Why “The Romantic” Was Worth the Near-Decade Wait

This endearing love ballad leans into Bruno’s Latin heritage, reminiscent of classic boleros like “Sabor a Mi.” It’s one of those songs that makes you feel like you’re watching love unfold in slow motion.

Fusing Bruno’s signature funk with Latin flair, this mix feels fresh and nostalgic all at once. The conga drums and clever interpolation of the "I like it like that" line from the song "Slow Motion" in the chorus gives the song the perfect bounce.

Serving as the lead single, "I Just Might" is a throwback to Bruno’s “Doo-Wops & Hooligans” era. It’s built on simple, catchy "doo-doo-doos” and a melody that stays stuck in your head for hours. It was the ideal choice for a first single to remind everyone why they fell in love with him in the first place.

This song takes us back to the 70s-style groove with bright trumpets and call-and-response vocals that echo The Temptations. Lines like “Is Heaven your name?” feel almost unreal, like the kind of lyric you’d dream someone would write about you. It’s a more mature-sounding “Just the Way You Are.”

A slower, late-night R&B moment driven by gentle guitar and twinkling sound textures, this track shows Bruno’s yearning side. Focusing on the friction within a relationship, it reminds me of his previous album’s “Too Good to Say Goodbye.” His vulnerability hits a peak in the final chorus, where his vocal range takes center stage.

The energy picks back up with the disco-infused “On My Soul.” Channel your Soul Train dance moves with this upbeat pick-me-up.

The shortest song on the album, “Something Serious,” brings the Latin party vibes to the forefront. This one feels built for the stage. The playful lyrics and energy make it easy to imagine a live performance moment that stretches beyond its runtime.

This is a slow, stripped-back track where Bruno explores the "highs and lows" of romance, admitting that even though he’s still with his partner, the "magic" has faded. It feels like the story before “When I Was Your Man,” and it’s where the album’s romantic fantasy meets reality. You can certainly hear the desperation in his delivery, and the Prince-style guitar break is absolutely stunning.

The album closer is bittersweet and sounds like it belongs on a classic romance movie soundtrack. The emotional pull of the production and Bruno’s vocals fade out, leaving you wanting more. With the title “The Romantic,” you might expect a happy ending, but instead we get a drifting goodbye.

Produced alongside D’Mile, “The Romantic” lives up to its name as a collection of love songs that feel built to last. The themes may not reinvent romance, but Bruno’s commitment and dedication to these eras of music make it feel fresh compared to anything else in modern pop. This is another old-school-influenced album with no skips, a short 31-minute serenade to be sung to lovers for years to come.