777 Reasons to rush to see Bruno Mars at T-Mobile Arena Vegas

Ask any of the 76.000 fans who attended a Bruno Mars concert at Staples Center in Los Angeles, earlier this year, and I know they can give you at least that many reasons.

I will give you two.

It is unbelievable fun, and you owe it to yourself.

Mars’ 86-date world tour, which began in March 2017, comes to a conclusion this week, with two performances on December 30 and 31. Boyz II Men will make a special guest appearance, bringing their own soulful sound to the stage, too.

THERE’LL BE A PARTY GOING ON AT T-MOBILE ARENA

A Bruno Mars concert is meant to be like one big party.

The larger-than-life festivities are abundant and encompassing.

The solo performances by musicians are wonderful.

The dance combo by Mars, on a soundless stage, is just as remarkable.

The light show is dazzling; the fans just as brilliant.

They sing along to their favorite tunes, applaud with enthusiastic approval, stand up and dance, and overflow with joy.

Who else can so skillfully transform a stadium into a paradise?

With his happy chords, Mars manages to bring everyone to a higher plane and make them feel sogood. It is beautiful to see unity among thousands of people.

And that’s just the way Mars wants it.

He is at the helm, creating “this world I want to live in.” [1]

If positive vibes are your thing, then you are in the right place.

And he’ll even convince you, “You’re Beautiful Just the Way You Are.”

(Say what? When was the last time you heard that line? If ever?)

So, that must be why he is “The One. The Only. Bruno Mars.”

Because there are few of us humans who can do what he does--create a certain magic through music that renews us, reassures us and renders us radiant.

ABOUT THE MAN: BRUNO MARS

AKA Peter Gene Hernandez (his birth name), Bruno Mars is an American singer, musician and dancer, whom some fans also call a god. At age 33, he is already one of the best-selling artists of all time, with 130 million records sold worldwide.

His is a rags-to-riches epic. Growing up in Hawaii, there was a time when this former Elvis- impersonator and his family, which included five siblings, lived in a one-room dwelling; there was a time they didn’t have a bathroom, either.

Yet Mars looked on the bright side of things, and thought to himself, “It’s temporary. We’ll figure it out.” [2]

He sure did, in spite of the obstacles.

But Mars is also quick to remind us, “It’s never going to be easy. There are no short cuts.”[3]

TAKE MY ADVICE. I KNOW WHAT I AM TALKING ABOUT

I was fortunate enough to see Bruno Mars in concert in October.

It was a quest for gold that led me to Staples Center.

One of my sisters likes gold, a lot. And she has always wanted to visit Alaska. (There was actually a gold rush in Alaska from 1896-99.) So when one of my daughters got a job with Princess Cruises, my siblings and I thought a cruise to Alaska might be the perfect family reunion. (It was.) Then, after I won the BINGO jackpot with one other very happy cruise passenger, I had a lot of money in my pocket. I gave some serious thought as to how I could/should spend all that cash.

However, I’d also been dreaming about going to see Bruno Mars in concert, but the tickets were quite expensive.

When I thought of my BINGO windfall as a godsend, though, buying tickets to his concert seemed like the perfect course of action. (It was.)

So I (sort of) rushed to buy my tickets to the 24K Magic World Tour, donned my gold jewelry and gold clothes, and set off the metal detector at Staples Center.

Shine on!

Photo credit: Christine Zeiger

[1]“That’s What I Like” Interview with Charlie Rose, October 19, 2017.

[2] Bruno Mars 60 Minutes interview with Lara Logan, November 20, 2016.

[3] “That’s What I Like” Interview with Charlie Rose, October 19, 2017.