"Chunky" is a song by American singer

Bruno Mars Peter Gene Hernandez (born October 8, 1985), known professionally as Bruno Mars, is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is known for his stage performances, retro showmanship, and for performing in a wide range of musical ...

from his third studio album '' 24K Magic'' (2016). It was solely released as a

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a tr ...

single in Australia on November 29, 2017 by

Warner Music Australia Warner Music Australia Pty Limited (WMA) is the Australian division of the Warner Music Group. WMA also distributes in New Zealand. History In 1969, Warner Bros. Records branched out and WEA was born. The first country in which it was estab ...

and

Atlantic The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

, and served as the album's fourth single. "Chunky" was co-written by Mars, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, and

James Fauntleroy James Edward Fauntleroy II (born May 16, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Inglewood, California. He is best known for writing credits on tracks by high-profile artists such as Travis Scott, Frank Ocean, Kendrick ...

. Mars, Lawrence, and Brown produced the song under their alias, Shampoo Press & Curl. Musically, "Chunky" is a

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the mi ...

and

electro-funk Electro (or electro-funk)Rap meets T ...

ballad, while lyrically acting as an anthem for big buttocks. The track received mixed reviews from music critics. They noted the resemblance between "Chunky" and the works of

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...

artists from the 1980s and 1990s. The song reached number 79 on the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

and 34 on the

French Singles Chart French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with France ...

in 2016, as well as was certified gold in the United States by the

Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/ ...

(RIAA). Mars performed "Chunky" during his 24K Magic World Tour (2017–2018), as well as on television shows including on ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves ...

'' in October 2016 prior to its release.

Production and release

"Chunky" was co-written by

, Philip Lawrence, Christopher Brody Brown, and

. The production was handled by the former three under their alias, Shampoo Press & Curl. The Stereotypes were in charge of programming the drums, while Mars, Lawrence, Brown, Fauntleroy, and Lisenny sang background vocals. "Chunky" was recorded at Glenwood Place Studios in Burbank, California with engineer

Charles Moniz Charles Moniz is a Canadian recording engineer who worked on Bruno Mars's studio albums ''Unorthodox Jukebox'' and '' 24k Magic''. Alternatively, he recorded " All I Ask" for Adele's 2015 studio album '' 25''. For his recordings with Mars and Adele ...

. Additional engineering assistance was provided by Jacob Dennis. The song was mixed by Serban Ghenea at MixStar Studios in Virginia Beach, with John Hanes serving as a mixing engineer. It was mastered by Tom Coyne at Sterling Sound, NYC. "Chunky" was solely released as a single in Australia to

contemporary hit radio Contemporary hit radio (also known as CHR, contemporary hits, hit list, current hits, hit music, top 40, or pop radio) is a radio format that is common in many countries that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by ...

stations on November 29, 2017 by

and

.Release date in Australia to contemporary hit radio: * *

Composition

"Chunky" is a

and

electro-funk Electro (or electro-funk)Rap meets T ...

ballad featuring synthesizers and drum machines. The single is a mid-tempo track with a "silky pre-chorus" and a basic structure revolving around synthesizers and a "popping" bass. The song has female harmonies on the background vocals which alternate with "slower, deeper grooves". According to the digital sheet music, "Chunky" was composed in the key of

E-flat major E-flat major (or the key of E-flat) is a major scale based on E, consisting of the pitches E, F, G, A, B, C, and D. Its key signature has three flats. Its relative minor is C minor, and its parallel minor is E minor, (or enharmonically ...

with a tempo of 100 beats per minute in

common time The time signature (also known as meter signature, metre signature, or measure signature) is a notational convention used in Western musical notation to specify how many beats (pulses) are contained in each measure (bar), and which note val ...

. Mars's vocal range spans from the low note of F4 to the high note of F6. "Chunky" is reminiscent of

songs from the 1980s and 1990s. Andy Kellman, writing for

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Music ...

, said that the song recalled the works of

Shalamar Shalamar () is an American R&B and soul music vocal group active since the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Shalamar's classic line-up on the SOLAR label consisted of Howard Hewett, Jody Watley, and Jeffrey Daniel, together with dancer ...

and even Mars's own "

Treasure Treasure (from la, thesaurus from Greek language ''thēsauros'', "treasure store") is a concentration of wealth — often originating from ancient history — that is considered lost and/or forgotten until rediscovered. Some jurisdictions le ...

" (2013). The track "echoes down to the letter structure" of Cameo's "

Candy Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English, New Zealand English), is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, i ...

" (1986); further reminsiscenece was noted to the chorus of " Outstanding" (1983) by

The Gap Band The Gap Band was an American R&B and funk band that rose to fame during the 1970s and 1980s. The band consisted of three brothers: Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, along with other members; it was named after streets (Greenwood, Archer, and ...

and to

New Edition New Edition is an American R&B/Pop group from the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, formed in 1978 by Bobby Brown. Their name is taken to mean a 'new edition' of the Jackson 5. The group reached its height of popularity in the 19 ...

's " Candy Girl" (1982). Troy L. Smith from ''

The Plain Dealer ''The Plain Dealer'' is the major newspaper of Cleveland, Ohio, United States. In fall 2019, it ranked 23rd in U.S. newspaper circulation, a significant drop since March 2013, when its circulation ranked 17th daily and 15th on Sunday. As of M ...

'' thought the song had the "soulful synths" from

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the " King of Pop", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural figures of the 20th century. Over ...

