ùFOR MAY, 2001
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Pics from Miss Universe
--------------------------------------
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/nm/20010512/en/imdf12052001013325a.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20010512/wl/puerto_rico_miss_universe_sjut108.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20010512/wl/puerto_rico_miss_universe_sjut107.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20010512/wl/puerto_rico_miss_universe_sjul116.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20010511/wl/puerto_rico_miss_universe_sjul106.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20010511/wl/puerto_rico_miss_universe_sjul105.html
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/p/ap/20010511/wl/puerto_rico_miss_universe_sjul104.html
Official word about LOADED
vid shoot
------------------------------------------------
To Ricky Martin Official Fan Club from Ricky Martin's Management: "After his participation in the Miss Universe pageant he will fly to New York to shoot the video. The video shoot will be May 13,14,15."
Source AD
Miss Puerto Rico
Wins Miss Universe
-----------------------------------------------------
By Frances Kerry SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Reuters)
- Miss Puerto Rico, Denise Quinones, was crowned Miss Universe 2001 at
a glitzy pageant in her home country on Friday night, sweeping away contestants
from 76 other countries with her dazzling smile and delighting a wildly
cheering crowd. Second-placed was Miss Greece, Evelina Papantoniou,
while Miss USA, Kandace Krueger, was third. The winners were announced
after a two-hour extravaganza near the sultry Puerto Rico capital of San
Juan. The flag-waving crowd, who had cheered her every time she appeared
on the stage, went wild as Quinones, a 20-year-old who has studied singing
and dancing, was announced winner of the 50th Miss Universe title and crowned
by last year's winner, Lara Dutta of India. Sirens and horns outside
the arena erupted into a cacophony as Puerto Ricans celebrated their fourth
Miss Universe title. The Caribbean island of 3.8 million people,
a U.S. territory, has eagerly embraced its chance to host the contest and
Quinones was an crowd favorite from the start. Now the island was set to
party. Although all 77 contestants were on show at the start of Friday's
two-hour extravaganza, 67 of the contestants were eliminated earlier in
the week after a swimsuit and evening attire parade on Sunday and personality
interviews during the week. The lucky 10 remaining contestants were
announced as the evening got underway -- the contestants from Spain, Venezuela,
Nigeria, Israel, Greece, India, Russia, the United States, France and Puerto
Rico After the swimsuit and evening gown parades -- which according
to unofficial sources were won by Quinones with Miss Greece in second place
-- those final 10 contestants were pared down again to five women: Miss
India, Celina Jaitly, Miss Venezuela, Eva Ekvall, and Quinones, Papantoniou
and Krueger. POISE AND BEAUTY Then, as the suspense mounted,
those five women were subjected to questions from the panel of eight judges.
They had just 35 seconds to compose their nerves and answer in as winning
a way as possible. Asked what the most important thing in life was,
Quinones was quick to respond: ``to be the best I can be. ... To give the
best of myself to others.'' And asked about misconceptions of beauty,
the Puerto Rican said ``you have to go deep into the soul of a person''
to find real beauty. After that question session, all five women
were asked the same clincher question, what one thing would they change
about their past. Quinones thought back on her short life.
``I really enjoyed all my life. The not so good moments have helped me
grow, I have no regrets,'' she said, as the crowd warmly applauded her.
The competition, launched in Long Beach, California, in 1952 by a swimsuit
company, is run by the Miss Universe Organization, jointly owned by property
tycoon Donald Trump and CBS Television. Organizers said they expected it
to be seen in some 130 countries. Puerto Rico's sweetheart, with
a mane of brown hair and a swinging walk, was a crowd pleaser not only
for her compatriots. ``Miss Puerto Rico has everything,'' said a
Colombian in the audience, cosmetics manufacturer Maria de Chavez, who
organizes the Miss Colombia contest, adding contestants had to have beauty,
intelligence and a certain flair. Opening Friday's show to huge applause
was Ricky Martin (news - web sites), the Puerto Rican who has been one
of the stars in the world-wide Latin music boom in recent years.
