At least his English - one of four languages he speaks - is perfect, as he thanks his fans for turning up, although his hearing might appear to have been affectd by all that blaring salsa music.
Asked by a reporter if he could foresse any clouds on the horizon, he looked baffled before inquiring: "Cows on the horizon?" The word "clouds" is probably not in his vocabulary at the moment.
"Ricky Don't Lose That Number"
Ricky's place at the head of this dates back to his history-making performance at the Grammy Awards in March, where he received the only standing ovation of the evening and was literally jumped on by Madonna after the show. Madonna, famous for always having her eye on the next trend, has already recorded an English/Spanish duet with Ricky and the couple have been the subject of much "have they or haven't they?" speculation ever since.
It's something that really does need to be cleared up so, I ask Ricky, have you done it with Madonna or not? He laughs at the effrontery of the question. "Even if I have done it with Madonna, I'm not going to say." That means you have! "What are you talking about? I have not done it with Madonna, but if I had, I would not say. But if there's one thing that would make me fall in love with a woman... You have no idea how she treats her daughter. Doesn't matter where she is, at eight o'clock she has to be home because the baby's going to sleep. She can be in a meeting with the president and she'll be like, 'I have to go for my baby.' And that's something I melt for in a woman. With that, she'll have me at her feet.
"When I'm dating, I always need to know that the woman is open to being a mother, becaause you meet some women who say, 'Who, me? A mother? No, because of my figure.' And that's such a turn-off for me."
By Mary Carmen Santana
Mexico: Ricky Martin goes around the world opening doors with humility, avoiding fame, ignoring cynicism and purifying the core with music. His greatest treasure is to have 20 minutes a day to find himself again in silence ad to meditate, and the possibility of being a human being in the whole meaning of the word. Today Ricky Martin is in China participating in the greatest event of fashion in the world. Before heading off to that mysterious eastern country, Ricky Martin visited Mexico and talked with us for 15 minutes. He is wonderful, even in the middle of the great success that surrounds the young artist, we find him to be an extremely sensible human being, worried about not only his people, but also about the humanity of the entire world. "I'm going to China to a special fashion show that is going to be in a very huge arena; we know that this country is very closed and is one of the most traumatic places for artists; they have invited me to sing and to take our Latin rhythms. From there, I will go to France, later to Spain. I have six concerts in Turkey. In October I am going to be in the United States. I will be in New York, Los Angeles and Miami."
Not in Mexico until 1999:
When are you going to do concerts in Mexio?
"The tour of '99, I will begin it there. I would like to do 38 cities, but we don't know which cities. Maybe Tijuana, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Mexico City, Acapulco and other places."
Latino on a mission:
How do you balance the susccess in your life?
"It is a great responsibility - I can open doors, but I can close them to whomever is coming behind. It is very delicate; another risk is to be something fleeting in these countries. I want to return to India within 10 years and to make music, only Julio Iglesias has done it, but we are going there with a knife in hand, and letting them know the Latin Americans are very united, with the desire to fight, with talent, trying to break the stereotypes."
"Most important to me is to keep my feet on the ground - humility has brought me to where I am. Why do I insist on humility? Because it is important to live every day and to say, 'Hello. It is a pleasure meeting you. My name is....here is my music.' I think that satisfaction comes from ignorance and this creates a foolish happiness. Today I am feeding my self-esteem and that of a Latin America that for many years felt repressed, we felt stepped on, and now I say, enough already! I already feel like a politician. I think that it is important to let them know that we have a world here, and when I say to break stereotypes, waht I mean is that there are many talented people with taste in music, literature, great movie directors and from here we cannot do it, we must go out there and knock on doors, and let them hear us."
It seems that in your life you have everything, youth, a future ahead, but how do you handle the fame, the concerts, the recognition, press conferences, without it affecting your health?
