Last night, Ricky Martin had his audience at Menora Mitchavim Arena in Tel Aviv Livin’ La Vida Loca.
The crowd, mostly Israelis of Latin American decent, happily danced to the few English hits he performed, but their excitement was reserved for his Spanish hits that have continued to make him popular across the Latin world.
Ballads like Tu Recuerdo had the crowd swaying their arms to Martin’s soulful – and still very powerful – voice and there wasn’t a still pair of hips in the audience when Martin launched into Maria – one of his Spanish songs that also managed to hit the mainstream after it was translated in English.
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For a liberating 10 minutes the concert transformed itself into souped-up group therapy session, as Martin had the audience dance and sway their arms as he chanted, “I don’t care! I don’t care what people say!” For a moment, it even felt that life would be so much better if it was just a never ending Ricky Martin concert. Despite not knowing the songs, the star’s charisma, mega-watt smile, eternal optimism and (still) chiseled body is certainly a sight to behold.
“I’m so happy to be here in Israel. I’m here because I want to have a good time – I want to leave my soul on this stage,” Martin told the audience.
And judging from the crowd’s reaction, he seemed to do just that.
https://youtu.be/OAaOmpAmSvM
https://www.facebook.com/ynetenglish/videos/1278717478829399/
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Update: Here is an interview Ricky had with Yonatan Reguer on Israel’s Mako TV before the show.