Another home-grown talent with world-wide appeal, singer Marc Antony, was
one of the eight judges, along with his wife Dayanara Torres, who was Miss
Universe in 1993. ``We're beautiful, we're beautiful,'' chanted two
journalists for Puerto Rican daily El Nuevo Dia as the horns sounded in
the street more than half an hour after Quinones clasped the crown onto
her head.
Miss Universe
----------------------
From Primera Hora
www.primerahora.com
Thursday, May 10, 2001
Rosalina Marrero-Rodr?guez & Karol Joselyn
Sep?lveda
Translated by JP
The singer is satisfied with the fact that via this event, the world will see a little bit of Puerto Rico.(AP)
Only Hours away from opening the Miss Universe Pageant with his awaited show, Ricky Martin reiterates that the attention that Puerto Rico, and our people, are receiving as the location for the pageant is a privilege and perfect for showing the world how boricuas really are.
The interpreter of "Loaded", song which he will sing during the first minutes of the event, explains to PRIMERA HORA the importance that this moment has, as much for him as, for the island.
"It's important (my participation) because by singing at this event I have the opportunity to return to Puerto Rico once again and demonstrate to the world a little bit of what we are as a people", states the megastar who was able to secure his participation in the event after rearranging a previous committment in Hong Kong.
The vocalist, who arrives tomorrow, Friday, will only be on the island for a few hours, because he is getting ready to film his video "Loaded", which will be done in New York.
Regarding the importance of the event, Ricky Martin is optimistic because "I feel that it offers a grand opportunity to be exposed to beauty and intelligence". He stated he is very happy that the delegates are in Puerto Rico, and "I wish all of them great success".
Taking a pause, the actor does not overlook the latest events that have happened on Vieques, and emphasizes that he does not disapprove of snger/writer Robi "Draco" Roso taking part in civil disobedience, like many other Puerto Ricans, and that he also pleads for peace in Vieques.
"No, for nothing, exactly the opposite. I have always stated my position of solidarity with Vieques. In this moment, I am thinking of alot of different things but defintiely, as much as I can, I will contribute to the peace for my people of Vieques".
But this lightning quick visit (to PR for the pageant) also has other puprposes: to keep helping various charities / programs.
As is known, Ricky will not charge for his participation in the pageant - but as part of his negotiation with Miss Universe & CBS - the idol asked for $50,000 to be distributed in equal amounts to various social institutions.
The total, according to a statement written by his manager Angelo Medina, was designated to five establishments that will receive $10,000 each.
These are:
1. Crearte - institution that promotes the initiative & leadership in youngsters from poor communities
2. Hogar Santa Maria de Los Angeles - assists young girls and pregnant teens
3. Fundaci?n Comunitaria de Puerto Rico - helps patients affected with the HIV virus
4. SER (Sociedad de Educaci?n y Rehabilitaci?n) - helps children afflicted with muscular dystrophy, and other physically debilitating disorders
5. The Ricky Martin Scholarship Fund - for students of la Escuela de Medicina
Posted on AD... Thanks JP
le/Return to Puerto Rico
-----------------------------
From El Vocero
www.vocero.com
By: Yolanda Rosaly
Translated by JP and posted on AD by JPBX.Thanks
Since Ricky's motive for coming to PR is to sing at Miss Universe 2001; we attempted to get in contact with Ricky Martin at his new recording studio in Miami. There, after insisting, we were able to contact the artists who, very nicely, agreed to respond to various questions of ours.
Obviously our first question was in regards to how does he feel returning to the Island to sing at an event as important as Miss Universe. "It is a great satisfaction to be able to sing at this event, but really, the most important thing is returing to my homeland", responded the idol of multitudes.
The loaded work agenda that this artist maintains, who can very well give himself the himself the liberty of taking it easy in his career, grabs ones attention. In regards to this and, as he has always insisted, he said "every day of his career is as if it was the first".
“The most important thing of this "trip" (as he calls his career)is to never believe it. Because of that, every day it is important that my people and I realize an excellent job to give to the public because they deserve it", says Ricky.
