Arguably, Bruno Mars has held the keys to the Las Vegas Strip for more than a decade, thanks to two record-breaking residencies at The Cosmopolitan and Dolby Live, which have brought in more than $200 million.
As of Friday, April 10, Mars now possesses the actual key to the city thanks to a day of back-to-back career milestones, which included a street named in his honor, Bruno Mars Drive; an official day proclamation and a real key to the castle; and a ceremonial state flag from Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo. The spectacle coincided with the launch of his first tour in more than a decade, where he will visit North American football stadiums for the first time.
All this … and a parade with Hello Kitty made the debut of Mars’ The Romantic Tour an unforgettable occasion for the sold-out crowd that gathered to celebrate Mars both during the day and later that night at Allegiant Stadium.
As for the main event, the first of his two shows in Las Vegas, Mars kicked off the two-hour maximalist soul, funk and pop jam session, around 8:50 p.m., and didn’t relinquish until he played every new track, old hit and crowd favorite — even bringing back Silk Sonic with Anderson .Paak.
The setlist immersed the stadium of 65,000 fans into Mars’ universe from the soul-piquing opening ballad “Risk it All” to the anthemic “Uptown Funk.”
Between razor-sharp choreography and the enrapturing musical talent of his band The Holligans, Mars framed the night not as a retrospective, but as a statement — one that positions The Romantic era as his most confident and swagger-laden yet. Living up to the newly bestowed title, the “King of Las Vegas,” Mars is one of the greatest showmen on the road today.
Here’s a look at the full opening night setlist for The Romantic Tour.
RISK IT ALL
CHA CHA CHA
ON MY SOUL
24K MAGIC
TREASURE
GOD WAS SHOWING OFF
I JUST MIGHT
PERM
WHY YOU WANNA FIGHT
LOW RIDER MEDLEY (OH GIRL, MISS YOU, EVERYTHING, WANNABE, THAT’S WHAT I LIKE
SOMETHING SERIOUS
BLAST Off
777
FLY AS ME
SMOKING OUT THE WINDOW
LEAVE THE DOOR OPEN
MARRY YOU
DIE WITH A SMILE
PIANO MEDLEY – IT WILL RAIN
TALKING TO THE MOON
WHEN I WAS YOUR MAN
LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN
JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
UPTOWN FUNK
DANCE WITH ME
