Entertainment Tonight: Your new video -- what's the concept, and is it really hot?
Ricky Martin: Yes, I think it's really hot, it's full of fantasy but at the same time realities. That's the way I've been describing it.
Ricky: WAYNE ISHAM is the director, and we've created an underwater world, so it's been pretty intense when we talk about shooting this video because it's been all about underwater and I've had to lip-sync underwater without bubbles coming out of my mouth.
Ricky: It's been very interesting, I've learned a lot of things. And at the same time it's a very casual, very loose, very relaxed video, with a little bit of tension. Very sensual, very sexual at the same time. Letting go of egos, just be who you are, accept yourself the way you are, and have fun.
Ricky: That's what "She Bangs" is all about. So, we came to Atlantis, here in the Bahamas, to shoot it because it was the perfect place. The people here in the hotel have been very kind, the facilities, the water tanks, the sharks, everything, are amazing. It's been a beautiful experience.
ET: How is this album different from your last one?
Ricky: Well, this album has the same root. It's coming from a very earthy background, and we will always maintain that. With the last album, I tried to work a little bit more with the Anglo sounds, something that I've done before but not as aggressively as this one.
Ricky: In this one we stayed closer to the Latin sounds, we've created more aggressive Latin sounds. Something that people will still get used to, or feel comfortable with even if you're not Latin. Great producers, people that I've worked with for many years, they know where I'm at, they know what I'm made of.
Ricky: We've had our moments where we can just sit down and talk and I'll let them know where I'm at, my fears, and how we want to affect the people, the audience.
ET: Any duets or collaborations?
Ricky: We are working on a couple of collaborations, but nothing is planned yet.
ET: What about a favorite track?
Ricky: A favorite track? This is the hardest question in the whole interview. "Shebang" is an amazing track, very strong, very powerful. Great percussion, and great band playing behind us, the horns, the big band. It's very aggressive.
Ricky: There's one that's called "Loaded" where we went back to New Orleans and we've created a very jazzy atmosphere and it's a very strong one as well. We could start talking about the whole album here, we could spend 45 minutes, and I could play you the songs too. I want you to hear it. I think you'll enjoy it.
ET: So, "Shebang" is hot? What's it all about?
Ricky:"Shebang" is the trilogy between "Maria" and "La Vida Loca." It describes a woman that can drive any man crazy because of her free soul. She's a happy, free spirit, and that is what seduces me and everyone about her.
Ricky: The video is amazing. It's a video that everyone is the lead. Everybody had such strong personality that anybody could be the star of the video. The video is very surreal.
ET: You are going to drive all the woman crazy when they see you.
Ricky: Why?
ET: You look great! Talk to me a little bit about your new look.
Ricky: My new look? This is where I'm at! Very loose, very comfortable. Jeans, boots, that's where I'm at, and that's the whole album as well. Loose, with a little bit of formality, of course, but I'm keeping things as simple as they can get, but not simpler, like EINSTEIN says? (Smiles)
ET: Do you think your fans are anxious for more stuff from you?
Ricky: I am dying to bring some new stuff, so hopefully the audience is as well. But I want to take my time; I want to do things right. A lot of people say "Oh yeah, but the timing, you've got to be careful," but I want to present something that is definitely describing where I'm at, and in order for me to do that, we have to take our time.
Ricky: We've beenworking on this album for a while, sohopefully by October we'll be releasing it. And then we go back on the road, and back to the concerts, but we don't stop. We cannot stop. I'm going to Asia before the year is over, with this album and the concert. We'll do Argentina, Brazil and Chile before the year is over as well. So, there is a lot going on. I'm really happy. I have not stopped working since the last time we talked.
ET: There was some speculation that you might do a 'Dirty Dancing' sequel. Is there any chance that we might be able to get some of your dance moves on film?
Ricky: I would do film, as long as I'm surrounded by the right directors and the right cast. I don't want to be the lead. If I'm going back to film I want to do it the right way. It's just like another album. Whenever I'm completely ready, emotionally and physically. It's a one opportunity kind of thing, and we have to do it right.
ET: People say you have an animal magnetism. What animal are you like most and why?
Ricky: Animal Magnetism. Well, Human. I'm very human, and we're animals. I follow my instincts, and I let them flow.
ET: You are a spiritual person. How much does your spirituality reflect on what people see on the outside?
Ricky: You see, we have to find the Ying and Yang, the positive and the negative, the black and white. If it was all black it would be pretty boring, if you find it all white, definitely as well, very boring. When I walk off the stage with all that energy and euphoria, the only way I can calm down and bring my adrenaline back to it's normal stage is with meditation and yoga. That'swhy I do it.
Ricky: I don't go onstage and start meditating. That's not Ricky Martin at all, because my music is very powerful and intense, even though my music is very spiritual because of the drums that are playing in the songs, and the percussion and the horns.
Ricky: It becomes a big mantra of emotions and feelings with different musicians from different parts of the world, because that's how my band is created. It's all about dividing and knowing when and how.
ET: You said in our last interview with you that you might want to be a dad. Any progress on your wishes to be a dad?