Another one of the biggest topics of Ricky's career during these past years is his successful "crossover" in the US. But, what difference has this made in his career? "The difference is that we have had to sing in English in order to conquer a public that is Anglo Saxon. But, if we are talking about "crossover"; it could be said that it was interesting to conquer markets such as Australia and Japan in my language, and afterwards came the job of the US market", explains the singer.
In the meantime, all of us are waiting for Ricky to make his debut on the big screen, as it has been announced. We asked the singer about this; and he assures us that, for the moment, he remains focused on his career. "Yes, there are offers which we are studying. When the right one arrives, with the right role, that will be the oppurtunity. But, for the moment, there is no plan for the next job to be a movie", he confesses. (OK, it was stated before that Medina confirmed the movie role to EL Vocero, and now Ricky says no? Hmmm who do we believe?)
During this brief conversation, sicne the artist had to return to his work, we asked about ctitics of his career and life. "What can I tell you!? I take them according to who they are coming from and what they say", he answers calmly.
It's been a long time since we came to know Ricky, and the more time goes on, the more we ask what his formula for maintaining serenity and simplicity in his life; despite always being constantly surronded by attention, fame, and extravagence. "That (serenity & simplicity) was achieved by always being in touch with myself; having in mind where my values come from, my family and, very important, the people who surround me," states the singer, who Friday will interpret the songs "Loaded", "Amor", and a "medley" of Puerto Rican music.
What do you value most in life? "To be able to wake up every morning & know that I am breathing," says Ricky immediately who, despite what has been commented, assures us that he has not acquired any property in Puerto Rico, but, he confesses that he has not lost hope of being able to have a little wood house in the mountains.
We asked him if, at some time in his life he plans to once again reside in Puerto Rico permanently. "Of Course! There is no doubt about that. Nobody better doubt it. It will be like that", he states.
To finalize, we gave him the chance to use our newspaper
to to send a message to his country, before arriving this Friday. “To my
people, tell them that I miss them very much; that I am dying to be back
home even if for a short time. But, know that, I will return soon.", concludes
Ricky before, as always, saying good bye with great affection.
Cup of Life performance!
--------------------------------
Awesome performance...from New York last December!!
www.plasmachannel.com/med...ect28k.ram
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Ricky
Martin is king of the World Music Awards
-----------------------------------
MONACO
(Billboard) - Ricky Martin picked up three honors at the World
Music
Awards Wednesday at the Sporting Club in Monaco. Martin won
For
world's best-selling pop male artist, dance male artist and
Latin
male artist. The Beatles took awards for pop/rock act and
British
group. The Backstreet Boys and Enya also took two honors
Each.
The awards are based on IFPI sales figures. The show will air
May
28 in the U.S. on ABC.
e-mail
from infobeat
Gente
Mazagine
-----------------------------------
"Recently I am learning to live"
No. He doesn't seem like the no. 1 singer of the moment. No. He landed in Argentina with one (yes, 1) black Samsonite suitcase. Inside of which are five pair of $12 jeans, 4 shirts size medium, sneakers, some wide pants, incense, three books on Hinduism and 8 cd's, among them The Buena Vista Social Club. I die without them, he admits. No. No he doesn't seem like the no. 1 singer of the moment. He asks that they change the presidential suite for a regular room without caviar, oysters, or French champagne. Just apple juice, he requests. No. No he doesn't seem like the no. 1 singer of the moment. He knows the country he arrived at -- as usually happens in every place he lands -- and he even explains to his group of muscians where to go to get to Telef? faster. "I love geography" he says. No. No he doesn't seem like the no. 1 singer of the moment. He just shaved his hair with a cheap machine, committing a crime against the rules -- and nerves -- of his marketing people. "It could've been worse" he laughs. No. No he doesn't seem like the no. 1 singer of the moment. His personal manager (Jos? Vega, 38, inseparable for the last 10 years) suggests to a reporter to avoid certain obvious questions (common demand even in some lesser stars of our country; a demand, of course, should the reporter ever respect it). "Little time, but a lot of freedom", he proposes. No, no: Ricky Martin doesn't seem like Ricky Martin. No.
