New video loaded: Who needs AI music when you have Bruno Mars?
transcript
transcript
Who needs AI music when you have Bruno Mars?
Critic John Caramanica discusses the smooth pop sound of Bruno Mars’ new single.
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After all, if you danced as well as you look now, I might have her as my child. Maybe I can make her my child. Maybe—what? what? If you can’t see clearly from behind me, the car is inside the store. what are you going to do Before the holidays, we talked a lot about AI music. And while listening to Bruno Mars’ new song, all I could think about was AI’s “I Just Might.” A rich, glossy homage to early 1970s soul pop. Obviously you’re thinking of the Jackson 5. It’s glossy. Perfect for taking notes. It certainly sounds like a throwback to something you used to listen to, but it still claims to be new. Let me tell you, I love Bruno Mars. I think he’s incredibly talented. But when you listen to AI music, you hear a lot of the same things. I don’t hear any harshness. All you’re listening to is pure, perfect pop. Rhythm, rhythm, intonation, texture, mood. As we start to get suffocated by AI music designed to accurately reproduce old sounds, old styles, and old ideas, we have to ask ourselves if we really need that when we already have Bruno Mars.

Written by John Caramanica, Arjun Srivatsa, Joe Coscarelli
January 21, 2026
