Music review: 24K Magic by Bruno Mars
Music review: 24K Magic by Bruno Mars
4 November 2017
While the tunes from Bruno Mars' latest album are catchy, the lyrics are not easy on the ears.
24K Magic is the latest album by musical funk-rock icon Bruno Mars. 
Despite not releasing a solo album for four years, Mars has still been in the public eye, co-collaborating with other artists in joint ventures, most notably his producer Mark Ronson in Uptown Funk.
24K Magic hits at the popular R&B style of the mid 1990s, and succeeds at paying tribute to the smooth sounds of legendary soul artist James Brown. The album is full of catchy riffs, punchy brass, electrifying synth, and an overall memorable groove.
With Mars and Ronson working together in writing, recording and producing, there is an element of musical synergy rarely replicated in today’s pop music scene.
Taking in all of the above, it would be hard not to buy this album, right? Wrong!
Unfortunately, for all of its musical majesty, 24K Magic is full of questionable social and moral content. In nine tracks, we listen to lyrics heavily reliant on sex, drugs and partying. However, perhaps the most objectifying moment on the album comes on Calling All My Lovelies, where Mars brazenly makes fun of the names of the women he casually sleeps with.
Lyrics are at the heart of any song. It’s why the most enduring worship songs have the best lyric, with theological depth and meaning.
So, while in today’s pop music scene it is hard to avoid a line of questionable content, it is easy to avoid the purchase of an entire album full of it. For family-friendly or Christian ears, this is not the recording for you.
Jared Proellocks is a music and instrumental tutor. He attends Carindale Corps in Queensland.
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