Bruno Mars is starting 2018 off with a blast after unleashing his flavorful video for his “Finesse” remix, featuring Cardi B. The singer’s adoration for the ’90s is on full display, as ladies are spotted donning gaudy gold hoop earrings, while the fellas are dripping with new jack swing-era swagger, showcasing their snazzy dance moves.
Mars has said that his colorful video pays homage to the renowned sketched comedy series In Living Color. The show became an instant staples in the ’90s, and helped catapult a bevy of careers in film and television, including Jennifer Lopez, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, and of course, series creator, Keenan Ivory Wayans.
Along with Bruno paying tribute to the revered comedy sketch show, he also peppered even more ’90s references to make his video have a throwback feel. Take a look at some of the best ’90s references below.
1. All That
Essentially, All That was the teen version of In Living Color. Birthed in 1994, the Nickelodeon show featured a catchy theme song, crafted by ’90s R&B superstars TLC, and enabled rising stars such as Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Amanda Bynes, and later, Nick Cannon, to display their comedic chops. Bits and pieces of the show’s opening intro are sprinkled into Mars’ visual.
2. TLC, “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg”
Speaking of TLC, “Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg” found the young and sassy then-teenage group sporting baggy clothes, backwards caps and gold chains. The trio dazzled with their tomboyish swagger and nonchalant attitude. With an all-white backdrop serving as their background, Chilli, Left Eye and T-Boz colorful personalities splattered a ton of flavor onto the classic visual. For “Finesse,” you can easily see the resemblance, especially with the white backdrop and Cardi’s funky attire.
3. Roundhouse
In case you were wondering, yes, the set for the “Finesse” video is almost an exact replica of the one used on the 1992 TV series Roundhouse. The show, which was geared to teach adolescents life lessons nd understand the value of morals, was on for three years, before exiting from television in 1995.
4. Sister, Sister
If you watch and listen closely enough, the beginning of “Finesse” starts very much like the intro to the 1994 TV sitcom Sister Sister, which starred Tia and Tamera Mowry. The show highlighted the relationship between the twin sisters who were separated at birth, but later, reunited durng their teenage years.
5. Yo! MTV Raps
While the set for “Finesse” looks eerily similar to that of Roundhouse, it also gives off vibes similar to the set of Yo MTV Raps! The music program began in 1988, running for most of the ’90s, and consisted of interviews with rap stars, while also playing popular rap videos and hosting the occasional live performance.
6. In Living Color
Besides the endless quips provided by the show’s stars, another highlight from In Living Color was the show’s dancers. Dubbed The Fly Girls, the ladies would tear up the set with a flurry of moves. From their body contortions to their silky footwork, these girls added flair to an already energetic show. Jennifer Lopez began her storybook career as a one of the members from the popular dance troupe.
7. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air / DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince, “Parents Just Don’t Understand”
The opening for “Finesse” is clearly reminiscent of the opening credits for Will Smith’s ’90s TV comedy, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The credits feature a heavy use of graffiti, as The Fresh Prince is found using a can on an already tagged-up wall. As for Bruno, he used a can to spray up the camera screen. Graffiti also factors prominently in The Fresh Prince’s “Parents Just Don’t Understand” video with DJ Jazzy Jeff, which is set against an MTV-ubiquitous late-’80s white background as well.