Ricky Martin (1999 album)

(pictured) wrote two songs for the album. The album experienced both critical and commercial success, spending 26 weeks atop the US Billboard Top Latin Albums chart. "La Copa de la Vida" was released as the second single from the album, and became the official song of the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. It topped the charts in more than 30 countries, and Martin performed it at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, which was greeted with a massive standing ovation and met with acclaim from music critics. On October 22, 1998, CNN confirmed that Martin had started working on his first English language album, following the huge success of Vuelve. On March 6, 1999, almost two weeks after his Grammy performance, it was announced that the album had been set for release in May. While the album was still untitled at the time, American musician Diane Warren revealed that she contributed two songs to the album, which was produced by KC Porter, Robi Rosa, and Desmond Child. During an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, Martin told the newspaper that this album has Asian influences: On April 24, 1999, Billboard revealed the album's title as eponymous in an article, mentioning that it was initially set for retail on May 25, 1999. However, the huge interest in the disc encouraged Columbia Records to decide to rush the album to release two weeks ahead of schedule, on May 11. Tom Corson, the senior vice president of marketing at Columbia explained: "Quite simply, the market has demanded it. People have been wanting this record for a while, and it's now reached the point where we have to get it out there immediately." Tim Devin, the general manager of Tower Records in New York added about Martin: "He's always been one of our strongest Latin artists, but interest in him has picked up considerably since that performance." In an interview with MTV, Martin told the channel about the album's title: "I cannot wear a mask to go on stage. Those are my influences. This is Ricky Martin. That's why the album is called Ricky Martin. As simple is that. We want to keep it simple. Like Einstein said, 'Let's make it simple, but not simpler than what it is.' And this is me." ==Music and lyrics==

Ricky Martin is a primarily English language album composed of 14 songs, consisting dance-pop tracks, power ballads, mid-tempo pop songs, and "straight-ahead" rock numbers. "Livin' la Vida Loca" () is a rock-etched up-tempo pop song that features Latin percussion rhythms and horn riffs mixed with surf rock-inspired guitar riffs. It has salsa-rock fusion influences, and is about an irresistible, particularly sinister wild woman who lives on the edge, seducing others into her crazy world. The album also contains a Spanish-language version of "Livin' la Vida Loca", which was recorded under the same title. "Shake Your Bon-Bon" is a salsa party track and features a mix of pop, R&B, Middle Eastern riffs, and Latin horns, as well as a fusion of Latin percussion with retro organ. A Spanglish guitar-based down-tempo duet along with Madonna, "Be Careful (Cuidado con mi corazón)" mixes acoustic and electronic elements. "I Am Made of You" is a "metal-type" ballad and uses electric guitar and drums that create a theme of "nostalgia and rock", while "Love You for a Day" is a "high-energy" Latin funk track featuring Latin elements, such as lengthy descargas, piano tumbaos, Latin percussion, and horns. "You Stay With Me" is a slow ballad with "heart-wrenching" lyrics, and "I Count the Minutes" is a homage to the 1980s. which were released as singles for Martin's previous albums. This version of "María" is remixed by Puerto Rican DJ Pablo Flores, who upped the tempo and the sex appeal of the song, turning the slow-burn flamenco laced track into an up-tempo samba tune in a house bassline. "La Copa de la Vida" is a samba-rooted Latin pop song, and features elements of batucada, salsa, dance, mambo, and Europop. Throughout the song, Martin carries a "soccer-heavy" message with fully positive lyrics. ==Singles==

Columbia Records released "Livin' la Vida Loca" to radio stations on March 23, 1999, as the lead single from the album. The song topped the charts in more than 20 countries and is considered to be Martin's biggest hit, and one of the best-selling singles of all time. In the United States, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five consecutive weeks, becoming Martin's first number one single on the chart. Additionally, it broke several records on Billboard charts. It also spent eight consecutive weeks atop the Canada Top Singles chart and topped the country's year-end chart. In the United Kingdom, it debuted at number one and stayed there for three weeks, making Martin the first Puerto Rican artist in history to hit number one. The track was ranked as the best '90s pop song by Elle, and was listed among the Best Latin Songs of All Time by Billboard. It was nominated for four categories at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Its Spanish version reached the summit of the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart in the United States, and was nominated for Record of the Year at the 2000 Latin Grammy Awards. "She's All I Ever Had" was released as the second single from the album on June 15, 1999. It peaked at numbers two and three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Canada Top Singles charts, respectively. The Spanish version, "Bella" topped the charts in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama, It also peaked at number two in Honduras, Finland, and New Zealand, as well as the top 15 in Spain, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. In the United States, it peaked at number 22 on the Hot 100. It reached number one in the Czech Republic, and was a top 10 hit in Finland, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. ==Marketing==

