Locked Out of Heaven

The harmony of 'Locked Out of Heaven' is deceptively simple — just four diatonic chords from D natural minor — but its power lies in the rhythmic delivery and arrangement. The avoidance of a traditional dominant (A major) keeps the song in a modal, reggae-inflected space reminiscent of The Police. The shift from verse (starting on tonic) to chorus (starting on III) creates a classic dark-to-bright dynamic that reinforces the lyrical arc of ecstasy and liberation.

The song began backstage after a show, during a jamming session in a greenroom, where Mars started singing the phrase 'Locked Out of Heaven.' Philip Lawrence noted the track developed meaning as they wrote it, describing it as 'when you're with someone who's showing you a new way to love.' The Smeezingtons then traveled to New York to work with Jeff Bhasker, Emile Haynie, and Mark Ronson, where during a jam session with drums, bass, and guitar, Mars created the song's distinctive riff and began singing the previously conceived chorus over it. The production team then returned to Los Angeles to finish the lyrics and rework the original melody.

Released in 2012 as the lead single from Unorthodox Jukebox, 'Locked Out of Heaven' marked Bruno Mars's bold departure into reggae rock and new wave territory. The song spent six weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 and earned RIAA Diamond certification, cementing Mars as one of pop's most versatile hitmakers.