Versace on the Floor

Album: 24K Magic (2016)
Charted: 59 33
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This seductive slow jam centers around Mars' desire to bring his woman back to the bedroom. So, baby, let's just turn down the lights

    And close the door
    Oooh I love that dress
    But you won't need it anymore
    No, you won't need it no more
    Let's just kiss 'til we're naked, baby
    Versace on the floor


    Mars anticipates their passion will run so high that the girl will remove her Versace dress and let it rest on the floor while they enjoy each other's company.
  • Versace is an Italian luxury fashion company, which was founded by Gianni Versace in 1978. Mars has a history with Versace having worn countless numbers of their outfits in public. He notably rocked the brand during his halftime Super Bowl 50 performance in February 2016, wearing a custom outfit that included a leather baseball shirt and matching pants.
  • The slow paced track was produced by Shampoo Press & Curl, who also produced the album's lead single "24K Magic," along with The Stereotypes.
  • Mars told Rolling Stone that the smooth ballad went through several incarnations before evolving into the song heard on 24K Magic.

    The first version had an entirely different set of lyrics: "Fly through a storm on a unicorn…make love on a mountain, bathe in a fountain."

    "So I'm smiling at these lines," he recalled. "I play it for people and they're smiling; it's awesome. But what's the beat doing? We're lounging. I don't want to make poolside music. Let's make it feel like these unicorns we're talking about."

    Mars and his co-writers came up with a more epic musical track while keeping the lyrics, but he still wasn't happy. "So we get there with it and it's good, it's about to be on the album. And then it's like … are you sure?" Mars said. "We're painting this picture – both in silk, I'm promising the world. But I'm not singing. This is supposed to be a big ballad on the album, but I'm not giving it to 'em! If we're gonna really, dramatically slow things down, I've got to be singing some s--t."

    Mars and his co-writers re-worked the melody, which meant they had to compose all-new lyrics as well. This became the version that we hear on the album.
  • Mars sings on the hook in his final version:

    Versace on the floor
    Oooh take it off for me, for me, for me, for me now, girl


    "At a certain point," said Mars, "I needed to stop telling you we're gonna get down, and just get down."
  • David Guetta's remix transforms the song into a '70s funk jam, not the sort of sound you'd expect the Frenchman to come up with.

    "The Bruno Mars collaboration, that was me getting into his world in my own world," Guetta explained to The Independent. "For me it was amazing to be able to show something different - I love that funky vibe but people don't necessarily expect me to do it."
  • Co-directed by Bruno Mars and his regular collaborator Cameron Duddy, the sensual video is a visual interpretation of the song's opening verse. The clip portrays the singer and co-star Zendaya as neighbors in an upmarket apartment complex. Naturally, both artists are wearing Versace with the Spider-Man: Homecoming actress looking stunning in a glittery dress. Zendaya's outfit honors the song title by eventually winding up on the floor.

    Zendaya demonstrated her love for Bruno Mars' music when she chose to perform his song "24K Magic" on the US TV show Lip Sync Battle. Prior to the Versace video's release, she shared a glimpse of it on her Instagram page with the caption "When the flyest man out here calls you for one of the flyest songs out... you make it happen."

Comments: 1

  • LaroyanaThis is very helpful if you don't know the meaning of a song. thank you
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.