The Romantic by Bruno Mars

Bruno Mars The Romantic

66
ChoruScore
15 reviews
Established consensus
Feb 27, 2026
Release Date
Atlantic Records
Label
Established consensus Mostly positive consensus

Bruno Mars's The Romantic trims his showman instincts into a nine-song suite of polished, retro-minded love songs that favor craftsmanship over risk. Across professional reviews, critics repeatedly point to radio-ready highs like “I Just Might”, “Risk It All” and “Cha Cha Cha” as the album's most immediate pleasures, a

Reviews
15 reviews
Last Updated
Mar 20, 2026
Confidence
87%
Scale
0-100 critics
Primary Praise

“I Just Might” is the standout for its roller-boogie, disco-banger energy and chart success.

Primary Criticism

The album’s core strength is polished retro showmanship, but it is weakened by derivativeness and a lack of lyrical specificity.

Who It Fits

Best for listeners looking for retro 1970s soul revival and romantic balladry, starting with I Just Might and Risk It All.

Standout Tracks
I Just Might Risk It All Cha Cha Cha

Full consensus notes

Bruno Mars's The Romantic trims his showman instincts into a nine-song suite of polished, retro-minded love songs that favor craftsmanship over risk. Across professional reviews, critics repeatedly point to radio-ready highs like “I Just Might”, “Risk It All” and “Cha Cha Cha” as the album's most immediate pleasures, and the consensus suggests the record succeeds most when it leans into danceable grooves and vintage soul flourishes. With a 66.27/100 consensus score across 15 professional reviews, critics describe the collection as pleasing and well-constructed, if occasionally too safe for those hoping for reinvention.

Reviewers consistently praise Mars's vocal command and slick production - descriptors that map onto themes of retro soul homage, concise pop songwriting, Latin-pop influences and romantic balladry. Standout tracks identified across multiple reviews include “I Just Might” (frequently called the album's catchiest moment), the bolero-tinged opener “Risk It All”, and the floor-friendly “Cha Cha Cha”, while songs such as “Nothing Left” and “On My Soul” earn attention for their dramatic arrangements. Critics note that those best songs reward nostalgia and showmanship, making them likely answers to queries about the best songs on The Romantic.

At the same time, several professional reviews temper praise with reservations about derivativeness and lyrical vagueness - some critics argue Mars often substitutes pastiche for personal risk, producing pleasant but familiar results. The critical consensus paints The Romantic as a finely made, commercially minded record where craftsmanship and nostalgic charm coexist with a lack of deeper reinvention, leaving readers to weigh whether the album's tidy pleasures are worth a spot on repeat. Below, the compiled reviews unpack those tensions and highlight the tracks critics returned to most often.

Critics' Top Tracks

The standout songs that made critics take notice

1

I Just Might

14 mentions

"Like clockwork, “ I Just Might ,” the lead single off The Romantic , went Number One"
Rolling Stone
2

Risk It All

13 mentions

"Say you want the moon, watch me learn to fly, ain’t no mountain you could point to I wouldn’t climb ,” he sings on ‘Risk It All’."
New Musical Express (NME)
3

Cha Cha Cha

13 mentions

"Cha Cha Cha” and “Something Serious” see Mars celebrating the rich grooves and sweet crooning"
Rolling Stone
Say you want the moon, watch me learn to fly, ain’t no mountain you could point to I wouldn’t climb ,” he sings on ‘Risk It All’.
N
New Musical Express (NME)
about "Risk It All"
Read full review
13 mentions
63% sentiment

Track Ratings

How critics rated each track, relative to this album (0-100). Only tracks that made critics feel something are rated.

View:
1

Risk It All

13 mentions
100
03:24
2

Cha Cha Cha

13 mentions
86
03:56
3

I Just Might

14 mentions
100
03:32
4

God Was Showing Off

10 mentions
72
03:31
5

Why You Wanna Fight?

