Bruno Mars Wins Best Pop Vocal Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards

By: Jovie Calma

 

It’s been three years since the last time I had a chat with the 18-time Grammy nominee and singer-songwriter, Bruno Mars. It was in 2010 when I told him, in one of my interviews for VIA Times and CPRTV, “I wanna see you at the Grammy’s”. You may call it a divine intervention, the following year, Bruno Mars had seven Grammy nominations and won the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Just The Way You Are” in this highest music honor awards giving body. This year, he scored multiple nominations, which include Best Record of the Year (Locked Out of Heaven), Best Pop Solo Performance (When I Was Your Man), Song of the Year (Locked Out of Heaven) and bagged the Best Pop Vocal Album for “Unorthodox Jukebox.” It has been announced that Bruno Mars landed as the most nominated Grammy artist this year getting the four nods by the Recording Academy. Born Peter Gene Hernandez, Bruno Mars is of Puerto Rican and Filipino descent but was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. His quick rise to stardom has gained him worldwide recognition and ultimately many awards. At the Grammy’s, Bruno Mars acknowledged and expressed his love to his father who was at the audience, his best friend and co-producer, Phillip Lawrence, thanked his girlfriend, Jessica Caban, and offered his award to his mother (who was a Filipina), who died with a brain aneurysm last year. “I wanna dedicate this award to my Mother, Ma, I know you are watching, I hope you are smiling, I love you,” Bruno Mars said. These remarks earned him more admiration from the fans, and Filipinos all over the globe are more proud of him. Each year, the Recording Academy recognizes the popular crooner since he won in 2011. At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, his popular jam “Grenade” was nominated for Album of the Year, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. He moved the audience, viewers and celebrities alike on their feet when he performed his smash hit, “Locked Out of Heaven” at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards during a tribute set to Bob Marley, featuring Sting, Rihanna and Ziggy and Damien Marley. Tagged as the most nominated Grammy Artist this year, Bruno Mars was stunned about his nominations and grateful with all the blessings that come his way. At Superbowl XLVIII, ten years after Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake’s’ infamous Superbowl wardrobe malfunction or “Nipplegate,” NFL decided to take the half time performance at Superbowl match-up between the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos into a different direction. Bruno Mars, the 28-year old 2013 Billboard Artist of the Year, is taking the ownership of the stage as he’s picked to perform in front of the biggest audience of his career at the Superbowl at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. He will be joined by The Red Hot Chili Peppers during this big number. He’s very thrilled since he’s a huge fan of the rock band. Bruno Mars expressed how honored he is that NFL is giving him a shot though he’s still a budding artist. He is set to join the musical legends in the likes of Paul McCartney, Prince, U2, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and the late Michael Jackson, in the roster of acts who graced the big game’s stage. He’s not getting paid to perform but NFL will cover his travel and lodging costs and payment will also come in the form of exposure. It’s indeed a huge accomplishment for Bruno Mars to be selected in this great opportunity. Throughout a singing career in just four years, he indeed rocketed from a promising singersongwriter to one of the top acts in pop music today. He has earned numerous awards and honors throughout his career. On his belt, he has sold 10 million albums and 58 million singles worldwide. He has achieved a total of five number one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and seven top ten singles, as a solo artist placing himself in the record books by being the second solo artist to do so after Richard Marx. He spawned five number one singles in the US; the only male who has reached five ladders more quickly than Bruno Mars was Elvis Presley. In addition, Bruno and the singer, Adele were the only artists to ever have a number-one song that only featured piano and vocals. In 2011, Bruno Mars was named one of Time Magazine’s 100’s most influential people in the world. He also won the Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist at the American Music Awards in 2012 and an International Male Solo Artist at the Brit Awards in the same year. In 2014, he was ranked number one on the Forbes 30 under 30 list. Bruno Mars also headlined numerous sold-out concerts all over the world. He is known to move the crowd to rise to its feet, and he is one expert in mixing the old and new in his performances. He is 28, but his musical soul is at least twice his age. When I saw him live onstage at the House of Blues, he reminded me of Michael Jackson, the Temptations, and Elvis Presley, all in one. He is light on his feet and he has passionate internal rhythm. He’s a songwriter that merges ‘70s pop, and R & B, a smidgen of ‘80s reggae, classic hiphop and lots of contemporary production values. So nothing sounds dated. What we get is a timeless song craftsmanship delivered with such youthful joy that it fits all ages. He is truly gifted, plain and simple. His second studio album, 2012’s Unorthodox Jukebox, is even better than his auspicious debut, 2010’s Doo-Wops & Hooligans. This Grammy Award-winning album contains ten amazing and uniquely sounds. “Treasure” was a pop-soul corker; “Moonshine” was a jam breakdown; “Show Me” was all thick reggae jubilance. His signature piece in this album is “When I Was Your Man,” in which he was nominated for the Best Pop Solo Performance for this year’s Grammys. In this song, Bruno put all cylinders into his vocal performance, channeling emotional silkiness of the song as well as the lamenting lyrics. Bruno Mars could probably sing just about anything and keep the crowd’s attention. He has a slightly naughty sense of humor, which surfaced here and there and he’s very witty with his quick adlibs behind the microphone, very spontaneous! Bruno Mars will share his talents once again to all the Chicagoans in his concert at the First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on June 20th! It’s pretty astounding to note that he spent so much time writing songs for others to turn into hits before he had his own shot at stardom. He’s destined to do this. Congratulations, Bruno Mars. It’s a huge honor to have met you and I am proud of you, we all are! You are amazing, just the way you are! My special birthday wishes to Jillian Alonzo (Feb. 4), Girlie Pascual (Feb. 7), Ninang Gloria Torres (Feb. 19), Joyce Cachapero (Feb. 21), RJ Alzol (Feb. 23), and Chrizel Valverde (Feb. 24). This love month, give LOVE everyday. Do what you need to do. Think what is good for you. Be a better person than before. You are competing yourself. Don’t ever quit & constantly strive until you succeed. If someone hurt you, then pray to God to give what is best for him/her. If you didn’t do anything bad to anyone then you don’t have to worry a lot. Be proud about yourself for how great person you are. Go to sleep with your dreams & wake up with a purpose. In making this as routine, you will be living the life the way it should be lived. To all Via Times Readers and CPRTV viewers, major love to you all for your continued support. Until the next issue of Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE! Happy Hearts Day! ##

VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma post-interview with Grammy Award Winner, Bruno Mars. #Flashback Circa 2010 House of Blues

The Tales of the Three Marias had a successful repeat performance at the Columbia College Chicago as part of the Filipino American History Month last year. (Clockwise: VT/CPRTV’s Jovie Calma (Actress), Evelyn Masbaum, Je Nepomuceno, Production Manager Mae Vidal and Director

VT/CPRTV’s Host and Columnist of Wassup?! Jovie Calma LIVE! rocked the Holiday Fashion Segment at NBC’s Steve Harvey Show! Photo credits: Steve Harvey TV

 

Congratulations to Lindy Tan, the newly-inducted President of Laguna Association of the Midwest, Inc. Thank you for having me as one of your emcees for the night. I had a blast! Photo credits: Jessie Domingo