EXCLUSIVE! BRUNO MARS SUICIDE WATCH?
February 9, 2011
“After being on the Bruno Mars bandwagon, I’ve been having second thoughts. His latest #1 “Grenade” and has been playing involuntarily in my mind since I heard it. It promotes suicide as the ultimate expression of love. A conspiracy of creativity without much thought of the consequences.”
IF “GRENADE” DOESN’T APPEAR ON THE ABOVE SCREEN CLICK HERE. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR6iYWJxHqs
GRENADE: by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, and Ari Levine
Easy come, easy go…That’s just how you live
Oh, take, take, take it all …but you never give
Should’ve known you was trouble from the first kiss
Had your eyes wide open…why were they open?
Gave you all I had , but you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
‘Cause what you don’t understand is …
CHORUS:
I’d catch a grenade for you
Throw my hand on a blade for you
I’d jump in front of a train for you
You know I’d do anything for you
Listen, baby, I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won’t do the same
Black, black, black and blue beat me ’til I’m numb
Tell the Devil I said, “Hey” When you get back to where you’re from
Mad woman, bad woman,,, that’s just what you are
Yeah, you’d smile in my face and rip the brakes out my car
Gave you all I had , but you tossed it in the trash
You tossed it in the trash, yes you did
To give me all your love is all I ever asked
‘Cause what you don’t understand is …
CHORUS
BRIDGE:
If my body was on fire
You’d watch me burn down in flames
You said you loved me
You’re a liar
‘Cause you never, ever, ever did, baby
I’d catch a grenade for you
Throw my hand on a blade for you
I’d jump in front of a train for you
You know I’d do anything for you
Listen, baby, I would go through all this pain
Take a bullet straight through my brain
Yes, I would die for you, baby
But you won’t do the same
Even though I kept singing it over and over in my head for the past month, it’s only been in the last 48 hours that I realized that “GRENADE” is not only is it the most violent pop song I’ve ever heard, it’s also the first hit song in decades to advocate suicide in a romantic way!
I’ve always been a promoter of free speech and an artist’s right to express themselves but when a song is so catchy, and repeated often enough subliminally lodged in our psyche where it can influence our rational thinking.
As a self-appointed “New Elder” I’m doing what I can promote positive attitudes in our society, my opinion of seven times Grammy nominated Bruno Mars has changed from being one of the most talented producer/ songwriter/singers in the business to the “Most Dangerous Man in Pop Music!”
He and his co-writers, Philip Lawrence, a singer and songwriter, and sound engineer Ari Levine are collectively called the Smeezingtons and have written and produced hit after hit with artists like “Travie” McCoy “BILLIONAIRE”, B.o.B. ””NUTHIN’ ON YOU”, and Cee-lo Greene’s, over the top, “F@#K YOU!”
I can understand pushing the creative envelope, but on “GRENADE” Bruno actually promotes suicide as the ultimate expression of love. A conspiracy of creativity without much thought of the consequences.
Isn’t it time that artists become more responsible for what they’re feeding their audiences and the unsuspecting public, especially when it might trigger violence, or at the very least, condone self-destructive behavior?
As a former member on the Board of Governors of NARAS, I wonder how all of this will affect Bruno’s chances of sweeping The Grammys? All over the internet, everyone is weighing in…What do you think?
Copyright 2011 by Artie Wayne https://artiewayne.wordpress.com/about-artie-wayne/
Here is Bruno’s own website where the suicide controversy continues http://www.brunomars.com/forums/grenade-video-promoting-teen-suicide/
I want to thank my friend and fellow blogger/ Photographer Sally Stevens, “MY LIFE IN A DAY” for helping me put this article together. You can see the conclusion of her six part SHOCKING Jim Morrison story by clicking onto http://rockphiles.typepad.com/a_life_in_the_day/2011/02/pardon-me-mr-morrison-part-six-the-end.html
BACK TO ARTIE WAYNE ON THE WEB! https://artiewayne.wordpress.com
Here’s the story about Bruno Mars from last Sunday’s Calendar section in the LA times http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-ca-bruno-mars-20110206,0,7351623.story
Artie Wayne On The Web 
February 9, 2011 at 3:25 am
I didn’t get that at all. This isn’t “(Don’t Fear) the Reaper” which really DID promote suicide as a form of romantic expression (“Romeo and Juliet are together in eternity / We can be like they are / c’mon baby, don’t fear the reaper / baby take my hand”). “Grenade” isn’t so much about suicide as it is chivalry – not that he’s looking for the opportunity, but put in a moment where the woman he loves is in impending danger, he’d sacrifice his own well being to protect her. It works in the military and nobody questions it… the turnaround in “Grenade” is that the feeling isn’t mutual – he looks out for her while she was only looking out for herself. Give it a few more listens.
February 9, 2011 at 3:46 am
So, he’s jumping in front of a train because … ?
February 9, 2011 at 2:41 pm
As a railroad worker I’m well aware of the dangers of an appoaching train. I’ve seen several people fall on to the tracks, and when it happens timing is critical – either you jump down there and risk your own life to pull the victim to safety, or you stand there and let the train shred her to death. Nothing’s changed.
February 9, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Joe, if you read the comments from Bruno’s fans on his site, they tend to disagree with you. I’ve listened to the song many times. I don’t know if you’ve had any suicides in your family – I hope not – but I have. Jumping in front of a train is a very common way to commit suicide, especially in Europe, and has absolutely NOTHING to do with chivalry. Let alone ‘a bullet through the brain’ – where’s the chivalry in that?