7 mentions
04:14
6

On My Soul

10 mentions
81
02:54
7

Something Serious

12 mentions
78
02:46
8

Nothing Left

12 mentions
78
03:34
9

Dance With Me

10 mentions
52
03:39

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What Critics Are Saying

Deep insights from 15 critics who reviewed this album

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars leans into classic romanticism on The Romantic, and the review makes clear the best songs are grounded in old-school craft rather than gimmick. The lead single “I Just Might” is praised as a disco roller-boogie banger and the album's lone sugar-rush, while ballads like “Risk It All” and “Nothing Left” showcase Bruno's lush, showman vocalism and bolero-tinged tenderness. The reviewer frames these as impeccably rendered, period-accurate moves that please the crowd and underline why the best tracks on The Romantic feel both timeless and immediate.

Key Points

  • “I Just Might” is the standout for its roller-boogie, disco-banger energy and chart success.
  • The album's core strengths are period-perfect 1970s soul production and Bruno's wholehearted showman vocals.

Themes

retro 1970s soul revival romantic balladry Latin-R&B influences showmanship and nostalgia

Critic's Take

In his concise nine-track set, Bruno Mars leans into tender showmanship on The Romantic, where the best songs on The Romantic are clearly “I Just Might” and “Cha Cha Cha”. The review revels in the slinky floor-filler groove of “Cha Cha Cha” and praises the funky lead single “I Just Might” as emblematic of Mars's raspy, terrific voice. Meanwhile ballads such as “Nothing Left” and “God Was Showing Off” supply the album's soft centre, making the best tracks on The Romantic an easy sell to wedding playlists and late-night slow dances.

Key Points

  • The best song is the funky lead single “I Just Might”, which best showcases Mars's raspy voice and concise pop craft.
  • The album's core strengths are retro-flavored production, tight songwriting, and a mix of danceable grooves and lush ballads.

Themes

retro funk romantic love throwback soul wedding/dancefloor
AllMusic logo

AllMusic

Unknown
Unknown date
80

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars fashions The Romantic as a well-dressed set of nine finely crafted love songs, and the best tracks here prove that thesis. The crowd-pleasing single “I Just Might” stands out as a chart-topping preview built for big rooms, while the vibrant rhythms of “Cha Cha Cha” and the soulful melding in “Something Serious” mark the best songs on The Romantic for dancers and romantics alike. Mars' beaming rasp sells even trite lines, and those moments where he goes all out are what make these standout tracks resonate.

Key Points

  • The best song is “I Just Might” because it was a chart-topping, crowd-pleasing preview showcased at the Grammys.
  • The album's core strengths are its retro-leaning production, danceable grooves, and Mars' persuasive, beaming vocal delivery.

Themes

retro influences romantic love songs danceable grooves nostalgia
Consequence logo

Consequence

Unknown
Unknown date
77

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars sounds every bit the honey-voiced preservationist on The Romantic, and the best songs - particularly “I Just Might” and “Nothing Left” - show why his vintage-soul craft still charms. The reviewer's eye lingers on “I Just Might”, praising its interplay between electric and acoustic guitars and its vibe-first approach, and on “Nothing Left”, where weeping strings and expressive drums underline a sudden heartbreak. Throughout, the album's sun-soaked rhythms and Latin-tinged openers like “Risk It All” and “Cha Cha Cha” reinforce why listeners search for the best songs on The Romantic - they deliver polished, old-school romance even as lyrics stay delightfully general. Overall, the record trades daring for timeless atmosphere, so the best tracks are those that most fully inhabit that throwback sound.

Key Points

  • The best song, "I Just Might", is the most effective at cultivating a vintage vibe through its guitar interplay and production.
  • The album's core strength is its meticulous retro production and Mars's flawless, honeyed vocal delivery.

Themes

romance retro soul and R&B revival nostalgia dance and longing

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars leans into familiar pleasures on The Romantic, and the reviewer's eye is drawn to a few clear highs. Chief among the best songs on The Romantic is “I Just Might”, whose doo-wop and disco fusion and even the "do-do-do" post-chorus make it the record's most winning moment. The electric-guitar cut “Nothing Left” provides the boldest hint of a new direction, while the mariachi-tinged “Risk It All” shows Mars trying small, successful experiments. Still, the tone remains one of a talented showman opting for comfort over provocation, which leaves the album pleasant but not essential.

Key Points

  • The best song is “I Just Might” because its doo-wop/disco craft and charming post-chorus deliver genuine moments of pleasure.
  • The album's strengths are polished musicianship and nostalgic showmanship, even as it avoids real risk.

