MANILA, Philippines - Unorthodox Jukebox is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Bruno Mars (photo) now out in local music stores under Atlantic Records and distributed by Warner Music Philippines. The first single, Locked Out of Heaven, was released last year and recieved positive reviews from critics.
Bruno said in an interview with Billboard: “This is me going into the studio and recording and writing whatever I want. This album represents my freedom. I’ve had big record label presidents look me in the face and say, ‘Your music sucks, you don’t know who you are, your music is all over the place, and we don’t know how to market this stuff. Pick a lane and come back to us.’ That was disgusting to me, because I’m not trying to be a circus act. I listen to a lot of music, and I want to have the freedom and luxury to walk into a studio and say, ‘Today I want to do a hip-hop, R&B, soul or rock record.’â€
Locked Out of Heaven was released as the lead single from the album. It has been described as having strong influences of New Wave, with striking resemblances to Message in a Bottle and Roxanne by The Police, The Romantics’ Talking in Your Sleep and even Michael Jackson’s Beat It, while some have mildly referenced it to The Outfield’s Your Love. Bruno debuted and performed the song Young Girls in Saturday Night Live.