Bruno Mars and Rosé’s collab single, “APT.” has been spreading like wildfire this season. Its official music video has gained a shocking 773 million views in only two months — if it magically manages to gain another 250M hits by mid-January, it will be the fastest song to hit 1 billion views in YouTube history, knocking Adele’s “Hello” off the top spot.
But when Bruno and Rosé performed the track live at the 2024 MAMA Awards, the pair ended up causing an internet meltdown all over again, amassing an equally incredible 45M views on this one live performance alone!
And it’s not hard to figure out why this track is turning the pop scene upside down. This bombastic track is flooded with Y2K pop-rock nostalgia, ultra-positive vibes, and blindingly catchy lyrics, melting the worlds of K-Pop and US rock into one unstoppable force. Bruno and Rosé share a sensationally bright and unmissable chemistry as they drive the crowd into a frenzy, singing into the same camera like rebellious school kids winning the talent show.
The entire audience jumps like it’s a mid-00s Disney concert; Rosé serving modern-Britney Spears in an oversized schoolgirl outfit and Bruno Mars matching her punk-rock rebel style. After Rosé slays the first verse, a roar of screams welcomes Bruno’s chart-topping voice as the pair dance together, backed refreshingly by a live rock band. This track features ultra-catchy chorus lyrics in Korean and others in English, blending cultures to create an international hit like no other!
The 27-year-old, New Zealand-born singer Rosé first hit the spotlight when she joined the South Korean girl group Blackpink in 2016. After becoming the “biggest K-pop girl band on the planet” according to British Vogue, Blackpink’s split in 2023 swiftly led to the release of Rosé’s debut solo studio album in 2024, containing the vivacious lead single, “Apt.” The tune became the longest-running #1 single of the year, spending 9 weeks as #1 on the Billboard Global 200 charts, and hitting #1 on over 35 global music charts, from South Korea to Panama, Poland to the UAE.
K-pop fans have been going crazy over this collab; more than 552,000 comments flood the official music video, with pop nerds celebrating Rosé’s newfound independence in her solo work, experimenting with her genre and sounds previously unfathomable under her South Korean ex-label and talent agency, YG Entertainment. From one look at this live clip, Rosé’s liberation becomes breathtaking to witness as she molds a brand new sound of her own alongside one of our century’s most prolific songwriters.
Bruno Mars and Rosé have truly created a sensation with their electrifying collaboration, and their live performance continues to captivate audiences worldwide. This unstoppable track’s infectious energy and nostalgic charm have set a new benchmark in the pop scene. To dive deeper into this remarkable musical journey and explore more about these dynamic artists, check out the useful links below.