-
There are two (Ricky Martins)?
-
I have never put on or taken off a mask to go on stage.
-
Isn't the "Ricky Martin suit" too big for just one person?
-
I don't live 100% giving in to the energy or the musical thing or the spiritual
thing. If you are "up" alll the time, you are drugged. I feel. If there
are happy things, enjoy them. If there are sad things, cry for them.
-
Scene from yesterday: I enter a store that sells comics and in the background
your voice is heard. I walk a half a block and out comes the same sound
from the bookstore. Two seconds later, I collide with a teen humming She
Bangs, nor did I even tell you about the music store or your interminable
image on the Pepsi cans. Are you aware that your voice is heard more than
a politician's?
-
(Laughs) Perhaps. Let me make clear to you that you will never see me shouting
a speech. Perhaps now I'll get involved in politics when my island is being
made into a military test where people are losing their lives. There I
say "wait a minute!" and I get involved with the people. No more than that.
-
So then there won't be a President Enrique Martin Morales?
-
Not at all. Every one has their mission. In my case, it is to educate through
music. I come from San Juan, Puerto Rico. There is the African, the European
and the Anglo influences. And that is also noted in our literature, in
the theatre. Not in politics. Leave it out. And the interviews also. I'm
sick of them.
-
Thanks Ricky.
-
Joke. Joke. I know they help to communicate. The public should know what
you are doing. It's necessary to tell them why I record in English, "if
in Spanish it's going so great for you." I do it in Italian, French, Portuguese,
now in English. You have to communicate. I would sing for free. Didn't
I do it with 500 thousand people over here on July 9, 1996? If it were
necessary, I would come, as I will come here in October to sing for free.
-
After years of listening to Luis Miguel, Enrique Iglesias, Chayanne, Christian
Castro you finally have become "the" Latin singer. When did you become
aware that you had climbed to the highest step?
-
(He thinks) One time I decided to walk for five days through the Himalayan
mountains in Nepal. the last 3 years I vacationed in India. All of a sudden
I find a stand that sells water and things to eat and I see a man, believe
me, listening to the Cup of Life. There I thought, "Damn, we're at the
end of the world and they are listening to me." Something will have to
be done. Without comparison. There are many roads to be travelled. I always
say, I compete against myself and that hasn't changed.
-
Why wasn't Ricky Martin born in Asia, Europe, or Africa? do Latin countries
have some particular secret?
-
The repression that our countries suffered for years made us rather regular
people but at the same time stubborn. I suffered enough going to European
countries where they told me Puerto Rico didn't exist yet in the 60's.
that gave me more strength to continue educating people about what we are.
I find a lot of ignorance. So then you either educate the ignorant or you
ignore the ignorant. I chose the first one.
-
After 7 cd's, 17 years in the music business and 10 as a soloist, what
do you want now? To sell 125,000 units like Julio Iglesias? To be the most
famous man in the world? What Ricky?
-
To grow like the music. I hope this is only the beginning. To continue
going up on stage with the great ones. I did a duet with Madonna. I stepped
on the same stages as Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Christina Aguilera.
-Who
is missing?
-The
Pope. Give me ten minutes with him and I will have you dancing John Paul
II. If I had Bush and Pavarotti dancing. Placido will get revenge on me.
I would love to share something with the group Jamiroquai. And with you,
Fito (Pa?z) and Charly (Garcia - Argentine musicians). In 2002 I'm going
to invite them to be among a sort of Seru Gir?n (Argentine rock group-
Paez and Garcia were members) in the Ricky Martin and friends that I plan
to organize for peace. there will be Bono, Sting, Lenny Kravitz.....
-And
Michael Jackson, did he really ask to sing with you?
-Worse.
I finish a gala in Hollywood and I'm saying "muchas gracias, thank you"
and I look next to to me and there's the King who no one knew had climbed
[up on stage]. I bowed to him, I couldn't believe it.
