Bruno Mars doesn't just make songs; he crafts moods that feel like expensive silk against your skin. When That's What I Like dropped as the second single from his 24K Magic album back in early 2017, nobody was really surprised it blew up, but the sheer longevity of the track is what’s actually impressive. It’s a masterclass in "lifestyle porn." You know the vibe. It’s Cadillac rides, champagne on ice, and trips to Puerto Rico.
It’s catchy. Infuriatingly so.
But if you look past the finger snaps and the 90s R&B revivalism, there’s a lot more going on with That's What I Like than just a catchy chorus. It actually cemented Bruno as the definitive pop star of his generation who could bridge the gap between New Jack Swing and modern trap-adjacent percussion without looking like he was trying too hard. He makes it look easy. It isn't.
Why That's What I Like Still Dominates Playlists
Let’s be real for a second. Most pop songs have a shelf life of about six months before they start sounding like a time capsule of "oh, remember when we all wore that?" Yet, this track feels weirdly timeless. Part of that is the production handled by Shampoo Press & Curl along with The Stereotypes. They leaned heavily into the Roland TR-808 sounds but kept the harmonic structure rooted in classic soul.
The song actually won Song of the Year, Best R&B Performance, and Best R&B Song at the 60th Grammy Awards. That’s a clean sweep. It’s rare for a song that is essentially a list of luxury items to garner that much critical respect. Usually, critics hate "flex" songs. But Bruno's delivery—that charismatic, almost winking vocal performance—makes it feel inclusive rather than exclusionary. He’s not bragging at you; he’s inviting you to the party.
Think about the lyric "Strawberry champagne on ice." It’s become a literal shorthand for a specific type of celebration. You see it in Instagram captions and hear it at weddings. The song tapped into a universal desire for the "good life," even if most of us are listening to it while stuck in traffic in a 2012 Honda Civic.
The technical brilliance of the 24K Magic sound
Musically, the track sits at a comfortable 134 beats per minute. It’s got this double-time feel that makes it work in a club, but the half-time "bop" keeps it mellow enough for a radio drive-time slot. If you strip away the vocals, the bassline is doing some heavy lifting. It’s syncopated. It’s funky. It mimics the movement of the New Edition era without being a total parody.
Bruno Mars is a student of history. You can hear Bobby Brown in there. You can hear a little bit of Babyface. Honestly, the way he layering those "Ooh, ooh" harmonies in the background is straight out of the 1988 playbook. But because the snare hits with that modern, crisp digital snap, it doesn't feel like a "throwback" track. It feels like the present.
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Breaking down the "Flex" lyrics
Let's talk about the specific luxury markers in the song. Bruno mentions "Cool jewel gold chains, 24 karat." He mentions "Sex by the fire at night." He mentions "Silk sheets and diamonds all white."
It is high-octane consumerism.
However, there is a specific nuance in the line "Anything you want, just to put a smile on it." This shifts the perspective from a guy just talking about his own money to a guy using his success to provide an experience for someone else. That’s the "Magic" in the album title. It’s the trope of the generous provider, a classic R&B staple that dates back to the 60s.
Interestingly, the song almost didn't sound this way. Early demos and iterations of the 24K Magic project were reportedly much more "rock" influenced or straight-up funk. It took a long time to find this specific pocket of "Digital R&B" that defined the late 2010s.
The Cultural Impact and the Music Video
You can't talk about That's What I Like without talking about the video. It was a massive departure from his usual high-production, 15-person dance crew visual. It was just Bruno.
Just him. And some hand-drawn animations.
Directed by Bruno himself and Jonathan Lia, the video relies entirely on his charisma and dancing ability. There are no cuts. No flashy location changes. Just a gray background and some clever line art that reacts to his movements. It’s one of the most-viewed videos on YouTube for a reason—it’s hypnotic. It proved that Bruno Mars didn't need the pyrotechnics of a Super Bowl halftime show (which he’d already crushed twice) to hold an audience’s attention. He just needed his footwork.
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- The Animation: Created by the team at GenPop, the animations were added after the dance was filmed. They had to frame-by-frame match Bruno's improvised movements.
- The Wardrobe: That silk shirt? It became a trend. Suddenly, everyone was trying to pull off the "Versace on the Floor" look in fast-fashion versions.
- The Choreography: It’s a mix of James Brown slides and modern hip-hop "millying."
People often forget how much of a risk a "simple" video is. If your performer isn't a 10/10 entertainer, the video is boring. Bruno is one of the few modern artists who can actually carry a four-minute frame solo.
Why people get Bruno Mars wrong
A lot of folks write him off as a "wedding singer" or a "tribute act." That’s a shallow take. To recreate the specific analog warmth of 80s and 90s R&B while keeping it commercially viable in the era of streaming and mumble rap is a feat of engineering.
That's What I Like succeeded because it didn't chase trends. In 2017, the charts were dominated by "moody" pop and EDM drops. Bruno went the other way. He went bright. He went upbeat. He went rhythmic.
He basically bet on the fact that people will always want to dance and feel rich for three minutes. He was right.
The Silk Sonic Evolution
If you want to understand the importance of this song, look at what happened next. Without the massive success of this specific track, we probably don't get Silk Sonic (his duo with Anderson .Paak). This song was the bridge. It was the moment he stopped being the "Just the Way You Are" hat-wearing crooner and became the "Silk-clad funk master."
It gave him the "cool" factor he needed to collaborate with artists like .Paak without it feeling forced. It established his "pimp-lite" persona—smooth, wealthy, talented, but still fundamentally likeable.
Actionable Takeaways from the Bruno Mars Playbook
If you’re a creator, a marketer, or just a fan trying to understand why this song "worked" so well, here are some points to consider:
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Specifics matter more than generalities. Bruno doesn't just say "I have nice things." He says "Cadillac," "Puerto Rico," "24 Karats." When you use specific imagery, people can visualize the world you’re building. In your own work, whether it’s writing or business, don’t just say "quality"—describe the "hand-stitched leather."
Master the "inclusive flex."
If you’re going to show off, make it about the audience's experience too. This song works because it feels like an invitation. "I got this, and I want to share it with you." That is a much more powerful emotional hook than "I have this and you don't."
Simplicity requires perfection.
The music video for this song is the ultimate example. When you strip away the bells and whistles, what’s left has to be flawless. If you’re simplifying a project, ensure the core "performer" or "product" is strong enough to stand on its own without the "animations."
Study the greats to find the future.
Bruno didn't invent these sounds. He studied the history of the Billboard charts from 1985 to 1992. He took those DNA strands and spliced them with 2017 technology. You don't have to reinvent the wheel; you just need to put better tires on it and drive it faster than anyone else.
The reality is that That's What I Like by Bruno Mars is a rare bird in the pop world. It's a song that manages to be a massive commercial juggernaut while maintaining a high level of musical integrity. It’s fun, it’s technically proficient, and honestly, it’s just a great song to play when you’re feeling yourself.
Next time it comes on the radio, don't just change the station because you've heard it a thousand times. Listen to the percussion. Listen to the way he stacks his vocals on the pre-chorus. There is a lot of work that goes into making something sound this effortless. That is the real magic of Bruno Mars.