recalls with а

recalls with а smile. “She said, ‘I canъt stand it anymore!’ and
grabbed us by the ears and took us to а Celia Cruz concert. It
really affected me.”

Today, Ricky says, “I listen to everything. Iъm like а sponge.
Iъm in this creative moment that feels like, ‘Letъs get it
out!’” On one end of the spectrum, Ricky delivers the
stripped-down, yet
impassioned, sitar-laced “Sheъs All I Ever Had”, while on the
other thereъs “Shake Your Bon-bon”, а tantalizing Latinized
funk-rock-confection with hyper-horns, sly female background
vocals, and vocal hook thatъs absolutely irresistible. Far less
libidinous, yet still sensual, is the soaring and imploring “I Am
Made of You”, Rickyъs favorite cut because it “describes
perfectly where Iъm at today in my spiritual search.”
One track thatъs bound to attract attention is “Be Careful
(Cuidado Con Mi Corazуn)а true summit meeting of
musical superpowers: Ricky Martin and Madonna. “People
said, ‘It wonъt match! Youъre Latin and the sound sheъs working
in at the moment is very English-techno’, but we felt we had to
do it”, Ricky says. “We didnъt want to think about deadlines or
why we were doing it. If it works for my album, great. If it winds
up on а soundtrack or something else, great. If itъs just for us
to go into the studio and have fun, great.” As it turned out, the
track blended the worlds of Latin music and electronica in а
groundbreaking techno-acoustic ballad and wound up fitting in
perfectly with the rest of Ricky Martin.
One of the unexpected stand-out surprises on Ricky Martin is
the sensuous “Private Emotion”, another duet, this one
pairing Ricky with the Swedish songstress Meja.
“I had the dream team!he enthuses about his producers:
Robi Rosa (with whom heъs been working for years); Emilio
Estefan, Jr. (the pioneer behind the “Miami sound“);
songwriter Desmond Child (best-known for his work with Bon
Jovi and Aerosmith but, as Ricky points out, is Cuban-born
and “very much in touch with the Latin sounds“); and, through
Madonna, electronica titan William Orbit. Other writers and
producers on the album include Jon Secada, George
Noriega, Juan Zambrano, and Walter Afanasieff.
The production values on Ricky Martin draw from, and
enhance, the roots of his music. “Technology is great and it
works so you use it”, Ricky admits, “but I also try to keep