“Uptown Funk” landed 14th week at #1

Uptown Funk! Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars

Writer(s): Jeff Bhasker, Philip Lawrence, Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson (see lyrics here) Released: November 10, 2014 First Charted: November 16, 2014 Peak: 114 US, 112 BA, 113 DG, 112 ST, 16 RR, 5 AC, 11 A40, 17 UK, 115 CN, 16 AU, 1 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 11.0 US, 3.0 UK, 20.0 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): 5.0 radio, 5743.0 video, 1755.85 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Mark Ronson had released three albums under his name and landed four top ten hits in the UK. He’d never hit the Billboard Hot 100 in the U.S. as a solo artist, although he had produced hits such as Bruno Mars’ #1 “Locked Out of Heaven” (2012) and Amy Winehouse’s top-ten “Rehab” (2006), which won Grammys for Song and Record of the Year. For his fourth solo album, Uptown Special, Ronson tapped Mars for lead vocals and landed not just the hit of his career, but one of the biggest #1 hits of all-time. On the Hot 100, only Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day” (1995) spent more weeks at #1 (16). In Canada, only the Black Eyed Peas’ “I Gotta Feeling” (2009) spent more weeks at #1 (16). WK The song was one of only four to top the Hot 100 and the UK charts for at least seven weeks on both charts. The others were Bryan Adams’ “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991), Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” (1992), and Rihanna’s “Umbrella” (2007). SF The song also set a worldwide record for highest number of streams in one week (15 million). WK The song grew out of a lick Mars and his band played on tour, but took over half a year to complete. SF They went with deliberately over-the-top lyrics, such as “gotta kiss myself I’m so pretty,” a line adapted from an interview with boxer Larry Holmes, who kissed his arms after saying how much he loved himself, and boxer Muhammad Ali, who boasted “I’m so pretty.” SF Mars and Ronson co-wrote the song with Jeff Bhasker, with whom they’d also collaborated on “Locked Out of Heaven.” Bhasker had also produced Kanye West, Drake, and Alicia Keys. SF The song gave Mars his sixth #1 and eleventh top 5 hit on the Hot 100, passing Katy Perry and Rihanna (both with 10) for the most of the 2010s. WK The song also featured Sharon Jones’ Dap-Kings on horns. Ronson previously used the group on Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black and in his solo work. Resources: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Mark Ronson SF Songfacts.com WK Wikipedia Related Links: Last updated 7/24/2023.