Release Ricky Martin was released worldwide by Columbia Records on May 11, 1999. The European edition of Ricky Martin includes the Spanish version of "Spanish Eyes", titled "La Diosa Del Carnaval" (), as well as a new track "I'm On My Way", while the Spanglish radio edit versions of "La Copa de la Vida" and "María" are not featured. This track list has been also used for the African, Asian, and Latin American editions. The Chinese edition contains both "La Copa de la Vida" and "María" in addition to the standard Asian track list. The Spanish release uses the same track list as the European, but "Por Arriba, Por Abajo" () from Martin's previous album, Vuelve, has been added as a hidden track as well. According to The Wall Street Journal, Martin succeeded Leonardo DiCaprio as "the reigning king of heartthrobs" to become the most popular male celebrity on the American shopping website eBay in 1999, following the album's release. Many Martin products and items were on sale at the time, such as his posters, autographs, Pepsi cans, wall clocks, plastic dolls, autographed Ricky Martin CDs, and "Livin' la Vida Loca" sheet musics. Live performances . To further promote Ricky Martin, he embarked on the worldwide Livin' la Vida Loca Tour. and concluded on October 25, 2000, at the Colonial Stadium in Melbourne, with concerts throughout North America, Oceania, In the United States, the Livin' la Vida Loca Tour was the highest-grossing tour of 2000 by a Latin artist, earning over $36.3 million with 44 dates and drawing 617,488 fans. According to Billboard Boxscore, the tour grossed $51.3 million in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, with 60 shows and drawing an audience of 875,151. International dates were not reported to Boxscore and would push the tour's grosses higher. In addition to his tour, Martin performed singles from Ricky Martin on many television programs and award shows. He performed "Livin' la Vida Loca" at the 1999 World Music Awards, the 1999 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Saturday Night Live, ''The Rosie O'Donnell Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'', and Bingolotto TV Show. At the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards, he performed "She's All I Ever Had" and "Livin' la Vida Loca", accompanied by a group of impressive women dressed in glitter. To promote the album's material in the United Kingdom, Martin delivered performances of "Livin' la Vida Loca" and "Shake Your Bon-Bon" on the BBC's Top of the Pops on August 6, 1999, and November 19, 1999, respectively. ==Critical reception==

Ricky Martin has been met with generally favorable reviews from music critics. In a retrospective review for AllMusic, senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album four out of five stars and said that despite moments of filler and outdated production, its songs are balanced well between various genres and styles on "a big, bold album with something to please everyone, from his longtime Latin fans to housewives with a weakness for dramatic ballads". He noted that all tracks have been constructed carefully on their own, and complimented Martin's "fine voice and undeniable charisma" that bring all tracks "alive", calling him "a true star". The Indianapolis Star reviewer Diana Penner gave it three out of four stars, describing Martin's pop tunes as "melodic and eminently listenable". She also highlighted "Livin' la Vida Loca", confessing that she does not know any "more happy-snappy catchy melody" than that. Another author of The Indianapolis Star praised Martin for mixing styles well from pop to funk, and noted the album tracks' Latin rhythms that make "Martin automatically separate himself from the rest of "popular male artists". The Times staff assured Martin would be a "household name" before the end of the summer, and described the project as "cheesy, breezy, mass-appeal pop". The staff also called the duet with Madonna "superb" and celebrated Martin's "sincerely" singing with Meja. In 2020, Daniella Boik from Paste acknowledged the album as Martin's most influential album since starting his solo career. ==Accolades==

In 2019, Stacker ranked Ricky Martin as the 18th best album by an LGBTQ musician. In 2020, Paste ranked it at number eight on the list of "Best Solo Albums by Former Boy Band Members". but lost to Brand New Day by Sting. ==Commercial performance==

Ricky Martin debuted atop the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 661,000 copies, according to data compiled by Nielsen SoundScan for the chart dated May 29, 1999. It became the largest sales week by any album in 1999, surpassing I Am... by Nas, which had sold 471,000 copies in its first week. It also broke the record as the largest first-week sales for any pop or Latin artist in history, as well as any Columbia Records artist during the SoundScan era. Additionally, he became the first artist to simultaneously top the Billboard 200, Hot Latin Tracks, Hot Dance Music/Club Play, Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, Top 40 Tracks, and the Billboard Hot 100. Ricky Martin sold a total of six million copies in the United States in 1999 and was the third best-selling album of the year in the country, only behind Millennium, and ...Baby One More Time by Britney Spears. In January 2000, Ricky Martin was certified 7× platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over seven million copies in the US and breaking the record as the best-selling album by a Latin artist in the country. As of January 2011, the album has sold over 6,958,000 copies in the country, according to Nielsen SoundScan, with an additional 987,000 sold at BMG Music Clubs, making it Martin's best-selling album in the US. Nielsen SoundScan does not count copies sold through clubs like the BMG Music Service, which were significantly popular in the 1990s. The album debuted at number one in Australia, on the chart issue dated May 23, 1999. According to different sources, the album has sold over 15 million copies or even 17 million copies worldwide. ==Legacy and influence==

