’t believe me, just watch/Don’t believe me, just watch/Hey, hey, hey, oh!”)

          He says he needs a break and asks his assistant for some bourbon. As he drinks, his assistant wants him to sign a royalty check. He asks another assistant to get his stretch limo. They are going to drive through New York, California and Mississippi and impress everyone there. (“Stop/Wait a minute/Fill my cup put some liquor in it/Take a sip, sign the check/Julio! Get the stretch!/Ride to Harlem, Hollywood, Jackson, Mississippi/If we show up, we gon’ show out/Smoother than a fresh jar of Skippy.”)

            The pre-chorus and chorus are sung again.

            In the bridge, he encourages everyone to get up on the dance floor and dance. He wants everyone to be themselves. (“Before we leave/Lemme tell y’all a lil’ something/Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up/I said Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up/Come on, dance/Jump on it/If you sexy then flaunt it/If you freaky then own it/Don’t brag about it, come show me/Come on, dance/Jump on it/If you sexy then flaunt it/Well it’s Saturday night and we in the spot.”)

                  The chorus is sung again.

                 Part of the bridge is sung again to end the single. (“Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up (say whaa?!)/Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up (say whaa?!)/Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up (say whaa?!)/Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up/Uptown Funk you up, Uptown Funk you up (say whaa?!)/Uptown Funk you up.”)

                  Mars’ chameleon vocals fully get into his 70s character. He acts as he sings, reinventing himself in the process. Mars is usually excellent. However, his voice has a lot of pain behind it, too. In the single, he’s clearly having a ball and it’s great to see him enjoying himself.

               Ronson’s amazing arrangement is trend-setting. Funk can be heard, mostly as samples in R&B and rap singles but not much on its own.. Ronson breathes life into the genre.

                     Here, the Michelle Pfeiffer reference makes sense. The movie Scarface is implied. It goes with the era the single captures.

                The epic “Uptown Funk” should make George Clinton proud.  By the way, watch the music video.