Uptown Funk by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars

Every New Zealand #1 single…

Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson is the son of socialite, writer, and jewellery designer Ann Dexter-Jones. His stepfather is Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones, who wrote ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’ about Ronson’s mother.

Ronson became a DJ while attending New York University. He moved into production, most famously with Amy Winehouse’s Back To Black.

Bruno Mars

Peter Hernandez was born in Honolulu to parents with Filipino, Jewish, and Puerto Rican heritage. He was nicknamed Bruno due to his resemblance to wrestler Bruno Sammartino. His uncle was an Elvis Presley impersonator.

Young Bruno was onstage at the tender age of four to perform with his family’s band, The Love Notes. His young career was in jeopardy when he wetted himself during a performance of ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’.

But his stock rose when he appeared in the halftime show for the 1990 Aloha Bowl at age five. He also cameoed in the 1992 film Honeymoon in Vegas, singing ‘Can’t Help Falling In Love’.

Mars shifted to L.A. at 17 after graduating high school. He took a while to break through – he wrote songs, notably ‘Right Round’ by Flo Rida. He then appeared as a featured artist on the number-one hit ‘Nothin’ on You’ by B.O.B.. This led to his debut album, Doo-Wops & Hooligans.

Uptown Funk

‘Uptown Funk’ emerged from a jam session, with Mars on drums, Ronson on guitar, and Jeff Bhasker on keys. It took a long time to shape into a song. One early version featured a hard rock breakdown and a chorus where Mars shouted, “Burn this motherf***er down!” Ronson later decided to use the horn line as a chorus, inspired by Kool and the Gang.

When you’re doing something that doesn’t sound like anything else on the radio at the time, you almost need to like, iron-clad it, to make sure it gets through. You have to put these hooks in it. You’ve got to make sure you’ve got all that ear candy in it to get it through the gate.

Mark Ronson, NPR

My Verdict

‘Uptown Funk’ is one of the best songs of its decade, smart, funky, and memorable. It’s a derivative of early 1980s electropop, but it’s a fun retro romp, with Mars exuding spades of charisma.

The Aftermath

Mars has continued to be successful. He’s had seven number-one hits in New Zealand, including Silk Sonic, his collaboration with Anderson .Paak. His most recent number one is ‘A.P.T.’, a duet with New Zealand-born Rose.

Ronson’s been quieter since, but released a memoir, Night People: How To Be A DJ in ‘90s New York City. He also executive produced the soundtrack for The Barbie Movie, cowriting songs like ‘What Was I Made For?’ and ‘I’m Just Ken’.

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