RICKY MARTIN
"Sound Loaded"
Columbia Records
4 Stars
Ricky Martin, the man who made it OK to shake your bon bon to the Latin beat, follows up his blockbuster 1999 English language solo debut with, well, a blockbuster.
The man's sophomore English album of near perfect pop again blends slick Latin rhythms with up-tempo pop and smooth groove ballads. While his basic formula is unchanged, Martin is maturing as a stylist.
On "Sound Loaded" Mr. Martin has learned to take his time on a ballad while keeping it from getting gummed up with the sticky stuff. He gets that balance dead on in the excellent bump 'n' grind ballad "Come to Me."
For a "Livin' La Vida Loca" update, check out either the English or Spanish version of "She Bangs" (both are included on this disc). It's a sexy song that will appeal to guys because it's a about being with the sexiest woman on the planet, and women will dig the tune since it's about a girl with total power over weak-minded males.
If "She Bangs" is "La Vida," then the title track "Loaded" is this disc's "Bon Bon." Martin's pure pop arrangements are masterful and totally radio-friendly. This album will be taken apart, single by single, for radio play over the next year and a half.
Count "Loaded" as one of those rare albums that will have cross-generational, cross-cultural appeal. Bet on it taking home awards at both the Latin and regular Grammys in the coming year.
Ricky Martin, the man who made it OK to shake your bon bon to the Latin beat, follows up his blockbuster 1999 English language solo debut with, well, a blockbuster.
The man's sophomore English album of near perfect pop again blends slick Latin rhythms with up-tempo pop and smooth groove ballards. While his basic formula is unchanged, Martin is maturing as a stylist.
On Sound Loaded Mr. Martin has learned to take his time on a ballad while keeping it from getting gummed up with the sticky stuff. He gets that balance dead on in the excellent bump ��n' grind ballad "Come to Me."
For a LLVL update, check out either the English or Spanish version of "she Bangs" (both are included on this disc). It's a sexy song that will appeal to guys because it's about being with the sexiest woman on the planet, and women will dig the tune since it's about a girl with total power over weak-minded males.
A crowd of approximately 1,000 radio contest winners and industry insiders packed the Manhattan club, where every available inch of stage space was commanded by Martin and his army of musicians and backup singers.
Martin still found enough room to shimmy and shake as he and his band delivered a brief, five-song set that offered a handful of cuts from his new album, Sound Loaded, which hit stores this week. The singer kicked off his set with the uptempo "She Bangs," the album's first single, and he followed it with the smoother groove of "Amor" before revving back up with "Loaded."
Despite the tight set, Martin still managed to find time for a quick costume change. The singer traded his white shirt for a black one, just before closing the show with high-energy renditions of more familiar songs, "The Cup of Life," from last year's self-titled, English-language debut, and "Maria," from 1995's A Medio Vivir.
On the strength of the maddeningly catchy "Livin' la Vida Loca" -- the biggest-selling single in the history of Columbia Records -- the post-teen idol from Puerto Rico finally conquered the U.S., and vaulted into the stratosphere populated by Madonna, Whitney Houston, Britney Spears, and a handful of other solo megastars.
In a matter of moments, "Sound Loaded," the follow-up to Ricky's breakthrough, will be released to every record store on planet Earth. MTV's Carson Daly recently talked with Martin about the album's provocative first single, "She Bangs"; his addiction to performing; and the trappings of fame.
MTV News: Let's get it out there. What's the title of the single, "She Bangs," about?
Martin: This is this the kind of song that I want to have as part of my repertoire in my concerts for the next 10 years. I think this song will be part of my life for a long time. Once again, it's about freedom, because it's about feeling good with yourself. Because it it's about the joy of life. It's about just feeling.
MTV: Why did you pick it as the first single?
Martin: It was easy, because it had everything. It had the emotion. It had the passion that I need to present. It's just like, you know, "I'm still here," and this is what I'm with. This is what I'm coming up with. It was non-negotiable. It was easy.
MTV: What's going to be different about this new album, compared with what you've done before?