-Success
is a drug, isn't it?
-Ask
Bob Dylan, who decades ago was there. the other day he won an Oscar and
was crying inside. There is always something more.
-You
know that Marilyn Monroe let herself be seduced by that drug and ended
up committing suicide? How do you "live the crazy life" without falling
prey to the dark places: drugs, promiscuity, being out of control?
-You
have to be surrounded by the right people. I'm still in the same group
of people for the last decade. I meditate a lot, like crazy. Fame is real
dangerous and can easily play games with your feelings. It starts off well
when you are going up and when you come down, hopefully you have put out
real thick mattresses.
-You
put out thick mattresses?
-Yes,
they are called silence. Without silence I couldn't live today. Silence
lets me listen to God. When one prays, they ask; when one meditates, they
listen. I'm practicing yoga three years with my professor Jose Cueto, yoga
based on breathing. Before I entered my room and turned on the radio and
TV to feel like someone was with me. But when I turned them off, bats were
flying, cockroaches, lizards, and repulsive corruption that I had inside.
And there was where the pain was coming from. Silence helped me to better
myself. I can sleep peacefully.
-Without
sleeping pills, without nightmares?
-Nothing.
I'm exhausted. So much that I don't know even what I dream.
-The
man who reached his dreams doesn't dream?
-He
dreams of finding peace. Since 12 I'm involved in this hustle and bustle.
-And
do you feel that your life belongs to your career?
-I'm
sorry, yes. And when everything is your career, everything is very passionate.
Something is going to turn out bad. Silence once again lets me find balance.
-You
are going to buy yourself a deserted island.
-You
can meditate on a plane talking to yourself....I like the same thing about
the island. I would take that girl I met in Japan 2 years ago. The most
beautiful person I've seen in my life. A dream. White white white with
black black black hair to the middle of her back, super straight. Torn
eyes, turquoise color. I asked her, "what star have you come down from?"
-She
stopped being your girlfriend?
-No,
no.....well, sort of. Let's continue with the island.
-How
would you react if like Tom Hanks you were stranded in some inaccessible
place far away from pressure, but also far away from success?
-First,
laugh and sing. Second, travel it [the island]. Third, start to cry. For
three days, in the middle of crying, I would try to put together the boat
to see where it takes me.
-Crying
continues?
-I
come crying enough. rich cries, cries of cleanliness. The last one: at
the end of the last tour of Livin La Vida Loca in Taiwan. I was singing
Bella. And I don't know, there were these awakenings where I was in a very
clear point of my week, my year or in my life. Very clear to me, to my
feelings that it was just what I was looking for. I started to analyze
the faces in the audience. In the 17 years of my career I have never cried
during a show. The audience didn't realize. That memory will always have
a special place in my life.
-And
sex, what place does it have (in your life)?
-It
has a place. A high place. It's wonderful. It's necessary.
-Do
you do it more or less than people assume?
-Tell
people that with me they can fantasize however they want to. If they want
to see me doing it 7 times a day, perfect. If they want to see me doing
it two times a day, perfect. Meanwhile, they buy the CD, no problem.
-What
do you prefer, a passionate night of love in bed or a glorious night of
music up on stage?
-A
glorious night of music. Later, after, a passionate night.
-With
romantic background music by Luis Miguel, for example?
-I
have had romantic nights with songs by Luis Miguel like when I made love
in airplanes. There are many sounds out there. You have to listen to everything.
-A
few weeks ago, the ex-model In?s Misan....
-She
is a sweet woman. Lithuanian. A friend. Already they say that we are getting
married. Already they say that she has stolen a half a million dollars
from me. Now I can't go out holding hands with a woman?
-It
is said that she told the New York Post that "body to body" from 1 to 10,
you are a 20 and "very macho". Does it bother you that your sexuality is
always being talked about?
-How
perverted! There was a moment when I become annoyed, because it is like
me going around from house to house asking: "and you, how does your husband
**** you?" But now I laugh, because they can't find anything. They look
and look and can't find anything bad.
