When you hear the name Bruce Willis, you think ruthless action man. The actor has taken up the tough-guy persona in plenty of blockbuster hits, like the Die Hard franchise and The Fifth Element, showing off his macho screen persona. Around the same time that Die Hard came out in 1988, Willis was actually in the thick of his music career. Yep, you read that right. Turns out the commander was a secret crooner.

Willis released two albums in 1987 and 1989, respectively, and found legitimate success with his songs finding places in the charts across the globe. Willis’s records have a very classic ‘80s R&B sound, and are surprisingly romantic, with one tune holding the narrative waiting for his loved one under the boardwalk and promising to fall in love with her. The tenderness shown in his music really softens the hard-cut image of Willis. He wasn’t afraid to go for it and have a bit of fun, showing a more sincere depiction of his genuine character, and one that actually explores a deeper masculinity than the action stuff alone.

Action to Angel: Bruce Willis’s Hidden Soul Side

Bruce Willis wasn’t the only actor getting involved in musical endeavors throughout the 1980s. Don Johnson was releasing albums after achieving major stardom with Miami Vice. Eddie Murphy also released two albums in the decade, one being How Could It Be, which featured the hit “Party All The Time.” Murphy is renowned for his comedy, even in musical performances, but this record was part of a bet to show he could be musically successful without leaning on jokes. This showed a similar motivation to Willis, who had made a name for himself in the comedy series Moonlighting, in the sense that the actors wanted to depart from the reputations they had quickly forged and show they could achieve something deeper.

Willis’ two records, The Return of Bruno and If It Don’t Kill You, It Just Makes You Stronger, were released on a subsidiary of Motown Records, showing that his music was a legitimate career decision. His original songs and covers have a soulful foundation, with full backing vocals, a horn section, and a strong sense of rhythm. This is particularly prevalent on “Under the Boardwalk,” which got to no. 2 in the UK and “Respect Yourself” (with The Pointer Sisters), which got to no. 5 in the US.

In his music, Willis does deliver strong vocals. He is sure of himself, and the confidence fuels the charm of the music. It’s important to note that this charm is not one of arrogance but one of pure joy. Willis’s records don’t feel like a vanity project or a marketing expansion at all, but simply radiate an artist genuinely having fun.

The Multifaceted Masculinity of Bruce Willis’ Musical Career

The lyrical themes in the music of Bruce Willis explore love, longing, and a youthfully optimistic sincerity. It’s a far cry from the weapon-yielding detective and deadly boxer that Willis is associated with. But he really sings like he wants to be vulnerable. Willis was naturally able to strip back the macho man to deliver something heartfelt and, at times, humorous. It’s a refreshing step back from the hypermasculinity of the 1980s to give audiences not only a glimpse but a full indulgence of his tenderness.

It helps that Willis’ real-life character is fearlessly ready to be exactly who he wants. He has famously quoted that “I’ve always had confidence. Before I was famous, that confidence got me into trouble. After I got famous, it just got me into more trouble.” Some people are just meant for stardom, and his cheekiness is disarmingly warm in times when his acting has left him with a cool edge. Looking back, his music feels camp and like a caricature of what it was to be a stud in the ‘80s. But the side of Bruce Willis that his music showed humanizes him more than his movies ever could, displaying real emotions without the buffer of irony. This ability to show himself in touch with a soft side, and proud to perform it, is a great representation of masculinity—much more than the action alone.

Now knowing that Bruce Willis had a whirlwind music career, I like him more. The balance between the tough-guy image and the soulful serenades of Willis gives him an unmatched likability. The joy that his music evokes feels more poignant since the decline of his health, reminding us that tenderness and happiness are crucial to lightening moments that feel a little darker.