Ricky: Well, not that I know of. (Laughs)
Mark Steines: Are you ready to teach the Italians how to shake a little bon bon?
Ricky Martin: They know already. I've been doing tours in this country for a couple of years now, and they're very passionate. I'm glad to be here. The tour started in Europe about two and a half weeks ago. We did Spain, we did France, Germany, Belgium.
Mark: Has the International Tour met your expectations?
Ricky: I think even more. The audience -- the people are very passionate. The media is very respectful, which is something that I love. It's been very rewarding.
Mark: How much are you looking forward to getting back to the U.S.?
Ricky: Well, it's the second leg of the tour. It's a very important country. Everything that happened to me last year in the United States reflected in the rest of the planet. I definitely want to go back and show what I've learned this year. It's going to be more or less the same show I presented last year, but I know there's a lot of people that haven't seen it. It's going to be a beautiful tour.
Mark: Give me an update on the new album.
Ricky: It's a very mature album. It's definitely full of sounds. I'm going to be working with many people.
Mark: You're up for a handful of awards in Monte Carlo for the World Music Awards. Are you excited to get over there?
Ricky: Well, it's the World Music Awards. It's very important. Awards -- whatever happens, happens. Whatever!
Mark: You're just moments away from going on stage. What goes through your mind right now?
Ricky: I just want to do it! We always meditate before the show starts, and we'll see what happens!
Latin sensation RICKY MARTIN takes a break from shaking his bon-bons to tell us about his music, his family and his childhood.
ET: So how are you holding up with your schedule?
Ricky Martin: It gets better and better every day. I'm talking about the tour here in America, where we started in Miami, and we've done already nine shows. The show is mine -- what I'm trying to say is that it belongs to me now! When you're rehearsing the first night, you're a nervous wreck. It's been an amazing tour.
ET: How do you get every generation, every walk of life, to come to your shows?
Ricky: I think it is the rhythms that I'm presenting. Once again I want to say that my concerts aren't all about Latin sounds, because then I'd be a big liar. You will find a romantic sound, rock sound, and Latin sounds. These are very happy, joyful rhythms that get in touch with your heart and your soul.
ET: Well, you're certainly teaching us a little Spanish, and how to shake our "bon-bons..."
Ricky: Shake your bon-bons..(laughs)
ET: By the way, don't take me wrong -- you shake that fairly well out there! I've seen clips! Are you going to start a trend?
Ricky: The first thing I say when I am onstage is that you have to leave your egos at the door. Be yourself tonight. Forget about what people think of you, and let go of fear and enjoy the show.
ET: I can imagine everyone wants you to do this interview, or that... does the push and pull ever get to you, where you just want to pull back?
Ricky: Not any more. It used to be that way. At this point, I've learned how to divide and how to challenge priority. Right now the biggest priority is the show, and for the audience to be happy with the show. That means I have to be disciplined. I have to sleep, I have to rest my voice, and rehearsals are very necessary.
ET: I happened to see some video of you lately -- I believe it was in Puerto Rico, with you and some adorable children. You were singing... you are incredible with children.
Ricky: Can we talk about that?
ET: Absolutely!
Ricky: Well, we're doing a TV special, and they asked me what I would like to do. I said I had to go to Puerto Rico, I have to talk about my people. I guess that is a perfect way for the audience here in America, or in Europe, to know what I am made of. So I walked down the streets, and I talked about not only music but art galleries, great restaurants and, the most important thing, my people. I started singing typical songs that people knew from our country, but never expected the five-year-old kids to know these songs. But they were born with the sounds and the lyrics.
ET: You were so comfortable around them. You're playful. It was a side I had not seen of you. Is that a side that you guard, that you want to save for your own children?
Ricky: There's a saying in Puerto Rican that translates like this: "Don't go back, not even for an impulse." For me my medicine is to go back, to go back to Puerto Rico and to think about Ricky, when he was a little kid. Let's ask Ricky if he is proud of who he has become. So what I am trying to say is that it is very important for me to go back to my street, goback to my school, to go back to the park where I used to play hide and seek, in order for me to be in touch once again with my emotions and my feelings. I had a beautiful childhood. I go back to Puerto Rico and I play with my nieces and cousins. They remind me of the beauty of my childhood.
ET: About your childhood... your parents split up at a young age. Did you have more influence from your mother? How did that experience affect you?
Ricky: It didn't affect me at all. I think it's worse to live with parents that don't love each other anymore. To grow up listening to your parents fight all the time must be a nightmare. My parents were divorced when I was two years-old, and I got to do anything I wanted. If I wanted to stay with my father, I stayed with my father. If I wanted to stay with my mother, that's the way it was. My father was always there; my mother was always there. The communication between them was amazing.
ET: Were you closer to either one of them?
Ricky: I was very close to both of them. So I can't say that the father figure wasn't there or that the mother figure wasn't there. They were both there.
ET: Is there something that you want to be able to give your children that maybe you didn't get from your upbringing?
Ricky: I really don't have a problem with the way my parents raised me. The advice was, and still is, always there. Morals were always very important. Self-esteem was something that was always there, coming from my parents. What I'm trying to say is that... I have amazing parents.
