Music Review: Bruno Mars "Locked Out Of Heaven"

Bruno Mars

Locked Out of Heaven

Album: Unorthodox Jukebox

Year: 2012

        Bruno Mars finally makes a commitment in the glowing “Locked Out of Heaven.”

           Bustling synths and Mars’ eager “yeah’s” open the single, setting a gratified  tone Mars would go from one girl to the other, not bothering to get too involved in their lives. He wouldn’t open up to them, keeping them at arm’s length. Love was something which only existed in movies for him. When he would hear a relative talk about a friend’s health getting better around Christmas time, he would sit at the table and sigh. Since he starting dating his new girlfriend, though, he’s changed his mind. When she’s in his arms, he’s at peace.  (“Never had much faith in love or miracles/Never wanna put my heart on the line/But swimming in your world is something spiritual/I'm born again every time you spend the night.”)

         In the chorus, he enjoys the intimacy between them. For the first time, the physical and emotional are are linked together. After being with her, he’s realized how closed off he was. He no longer wants to be the cynical guy. He wants to be vulnerable and let his emotions show. He’s changed his outlook on life because of her. (“'Cause your sex takes me to paradise/Yeah, your sex takes me to paradise/And it shows, yeah, yeah, yeah/.Cause you make me feel like, I've been locked out of heaven/For too long, for too long/Yeah, you make me feel like, I've been locked out of heaven/For too long, for too long.”)

       Mars “oh yeah’s” again.

       In the second verse, he’s at her mercy. If she even looks at him the wrong way, he gets hurt. She’s a wonderful girl who is patient with him yet won’t take any of his crap, either. He wants to spend as much time as he can with her. (“You bring me to my knees/You make me testify/You can make a sinner change his ways/Open up your gates cause I can't wait to see the light/And right there is where I wanna stay.”)

          The chorus is sung again.

      In the bridge, he goes over to her apartment after work. When the alarm clock rings in the morning, he dreads it.  He has to leave for work and he won’t see her until dinner time. There is never enough time. (“Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah/Can I just stay here/Spend the rest of my days here/Oh, oh, oh, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah/Can't I just stay here/Spend the rest of my days here.”)

        The chorus is sung again.

      Mars’ “oh yeah’s” again to end the single.

   Mars’ humbled, craving vocals ache for something he didn’t ever think existed. He’s a new person now and has reveresed his way of thinking. Grunts, accompanied by elastic beats springing back and forth, are rigid, giving credibility to his tough side.

  Mars is trying to be the sensitive guy. However, his horniness is the focus, proving he’s got some ways to go before he fully redeems himself.   

  The crumbling “Locked Out of Heaven” tries to stay balanced with its vocals and arrangement but it’s knocked down by its crudeness.