Elvis Presley’s Songwriter Co-Wrote a Bruno Mars Hit

Elvis Presley‘s songs are very different from Bruno Mars‘ songs. Despite this, one of Elvis’ songwriters helped write the chorus for one of Mars’ hits. The songwriter explained what he thought about having the opportunity to write for both Mars and the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Mac Davis wrote some famous Elvis Presley songs as well as songs for Weezer and Keith Urban

Mac Davis was a famous songwriter. He wrote Elvis songs such as “A Little Less Conversation,” “Don’t Cry Daddy,” “In the Ghetto,” and “Memories.” He also wrote songs for more modern artists such as Avicii, Weezer, and Keith Urban. During a 2017 interview with Songwriter Universe, Davis revealed how he was able to sit in on one of Mars’ writing sessions.

“Through [record executive Neil Jacobson], I met Jeff Bhasker, who is one of the best producers in the country,” Davis revealed. “I asked him one day if he wanted to play golf, and he said, ‘No man, I’m in the studio writing with Bruno.’ And I said, ‘Really. I’d like to be a fly on the wall.’ And Jeff says, ‘Well, come on over.'”

Mac Davis came up with a morbid part of the chorus of Bruno Mars’ ‘Young Girls’

Davis revealed what happened during the writing session. “And so I went over there and I got introduced to everybody,” he said. “It was pretty crowded in there, but they were looking for a rhyme for the hook, and a line just popped out.”

Davis came up with part of the chorus of Mars’ “Young Girls.” “‘All you young wild girls, you make a mess of me, all you young wild girls, you’ll be the death of me,'” he sang. “Well, that was my contribution to the record, and so I ended up with part of the songwriting credit.” David thought it was “wild” he wrote for Mars and the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

The way listeners in the United States and the United Kingdom reacted to Bruno Mars’ ‘Young Girls’

In the United States, “Young Girls” became a minor hit. The song reached No. 32 on the Billboard Hot 100, staying on the chart for 14 weeks. Mars released “Young Girls” on the album Unorthodox Jukebox. The album was No. 1 for one of its 205 weeks on the Billboard 200. None of Mars’ other albums topped the chart.

“Young Girls” was far less popular in the United Kingdom. According to The Official Charts Company, the song reached No. 83 there and stayed on the chart for one week. Meanwhile, Unorthodox Jukebox reached No. 1 for one of its 85 weeks on the chart.

“Young Girls” became a modest hit in the U.S. and it wouldn’t be the same without one of Elvis’ songwriters.