Summer is nearly here! You can feel the warmth in the air, the sun is shining brighter, and yes, the questionable tan lines are starting to reappear. Summer is undoubtedly a season that demands a soundtrack. And what better song to kick things off than a tune that perfectly encapsulates the desire to just… relax?
Bruno Mars playfully poses with monkeys in the official music video for “The Lazy Song”
Enter “The Lazy Song” by Bruno Mars. Let’s dive into this track. Right from the start, you’re hit with that upstroke guitar and a seriously groovy percussive beat. What we have here, folks, is a prime example of a ‘brocoustic’ jam. Now, typically, this genre isn’t my cup of tea, but honestly? After a hectic few weeks, I’m ready to let this play. In fact, to get a truly authentic take, I need to get a second opinion from a real bro. Time to make a call. Grabbing my phone…
A close-up of a smartphone screen showing a contact named “Matt” being dialed.
Wait for it… his ringback tone? John Mayer’s “Your Body Is a Wonderland.” Classic. “Y’ello, Matt?”
A man with long limbs enthusiastically answers a phone call with a wide grin.
“WHAT UP, BRAAAAHHH!”
A person holds a phone to their ear, looking slightly amused and listening intently.
“Oh, not much, just listening to this new track called ‘The Lazy Song’ and wanted to get your bro-perspective on it. You qualify as a bro, right?”
The long-limbed man, Matt, leans back, looking thoughtful while still holding the phone.
“I’d say I’m bro-adjacent, yeah, definitely in the bro-sphere. Dude, this song is seriously chill. Like, seriously. It starts playing, and suddenly, I’m ready to throw a frisbee shirtless or impulse-buy another Incubus t-shirt online. It’s unbelievably good, brah, I didn’t even realize Bruno Mars had this in him—”
A person looks surprised, eyes widening and mouth slightly agape, questioning the identity of the artist.
“Wait, hold up. This is Bruno Mars?”
Matt, the bro, nods emphatically, reinforcing his previous statement with certainty.
“Yeah, Brobama himself! The National Lax-ociation of Broology is about to induct him for this epic display of pure bro-ness.”
A person looking slightly disappointed and contemplative, considering the artist’s recent work.
Bruno, my man. What happened? “Nothin’ on You,” the actually good parts of “Rocketeer,” “Fuck You” – you were involved in so many amazing pop anthems. Why is your solo work now consisting of an overly sweet ballad (albeit a catchy one) and… this pouty display?
Back when I reviewed “Just the Way You Are,” I mentioned Mars’ primary goal seemed to be “getting the ladies,” and all he needed was an acoustic guitar. Well, here we are with “The Lazy Song,” a track built around acoustic guitar upstrokes, a rubbery bassline, and a frankly underwhelming drum beat – especially considering Bruno’s other singles have had some seriously top-tier beats. Bruno Mars making a breezy summer jam he produced himself? Groundbreaking. However, to be fair, much like Mars’ other hits, the production here is undeniably polished and tasteful.
However, similar to some of his other hits, the main hook here isn’t incredibly powerful on its own. It’s catchy, sure, and repetition will definitely get it stuck in your head. But when I actually think, “Today I don’t feel like doing anything,” my brain doesn’t immediately jump to this melody. The verses also feel a tad rushed for such a laid-back track, almost like Mars was trying to cram in too many lyrics.
And speaking of lyrics, “The Lazy Song” is packed with lyrical… moments. Like this gem: “Turn the TV on, throw my hand in my pants/No one’s going to tell me I can’t.” While technically true, it’s also information I really didn’t need to know. Also, nothing dates a song faster than rhyming “Snuggie” with “doughie” or referencing P90X (was I the only one who had to Google that?). Setting those dated references aside, the lyrics aren’t offensively bad, but they lack the universal appeal of something like “Just the Way You Are” and feel more like the first thoughts that popped into Mars’ head.
Maybe I started off on the wrong foot with him with “Billionaire,” but I must admit, Bruno’s voice seems to improve with every single release. I genuinely enjoy his vocals here, particularly on the bridge, where he sounds as smooth and personable as ever. It’s actually refreshing to hear him not trying quite so hard.
But perhaps I miss when Mars seemed to be trying at all. Is it called “The Lazy Song” because it’s about being lazy, or because the song itself is lazy? I get that the track is meant to be lighthearted and fun, and don’t get me wrong, it is an enjoyable listen. But in a musical landscape where tracks like Beck’s “Loser,” Sublime’s “What I Got,” and even Travie McCoy’s “Billionaire” exist, “The Lazy Song” feels somewhat… unnecessary. We already know Bruno Mars is capable of creating truly great songs, so why did he create the summer soundtrack for this particular mood?
Matt smiles and gives a thumbs up, seemingly endorsing the song despite the mixed review.
P.S. You can follow Matt on Twitter at http://twitter.com/frogsoblivious. He’s far less of a “bro” than he pretends to be.
