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Thursday, October 21, 1999
Viva Ricky!
Martin's tour gets off to a rousing start
By JANE STEVENSON -- Toronto Sun
RICKY MARTIN
Miami, Florida
Miami Arena
MIAMI -- Ricky Martin's first-ever North American tour got off to a slick, rousing start last night at Miami Arena as close to 12,000 fans fell under the hypnotic spell of the energetic, hip-shaking Latin pop singer.
Showing off his wild, African ballet-like dance moves and well-honed performing chops -- let's not forget he was a Menudo member, a soap opera actor, a Broadway musical performer and a major Spanish-language pop star before releasing his 12-million selling English-language debut this year -- Martin only faltered during his 11/2-hour show when he backed down on his infectious Latin beats in favour of schmaltzy ballads.
Otherwise, it was equal parts Vegas and Broadway for the 27-year-old Puerto Rican native, who made his grand initial entrance to the zesty strains of his North American breakthrough hit, Livin' La VidaLoca, on the top of a vintage Mustang convertible that rose out of the centre of his elaborate stage.
In fact, for that first song all you saw was Martin in a see-through black top and black leather pants -- which appeared to be fine with his ecstatic fans of all ages (and yes, there were men there)-- joined by his eight, eye-catching dancers.
His excellent12 piece band -- percussionist Danny Lopez should be singled out -- weren't revealed until the next number, Love You For A Day.
Meanwhile, Miami -- he has both a home and restaurant in this Art Deco-happy city -- and the coming millennium influenced his futuristic, silver steel-and-chrome stage, with plenty of flashing neon pink and blue lights, a couple of fireman's poles and two conveyer belts.
There was also a major video component, including a striking, three-panel video backdrop -- which at one point saw some of his dancers, supported by pulleys, walking on it at right angles.
And just in case you didn't get enough of the real thing, there were many different videos of Martin throughout the show -- getting up the morning, being chased by the paparazzi and dancing in a bar.
However, the loudest screams came whenever Martin merely stood with his back to the audience and wiggled his behind.
Who knew there could be so much power in one bottom?
He's part Tom Jones (a bra-throwing concertgoer was rewarded with a kiss), part Elvis (the hip-wiggling), and part Desi Arnaz (he played the bongos) and it's quite a combo.
As for his song selection, there are a lot of Martin fans out there who should go and pick up some of his Spanish-language albums, most specifically, the multi-platinum Vuelve, given the number of dynamic Spanish songs included in his set list which shone brighter than many of the English-language numbrs.
Among them were the heartfelt Vuelve, which saw the first real singalong of the night, the uptempo Lola Lola Ay, La Bomba and Maria.
Sounding good on the English side was the sexy and seductive Spanish Eyes and Shake Your Bon-Bon, the next single, and, of course, his show-stopping Grammy number The Cup Of Life.
Too bad about the draggy ballads: Private Emotion, I Am Made Of You -- this one saw Martin rise above the crowd on a silver, circular platform -- and (Bella) She's All I Ever Had, which he sang seated barefoot on a couch that matched his clothes.
Martin has a second show in Miami tonight before heading out on the road for the first leg of his North American tour, which wraps up in Cleveland on Dec. 6.
A Toronto date is expected sometime in spring, either at the Air Canada Centre or SkyDome.
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