February 10, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Fans of Gary Larson tend to disagree with his own assertion that his “When dogs dream” cartoon isn’t a drawing depicting the “dog’s dream” of having sex with a car. It certainly looks like that (with the dog in “cowgirl” position rather than “doggy style” – think about it, folk), but as Larson points out people who jump to that conclusion do that at the expense of an honest assessment of what the point of the drawing was. Dogs chase cars, but only in their dreams would they ever actually catch one. The apprehended car is killed (flipped over in “dead” pose, never to run again), and the dog is howling over his freshly slaughtered prey as it would howl over any other carcass in the moonlight. Apparently only three people figured this out the first time they saw the cartoon: Larson, his editor, and me. The rest of the world apparently thinks dogs fantasize about going porno on a sedan. Why don’t I understand the reaction?
That said… I’m no fan of television and had never seen the song’s video until last night, and yes, the ending was as disturbing as it’s made out to be. But the context of the suicide scene hardly shows someone who has been planning all along to take his own life as a show of affection. Here’s this guy tugging a piano across town to serenede the girl he wants his heart to belong to (no doubt wishing he’d taken up the guitar while he’s doing it), and when he gets there he finds her with another dude. He takes the piano and leaves (uphill – both ways), landing on a rail crossing stopping either out of desperation or sheer exhaustion. Nothing indicates that he was planning to off himself from the very start – but being jilted like that can cause a huge rush of emotions, not all of them rational. Ten years after my now-ex-wife decided that cheating on me was an acceptable way of dealing with problems I had no clue existed, there are still unanswered questions… and yes, as a railroad employeee the tools were there if I chose to use them (and I’ve had enough body parts fall off of the cars when I was working on them to know how bloody – and unforgiving – a speeding train can be to anyone who gets in the way, intentionally or otherwise).
But like the Gary Larson cartoon I mentioned earlier, how things are percieved are as much a matter of what you choose not to see as what you choose to. To put yourself in harm’s way in order to save the life of someone you love is extremely chivalrous – and a bullet whizzing in the direction of a loved one is a very real thing in today’s cities: if taking it in your own brain was the only way to keep it from hitting someone you love, either you’re going to chose to sacrifice yourself or you risk what fate has to offer for the one you love. To simply elect to end it all as a way of making a statement, especially if the relationship had any chance of being a happy one, does nothing but bring the relationship to a sudden stop and render any questions of the future irrelevant with no point to that irrelevancy. It seems like a romantic ideal to suggest that Romeo and Juliet had to go into the next life together to escape the feud between their families, but the truth is neither one would have taken that step if there wasn’t a major breakdown in communication. Death ends all relationships permanently, and I think when all is said and done Mars will make it clear that his point was more about the willingness to put your own well being on the line to save a loved one than to simply say “great idea! if I knock myself off she’ll know how much I loved her” (note tense). The absence of dangling long distance from a short rope, slitting his wrists for you, baby, or sucking an ehaust pipe in her honor on the list of Horrible Things he’d be willing to do because he loves her should make that very clear.
February 9, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Btw, this is Bruno’s official statement when the video was released:
“Today, I get to share with you the visual companion piece to my new single, ‘Grenade.’ The song is about loving someone so deeply, and the pain of knowing that the person you love does not feel the same. The actions in this video serve as a metaphor, and should not be taken literally. I am aware of the power of visual media, and I encourage everyone who watches this video to understand that it is an artistic interpretation of the song, and not something to imitate.”–Bruno Mars”
July 25, 2018 at 2:48 pm
Bruno, my name is Helen Figueroa and I believe that you saved me from a dark place that I was in when my husband left me to go and be with Jesus. So many of your song’s have helped me. I listen to your music everyday and it hurts so much sometimes but, I always will keep on doing it as long as God let’s me to. I am always sick. I have lung cancer and I believe that you saved me. I can’t afford to go to any concerts because of not only money but I am always sick. I love you very much for the person you are and I believe that God has blessed you with a wonderful gift. I’m hoping that someday I might see you and tell you and talk to you about what you have done for me everyday. You gave me a chance to live. Thanks again Bruno and l pray that God’s love and blessings go with you wherever you go and I pray to God each and every night. I wish I could be able to see you someday. I want you to know that I pray for Jessica and you both. I am a 59 year young women and I was married to a wonderful man for 37 years. I am always sick and so loanly. Thanks again for all your hard work writing the most beautiful music. I hope and pray that you and Jessica have a long and loving life together, that’s my prayer for you too. I wish that you learn more about each other and love life and each other the same way as we did. He was my “Papi chulo” yes Bruno my husband was a very proud Puerto Rican and he loves me and I know he would really love you very much and your music. He was a very spiritual person and he taught me many things. About car’s and things like that. He taught me many things but Bruno he taught me to love. So please remember that no matter what anyone says remember that somewhere in N.J there’s a woman who believe’s in you and what you stand for and who you are. I will always defend you as God as my judge. Peace and love to you Bruno Mars God bless you and your family. P.S I pray that your mom’s soul be at peace. Being a parent myself, I can tell you from a mom’s perspective Bruno she is soooo proud of you. Love to you always Helen Figueroa, I’m out 😇😙🤗💓💌👼
June 18, 2011 at 10:18 am
i love you bruno..
December 8, 2011 at 5:14 am
Although it might not have been the intention of the song. It was the song playing on repeat when my parents found their only son 17 years old with a bullet thru his brain and a letter declaring his love for a girl.
December 2, 2012 at 2:24 am
You all know this song is a joke, don’t you. Come on, the video is hilarious, pulling the piano. LOL