Ricky Martin

Ricky Martin

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 1999)
• Original Release Date: May 11, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00000IX6H
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (434 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,731 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin's self-titled first English-language album is a triumph of an omnivorous world-pop sensibility--but more important is that at its best, it's a real kick. The first single, "Livin' la Vida Loca," employs a revved-up ska tempo to praise a girl whose "lips are devil red [and] skin's the color of mocha." Martin is no less irresistible on the disc's other uptempo numbers, such as "Spanish Eyes," "The Cup of Life" (the 1998 World Cup theme which with he stole the Grammy telecast a few months before this CD's release), and the Soul Coughing-indebted "Shake Your Bon Bon." Ricky Martin loses momentum with its draggier ballads--even the much-touted Madonna duet, "Be Careful (Cuidade con Mi Corazon)," doesn't spark--but overall, it deserves its inevitable multiplatinum success. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Four good songs out of fourteen, December 9, 1999

By A Customer

Out of the fourteen songs Ricky has four good ones: Cuidado Con me Corazon, Livin the vida loca (spanish), Cup of Life, and Maria. All the spanish language songs. I don't think his cross over shows what a talent he is. When I saw him in concert it was the same he seemed restained and artifical in english while his latin numbers were really hot. A real let down after Vuelve. On which every track is great.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not half bad, October 20, 1999

By	J. D. Schmidt (Los Angeles, Ca) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I put off buying this cd for a long time. I hadn't heard very good things about it and I was getting so sick of "La Vida Loca". About a month ago when they started playing "Cup of Life" I almost gave in, but yet I still held back from buying this. Finally last week I heard "Shake Your Bon-Bon" and I finally decided it was time to see if this cd was worth the sticker price. I was not at all disappointed. The music is lively and fun for the most part but there are a few slower songs near the end that kinda bring down the cd's energy level. The Madonna duet song "Be Careful" was an interesting idea, but after a promising beginning it doesn't seem to know when to end. Stick to the faster cuts like "Spanish Eyes", "Shake Your Bon-Bon", "Love For a Day", "The Cup of Life", and "Maria" and you won't be sorry you bought this hugely popular jugernaut of pop culture.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ricky deserves more credit, November 11, 2004

By	Robert Rosario Jr. (So. California) - See all my reviews

Back in 1999, Puerto Rican heartthrob Ricky Martin burst onto the mainstream music scene in hopes in proving to the world that he is far more than just a young, sappy Spanish crooner with a pretty face. "Livin' La Vida Loca," although somewhat corny and sugary, conveyed Latin pop perfectly, with its exuberant blend of horns, percussion, guitar riffs, and a catchy, repeatable chorus that can easily be glued inside one's ears. (Of course, Gloria Estefan originally opened the door in the 1980s). Sure, Ricky occasionally wears tight leather pants and shakes his behind like he is God's gift to the world, but the guy has an unprecedented amount of charisma and passion that his peers cannot contend with. Since the hey-days of "Loca," Martin went on to create a sophomore English-language album in 2000 ("Sound Loaded") that is even greater-material-wise-than its predecessor. In addition, he released a Spanish hits collection ("La Historia," 2002) and a subsequent album in his native language ("Almas Del Silenco," 2003) that is perhaps his best album, musically and lyrically, yet. Whenever Martin sings or is on stage, one can feel not only his presence, but also his soul. Believe it or not, Ricky can sing -- and well, too. For being a male singer, he transcends emotion extremely well (perhaps it's a Latin thing). He may not be a songwriter, but his voice and personality shine all on its own. Martin has forever stayed true to himself (his faithful Spanish followers know first hand) and has not let the media destroy him due to his questionable orientation. Every artist, at one point or another, has recorded cheesy songs with commercial appeal; it's natural. However, digging farther into his vast catalogue of material, one will find some of the best Latin/pop music ever created. His ballads are strong and sturdy; his up-tempo songs are full of passion and celebration. The sad aspect of all this is that critics or his peers have never taken Martin seriously, and that's an absolute shame. It's hard to choose a definitive Ricky Martin album since each one is rich and subtenant in their own right. Underneath the good looks and somewhat-flamboyant image is a Latino who is filled with an unyielding sense of passion and love. Anyone who appreciates individuals such as Martin cannot condemn his music, or himself, for that matter.