"The enemy of my life is fame. This is somewhat ironic because as an
artist I am constantly looking for the acceptance of the public and the applause of the people telling you how good you are, but this can disorient you at any moment and it can leave you in pieces. I insist, there is nothing nicer than applause, because it is the food and the motivation, but not if you do not know how to fight it and how to handle it. I just have to remember what we have seen of other legends and I do not want to be one more of those who fell into drugs or other artificial things. I am not into that, I look for a silent moment every day, to meditate, to do well, to listen, to talk to myself, to make logical decisions."
Sex of the mind is safer:
Do you like X-rated movies?
"They fascinate me," (he laughs nervously and blushes). "Oh, God, did
I just say that out loud?" (He laughs again). "Let me change that. Yes, there was a time when I liked to watch them, but now that is not my priority, I am human, I have my experiences, although today the only safe sex that really exists is the one in your mind. It is necessary to have control, judgement and lots of caution." (He laughs nervously again and he requests to change the subject).
Why?
"You're making me sweat." (he blushes and bites his lower lip)
In Spain, women said that you are the prototype of the perfect man.
"They are nice," (he blushses again). "I don't know, these type of things are wonderful for the ego, but to answer this, thank you very much, but perfection will never arrive with me, the only perfection is God, and that is it, I am simply human. I have my highs and my lows, with defects, virtues and fears."
He fears cynicism:
"Cynicism, I hate it. We walk all our lives surrounded by it. I don't practice it, but at one time I did. Cynicism can destroy a nation and we do not realize it, we see it in the leaders: cynicism destroys the education and this affects all generations and I just do not like the word."
Ricky says that music can cure many things:
"Music is catharsis, it is purification, it is relief, I can use my music to speak of social problems. I wrote a song called 'Gracias Por Pensar En Mi' and it speaks of a man who is in bed dying of AIDS, people are afraid of this subject, so they do not become informed and it is sad."
What are your future projects?
"I want to return to the theater, to the movies, I want also to direct movies. I want to be a father of a very big family, to find my woman and love her and I want every day that passes to be a better human being."
Where is Ricky Martin, the human being?
"More present than ever, God helps me accept the things that I cannot change, lets me commit errors and lets me learn. For that reason, I require 20 minutes a day to listen, to speak to myself, to write and not to think about anything else."
Did you dream that there would be a moment like this when you were young?
"Yes, sometimes. When I was six years old, I told my father that I wanted to be an artist, with honesty I said to him that I saw myself singing in different countries. I owe a lot in my life to him."
And Hollywood?
"So far, no, it has to be something very important. I have read some scripts, but if I leave my music at this moment, it could destroy something historical for Latin Americans. I do not want them to say that the Latinos came and went away. I must seize the moment, I must live with the knife in the mouth for all the countries where I have worked to be respected."
* interviewed by kids *
At the refuge of Disney arrives a very familiar face who has made more than one young lady drool. Ricky Martin is very tall, and we notice that he has a new haircut. Since he's such a nice person, he immediately sits down and starts talking to us about hamburgers, games and dances.
What do you like better, acting or singing?
That's hard to answer. I like the public, I like the applause, I ejoy singing, but acting helps me get to know myself better.
Doesn't it make you mad when they write something bad about you?
Sometimes yes, but since I don't want to have an ulcer, I prefer to ignore it. Sometimes I read something and I recognize that they're completely right, but when it's something silly, I turn the page.
What's the hardest thing about being onstage?
The person you see onstage, that's who I am. I don't force anything; what you see is what you get. I'm not afraid of anything.
What do you do in your spare time? Do you have spare time?
Yes, sure I do. I have to find spare time, if not I'll never make it to 30. I like to read and go bicycling. I go to the movies and the theater as often as I can.
What do you read?
I enjoy poetry. I really like Benedetti. I also like to read the newspaper. Well, I read whatever's put in front of me. Sometimes the news gets you down, but you have to read it.
At what age is someone "old"?
My grandfather was 92 and he was the most strong-spirited man I've ever known. He never felt old. I don't think it's a question of numbers, but of spirit.
Did you play a lot of pranks with the other guys in Menudo?