Martin is regarded by the media as the "Original Latin Crossover King". Angie Romero from Billboard wrote: "If you look up 'crossover' in the dictionary, there should be a photo of Ricky shaking his bon bon and/or 'Livin' la Vida Loca'." Following his performance of "The Cup of Life" at the Grammys, and the success of "Livin' la Vida Loca" and Ricky Martin (1999), he opened the gates for many Latin artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Shakira, Christina Aguilera, Marc Anthony, Santana, and Enrique Iglesias who released their crossover albums and followed him onto the top of the charts. Jim Farber from Daily News noted that Ricky Martin "provides a textbook example of how to mix Latin beats with pop tunes and rock intonations". St. Louis Post-Dispatch critic Kevin C. Johnson described Martin as Latin music's "pretty-faced poster boy" who is "taking the music to places Jon Secada, Selena and Santana never could". He also mentioned that even "Gloria Estefan at her peak, failed to muster up the kind of hype and hoopla surrounding Martin". Geoff Mayfield from Billboard stated: "Martin's triumph isn't just a big win for Latin music or the Sony camp but a big day for the entire music industry." Also, Rolling Stones Rob Sheffield described 1999 as "the year music exploded", mentioning Spears, Aguilera, Martin, NSYNC, and the Backstreet Boys as "a new breed of stars" who got born. Additionally, Jason Lipshutz from Billboard labeled 1999 "[the] Best Musical Year of the '90s". ==Track listing==

