Perm

"Perm" is a high-energy funk track that, at its core, is an exuberant call to relax, let loose, and live in the moment. The central message is encapsulated in the metaphorical phrase, "Throw some perm on your attitude." A 'perm' or 'relaxer' is a chemical hair treatment used to straighten and smooth hair. In the context of the song, Bruno Mars uses this as a clever metaphor to tell a woman—and by extension, the listener—to smooth out her tense, "angry" demeanor and adopt a more relaxed, fun-loving state of mind.

The song also serves as a critique of modern social behavior, specifically the obsession with social media. Mars explicitly tells the woman to "Put your phone down, let's get it. Forget your Instagram and your Twitter." This line highlights a desire for genuine, present-moment connection and enjoyment, free from the distraction of documenting life instead of living it. Mars has spoken about how phones at concerts create a wall between him and the audience, preventing the shared experience of music and dance that he thrives on as a performer.

Beyond this, the song is a celebration of self-confidence and swagger. The narrator presents himself as the ultimate party starter, a charismatic figure who can turn anyone's night around. Lines like "It's my birthday! No, it's not. But I still look good though" exude a playful arrogance that is central to the funk genre's persona, heavily inspired by icons like James Brown. It's about feeling good, looking good, and using that energy to uplift everyone around you.

The song unfolds as a charismatic frontman, brimming with confidence, addresses a woman in a club or at a party. He immediately observes her—looking beautiful but also tense, perhaps a bit angry or closed off. He playfully points out that she didn't get all dressed up and have her hair done just to stand still. He's on a mission to ensure everyone has a good time, starting with her.

With a boastful yet charming swagger, he presents himself as the life of the party. He jokes that it's his birthday (though it isn't) simply because he looks and feels that good. He's the man of the hour, offering autographs and promising a penthouse experience. He directly confronts her reservations, questioning if she can't dance, has no rhythm, or is held back by a boyfriend he doesn't see with her. He then gets to the heart of his message: a critique of modern social distractions. He urges her to put her phone down, to forget about documenting the moment for Instagram and Twitter, and instead, to be present and live in it. He senses her tension and tells her to loosen her shoulders and get ready to engage with the energy he's creating.

This leads to the song's central, repeated command: to "throw some perm on your attitude." This isn't a literal hairstyling suggestion but a clever metaphor for relaxing, smoothing out her rigid demeanor, and letting go of her inhibitions. He frames it as a set of simple instructions, a dance routine for the soul. The band is called upon to musically demonstrate how to "lay it back," creating a powerful, irresistible groove. He encourages her to "activate her sexy," a call to embrace her own confidence and allure. The instructions become more detailed, mimicking the process of styling hair—getting it silky, smooth, adding a little sheen, and patting it flat—all metaphors for adopting a cool, relaxed, and stylish vibe.

As the song progresses, he continues his playful flirtation, telling her he loves her, and even when she dismisses it, he keeps the possibility alive. He's rewarded when he finally sees her smile, treating it as a major victory. He offers his card, positioning himself as the go-to person for a good time. The energy never wanes as he commands the dance floor, encouraging her not to be stingy with her dance moves and to fully embrace the moment. The song is a relentless, funk-driven sermon on the importance of letting go, being present, and succumbing to the joy of the music, all orchestrated by a master of ceremonies who won't take no for an answer.

"Perm" was released in 2016 as a track on Bruno Mars' third studio album, 24K Magic. The album was recorded between late 2015 and September 2016 at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, California. The song was written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, James Fauntleroy, Homer Steinweiss, and Trevor Lawrence Jr. The production was handled by Shampoo Press & Curl, a production trio consisting of Mars, Lawrence, and Brown.

The creation of 24K Magic was a deliberate departure from Mars' previous work, aiming to capture the feel-good, dance-centric sound of 1990s R&B and funk that he grew up with. "Perm" is one of the most direct homages on the album, heavily influenced by the godfather of soul, James Brown. The song's structure, with its tight horn arrangements, energetic drum breaks, and Mars's raw, shout-singing vocal delivery, is a clear tribute to Brown's signature style. The shuffling rhythm has been compared to Brown's iconic "Funky Drummer" track. The album as a whole was conceived as a non-stop party, and "Perm" fits perfectly within that narrative as an unapologetic, high-energy dance command.

The rhythm of "Perm" is its most dominant feature. The song is built on a fast-paced, highly syncopated funk groove that is relentlessly energetic and designed for dancing. The tempo is upbeat, and the drum pattern, with its crisp snare hits and intricate hi-hat work, provides a powerful and complex rhythmic foundation that channels the style of classic funk drummers like Clyde Stubblefield. The bassline is equally important, providing a melodic and rhythmic counterpoint that interlocks with the drums to create an irresistible pocket.