I was a loner. They were older and really into the music, but for me it was a game. Even though I had responsibilities, like the press and rehearsals, I was always carrying around my little action figures and my Nintendo.
Do you watch TV?
A lot.
What's your favorite thing to watch?
The video channel. I worked in a soap opera and I don't watch many of those...mine is more than enough for me, where I'm in the studio filming from eight in the morning to eight at night. But I watch Chespirito and enjoy it. He's been my idol since I was young.
What other idols do you have?
I really admire actors who do movies like Robert de Niro and Jack Nicholson. Jack is kind of evil.
What is your favorite movie?
In my childhood I saw Mary Poppins like 22 times. My grandmother used to put it on to calm me down.
Which cartoon character do you like best?
Bugs Bunny ("What's up, Doc?"). The cartoon characters nowadays seem really aggressive to me.
Who else do you like?
I think Pinocchio is cool. I really liked The Lion King. It left me with a good feeling. Now everything is Pocahontas. In fact, the woman who sang the song for it (in English) is a friend of mine. I met her in the Phillipines.
What do you eat when you get offstage?
I'm like a beast when I come down from the stage. I'll eat anything you put in front of me.
Do you like junk food?
Definitely.
What kind of junk food do you like best?
I like cookies and also hamburgers.
What do you say about ice cream?
I love chocolate chip in a cone. I also love banana splits.
How many friends do you have?
I can count them all on one hand and I have fingers left over. "Friend" is a big word. Acquaintances, I have many.
Is there any game you used to like as a child?
'Hide-and-seek' and 'Statues.'
Did you always want to be a singer?
Yes. At one time I wanted to be a policeman, but guns have always scared me. When I was in Menudo we used to work a lot, a whole lot. Then I would say that I was going to quit this, that I was going to study something else. But I want to spend my whole life on the stage.
What makes you feel sick ("grosses you out?")
Someone throwing up. If somebody vomits, I start throwing up.
Have you ever broken anything? (bones)
My arm, several times.
What else have you broken?
Both knees, both ankles, all the toes on one foot. I think I have a calcium problem. I've broken eight of my fingers. By having them stepped on, for example. The other day my little niece broke my little finger.
Do you play any instruments?
I like the guitar, but just because I like it doesn't mean I play it...I'm crazy about the violin. I think it's THE instrument.
In the Corner... Ricky Martin
You wasted your talent for...
playing a musical instrument, but it's never too late.
Your favorite book is...
"La tregua" (The Truce) by Mario Benedetti.
Your bad habits are...
biting my right index finger.
You're too...
much of a perfectionist.
Your aspiration (yet to be reached) is...
to make it to the "big screen."
Do you have repetitive dreams?
Yes, I dream that I'm flying, and how high I fly depends on what I ate that night.
What is your favorite outfit?
My jeans.
You would like to do a movie with...
a) Isabelle Adjani.
b) Winona Ryder.
c) Juliette Lewis.
Any of the three, but I like Liv Tyler, the girl with the light-colored eyes in "Mission Impossible."
If Michael Jordan, Michael Jackson and Mickey Mouse were all drowning at the same time, who would you save?
I'd call "Baywatch."
If you were a cartoon character, which one would you be?
The coyote because I'm persistent.
During the Olympics your country is participating in three events at the same time, but you can only see one. Which one would you choose?
a) basketball game
b) soccer game
c) water polo game
A basketball game.
For you the greatest invention of the Twentieth Century� is...
the bed.
If you had a son, what would you name him? What would you name your daughter?
I haven't decided yet.
For a night out, you would prefer...
It depends on the mood and the group, but a good play never hurts, along with a nice dinner.
Your favorite car is...
The BMW Special Edition.
You are offered a free trip to anywhere. You choose...
London.
What part of your body do you like best?
My teeth.
And what part do you like least?
My legs.
What's the first thing you do before you go to bed?
I read and do a few other little things.
At breakfast time you prefer...
Hotcakes.
What's the greatest news you've received in your life?
