Bruno Mars Featured Heavily In ‘Rio 2’ Soundtrack Due Out March 25
Bruno Mars is one of several highly talented musicians and recording artists who has several songs on the upcoming Rio 2 soundtrack. It was announced on Tuesday the soundtrack for the animated film will be hitting store shelves and iTunes on March 25.
Along with Mars, Janelle Monae has record several songs including an updated version of “What is Love.” Bruno has written and sings a new original song called “Welcome back.”
Bruno Mars is also dabbling in the acting world in Rio 2 as Digital Spy reports he will lend his voice to the character of Roberto. Janelle seems even more excited than Bruno about about having one of her songs appear on a movie soundtrack.
Earlier this week the performer tweeted out a special message for her fans, giving them the heads up about the musical collaborations in the movie saying
“We had so much fun working w/ incredible Rio musicians, Jamie Foxx, WilliAM, A. Hathaway, etc 4 “What is love”! #Rio2?
“What is Love” is actually already available for purchase as a single, but it appears the release of that song is one of the only ones that will be available prior to the entire soundtrack going live on March 25.
Bruno Mars’ character Roberto plays a rather central part to the film as he is the childhood friend of Anne Hathaway’s Jewel. Mars doesn’t have an extensive acting career but this isn’t actually the first film he has appeared in. Way back in 1992, he appeared in the Nicholas Cage comedy Honeymoon in Vegas as “Little Elvis.” Back there and back then the performer was known as Bruno Hernandez.
Billboard reports several other high profile artists will appear on the Rio 2 soundtrack alongside Mars and Monae. B.o.B. and Philip Lawrence, as well as multiple Brazilian acts and a 15-member percussion group Barbatuques, Carlinhos Brown and Milton Nascimento have all recorded music for the movie.
This sequel centers around Blu (played by Jesse Eisenberg) and Jewel (Hathaway) raising their happy family of baby birds. Jewel and Blu’s world is turned upside down when one of the kids ventures into the Amazon.
The film is due to release on April 11 in the US and April 4 in the UK but you can hear Mars and company performing their soundtrack a few earlier. Those wanting to purchase the soundtrack can pre-order now in order to make sure they receive the tunes at the end of March unless of course you’re in the UK. You won’t be able to hear Bruno Mars’ sultry tunes until April 7 if you live across the pond.
