Bruno Mars and BLACKPINK’s Rosé recently debuted their anticipated collaboration, Apt., a track blending Mars’s signature funk with Rosé’s smooth vocals. This unexpected team-up quickly soared to the top of global charts, garnering millions of streams within hours of its release. Sampling Toni Basil’s classic Mickey, Apt. retains the catchy rhythms of the 80s while integrating a modern, genre-blending sound.
Upon its October 18 release, Apt. had an impressive start, quickly climbing streaming platforms like Spotify and Apple Music. It became the highest-streamed track in the U.S. and debuted atop charts in New Zealand and Australia, marking significant career milestones for both Mars and Rosé. For Rosé, Apt. represents her first number-one debut in her home country, while for Mars, it’s another chart-topping single in a lengthy list of achievements.
Despite the fan anticipation, Rosé admitted in interviews that she was initially hesitant about releasing a song titled after a Korean drinking game. In a recent interview, she expressed her uncertainty about how the song’s theme would be received internationally. However, Mars’s influence and encouragement, along with early positive responses from the production team, ultimately persuaded her to move forward with the project. The chemistry between Mars and Rosé in the music video—set in a vibrant, garage-style venue with the two artists alternating between drums and vocals—only added to the song’s allure.
The collaboration is notable not only for its commercial success but also for bridging two popular music cultures. Fans around the globe, especially in South Korea and the U.S., have embraced this union of K-pop and Western pop-funk, seeing it as an indicator of the future of genre-blending in global pop music.