"You're going to Broadway."
You refuse to...
do anything I don't believe in.
To unleash your wrath (make you really mad), someone has to...
lie to me, be unfaithful to me.
If you could change anything about your personality, what would it be?
Right now, nothing. Tomorrow, who knows.
Your favorite pizza is...
cheese.
Your favorite designer is...
Dolce and Gabbana.
The person in your life that you love the most is...
My heart is like a multi-level building. My family has the penthouse.
Who is the funniest person you know?
My publicist.
To be happy one must...
Love himself, accept himself and respect himself.
~ fall 1999 ~
That voice! That face! Those hips! Ricky Martin fever has swept the world and
he's planning to ride the heat wave right to the top. Lynn Lee chats with the
Latin dream lover himself.
The reaction at my otherwise jaded office, to the news of my upcoming
interview with Ricky Martin, was nothing less than one long hormone-soaked
plea. When it came to this bona-fide international sex symbol, dignity was
the last thing on my woman's mind. For a fortnight, I was tensed, coaxed and
blatantly bribed by everyone and their mother, for a chance to tag along for
a glimpse of this demi-God in the flesh.
Shaking off my colleagues and friends required diplomacy and good running
shoes but eventually, I ended up (unassisted) in a plush armchair in a hotel
conference room, waiting for my allocated seven minutes ("No more, no less,"
I was reminded) with him.
The place was buzzing with Sony Music execs, his "people" and hotel staff
brandishing platters of food and drink. And suddenly, Ricky appeared holding
a steaming cup of coffee. With a� firm handshake, he introduced himself ("Hi,
I'm Ricky") as if he were just ordinary Ricky The Used Car Salesman, instead
of Ricky Martin The International Sex Symbol who made Madonna herself weak in
the knees.
Born Enrique Martin Morales IV, the only son of Enrique III, a psychologist,
and Nereida Morales, an accountant, this supernova has taken success in his
stride. "I wake up every morning and ask myself, 'How are you affecting
people? How do you want to affect them?' For me, it's very important to be
centered and focused to survive," he said.
Judging by the 10 million copies of his self-titled English album snapped up
so far, he seems to be doing better than "surviving." Next up: a massive
world tour starting in September will take him through the US, Europe and
finally Asia by June next year. So what would he miss most about livin' la
vida loca, if he ever decided to take a break? "The stage - it's so
addictive. You're doing concerts and you're getting a fantastic reaction from
the audience," he smiled, then punched both arms, fists clenched, above his
head, like a champ. "It's like, 'I'm Superman!' You think you're in control.
That's power!"
Off stage, Ricky's power is in being down-to-earth in manners and dress
sense. For our interview, he kicked back in leather loafers, comfy black
pants and an obviously well worn beige sweater (with a little hole over his
shoulder). "I'm not into vanity at all," he said. "I have people around me
who say, 'You don't eat healthy. You have to take better care of your skin.'
I'm like, 'Yeah, yeah, sure.' One thing I do need is sleep. As long as I get
my eight hours, everything's fine. As long as I've my hour of meditation, I'm
fine." Up close, Ricky looked more than fine but he insisted that having a
sense of style meant more than a designer closet. Read on...
What does style mean to you?
"It's a way of expressing yourself. My favorite designer is Individuality -
get it?"
Err...no?
"Well, it doesn't matter about the brand. Just be yourself and comfortable in
whatever you're wearing."
So what are you comfortable wearing?
"It depends on the day, the weather, and what I'm doing. I can wear a
Japanese kimono with slippers one day, and something else the next. I'm a
chameleon. That's the beauty of fashion. You create your own style according
to your mod. I love fashion but I'm not obsessed with it. Giorgio Armani does
some great things and it's like, "I want it!" Tom Ford has made a new Gucci.
And Prada and lots of Asian designers like Yohji Yamamato, and Commes de
Garcon do some great stuff too. These are people I respect because I love all
that they do, so when I see their stuff, I have to tell myself, 'Easy...' "
Last year,� you were planning to model for Armani. Have you?
