Bruno Mars Accused Of Cultural Appropriation

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Bruno Mars Accused Of Cultural Appropriation

February 23. 2018

Bruno Mars

32-year-old R&B singer Bruno Mars, real name Peter Gene Hernandez, is facing a social media backlash. Mars is being accused of cultural appropriation in taking from black culture. However, in watching one of Mars' music videos recently, it is apparent he has black blood in him. It shows on his hair and skin tone. Mars is Hispanic, but definitely of African descent as well.

Mars, just like anyone else, is free to do R&B music and rap. Just like black artists like Darius Rucker, formerly of hit multi-platinum 1990s band, Hootie and the Blowfish, is free to do rock and country music. No one owns a patent on these music styles. However, people do own copyrights to music and lyrics.

Where Mars is getting into trouble is actually via copyright infringement. He was sued by the Gap Band and settled the copyright infringement case regarding his song "Treasure." In listening to his music, I heard a lot of New Edition, BBD, Bobby Brown, Cameo, Prince, Earth Wind & Fire, Michael Jackson and James Brown. This is what is creating problems for him with fans. Mars is a gifted entertainer, but you can outright hear others' music in his work.

Mars looks like a cross between Prince and Michael Jackson (and sort of like a member of the 1980s group The Jets, who are also from Hawaii)

Mars' song "That's What I Like" takes elements from Bobby Brown's "Rock Witcha." There are similar melodies, harmonies, subject matter and they both sing the line "tell me what's on your mind" and in the exact same manner. Mars' song "Finesse" is a takeoff of the 1990s television show "In Living Color" using one of the sets for the music video. However, the beat for "Finesse" is too much like the theme song for "In Living Color." The bridge of Mars' "Versace On The Floor" contains the synth music from Michael Jackson's "Human Nature."

As stated previously on the site, Mars' song "24K Magic" is a complete rip off of the first rap song in America, 1979's "Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang. Mars' hit song "Just The Way You Are" is a dead rip off of Billy Joel's 1978 hit "I Love You Just The Way You Are."

For his next album, Mars needs to do something original, as the music buying public on social networking are growing restless, regarding what they are labeling a wholesale theft of other artists music, dance moves and styles. They are starting to savage him online. He needs to change.