Critic's Take

In a voice equal parts exasperated and exacting, Bruno Mars's The Romantic is judged mostly on its reworked pastiche rather than invention, and the best tracks - notably "On My Soul" and "Risk It All" - are praised when they briefly escape that trap. Sam Rosenberg frames the album as a short, polished collection that occasionally offers groove and flash but mostly recycles old trademarks without fresh heart.

Key Points

  • The best song, "On My Soul", earns praise for its groove and horns despite vague lyrics.

Themes

nostalgia pastiche derivativeness showmanship romantic performance

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars keeps things breezy on The Romantic, favoring polish over provocation and classic-leaning pleasures. The reviewer’s ear lights up for “Risk It All” and “I Just Might”, which are praised as a subtle ballad and possibly his catchiest song yet respectively, and for the soul-soaked “God Was Showing Off”. The record is lauded for its craftsmanship and vocal dexterity, even as the reviewer queries whether Mars is celebrating influences or merely imitating them. Overall, the critic frames the best tracks as meticulously produced crowd-pleasers rather than revelations, answering searches for the best songs on The Romantic with those standout titles in the reviewer’s measured, slightly skeptical tone.

Key Points

  • “Risk It All” is best for its airy, spacious arrangement and vocal subtlety that elevate clichéd lyrics.
  • The album’s core strength is meticulous craftsmanship and versatile vintage-pop production that prioritizes broad appeal.

Themes

nostalgia craftsmanship cultural appropriation romanticism easy listening

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars sounds trapped in his own replay button on The Romantic, where attempts at charm often feel like imitation rather than invention. The review singles out “On My Soul” as a bright spot, praising its groovy, squealing guitar hook and lively horns even as the album recycles old moves. Equally noted are ballads like “Risk It All” and brooding closers like “Nothing Left” which show Mars’ fervor but not enough specificity to lift them. If you search for the best songs on The Romantic, the critic still names “On My Soul” as the most persuasive moment amid otherwise tedious, derivative tracks.

Key Points

  • “On My Soul” is the best song due to its groovy guitar hook and lively horns that stand out from the pastiche.
  • The album’s core strength is polished retro showmanship, but it is weakened by derivativeness and a lack of lyrical specificity.

Themes

nostalgia pastiche derivativeness retro showmanship lack of specificity

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars returns with The Romantic, a tidy nine-song love story that hits its marks more often than not. The reviewer applauds opener “Risk It All” as the vow that sets the tone, and singles out “Something Serious” and “Nothing Left” as the emotional spine of the record. The voice is admiring of Mars' knack for wedding-reception-ready smoothness, while also scolding moments where the album lapses into pop cliché. Overall the best songs on The Romantic are presented as compact, immediate tracks that prioritise melody and mood over sprawling ambition.

Key Points

  • The best song works as a vow-setting opener that establishes the album’s romantic throughline.
  • The album’s core strengths are concise songwriting, Latin-pop flavor, and smooth, crowd-pleasing production.

Themes

Latin-pop influence love story concise pop songwriting pop cliché

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars’s The Romantic settles into a nostalgic, Latin-pop groove where the best tracks — “Cha Cha Cha” and “Dance With Me” — do the heaviest lifting. The reviewer savors the bright guitar licks, infectious congas and brass that make “Dance With Me” swoon and applauds how “Cha Cha Cha” finds a nice groove in its final third. Yet the voice remains mixed about the songwriting, noting that songs like “Risk It All” fall back on clichés. While these are the best songs on The Romantic, the album ultimately comes up a little short.

Key Points

  • The swooning production and nostalgic arrangements make "Dance With Me" the album’s strongest moment.
  • The album’s core strength is its nostalgic, Latin-pop-infused arrangements and danceable grooves, even when songwriting sometimes leans on clichés.

