|
contents | blues | |||||||||||||
| Bruno Mars Hits #1 on iTunes With "Just The Way You Are" Elektra recording artist Bruno Mars has announced details of his first-ever North American headline tour. The dates celebrate the release of his eagerly anticipated debut album, "DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS, " which arrives in stores and at all online retailers on October 5th. "The Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour" will kick off in mid-November and will continue through to a November 30th date at Boston's famed Paradise Rock Club. Meanwhile, Mars is set to steal the show with a live performance at this weekend's upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, airing live from Los Angeles on Sunday, September 12th at 9PM ET. Bruno, of course, is a "Best Pop Video" nominee, named alongside Rebel Rock Entertainment/Grand Hustle/Atlantic recording artist B.o.B for their chart-topping phenomenon, "Nothin' On You (Feat. Bruno Mars)." In other news, the complete tracklisting for "DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS" has just been announced (see below). Among the collection's many highlights is the breakthrough hit single, "Just The Way You Are, " which just hit #1 on both iTunes' "Top Singles" and "Top Pop Songs" charts earlier this week. The track is also lighting it up at multi-format radio outlets nationwide, currently standing as a top 10 hit at CHR/Pop and a top 15 smash at Rhythmic. "Just The Way You Are" has also just made its Hot AC debut at #33 - the format's highest new chart entry this week - giving the single a total current radio audience of 62.8 million. The "Just The Way You Are" companion video clip made its long awaited debut earlier this week across a range of MTV networks, including MTV's AMtv, MTV2, MTV Hits, mtvU, MTV.com, and VH1.com. The video - directed by Ethan Lader (B.o.B, Kidz In The Hall), and inspired by the work of Georgia-based artist Erika Iris Simmons - will make its premiere appearance on VH1's Top 20 Video Countdown on Saturday, September 11th, with Mars featured as the network's latest "You Oughta Know" artist beginning Monday, September 13tt (for more, please see www.vh1.com/music/you_oughta_know/main.jhtml). In addition, Bruno will be highlighted as Fuse and MySpace's next "Introducing" artist, with the video for "Just The Way You Are" going into rotation on Fuse beginning Monday, September 13th. The full "DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS" album will then have its world premiere via MySpace Music beginning Friday, September 24th. Pre-orders for "DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS" are currently underway at the Cisco Eos-powered www.brunomars.com. A variety of pre-order options are on offer, with such extras as an exclusive t-shirt and a limited edition screenprinted poster, autographed and hand-numbered by Mars himself. What's more, Bruno will personally be taking 500 individual photos, to be included in the first 500 pre-orders. A remarkably charismatic and charming live performer, Mars recently made his much anticipated New York City solo debut at a sold-out Bowery Ballroom. As previously announced, Bruno will next herald the release of "DOO-WOPS & HOOLIGANS" with his biggest U.S. tour schedule to date, supporting Maroon 5 on the fall leg of their 2010 "Hands All Over" Tour. The dates - which also feature One Republic - begin October 6th at Santa Barbara, California's Santa Barbara Bowl and then continue through an October 16th show at San Diego, California's Viejas Arena. From there, Bruno will cross the Atlantic for an eagerly awaited European tour alongside Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen recording artist Travie McCoy, due to hit England, Scotland, Germany, Denmark, France, Sweden, and The Netherlands with dates running from mid-October through early November. The joint tour follows Mars and McCoy's recent series of high-profile TV performances of their collaborative Top 3 hit, "Billionaire, " including appearances on ABC's The View, NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, VH1's "Do Something Awards, " TBS' Lopez Tonight, and Fox's 2010 Teen Choice Awards. In addition, Bruno recently joined K'naan for a very special one-night-only sold-out concert at Hollywood's House of Blues, collaborating on the international #1 smash, "Wavin' Flag." The track - which was prominently featured at the FIFA World Cup tournament in South Africa - is one of the many recent hit singles co-crafted by Mars in his role as member of the hugely successful production trio, The Smeezingtons. Currently earning acclaim for co-writing and producing fellow Elektra recording artist Cee Lo Green's new online sensation, "F**k You (FU), " The Smeezingtons are without question the year's most sought-after production team, having crafted a pair of RIAA 2x platinum-certified hits in the aforementioned "Nothin' On You (Feat. Bruno Mars)" and "Billionaire (Feat. Bruno Mars)." Bruno broke out on his own earlier this year with his acclaimed debut EP, "IT'S BETTER IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND." Produced and written by Mars in collaboration with his Smeezingtons partners, Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine, the four-track collection peaked at #1 on the iTunes Pop chart, fueled by such irresistible tracks as "The Other Side, " featuring both B.o.B and Cee Lo Green (whose new Elektra solo album, "LADY KILLER, " is slated for release later this year). The scion of a Honolulu-based musical family, Bruno Mars grew up surrounded by a wide array of diverse sounds, spanning reggae, R&B, folk, and 1950s-era rock 'n' roll. Upon graduation from high school Mars headed to Los Angeles where he teamed up with Lawrence and Levine as The Smeezingtons. The trio quickly became one of the most in-demand production/songwriting teams in modern music, with a streak of major hits for such diverse artists as Flo Rida, Cobra Starship, Sugababes, Sean Kingston, Brandy, and Justin Bieber. It wasn't long before Mars also lent his signature vocals to a pair of Smeezingtons-penned and produced hits: B.o.B's #1 sensation, "Nothin' On You, " and "Billionaire, " the debut solo single from Gym Class Heroes frontman Travie McCoy. A flurry of national media attention followed, including performances alongside B.o.B on a number of major TV shows, including BET's 106 & Park, the nationally syndicated The Ellen DeGeneres Show, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and TBS' Lopez Tonight. Furthermore, Mars has been featured in a wide-ranging assortment of national media outlets, spanning E! News, Entertainment Weekly, Complex.com, The Village Voice, Vibe, YRB, PerezHilton.com, Spin.com, ArtistDirect.com, MTV.com, and New York. write your comments about the article :: © 2010 Jazz News :: home page |