The lyrical rhythm is conversational and percussive. Mars's vocal delivery often functions as another rhythmic instrument, with phrases delivered in short, sharp bursts that align with the song's instrumental stabs. The rhyme scheme is generally simple and effective, often using couplets (AABB) to maintain a straightforward, memorable structure that keeps the focus on the message and the groove. For example, "I bet you want an autograph / For you and your friends / Gotta do it in the penthouse / That's where I keep my pen." The priority is not complex lyrical poetry but a rhythmic cadence that enhances the song's danceable nature.

Musical Techniques:

• Homage to James Brown: The song is a stylistic tribute to James Brown, evident in the tight, syncopated horn stabs, the driving and complex drum patterns reminiscent of "Funky Drummer," and the prominent, groovy bassline.
• Vocal Delivery: Bruno Mars employs a raw, energetic vocal style that includes grunts, ad-libs, and direct commands to the audience and the band ("Band, show her how to lay it back!"). This emulates James Brown's iconic role as a bandleader and master of ceremonies.
• Call and Response: The song features a classic call-and-response structure, particularly between Mars and the horn section or the background vocalists. This technique builds energy and creates a live, interactive feel.
• Instrumentation: The arrangement is characteristic of classic funk, featuring a prominent horn section (trumpet, saxophone, trombone), a scratching electric guitar, a deep pocket bassline, and explosive drumming. This creates a dense, rhythmic, and danceable sonic texture.

Literary Techniques:

• Metaphor: The central literary device is the extended metaphor of putting a "perm on your attitude," comparing emotional relaxation to a hairstyling process.
• Direct Address: The lyrics are written in the second person, with the narrator speaking directly to a "girl" in the audience. This creates an immediate, personal, and commanding tone.
• Rhetorical Questions: The narrator asks a series of questions ("What you can't dance? Ain't got rhythm? What you got a man?") not to get an answer, but to challenge the woman's reservations and urge her to join the fun.

"Perm" is a key track from the album 24K Magic, which was a massive critical and commercial success. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart and went on to win seven Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year and Best R&B Album. While not released as a single with the same promotional push as hits like "24K Magic" or "That's What I Like," "Perm" was widely praised by critics as a standout track for its authentic and energetic homage to James Brown and 1960s funk.

The song's influence lies in its contribution to the revival of retro funk and soul sounds in 21st-century pop music, a trend that Mars and his collaborator Mark Ronson championed with "Uptown Funk." "Perm" solidified Mars's reputation as a master of genre revivalism, showcasing his deep understanding and respect for the foundations of funk music.

The phrase "throw some perm on your attitude" has entered the cultural lexicon as a clever expression for telling someone to relax. Although the song faced some minor accusations of cultural appropriation, many praised it as a respectful and well-executed tribute to Black musical traditions. The track remains a fan favorite and a high-energy moment in Mars's live performances.

The most significant metaphor in "Perm" is the title itself. The lyric "Throw some perm on your attitude" uses the hairstyling process of getting a 'perm' (a chemical relaxer) as a symbol for emotional transformation. A perm straightens and smooths out curly or unruly hair; similarly, Mars is telling the listener to smooth out their 'angry' or tense attitude and to relax. It's a creative and vivid way to say "loosen up" and "let go."

This central metaphor extends to other lyrics that mimic hairstyling instructions: "activate your sexy, silky, smooth and snap... lean with it, throw a little sheen in it, then pat, pat, pat 'til it's flat." These lines are not just dance moves; they reinforce the idea of carefully crafting a new, cooler, and more relaxed persona for the night. 'Activating your sexy' is a call to tap into one's inner confidence, while adding 'sheen' and 'patting it flat' suggests putting the final, polished touches on this new, carefree attitude.

Furthermore, the act of putting down one's phone is symbolic of disconnecting from a curated, digital persona to engage with the raw, unfiltered reality of the moment. It's a metaphor for choosing genuine experience over the performance of experience for a social media audience.

The most prominent recurring lyrical phrase is the song's central hook: "Throw some perm on your attitude." This line is repeated in every chorus and serves as the song's thesis statement, encapsulating the core message of relaxing and letting go. Its repetition drills the metaphor into the listener's mind, making it the most memorable element of the song.

Another key recurring phrase is the command, "You gotta lay it back." This is often followed by the narrator directing his band, "Band, show her how to lay it back!" This motif reinforces the instructional nature of the song and highlights the narrator's role as a bandleader, much like James Brown. It also signifies a musical shift where the instruments take over to demonstrate the feeling of relaxation through the groove.

Musically, the primary recurring motifs are the powerful, stabbing horn riffs that punctuate the verses and chorus. These short, sharp melodic phrases act as a call to attention and inject bursts of energy throughout the track. The tight, syncopated guitar scratch and the foundational bassline are also constant motifs that define the song's funk identity.