But we can't help wondering if there's a bit of romanticization going on here. As another breakup ballad of the year pointed out, it's worse to have your mutual friends just show up to and treat you like a stranger.
Bruno may not get quite the reaction he's hoping for: "My new boy does do all those things, asshole—that's why I'm with him! My pride, my ego, my needs and my selfish ways Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made And it haunts me every time I close my eyes It all just sounds like oh, oh, oh, oh Again, it's great that Bruno can realize now how much of a jerk he was when he was with this girl, but why does he want to get back with her, really? His ex's happiness doesn't really enter into it.
Overdone, this move can feel cheap and gratuitous, but Bruno earns it, we think. But how great would it be if Bruno was actually singing about by Taylor Swift? Our best advice would be to not let it get to you! If you find yourself enjoying this conceit, check out Rihanna's for an entire song of lonely bed metaphors. It's never too late to say you're sorry to someone you hurt, as long as you acknowledge: 1 the apology is more for you than it is for them, and 2 apologizing doesn't make entitle you to anything, even having your apology accepted.
NextYou can listen to the song at the bottom of the post! Same bed, but it feels just a little bit bigger now Bruno starts us off with a familiar image in breakup songs, the bed that feels empty with just one person in it.
And it all just sounds like oh, oh, oh After a few lines of familiar heartbroken platitudes, "When I Was Your Man" really takes off at this moment, when words fail Bruno and he's forced to let his emotions out in a series of lovesick groans. But it's weakness all the same. Like anyone else, he wants it more when he knows he can't have it.
We've seen this act in before: Dude was a crappy boyfriend, girl breaks up with him, dude gets sad and romanticizes the hell out of their relationship, taking retreat in a fantasyland where he wins her back and everything is perfect forever.
She's their friend too, let them talk about her without having to worry about you throwing a drama fit.
We decided to run the song through our patented lyrics-analysis regimen, to see! Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now, our song on the radio but it don't sound the same when our friends talk about you all it does is just tear me down cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name It all just sounds like oh, too young, too dumb to realize that I should've bought you flowers and held your hand should I gave you all my hours when I had the chance take you to every party cause all you wanted to do was dance Now my baby's dancing but she's dancing with another man My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways caused the good strong woman like you to walk out my life now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made and it hunts me every time I close my eyes It all just sounds like oh, too young, too dumb to realize that I should've bought you flowers and held your hand should I gave you all my hours when I had the chance take you to every party cause all you wanted to do was dance Now my baby's dancing but she's dancing with another man Although it hurts I'll be the first to say that I was wrong I know I'm probably too late to try and apologize for my mistakes but I just want you to know I hope he buys you flowers I hope he holds your hand Give you all his hours when he has the chance take to every party cause I remember how much you loved to dance do all the things I should have done when i was your man do all the things I should have done when i was your man.
It's a sneaky form of weakness, because it looks so much like wisdom. Bruno may think he's come out the other side of this thing older and wiser, but he's still got one more lesson to learn.
NextSelf-reflection is important, and we much prefer the "I made mistakes and I regret them" type of breakup song to the kind.
For the third single from Unorthodox Jukebox, Bruno Mars ditches the retro stylings of and in favor of a spare piano sound that suits the song's mournful lyrics, as Bruno regretfully pines for the girl he drove away.
NextBut say this to her face, and it comes off a little condescending.