-You
are very clever or there is nothing to hide?
-They
want to find what's hidden and in reality I have nothing to hide.
-And
what will turn out to be the most difficult, getting married or retiring?
-I'm
never going to retire.
-Never
going to marry either?
-God
will say. When Cupid attacks, he attacks, you put up with it. There is
no path that he takes. I was there in '96. I remember: me in a jewelry
store with a ring in my hand. All of a sudden: I left the jewelry store
without the ring in my hand. I fled. Big mess. Things that happen.
-The
final conclusion, Ricky: does not have a girlfriend
-I
don't have a girlfriend, but lovers yes.
-For
one night?
-It
happens that you meet women on the tours (breathes)...but they are not
women for just one night.
-So
then, you are one of those that wears the same clothes more than once?
-Clothes
and women I "wear" them more than one time, yes. But a gentleman never
gives names.
-And
this gentleman, how do you see yourself at 50? Bald meditating in India
or going from show to show?
-At
best 6 months in India and 6 months up on stage. Today, brother, I think
I'm never going to retire.
-Okay,
but if God appears to you tomorrow, "You are ready. I am done with you".
Do you thank him for his services or will you try to make a pact with the
devil that he doesn't take from you what you achieved?
-I'll
ask him for a little more. This is becoming good now, ch?, like the porte?os
say. At the same time, at 29 years old, I understand that already we have
done something important for the history of our continent. I would not
sell my soul to the devil. I like to live for the day. It's not so bad.
I just installed a studio in my new house in Miami. I would start to produce......You
know what? I feel that recently I am learning to live.
Posted
on RMTEE
sing
3 songs at....
-----------------------------------
the
Miss Universe Pagent and apart of the Grand Finale!!!
Translation:
Ricky will interpret a boricua medley
The news regarding the presentation of Ricky Martin at Miss Universe 2001, May 11 at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon, keep on arriving. Yesterday we learned that as part of the "grand finale" of the event, the singer will perform a "medley" of songs representative of our folklore.
This, as Angelo Medina, manager of the artist confirmed to us, will be done with the intention of projecting the richness of our music on an international level.
Also, as we previously reported, Ricky will sing 2 other songs included on his most recent CD: "Loaded" & "Amor".
Medina informed us that once he has completed his committment with Miss Universe, Ricky will move on to his new cd, which will include various songs of Ricky's own inspiration. This job will begin in July, and it is expected that it will be ready for May, 2002.
At the same time, Medina indicated to us that parallel to the completion of the cd; Ricky will begin to work on his first movie for the big screen.
www.vocero.com/
Posted on AD
edule
Ricky's
May 2001 Schedule
-----------------------------------
May
5, 2001 -- World Music Awards
Monaco
May
7, 2001 -- Loaded video shoot
Miami,
Florida
May
8, 2001 -- Promotions
New
York, NY
May
9, 2001 -- Rehearsal for Miss Universe Pageant
San
Juan, Puerto Rico
May
10, 2001 -- Rehearsal for Miss Universe Pageant
San
Juan, Puerto Rico
May
11, 2001 -- Miss Universe Pageant (Ricky performs "Loaded" and another
song)
San
Juan, Puerto Rico
May
17, 2001 -- David Letterman (Ricky performs "Loaded")
New
York, NY
May
18, 2001 -- The Today Show Summer Concert Series
Ricky
performs songs)
New
York, NY
Thanks
RMTEE
K/O
11/14/00
eo
Clip
SOUND
AND VIDEO CLIP FROM THE WORLD MUSIC AWORDS
-----------------------------------
Link
to Dot Music Site
www.dotmusic.com/news/May2001/news19643.asp
Real Player Direct Link
www.dotmusic.com/aspscripts/play.asp?bhjs=1&bhsw=800&bhsh=600&bhswi=333&bhshi=432&bhflver=-1&bhdir=-1&bhje=1&bhcold=16&bhrl=3&bhqt=-1&bhmp=1&bhab=-1&bhmpex=6,4,7,1112&bhflex=&bhdirex=&bhcont=lan&id=3213&bhkbps=29612
MM
Highlight: RICKY MARTIN - PACKED AND FULLY LOADED
-----------------------------------
By
Azman Ahmad
28
April 2001
IT was party-up time at Singapore’s Raffles Hotel Jubilee Hall on Tuesday, when 400 people or more were treated to an exclusive performance by the one and only Latin heart-throb Ricky Martin.