Martin: You know, I don't want to compare my albums. First of all, because they were done in different modes. I am not the same guy who recorded "Livin' la Vida Loca." -- it's been two years. Although the roots are going to be the same in this album, because the Latin sounds will always be there. But I'm another person. I've lived more. I've read more. And what you'll find in this album are my concerns in life, my concerns with society. Love will, of course, always be there. But I have other concerns that I have to talk about.
We should be concerned about things. We're not superheroes or anything. But if, with my music, I have the opportunity to get to the masses of people, and if I can create some sort of a consciousness about life in general -- well, why not do it? That's my goal. We sold almost 18 million copies of the album Ricky Martin. With this one, hopefully 20. Hopefully 25. [Laughs]
With this album, you have a little bit of jazz. With this album, you have a little bit of rock. The Latin sounds, the Brazilian sounds are there. You will definitely hear new stuff that we don't have on the first English album.
The album is pretty diverse. We have "She Bangs," but we also have a blues influence in one of the songs that was produced by George Noriega, called "Loaded." We have the Brazilian sound with a song called "Saint Tropez." We have the Latin sound with a song called "Amor." It's a pretty diverse album with the same roots.
We tried to use a lot of very earthy instruments. Technology can help us a lot when we talk about music, but here, every instrument was recorded with a musician. We started using not only Latin percussion, but we went back to India and we did a little bit of Indian sounds, and a mix of Middle Eastern sounds that are so easy to link with my roots.
MTV: Is it easy or hard -- or neither -- to be recording in different languages?
English is the international language. It�s the language that at the end of the day, every artist wants to record. But it�s been wild. Having the opportunity to work with amazing artists such as Madonna, for example. Such as Sting. People that I really respected for many years. And the �Living � La Vida Loca.� which has givem me the opportunity to once again go to these countries that I�ve worked before and perform � in Europe, Asia, and the rest of the world. It�s been really intense. I�m really happy. I guess it�s just that whatever I�m ready to do, God has a plan, and all of a sudden everything happens.
Martin: My success just reassures my belief in my sound and my culture. When you listen to "Livin' La Vida Loca," you have a little bit of Latin sound, but at the same time you have a little bit of the ska and at the same time you have a little bit of rock and roll. It tells me that fusion is very important in my music. But I'm pretty much the same. I take my time to go back to my family as much as I can. It tends to get a little bit intense, with fame and everything. But musically speaking, everything is more intense because of the passion that you have to give. I guess you're more vulnerable toward everything, and it feels good.
MTV: What's it like on the road for you?
Martin: Well, we started doing the American tour last October. It went really good. We did something like 70 concerts. Then we did Europe, and we were there for three weeks. Then we did Latin America, and I'm about to go to Asia right now. My friend, we're all the same. It doesn't matter what part of the world you go to, my attitude is to let people know that it's very important to let go and to just feel free. At least at my concerts, it's all about detaching and letting go of problems in life and problems of society that can disturb us. We want to create a little, beautiful, perfect planet where no one is going to feel judged tonight, and people just let go. It doesn't matter if it's Japan, Mexico City, Buenos Aires or Paris.
We become a soul, and they become part of the stage. I become part of the audience. For me, the immediate contact with the audience is very important. You know a lot of people ask me, "Are you gonna go back to acting?" Well, yes, I can go back to acting, but not for a while. I want to go back to acting, but right now, I need to have this direct contact with the audience, which is so addictive. It's like a little gift that God has given me: to make people happy with my music and my sounds. I don't want to let go of this. I want to keep working on the road. And the production is really intense. Me, going up and down in platforms. The lighting, the screens -- it's a beautiful concert, man. I have a lot of fun with it, and I guess people do the same.
MTV: You're excited about the release of this new album?
Martin: November 14 is the date. Everywhere, everywhere, everywhere in the world. Ready for the holidays. I'll be presenting it personally to the media, the press, to television. I'll be doing anything that has to be done in order for people to know that I'm here, and that there's a lot of music, and that there's a lot more to come.
