I'm Wesley Morris and welcome to the first episode of Cannonball.

Every week, we're doing culture but with feelings.

And right here, right out of the gate on week one,

I got a big feeling that I've been wanting to get off my chest for like a decade.

So allow me to confess, I love Bruno Mars.

I'll just start with his voice.

He sings with a classic soulful brightness that, at its most open open can sit right alongside Sam Cook

and Bobby Womack and Jackie Wilson.

Bruno, at his most impassioned, achieves what I can only describe as delicious burnt ends singing.

Like it's like, do I sing along?

Or do I douse this man with barbecue sauce?

I also love what a showman he is.

Bruno seems completely devoted to delighting the shit out of us.

Also, the melodies will send you to rehab.

Now, that is not news that should shock anybody.

In fact, you might have just fallen asleep hearing that I even had to confess it.

What earthling does not love this man?

The charts alone speak for themselves.

He was basically the biggest selling artist of 2011,

and right now, he's hogging Billboard's global singles chart with duets.

A sticky right-down-the-middle-battle with Lady Gaga called Die with a Smile.

And a not-bad banger with Rose call APT.

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