Released as the second official single from Bruno Mars's second studio album, Unorthodox Jukebox (2012), " When I Was Your Man " is a critically acclaimed piano ballad that remains one of the most successful songs of the 2010s. 1. Production and Composition
It is a soul-influenced pop piano ballad featuring only vocals and piano, focusing on themes of regret, heartbreak, and vulnerability. 2. Commercial Performance
The song was a global hit, peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Key milestones include over 3 billion Spotify streams and 1.5 billion YouTube views. It was ranked as one of the best-selling digital singles of 2013 with 8.3 million copies and has earned high certifications, including 11x Platinum in the US.
Released in January 2013, the song was written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Ari Levine, and Andrew Wyatt, with production by The Smeezingtons.
The track received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance and won "Favorite Hit" at the 2013 Premios Juventud. Its legacy was highlighted by its 2023 resurgence following the release of Miley Cyrus's "Flowers".