Credits for Ricky Martin adapted from AllMusic and the album liner notes. Recording and mixing locations • The Gentlemen's Club, Miami Beach, Florida • Sound Chamber, Modesto, California • Crescent Moon Studios, Coral Terrace, Florida • Guerilla Beach Studios, Toledo, Ohio • Enterprise Studios, Burbank, California • Right Track Recording, Manhattan • Ocean Way Recording, Los Angeles • Clinton Recording Studio, New York City • Wallyworld, Pittsburgh • The Hit Factory, New York City • Barking Doctor Recording, Mount Kisco, New York • Heaven Studios, Miami • Tone King Studios, Cardinal, Ontario Musicians and technical • Ricky Martin performer, primary artist, vocals, background vocals • KC Porter composer, producer • Robi Rosa composer, guest artist, acoustic guitar, producer, background vocals • Desmond Child composer, producer • Ethel Abelson violin • Murray Adler violin • Walter Afanasieff drum programming, producer • Martin Agee violin • Donna Allen background vocals • Lamar Alsop violin • Richard Altenbach violin • Rusty Anderson guitar • Tommy Anthony acoustic guitar, electric guitar • Jonathan Antin hair stylist • Iris Aponte production coordination • Chris Apostle project coordinator • Kenny Aronoff drums, guest artist • Vaje Ayrikian cello • Julien Barber viola • Randall Barlow composer, engineer, guitar, programming, string arrangements, trumpet • Eric Bazilian composer, 12 string acoustic guitar, electric guitar • Jennifer Bellusci performer • Brian Benning violin • Robert Berg viola • Ian Blake composer, producer • Gustavo Bonnet assistant engineer • Alfred Brown viola • Ruth Bruegger violin • Denyse Buffum viola • Olbin Burgos percussion, shaker • Kenneth Burward-Hoy viola • Eve Butler violin • Jorge Calandrelli conductor, string arrangements • David Campbell conductor, orchestra contractor • Darius Campo violin • Scott Canto engineer • Randy Cantor arranger, keyboards, programming • Sue Ann Carwell background vocals • Jorge Casas performer • Susan Chatman violin • Robert Chausow violin • Rob Chiarelli engineer • Joe Chiccarelli engineer • Brian Coleman production coordination • Tony Concepcion flugelhorn, trumpet • Roberta Cooper cello • Larry Corbett cello • Paulinho Da Costa percussion • Brian Dembow viola • Joel Derouin violin • John Dexter viola • Thomas Diener viola • Assa Drori violin • Bruce Dukov concert master, violin • Charles Dye engineer, mixing • Max Ellen violin • Mark Endert engineer • Luis Enrique guest artist, percussion • Jerry Epstein viola • Stephen Erdody cello • Luis Gómez Escolar composer • Emilio Estefan Jr. executive producer • David Ewart violin • Mary Helen Ewing viola • Benny Faccone engineer • Henry Ferber violin • Michael Ferril violin • Stefanie Fife cello • Alfred Figueroa assistant engineer • Pablo Flores producer • Dave Frazier engineer • Virginia Frazier violin • Tod French cello • Erik Friedlander cello • Matthew Funes viola • Armen Garabedian violin • Berj Garabedian violin • Hector Garrido conductor, horn arrangements, string arrangements • Javier Garza engineer • David Gleeson engineer • Harris Goldman violin • Jules Gondar engineer • Diva Goodfriend-Koven alto flute • Erwin Gorostiza art direction, design • Endre Granat violin • Lynn Grants viola • Maurice Grants cello • Julie Green viloncello • Jeff Gregory assistant engineer • Henry Gronnier violin • Alan Grunfeld violin • Mick Guzauski mixing • Gyan guest artist • Juliet Haffner viola • Don Hahn engineer • Clayton Haslop violin • John Hayhurst viola • Paquito Hechavarria piano • David Heiss viloncello • Leo Herrera assistant engineer • Al Hershberger violin • Gerry Hilera violin • Tiffany Yi Hu violin • Rob Hyman composer, organ • Joanna Ifrah A&R • Ted Jensen mastering • Skyler Jett performer, background vocals • Lisa Johnson violin • Pat Johnson violin • Pat Johnson violin • Karen Karlsrud violin • Dennis Karmazyn cello • Suzie Katayama cello • Khris Kellow programming • Aimee Kreston violin • John Kricker trombone • Sebastián Krys engineer • Janet Lakatos viola • Michael Landau electric guitar • Regis Landiorio violin • Ann Leathers violin • Damian leGassick keyboards, programming • Brian Leonard violin • Lee Levin drums • Elizabeth Lim violin • Richard Locker cello • Daniel López percussion • Manny López guitar • Craig Lozowick assistant engineer, engineer • Madonna composer, guest artist, performer, primary artist, producer • Nathan Malki assistant engineer, engineer • Tony Mardini assistant engineer • Mark Markman violin • Peter McCabe engineer • Patrick McCarthy engineer, mixing • Hugh McDonald bass • Ángelo Medina executive producer • Meja duet, guest artist, primary artist • Lester Mendez programming • Steve Menezes assistant engineer • Vicky Miscolczy viola • Dennis Molchan violin • Conesha Monet background vocals • Jorge Moraga viola • Horia Moroaica violin • Herman "Teddy" Mulet horn • Jennifer Munday violin • Dan Neufeld viola • George Noriega bass, bazouki, composer, nylon string guitar, organ, producer, sitar • Laura Oatts violin • William Orbit composer, Guest Artist, guitar, keyboards, producer • Germán Ortiz assistant engineer • Rik Pekkonen engineer • Archie Pena percussion • Bob Peterson violin • Freddy Piñero Jr. engineer • Barbara Porter violin • Jim Porto assistant engineer • Anthony Posk violin • Sue Pray viola • Rachel Purkin violin • Rita Quintero background vocals • Matthew Raimondi violin • Dave Reitzas engineer • Steve Richards cello • Claytoven Richardson background vocals • Karen Ritscher viola • Gil Romero violin • Anatoly Rosinsky violin • Elliot Rosoff violin • Danita Ruiz project coordinator • Eddie Salkin alto flute • Bob Sanov violin • Sheldon Sanov violin • Elliot Scheiner engineer • Laura Seaton violin • Jon Secada composer, guest artist, background vocals • Dan Shea keyboards, programming • Mark Orrin Shuman cello • David Siegel clarinet • Daniel Smith cello • Rafael Solano percussion • Eve Sprecher violin • Rudy Stein cello • David Stenske viola • Dale Stuckenbruck violin • Ricardo Suarez bass • Marti Sweet violin • Gerald Tarack violin • Dana Teboe trombone • Richard Treat cello • Mari Tsumura violin • Diego Uchitel photography • Robert Valdez engineer • Jose Luis Vega image construction • John Walz cello • Dan Warner acoustic guitar • Diane Warren composer • Miwako Watanabe violin • Belinda Whitney-Barratt violin • Chris Wiggins assistant engineer • Ed Williams assistant engineer • Elizabeth Wilson violin • John Wittenberg violin • Ming Yeh violin • Ken Yerke violin • Juan Vincente Zambrano arranger, keyboards • Mihail Zinovyev viola • Shari Zippert violin • Wassim Zreik assistant engineer ==Charts==

Weekly charts Year-end charts Decade-end charts ==Certifications and sales==