The True Meaning Behind 'Put On A Smile' By Silk Sonic (Bruno Mars & Anderson.Paak)
When Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak decided to collaborate and combine their musical talents to form Silk Sonic, it surely seemed like they could do no wrong. However, when the duo sat down to write "Put On A Smile," which can be found on their debut album, "An Evening With Silk Sonic," things didn't get off to a smooth start.
The only song that Mars and .Paak wrote on their own, according to Genius, the latter artist wasn't exactly impressed when he heard what his new partner initially had to offer. Mars admitted to Apple Music, "I had a song that I played for Andy and I said, 'What do you think about this?' and he said, 'It sucks.'" Ouch!
Fortunately for both them and fans of their music, they didn't abandon the song, but instead, Mars explained, "I start singing it again and he gets behind the drums and that's when the magic happens." In fact, once they had things worked out and brought Baby Face in to help finish things off, Mars admitted, "[T]hat was one of my favorite experiences on this album." It also resulted in a song that delves into some feelings from the singers that you might not have expected to hear.
Bootsy Collins kicks off the song with some truth-telling
Although Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak working together as Silk Sonic was epic enough, they also brought music industry legend Bootsy Collins on board to add some extra flair to the album. However, on "Put On A Smile," Collins kicks off the song with an intro that might be a little unexpected.
"Oh, lookie here, fellas / Take it from your Uncle Bootsy," he says in the intro, via Genius. Obviously feeling like a wise elder who has some valuable advice to share with the two younger men, he adds, "Ain't no shame beggin' in the rain / Tell her how you really feel."
Mars and .Paak seemed to take that to heart, which is why in the first verse, .Paak tells a special someone in his life, "I could pretend when I'm out with my friends / I ain't thinkin' about you / I could pretend like I ain't in my feelings / But that ain't true, nah." Frankly, he claims that he "should be a movie star" considering the fact that he does so well when it comes to "play[ing] the part like everything's okay." However, everything's not okay, and the singers go on to reveal why.
Anderson .Paak and Bruno Mars reveal why they're 'cryin'' on the track
"Oh, now I try to be the life of the party/ All night, buying shots for everybody / But it's all just an act (Yeah) 'cause I can't have you back (Yeah) / Without you, I've been goin' crazy," Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak sing during the pre-chorus of "Put On A Smile," via Genius.
Having already admitted that they're trying to come across as fine — even fun-loving and ready to party — when, in fact, while they're "tryna put on a smile," they also note that they're "tryna fight these tears from cryin'." Frankly, they're hurting so much that they admit, "Lord knows I'm dyin'." They go on to acknowledge that even though they're "out here smilin' like a fool," their happiness is a lie. That because "the only thing worth smilin' for was / You."
On top of that, the pair admit that if they could go back in time, they "would've spent all my time makin' sure that my baby good." But since they didn't do that and can't change what happened in the past, they're instead "tryin' hard to hide the shame" even though they "know [they're] playin' a dangerous game." However, they claim that they don't have a choice, because ever since their love left, they "ain't been the same," and in the end, "There's only so much a man can fake." That's certainly the truth.