Bruno Mars and Fleur East discuss her beating him to Number 1 with his own song

Fleur performed Bruno's hit song 'Uptown Funk' on The X Factor

Author: Hazel ScottPublished 12th Nov 2021
Last updated 12th Nov 2021

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak released their album 'An evening with Silk Sonic' on 12th November as R&B duo Silk Sonic, and stopped by the Hits Radio Breakfast Show to chat to Fleur East about their new music.

As soon as Fleur started chatting to Bruno and Anderson, Bruno exclaimed: "You're Uptown Funk!" Fleur instantly knew what he meant and while the pair laughed Bruno told her she had to tell the story to Anderson.

Fleur revealed that she had performed a version of 'Uptown Funk' when she was a contestant on The X Factor, but it was before Bruno Mars had released the song in the UK, and Fleur's version of the song went to Number 1 on iTunes in the UK.

"She had a number one record of 'Uptown Funk'" Bruno said while laughing: "You killed it, you smashed it. It was incredible".

Anderson chimed in: "I would've been p----d", and Fleur asked if Bruno was angry about the situation. He replied: "No I'm not annoyed at all, I just didn't understand. I was like, ok this is how they do it in the UK".

'An Evening With Silk Sonic' has nine tracks and the musical duo released the songs 'Silk Sonic Intro', 'Leave the Door Open', 'Skate', and 'Smokin Out the Window' ahead of the full album release.

Bruno explained how the album came about: "It came together in 2017, when we were on tour together and we started working on, the first song we wrote together was 'Smokin Out the Window' actually, not the version that you hear, but it was the beginning version of what you hear, and then four years later, five years later we got into the studio, we finished it. Got back into the studio and just kept having fun until we created this Silk Sonic."

As the album is called 'An Evening With Silk Sonic', Fleur asked what an evening spent with the two of them would be like. Bruno told her: "It would sound like the album. Like an emotional night" and Anderson added: "Like we just pulled up to your living room and started playing for you".

Listen to Silk Sonic's new song 'Fly As Me':

Anderson shared what he wanted people to get out of the album: "I just want people to feel loved. I want you to feel the love, even in fine records and the uptempo records, you can feel the love that we put into the album."

Fleur asked if we could expect to see the pair perform in the UK anytime soon, and Anderson said: "Via zoom probably until further notice, but God willing we'll be out there soon enough".

We can't wait to see what the pair do next!

Take a look through some of Bruno Mars' best collabs:

B.o.B - 'Nothin' On You' feat. Bruno Mars, 2009

Bruno worked with B.o.B - real name Bobby Simmons, Jr. - on 'Nothin' On You' in 2009. It was a hugely popular song, and featured vocals from Bruno on the chorus of the track, peaking at Number 1 in the UK.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Sugababes - 'Get Sexy', 2009

'Get Sexy' by the Sugababes has a sample of 'I'm Too Sexy' by Right Said Fred, and was co-written by Bruno along with Philip Lawrence and Ari Levine in 2009. It peaked at Number 2 in the UK.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Cee Lo Green - 'Forget You', 2010

Bruno worked with Cee Lo Green on one of his most popular songs of all time - 'Forget You'. The song peaked at Number 1 in the UK charts and spawned many different versions, including one featuring rapper 50 Cent.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Travie McCoy - 'Billionaire' featuring Bruno Mars, 2010

Gym Class Heroes' Travie McCoy hired Bruno's songwriting services as well as his singing talent on 2010 hit 'Billionaire', which featured on his debut album. It peaked at Number 3 in the UK.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Flo Rida - 'Right Round' (featuring Ke$ha), 2010

Sampling classic 80's tune 'You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)' by Dead Or Alive, Bruno co-wrote the rework of the track for American rapper Flo Rida in 2010.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Mike Posner - 'Bow Chicka Wow Wow' ft. Lil Wayne, 2011

Mike's 2011 single 'Bow Chicka Wow Wow' with Lil Wayne was co-written by himself and Bruno along with Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, Christopher Brody Brown.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa - 'Young, Wild and Free' featuring Bruno Mars, 2011

Bruno was once again taken on for both his songwriting and vocal abilities for Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa's 2011 single, 'Young, Wild and Free', which featured on the film Mac & Devin Go to High School.

Kanye West & Jay-Z - 'Lift Off' featuring Beyoncé, 2011

When good pals Kanye West and Jay-Z teamed up for their collaboration album 'Watch The Throne' in 2011, they also brought Bruno into the mix for 'Lift Off'.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Adam Lambert - 'Never Close Our Eyes', 2012

Bruno worked with American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert on 'Never Close Our Eyes' in 2012, which appeared on his second album, 'Trespassing'. It broke into the Top 20 in the UK charts.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Alicia Keys - 'Tears Always Win', 2012

Alicia and Bruno teamed up for 'Tears Always Win' in 2012, which was co-written by the two of them along with Jeff Bhasker and appeared on her album 'Girl on Fire.


Watch the video on YouTube.

The Vamps - 'Can We Dance', 2014

Bruno worked on The Vamps' debut single, 'Can We Dance'. It was the lead single from their debut album 'Meet the Vamps' in 2014, and peaked at Number 2 in the UK singles charts. Bruno also produced the song.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Adele - 'All I Ask', 2015

Adele's song 'All I Ask' appeared on her third album, '25', released in 2015. The song was co-written by Adele and Bruno, along with Philip Lawrence and Christopher Brody Brown. She performed it occasionally on her 'Adele Live 2016' tour.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Cardi B -'Finesse', 2016 and 'Please Me', 2019

Bruno worked with Cardi B in 2016 to create the song 'Finesse' and the pair got together again to work on 'Please Me' which came out in 2019.

Ed Sheeran - 'BLOW' (with Chris Stapleton & Bruno Mars), 2019

Bruno Mars joined forces with Ed Sheeran and Chris Stapleton on this song, which was also rewritten by all three artists along with a songwriting team.


Watch the video on YouTube.

Anderson .Paak - 'An Evening With Silk Sonic', 2021

Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak formed the R&B duo Silk Sonic and released their album 'An Evening With Silk Sonic' on 12th November. They released 'Silk Sonic Intro', 'Leave the Door Open', 'Skate', and 'Smokin Out the Window' ahead of the full album release.


The duo performed their song 'Leave the Door Open' at the 2021 BET Awards, where they won an award for Best Group.

Now Read:

13 songs Bruno Mars wrote for other artists

9 of Bruno Mars' biggest career moments so far 🎵

Bruno Mars admits there are FLAWS in his own lyrics for 'Grenade'

How to listen to Hits Radio:

Turn it up with Hits Radio! Home of Fleur East, Sam Thompson and Gemma Atkinson playing the biggest hits and the biggest throwbacks, alongside the biggest laughs and life-changing competitions. Tune in on FM, DAB, online or ask your Smart Speaker to 'Play Hits Radio'.