ET: If you didn't have what you have now, if "Ricky Mania" hadn't of been a hit at the Grammys or in the States, would you be a father right now, a parent, walking in different shoes?
Ricky: I've thought of that many times... and maybe, yes. Let's put it this way -- if Ricky Martin didn't choose in 1984 to become part of show-business, maybe today I would have... a bigger belly [laughs], married with kids, because that's the way it is in my culture. I'm 27 years old, it's probably about time for me to have a family. But in this case, it's different. Yes, I do want to have many kids. I can't wait to walk in my house and trip over a toy. That's something that has to happen.
ET: How soon?
Ricky: I'm ready for it tomorrow, but I just gotta find "momma."
ET: Any plans for the millennium?
Ricky: My family in Puerto Rico.
ET: Quiet evening?
Ricky: That depends. I have offers to perform in Las Vegas. So we'll probably be in Vegas on the 31st, but 1st and the 30th, I'll be in Puerto Rico.
ET: Will you bring your family to Vegas?
Ricky: I will definitely bring my family to Vegas.
ET: Will you be on stage at the strike of midnight?
Ricky: I don't think that's the way it's been planned. I think it's from 9pm to 11pm.
ET: At the strike of midnight, what do you want to be doing? It's a new century and a big moment.
Ricky: I guess I want to be with my family and my friends, maybe everyone holding an instrument, singing.
ET: What song?
Ricky: I doesn't matter. Maybe typical songs of Puerto Rico. Maybe a little bit a Rock 'n' Roll in there -- why not?
ET: I was reading some information, and I saw that there's a long line of Enrique's in your family. Will you name your son Enrique?
Ricky: I will definitely name my son Enrique. I'm Enrique the fourth, so he'll be Enrique the fifth. Enrique Martin.
ET: Obviously there's some family history, but is there something special about the name, other than that it's been carried on for years and years?
Ricky: No.
ET: The very first thing I heard about you was, "this guy's like ELVIS." What a compliment. Then I thought, are we gonna see this guy doing movies like Elvis did?
Ricky: I would LOVE to do film -- again. I guess whenever I decide to be in front of the camera as an actor again, that is going to be my priority and I'm not going to be thinking of anything else. When I'm taking care of acting, I hope I'm not thinking of what sound I'm gonna be working with for the next album. For at least the next two years I'm gonna be really focused on music, being on stage, and growing as an entertainer. Then we'll think about acting again.
Ricky: I guess what I did on "General Hospital," "Les Mis," and in Mexico on my soap operas and plays over there was enough for a while. Maybe in five years I'll do something different as an actor. I admire Elvis so much. I admire BETTE MIDLER and BARBRA STREISAND because they are real entertainers. When they do acting, they do it right. When they do music, they do it right. I want to follow in their steps and do it right.
ET: Your wardrobe, is it ARMANI?
Ricky: For the last couple of years I've been working with [Giorgio] Armani and it's really an honor during the "Living the Vida Loca Tour" to be able to wear Armani. Not only me, but my dancers, my band, everybody. I think he's amazing. He knows the beauty of formality with a casual aspect as well. I respect him a lot not only as a professional, but also as a human being.
ET: Tell me about the CBS special that's going to take off November 26th.
Ricky: CBS gave me the opportunity to talk up close & personal to my audience and to people who don't really know who Ricky Martin is.
ET: What do you want to say to those people?
Ricky: This is me. This is what I'm made of. This is what you know, the "Ricky Martin" album, but "Vuelve," which is the album that won the Grammy, and a couple of albums before that. So we'll talk about Latin culture, the beauty of music & sounds created by legends today such as CARLOS SANTANA and JOSE FELICIANO. They'll be on stage with me.
ET: Will you share your dreams, your desires, and the personal side of Ricky, or will we see the music side?
Ricky: You'll find that I shed a couple of layers in this special in order for people to understand who Ricky is.
RICKY MARTIN is going high fashion! GIORGIO ARMANI has just announced that his Emporio Armani Fragrances will co-sponsor Ricky's world tour, "Livin' la Vida Loca," which kicked into high gear on Wednesday at the Miami Arena. Armani has created the entire wardrobe for the stylish Martin and his production, which includes the band, dancers and crew.
"Sponsoring Ricky's tour is a wonderful opportunity to work with a close, personal friend and also a great musician. Ricky is an outstanding entertainer and singer. I admire his amazing ability to captivate and move an audience and it is very exciting to work on a big project like this one with him. The spirit of the clothes will definitely be sexy, which is the essence of Ricky," Armani said.
It was chaos when Latino superstar, RICKY MARTIN released his first U.S. album on May 11th. According to SoundScan, the album soared to #1 of the Top 200 album chart, with first week's sales totaling more than 660,000 units. Not too bad for the former MENUDO member!
The album includes the single, "Livin La Vida Loca" and the much-talked about duet with MADONNA, called "Be Careful (With My Heart)." It also boasts the energy filled "La Copa De La Vida (The Cup of Life)," the 1998 Official Song of the World Cup.