"I haven't done it yet! I would love to. I want to do his next fashion show
because he might be another main sponsor for my world tour. I've said okay
but only if I do the runway! And he said, 'Of course! Which one - the one for
men?' I said, 'I don't want to do the one for men! I want to do the one with
women! I'll be the only man there. Everyone will look at me and I get to look
at them.' "
How do you like women to dress?
"Very feminine. You know Coco Chanel was awesome, the first time women wore
pants on the runway, that was Chanel. That's when she created the vest too.
But I still like the skirts and the flowers. When it comes to my date, I want
someone feminine, very girly. A woman can be bald and still be feminine."
What do you wear for a special night out?
"Depends on where I am. At home in Miami, it's very casual. You can go to a
restaurant with slippers and baggy pajama lookalikes and a plain white Calvin
Klein T-shirt. When I'm in New York, it's different. I don't like ties
though."
So do you own a tie?
"I own one and I wore it to the opening of my restaurant Casa Salsa."
Why don't you like ties?
"Urggh!" [Grabs his throat and throws himself into a spasm].
Do you have a favorite cologne?
"Soul Mix, which I bought in a very small store in Miami Beach. Don't ask me
who makes it. The other one, which I'm wearing now, is not being made anymore
- DKNY for Men."
How do you like women to smell?
"Clean and fresh. I'm not fascinated by citrusy scents. They make me sneeze."
Last question: Is there anything you keep in your closet for purely
sentimental reasons?
"A T-shirt from every World Cup team. Because I was performing, every time I
went to a country with my song, they would give me one. My friends came over
and I'm like, 'Don't touch! You can look but you can't touch!'
When the legendary Spanish singer Julio Iglesias speaks of competition,
assuredly he thinks about Ricky Martin, the young Puerto Rican singer and
actor who in little more than 10 years of a professional career has become a
major star. And because of his talent, and the song "1, 2, 3, Maria," Ricky
not only causes sighs in his fans, but also has been transformed into an
artistic phenomenon at a worldwide level. What is it about Ricky that makes
us crazy? Perhaps that he is super handsome (he was a child model and with
his gorgeous looks has been baptized the male sex symbol of Latin America)
and according to those who know him, "is very nice and down to earth," even
though at 25 he is a millionaire.
We tell Ricky how those close to him described him to us: sensitive (he
admits that he cries when he needs it), affectionate, loving, talkative (he
makes a motor-mouth sound) and very romantic. But he says of himself: "I am a
young man of my time, that struggles to do things better every day. That in
spite of my success I like to be near my family, I take time to meditate (he
practices yoga and one of his favorite writers is the spiritual advisor
Deepak Chopra) to connect my mind and my heart and to not let myself get
disorientated...And in addition I am a young man who never, ever, forgets his
origins."
It is in his personal diary, that he enjoys writing in after meditating in
his room (he says in the nude, but we can't figure out if he is joking or
not!), where he writes about the more meaningful moments of his private and
professional life. It is all there, with lots of details, from his difficult
beginnings in music when he premiered as a solo artist in 1992 with his disc
Ricky Martin, as well as his greater accomplishments: his work for Disney
studios in Hercules, the animated cartoon film. His triumph in the play Les
Miserables, on Broadway, and the soap opera General Hospital. His millions of
dollars worth of contracts with Pepsi and his record label Sony, and the
offer of the Italian designer Giorgio Armani to provide his clothing. But,
without a doubt, the pages of his diary also tell of his dreams and goals of
premiering in Hollywood. In fact he already has had more offers to make films
with Tom Cruise and Andy Garcia. These days, Ricky, more sexy than ever with
his new short hair, still writes of his history of triumphs in Europe and
Asia with Maria, a hit off his last CD, A Medio Vivir.