The gorgeous Latin lover had everyone literally shaking their bon-bons from the minute he posed with his butt to the packed hall.
They had tried to keep it all cool and calm - this refined, well-dressed upper crust crowd - but as soon as the lights started twirling to Martin’s infectious rhythms, they were on their studded feet.
The man didn’t need to say a word to have them eating off his hands.
It was a whirlwind visit for the Puerto Rican pop sensation performing for MTV Asia’s Live And Loaded showcase, held in conjunction with the channel’s sixth anniversary.
He flew in from Melbourne in a private jet that afternoon, did the show and slipped off to Korea for a full-blast concert just before midnight.
The up-close and intimate showcase was recorded ‘live’ and aired the same night on MTV channels across Asia and Europe.
The Ricky Martin magic mesmerised the packed room, where some danced in a frenzy to his Latin hits as he seduced them, song after catchy song.
With him on stage urging them on, even middle-aged men and women danced the night away, nary a care in sight.
Martin’s generation was there, too, young, sexily-dressed chicks in the crowd, just as they are at all his shows around the world, moving their curvaceous body and shapely bon-bons seductively, some maybe even hoping to catch Ricky’s attention.
Martin knew exactly how to pump the heat. He burst on stage at 8.10pm, dancing to the sounds of She Bangs, playing with his pelvis, prompting screams from the crowd that was already joining him on the floor despite the limited foot room.
Flailing their arms, wriggling their bodies and singing along - in between deafening shouts of excitement - especially when his buns came into play.
Backed by eight musicians and back-up vocalists, all dressed in black, Martin, clad in an unbuttoned white shirt and thronged black leather pants, oozed nothing but sensuality.
Besides his good looks and strong vocals, it was the way he danced those Latin moves and his cheerful showmanship that made him an international darling.
At some point it looked like even Martin was surprised at the extraordinarily strong vibes gushing from the crowd, and he responded saying that was what he was looking for.
“It will be short, compact and full of energy,” he promised, pulling off his top to reveal well-toned abs and running back stage for another shirt change, like the earlier Livin’ La Vida Loca had suggested.
The big hit turned the crowd hysteric, to say the least.
And Martin went on to belt the equally fast Loaded, before asking the crowd to calm down as it was “time for a little bit of romance”.
It was the only time of the evening when some in the audience decided to get back to their sets, while the more fanatic ones continued standing.
With label-mate Coco Lee with him, he dueted on a love ballad - Nobody Wants To Be Lonely - which he had originally recorded with Christina Aguilera.
Lee’s multi-coloured kimono-motif outfit with big red belt somehow did not match Ricky’s sleek designer-knit shirt.
But in the vocals department, Lee was as great, if not better than Aguilera, in pulling through this difficult number.
“More?”, he asked. “More!”, they screamed, as he encouraged them to take advantage of the moment by putting aside ‘better judgment’, forget who they were and just dance and have fun with his music.
That was when the full-house of die-hards started counting down for his Maria, before he disappeared again only to reappear with a new shirt - a tight body-fitting sleeveless piece, remindful of Travolta with all his biceps in the movie Grease.
Screaming that their “energy is very contagious” Martin gave his last number of the night - La Copa De La Vida (The Cup Of Life) - the ground-breaking hit, which made him an international star - where football fans punched their fists in the air with excitement.
On a parting note, Ricky should insure his behind, for every time he gave the audience his ‘bon bon’ thing, it threatened to go through the roof.
For nobody shakes his ‘bon bon’ like Ricky does. Nobody
My Note: YOU GOT THAT RIGHT
Bev