Bruno Mars has an unexpected opening before Wembley party starts

Bruno Mars appeared determined to assistance the nation's temper during the archetypal of his six nights astatine Wembley Stadium.

His past UK show came successful July 2018, soon aft England had been knocked retired of the men's World Cup semi-finals. Eight years later, past had repeated itself.

But wearing an England shot scarf, Union Jack bucket chapeau and clutching a Paddington Bear, the showman energised a 75,000-strong, multi-generational crowd.

After astir a decennary distant from UK audiences, Mars proved wherefore fans had snapped up tickets successful record numbers, external.

The amusement began with a pre-recorded video of Mars praying successful a religion for a bully performance, earlier helium emerged beneath visuals of a stained-glass model successful a reddish suit bejewelled with roses.

It was a suitably theatrical opening to a two-hour, 15-minute set. But for those who had avoided spoilers, Risk It All, a dilatory R&B ballad from Mars' latest album, The Romantic, was possibly an unexpected opener.

Any astonishment was short-lived. Within minutes, Mars sat down a brace of agleam reddish congas for Cha Cha, signalling the commencement of a acceptable that moved betwixt R&B, funk, Latin influences and pop.

It was an aboriginal glimpse of what was to travel arsenic helium declared: "London, it's clip to party."

The assemblage rapidly accepted the invitation. From past on, neither Mars nor his fans stood still.

24K Magic and Treasure prompted 1 of the night's biggest singalongs. As Mars sang "put your pinky rings up to the moon", thousands of small fingers roseate into the air.

The opening tally of songs showed wherefore Mars has remained 1 of pop's astir reliable unrecorded performers. Rather than relying connected 1 sound, helium moved betwixt genres without ever losing the crowd.

Romance has ever been astatine the bosom of the singer's music, and it soon became the absorption of the show.

"Tonight we sing astir love," helium told the assemblage aft Treasure, earlier introducing the Angel Baby Cam, a conception successful which fans' reactions were projected onto the elephantine screens arsenic helium serenaded them.

It was 1 of respective moments that played into his trademark romanticist showmanship.

Later, helium adjacent emerged wearing a cape emblazoned with the words The Romantic, which appeared to motion to psyche fable James Brown.

In the years betwixt his solo releases, Mars has focused connected collaborations, astir notably Silk Sonic with Anderson .Paak, a concern helium has antecedently described as "natural and organic"., external

That chemistry was evident arsenic Anderson .Paak joined Mars connected signifier for a four-song Silk Sonic segment, with the brace delivering tightly choreographed Motown-inspired creation routines and playful banter.

This included their attempts astatine British accents arsenic they declared the evening to beryllium "absolutely wicked".

Silk Sonic was not the lone collaboration to feature. Although Mars has precocious enjoyed illustration occurrence with Die With a Smile, alongside Lady Gaga, and APT. with Rosé, lone the erstwhile made the setlist.

Performed during the show's ballad section, Die With a Smile prompted 1 of the evening's biggest singalongs, suggesting the opus has earned its spot alongside Mars' much established hits.

Among the assemblage were Paul, 58, and his children Alex, 23, and Thomas, 20, who said the eight-year hold had been worthy it.

Paul, who jokingly called the vocalist "Barry Bruno", said the household had grown up listening to his music.

"We've each got small affectional ties to each song," they told BBC News. "It felt close to travel together."

For this family, Wembley hosting Mars' lone UK dates was not an issue.

"I deliberation this is the astir iconic venue," Alex said.

As the amusement drew to a close, Mars returned to the songs that helped cement his spot arsenic 1 of pop's biggest stars.

For his 2010 deed Just the Way You Are, the vocalist asked for the stadium lights to beryllium turned up truthful helium could spot the crowd, revealing thousands of fans singing each connection backmost to him, earlier Uptown Funk transformed Wembley into a elephantine dancefloor implicit with fireworks and golden confetti.

The amusement ended with Dance With Me, a ballad successful which Mars yearns for 1 past dilatory creation to prevention a struggling relationship.

Like Risk It All astatine the commencement of the evening, it was an unexpected prime to extremity the concert.

It near the assemblage connected a reflective note, possibly hoping they would not person to hold different 8 years to spot him again.