Agreed lol but songs like The Initiation, Life of the Party and The Birds set him apart

I need another solo while The Weeknd takes a break.

Doesn’t matter. Check out R. Kelly’s Love Letter album. He’s ripping off oldies the entire record but it never sounds like it’s missing edge or originality. Bruno tends to struggle with that.

I think Bruno’s music is almost TOO well produced
The music he’s biting has gritty, imperfect production that gives it character, his s*** sounds kind of flat in comparison tbh

Ya really saying early weeknd was writing or sounding like mj itt lmao

This, and it's not like he doesn't put in effort but it just sounds oh so sterilized. Like an advanced version of those really talented cover artists on youtube except with a million dollar budget lol

If you hate Bruno for his lack of originality, you can't point and say The Weeknd does it right

you need shame bringing weeknd into this, he helped create an entire new sound that spread through all mainstream genres at the age of 20

no album sounds like house of balloons before house of balloons, why is that?

Vegas coke fiend

I hope we can be done with this subject by the end of the week.

yes, Silk Sonic sound obnoxiously derivative.

The Weeknd is a fair counter-example. His Trilogy, as many have already pointed out here, definitely sounded original. It's later that he became more like MJ and overall a worse artist (After Hours was a step up tho imo)

Goblins

grenade?
talking to the moon?
locked out of heaven?
Bruno may not be your favorite today but he makes great pop music when he wants to

What MJ song sounds like Wicked Games or twenty eight?

i completely agree: he does well by his inspirations & influences but something about his music has felt too glossy and watered down in comparison. he's like the best version of a wedding singer. he's a great singer and puts on an entertaining show. his music is fun (i love 24k magic -- the song not the album) but i always feel like im in a mall or watching an impressionist in vegas when i listen to his other stuff.

i liked your original post a lot lol you put everything i've been feeling about him into words! he's good but why would i listen to him when i could listen to bel biv devoe or the isley bros?

Im not saying he doesn't make great pop music, no one here is, but what im saying is he hasn't made a song that made me say "Only Bruno Mars could make that". Only Prince could make Kiss, only The Weeknd could make The Initiation, only Frank Ocean could make Nights, only Drake could make Marvin's Room, only Kanye could make Hold My Liquor, and etc

THE WEEKND ISNT A COVER ARTIST???

I mean, now. But early weeknd was pioneering that dark R&B music. I remember wishing more music had the dark undertones and raw lyrics when I was young and watching his come up.

Uhhh no tf give me another artist who can make this