's ''

Off the Wall ''Off the Wall'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released on August 10, 1979, by Epic Records. It was Jackson's first album released through Epic Records, the label he recorded under until his death in 2009, and t ...

'' (1979). The "organic sound" of "Chunky" reflects the decade where

neo soul Neo soul (sometimes called progressive soul) is a genre of popular music. As a term, it was coined by music industry entrepreneur Kedar Massenburg during the late 1990s to market and describe a style of music that emerged from soul and con ...

began to replace

new jack swing New jack swing, new jack, or swingbeat is a fusion genre of the rhythms and production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop, and the urban contemporary sound of R&B. Spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley and Bernard Belle, new jack swing wa ...

, according to Craig Jenkins from ''

Vulture A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...

''. Lyrically, "Chunky" is a song about sex and the search for a "sumptuous damsel", and is, ultimately, an anthem for big buttocks. Its lyrics include: "Lemme hear you say I'm ready / Girl, you better have your hair weave strapped on tight / Girl, once we get goin', we rollin', we cha cha 'til the morning / So just say alright / If you ain't here to party / Take your ass back home".

Critical reception

"Chunky" has received mixed reviews from music critics. Carl Lamarre writing for ''

HipHopDX ''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of hip hop music criticism and news. The website's current president and publisher is Sharath Cherian and the Head Of Content is Jerry L. Barrow. ''HipHopDX'' is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group. ...

'' said the track "screams hit-record", and

Annie Zaleski Annie Zaleski is an American music journalist and author. Career Zaleski is a regular writer for mainstream media outlets such as The A.V. Club and NPR Music, and a columnist at ''Salon''. She is based in Cleveland, Ohio where she has won fir ...

from '' The A.V. Club'' dubbed the song as the "standout" of the album. Christina Lee of Idolator praised "Chunky" saying it is "fit for line-dancing at

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...

's backyard cookout." However, Jonathan Wroble at ''

Slant Magazine ''Slant Magazine'' is an American online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New Yo ...

'' criticized the song for being a "copycat" of

's "Baby Be Mine" (1982), while ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

's'' Andy Gill said "Chunky" was missing the "roguish and cheeky charm" of " Baby Got Back" (1992) by Sir Mixalot. Nick Levine of '' NME'' condemns Mars's lyrics for being "old-fashioned" as he "sizes up a woman's body." Levine concluded that Mars is "better off being kitsch than creepy."

Commercial performance

Upon the release of its parent album ''24K Magic'', "Chunky" charted on the Portuguese and

UK Singles The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

charts, peaking at numbers 94 and 79, respectively. It was, eventually, certified silver by the

British Phonographic Industry British Phonographic Industry (BPI) is the British recorded music industry's Trade association. It runs the BRIT Awards, the Classic BRIT Awards, National Album Day, is home to the Mercury Prize, and co-owns the Official Charts Company with ...

(BPI) for track-equivalent sales of 200,000 units. The song debuted at number 66 on the South Korea International Chart and at number 34 on the

on the week ending November 26, 2016. Around the same time, the "Chunky" hit number 108 on the

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...

chart, which acts as an extension to the ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large adverti ...

Hot 100 The ''Billboard'' Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales (physical and digital), radio play, and online streaming ...

. It further debuted and peaked at number 44 on the ''Billboard''

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

. After its release in Australia in November 2017, "Chunky" was placed in rotation nationally by radio stations. It was certified gold in the United States by the

(RIAA).

Live performances

Mars performed "Chunky" live for the first time on October 15, 2016 on ''

''. According to the ''Billboard'' staff, the performance was a "dazzling tour-de-force" as it showed off Mars's vocals and his "inner Michael Jackson." He also performed the song at the

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2016 The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is an annual fashion show sponsored by Victoria's Secret. Victoria's Secret uses the show to promote and market its goods in high-profile settings. The show features some of the world's leading fashion models, su ...

during the Pink Nation segment and in 2017 on the Japanese television show ''News Zero''. Mars performed the single at the

Apollo Theater The Apollo Theater is a music hall at 253 West 125th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard (Seventh Avenue) and Frederick Douglass Boulevard (Eighth Avenue) in the Harlem neighborhood of Upper Manhattan in New York City. It is a ...

alongside the majority of the ''24K Magic'' album for his CBS prime time special titled '' Bruno Mars: 24K Magic Live at the Apollo'', which aired on November 29, 2017. "Chunky" was the sixth song on the set list of his third tour, 24K Magic World Tour (2017–18).

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''24K Magic''. * Bruno Mars – lead vocals,

songwriting A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...

background vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...

* Philip Lawrence – songwriting, background vocals * Christopher Brody Brown – songwriting, background vocals *

– songwriting, background vocals * Shampoo Press & Curl – production * Lisenny – background vocals * The Stereotypes – additional drum programming *

– recording,

engineering Engineering is the use of scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad range of more speciali ...

* Jacob Dennis – engineering assistance * Serban Ghenea – mixing * John Hanes – mix engineering * Tom Coyne – mastering

Charts and certifications

Charts

Certifications

References

External links

* {{authority control 2010s ballads 2016 songs 2017 singles Atlantic Records singles Warner Music Australasia singles Bruno Mars songs Funk ballads Songs written by Bruno Mars Songs written by Philip Lawrence (songwriter) Songs written by James Fauntleroy Songs written by Christopher Brody Brown Electro songs