Ricky first appeared (in the US) on General Hospital, but in the Hispanic
market he first appeared in Mexico - a country which he considers his second
mother country - in the soap opera Alcanzar Una Estrella. Therefore, he did a
crossover in acting before one in music. However, he confesses that in life
he wants to be known as a singer and actor...in that order. "If they put a
pistol to my head, I would choose music, but thank God, I can do both." His
idols, he says, are Julio Iglesias and the Puerto Rican, Raul Julia. "Julio
has motivated me to follow with my music. He is a gentleman and I say that
sincerely. And of Raul, my fellow countryman, I really admire him...I want to
follow his lead in Hollywood."
Ricky knew fame from boyhood. With Menudo, a group which he joined in 1984 at
12 years old, he started on his way to fame. "Although I liked to sing, in
fact what I really wanted was to become a child psychologist and pilot like
my father. But I am still young and I have not yet discarded the idea of
pursuing that dream," reveals Ricky, whose parents, Enrique and Nereida,
divorced when he was 2 years old. "In spite of that, they always gave me lots
of love and they knew how to teach me to become a good man." In fact, Ricky
was separated from his father for many years, until recently they reconciled.
"I adore my father. I called him and I said to him that I could not be
separated any more, that I needed him by my side." The person that has always
been at Ricky's side is his mother, who was his legal representative during
the times with Menudo, and whom he adores. "She is my accountant, she is my
friend, my advisor and she almost always travels with me. She is the one who
spoils and takes care of me, AND she makes the rice and beans that I enjoy so
much," he says, laughing. Another unconditional friend of the young singer is
his personal manager, Jose Luis Vega. "He is like a father to me. He has
always been with me, since I was 12 years old. That means a lot to me,"
reveals the young man who enjoys hobbies like painting and practicing aquatic
sports like surfing and swimming.
His private life is a semi opened book, since his romances have had the equal
publicity of his professional successes. And it is because Ricky has had some
Maria's mark his heart unforgettably. When asked of his relationship with the
Mexican TV host Rebeca de Alba, he says: "She is great. She has so much to
offer. I cared for her a lot, but that (relationship) is all over now." Of
his relationship with the Argentine tennis star Gabriela Sabatini, he says:
"It was so strong, it took me by surprise and I didn't know how to react. She
was inside my head like a hurricane." He was also seen with the Cuban model
Daisy Fuentes but says: "I confess, I like her a lot, she is wonderful, but I
don't steal other people's girlfriends." In fact, he comments on Luis Miguel:
"I want only the best things for him. I respect him a lot. It would be
wonderful if someday we could record a duet together."
Mature, with the body of a doubtlessly attractive man (although he says that
he does not like his big mouth - "I have these huge teeth" - and that his
legs are too skinny). Ricky affirms: "I am alone right now but I am in no
hurry" (to have a relationship). And he adds: "A year ago I was on the verge
of marriage, but when I saw myself buying a ring, I got scared and I changed
my mind. I knew clearly that it was not my moment. But I hope to find the
love of my life someday and have a family." So we asked: And what is she like
- this woman you hope for? "Latin, both physically and ideologically; with
dark hair and penetrating eyes and beautiful legs. Intelligent, extroverted,
feminine, detailed, someone who knows what she wants. And also she must want
to have many children," he explains.
In spite of his popularity, Ricky has had to pay the high price of fame. He
confesses that he is sometimes scared of the hysteria of his fans. "For that
reason I pray, for that reason I need to be by my family and friends, in them
I find the balance. With money it is not possible to buy happiness, nor
friends, nor love...everything that is worth something in life."
There are some that have accused you that songs such as Maria allude to
drugs: "I would have to be very stupid to give credit to drugs as
inspiration. That is not my motivation. My motivation is the public, my
family, and my career. But I have learned not to judge those that use drugs,
on the contrary, to try to help them."
If there is something Ricky has worked for, it is for breaking the Latin
stereotypes in the U.S. "We have been depicted as drug addicts, lazy. But I
am still a very positive person. I am very happy with what I have. And I hope
that this is only the beginning. I never want to stop being a performer, I
want to die on stage."
