A double surprise from Bruno Mars

Doesn’t Bruno Mars make all Pinoys feel proud? As everybody surely knows Bruno is half-Filipino. He was born to a Pinoy mother and Hawaiian father in Hawaii. He has become so successful as an artist and we all like to think that he gets all that talent from the Filipino part of his heritage. He is great at being a singer, songwriter, producer, dancer, etc. etc. Why? Pinoy kasi.

I think we should also include shrewd businessman to that list. Just take a look at how he has been handling his career lately and see how he stays on top. Well, Bruno had already proven himself a true hitmaker with Uptown Funk, Just The Way You Are, That’s What I Like, Versace on the Floor, plus many others. After all those big-selling songs, he had certainly earned a rest and should simply relax at home and live off his many zeroed royalty checks.

Then just when all seemed quiet for quite a while on the Bruno front, there came Bruno merged with Anderson .Paak as the pop R&b band Silk Sonic. And wow! They were doing a sexy new single titled Leave the Door Open. The song was lovely. He easily made the charts again and even brought home a few Grammy awards. And then all went quiet again for a year or two.

Then surprises of surprises last August, there was Bruno again and double surprise, in an unannounced duet with Lady Gaga. The tune, Die with a Smile, zoomed to the top. Not only because it was a superstar pairing but because the song was a passionate blend of pop and R&B performed with their soaring vocals. It sounded like pure ecstasy. And what a message: I will die with a smile if I am with you. Haaay!

Bruno is in K-pop mode and hotter than ever with the pop-rock tune, APT., with an even hotter singing partner, the South Korean pop star Rose of Blackpink. It is now No. 1 in several countries, including the Philippines.

Did Bruno take a rest? No way, barely a few weeks later, he was back. He was in K-pop mode and hotter than ever with a pop rock tune titled APT. and he had an even hotter singing partner, the South Korean pop star Rose of the girl group Blackpink. Of course, theirs was a no-miss combination. APT. easily became a huge hit. It is now No. 1 in several countries, including the Philippines.

APT. takes inspiration from an old Korean drinking game and has won plaudits from all over the world for showcasing a bit of Korean culture in the song and in the companion video. I can already hear drinking buddies around town yelling “APT!” just like Bruno does in the song. It is also the first single release from Rose’ first solo album titled Rosie. Lucky girl.

Lucky us having somebody like Bruno to make us proud. And lucky Bruno for being also Filipino.

And now take a look at this hit list. As per Billboard Global Philippines’ Hot 100 chart, here are the Top 25 titles of the week:

APT. Rose and Bruno Mars; Die with a Smile by Lady Gaga and again, Bruno Mars; Birds of a Feather by Billie Eilish; Palagi by TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan; Sining by Dionela and Jay R; Dilaw by Maki; Taste by Sabrina Carpenter; Gusto Ko Sakin Ka Lang by Robledo Timido; Bed Chem also by Sabrina; Moonlit Floor by LISA: Mantra by Jennie; Please, Please, Please again by Sabrina; Espresso, of course, by Sabrina; Blue by Yung Kai.

Good Luck, Babe! by Chappell Roan; Touch by KATSEYE; Boyfriend by ALLMO$T; Namumula by Maki; That’s What I Like also by Bruno; Tingin by Cup of Joe ft. Janine Tenoso; Love, Money, Fame by SEVENTEEN ft. DJ Khaled; Who by Jimin; Tadhana by UP Dharma Down; Diet Pepsi by Addison Rae; and Misteryoso, again by Cup of Joe.