7 Ways Bruno Mars's Career Reminds Us of Michael Jackson

Updated on April 30, 2017 at 1:00 AM

Let's get this out of the way first: no one can be the next Michael Jackson. What he did with his career was groundbreaking and extraordinary and paved the way for many of the pop acts that we're all currently obsessed with. Still, it's hard not to notice the similarities between the King of Pop and Bruno Mars. Although Justin Timberlake and The Weeknd have also clearly channeled Michael throughout their time in the spotlight, the "That's What I Like" singer has followed in nearly the exact same footsteps of his idol on his way to pop stardom. While Michael's throne will remain untouched, even Hollywood legends like Frankie Valli agree that Bruno might just be the next best thing.

He comes from a musically gifted family.

Like Michael, Bruno comes from a big family (he's one of six children!), and they're all talented entertainers. While growing up in Honolulu, HI, the family formed a band, The Love Notes, which Bruno began performing in five days a week at Waikiki Beach when he was just 4-years-old. His father, Pete (pictured above), was a drummer, and his mother, Bernadette, was a dancer and singer. Although the family never achieved the success of the Jackson 5, it obviously fostered an early love of music in Bruno.

He started performing at a young age.

Backed by The Love Notes, little Bruno delighted crowds with impressive impersonations of Elvis Presley. It was so good, in fact, that he's featured in a scene in 1992's Honeymoon in Vegas, which stars Nicolas Cage and Sarah Jessica Parker. He eventually mixed in impressions of James Brown and, you guessed it, Michael Jackson.

He slayed the Super Bowl.

Michael's halftime performance at Super Bowl XXVII in 1992 remains one of the most memorable in NFL history, and Bruno's taken a stab at it twice now. At the 2014 game he hit the stage with his band The Hooligans, along with special guests The Red Hot Chili Peppers. In 2016, he joined Beyoncé (who performed in a very Michael-esque outfit, by the way) for a jaw-dropping set along with Coldplay. Talk about a stacked résumé, right?

He has a similar vocal range.

Just thinking about Michael's falsetto gives us chills, but there's a distinct similarity between his voice and Bruno's. They both have a high tenor range, and neither has a problem tearing up and down the scales. If you still don't believe us, hear us out — literally. Listen to Bruno's exceptional cover of "The Way You Make Me Feel" above!

He has a similar sense of style.

In a nod to Michael's "Smooth Criminal" music video, Bruno has popped up more than a few times in a white fedora. On top of that, Bruno's sartorial choices in general are reminiscent of his predecessor. Colorful jackets, flashy metallics, and classic all-black ensembles are just a few of the ways he's paid tribute to Michael with his clothes, whether on purpose or coincidentally.

His dance moves.

We've yet to see Bruno perform something as iconic as Michael's famous anti-gravity lean, but he's definitely skilled when it comes to busting a move or two. On top of that, some of the choreography in his music videos has echoed Michael's moves, like the "Bad"-esque shuffle he does in "Uptown Funk."

See?

He's modeled his career after Michael's.

During an appearance on 60 Minutes, Bruno straight up cited Michael as one of his biggest musical influences. It's obvious that the level of artistry Michael showed throughout his career deeply affected Bruno, and he wouldn't be the artist he is today without him.