Themes

nostalgia love dance Latin-pop influences

Critic's Take

Brittany Spanos hears Bruno Mars as a consummate pastiche artist on The Romantic, and she singles out the moments where his craft still shines. She praises the opener “Risk It All” for its Mexican bolero flavor and notes that the album peaks when he leans into the bossa nova-lite pulse, while “Why You Wanna Fight?” and “On My Soul” capture his sultry, rum-soaked rasp. But the reviewer repeatedly finds the songs risk-averse and lyrically schlocky, arguing that the best tracks are undone by their uncanny familiarity. Overall, Spanos frames the best songs on The Romantic as polished highlights that cannot fully overcome the album’s impersonatory tendencies.

Key Points

  • The best song moments come when Mars leans into Latin and bossa nova flavors, notably on "Risk It All."

Themes

imitation and pastiche slick production romantic schlock vs. genuine feeling Latin-pop influences

Critic's Take

Hi, everyone. Bruno Mars returns with The Romantic, an album that often trades risk for polish and nostalgia. The reviewer's highlights land on “I Just Might” and “God Was Showing Off” as moments where Bruno's melodicism and songwriting cut through the gloss, but even those tracks feel curbed by ultra-safe production. The best songs on The Romantic showcase Bruno's knack for classic pop-soul hooks, yet the record rarely summons the grit or chemistry that made Silk Sonic sing, leaving the listener wanting more adventurous takes. I also enjoyed “Why You Wanna Fight?” for its big Romeo energy.

Key Points

  • The best song moments, such as "I Just Might", succeed because they blend soul, disco, and funk with catchy melodicism.

Themes

retro soul homage safe commercial pop missing collaborator chemistry short, polished arrangements

Critic's Take

Alexis Petridis writes with the canny, slightly sardonic clarity that has become his hallmark, noting that Bruno Mars leans hard on past pleasures throughout The Romantic. He flags “I Just Might” and “Something Serious” as the album's most immediate moments, praising the lead single's chart success and the closer's soaring vocal while arguing the pleasures are largely familiar rather than daring. The review insists the best tracks are memorable because they echo songs you already know, making them wins for taste if not for invention. Ultimately Petridis judges The Romantic as perfectly pleasant but fundamentally lazy songwriting, where highlights sound like highlights of other records rather than new ones.

Key Points

  • The best song is the lead single "I Just Might" because its irresistible, chart-topping familiarity makes it immediately memorable.
  • The album's core strength is polished, tasteful homage to 1970s soul, though it often favors reproduction over invention.

Themes

nostalgia homage to 1970s soul derivativeness pleasant production

Critic's Take

Chris Willman writes that Bruno Mars’s The Romantic is a lovingly rendered time machine to mid-1970s soul, and he singles out “I Just Might” as one of the album’s few bona fide bangers while praising the slow-burning opener “Risk It All” for its supple vocals. He notes that the record’s Latin touches inform “Risk It All” and “Cha Cha Cha,” and that uptempo moments like “Something Serious” flirt with homage rather than invention. Willman admires the craft and Mars’ voice, but repeatedly argues that the album lacks lived-in lyricism, making even strong tracks feel more stunt than confession. The result is an album whose best songs - notably “I Just Might” and “Risk It All” - reward nostalgia but leave the listener wanting more emotional specificity.

Key Points

  • “I Just Might” is the album’s clearest standout for its single-ready energy and immediate attention-grabbing production.
  • The album’s core strengths are its meticulous 1970s sonic replication, Mars’ abundant vocals, and tasteful Latin and guitar touches, even if the lyrics feel impersonal.

Themes

retro-soul nostalgia 1970s pastiche Latin influences romantic balladry lack of personal lyricism

Critic's Take

Bruno Mars does what he does best on The Romantic, delivering wedding-ready ballads and precise popcraft. The reviewer's eye lands on “Something Serious” and “I Just Might” as prime examples of that polished, familiar Bruno formula, with “Risk It All” offering a teasing Latin-flavored opening. The tone is admiring but measured - Mars is brilliant at surface-level charm, less interested in reinvention or deep self-exposure. For listeners asking about the best songs on The Romantic, those three tracks exemplify the album's strengths: melodic craft, tight production, and reliable crowd-pleasing hooks.

Key Points

  • The album's core strengths are meticulous pop craftsmanship, wedding-ready balladry, and light Latin-flavored touches without full reinvention.

Themes

weddings Latin touches sincere balladry craftsmanship versus reinvention