Bruno Mars sparked a flurry of online discussion Friday after dedicating a song with overtly romantic lyrics to BLACKPINK member Rosé during a TikTok live stream promoting his new album, The Romantic. The album, Mars’s first solo release in a decade, dropped February 27 via Atlantic Records, following his collaborative project with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic in 2021.
During the live broadcast, Mars played a voice message he received from Rosé, in which she asked him to recommend a song for a girls’ night out. Responding to the message, Mars chose to play “Something Serious,” a track from The Romantic, produced with D’Mile. The song’s lyrics, including lines such as “I got it bad for ya…You should be my boo thang/I should be your mans” and “Don’t you want some pretty brown little babies? I could supply you that,” quickly circulated on social media, prompting a range of reactions.
The dedication ignited debate online, with some users expressing surprise and questioning the implications of the song choice, given Mars’s marriage. Others defended the interaction as consistent with the playful dynamic between the two artists, who previously collaborated on the song “APT.” The song earned three Grammy nominations this year.
The exchange comes after speculation surrounding Mars and Rosé’s relationship arose following this year’s GRAMMYs. The interaction during the TikTok live stream appears to contradict narratives that emerged after the awards show, suggesting a close friendship between the two musicians.
The Romantic features nine tracks and is Mars’s fourth solo studio album. The album’s release is accompanied by the “Romantic Tour,” scheduled to commence April 10 in Las Vegas and conclude October 20 in Vancouver, encompassing 71 shows across North America, and Europe. The lead single, “I Just Might,” released January 9, debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, while “Risk It All” was released concurrently with the album on February 27.
