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Fans were livin’
la vida loca, thanks
to Ricky MartinRicky Martin: Last show, 7:30 tonight, Blaisdell Arena. Call 526-4400 or 591-2211.
By John Berger
Special to the Star-BulletinTHE show started a few minutes short of an hour late but Ricky Martin's fans forgave him his tardiness the moment he appeared atop the hood of a slightly battered Ford Mustang shaking his "bon-bon" in fitted leather pants to "Livin' La Vida Loca" in the Blaisdell Arena last night.
Martin returns for an encore performance in the arena tonight. Fans without tickets may well find decent seats still available.
The production being staged here is a scaled-down version of the extravaganza concert promoter Marek Lieberberg originally announced for the 30,000 seat Aloha Stadium. Whatever Martin and his production team may have intended to do for a crowd of 30,000, they delivered a fast and smooth high-tech concert experience in the smaller confines of the arena. A large three-panel video wall behind the multi-level stage displayed an assortment of live and pre-produced film clips, while two satellite screens added additional images and helped fans at the far end of the arena appreciate the emotional intensity of Martin's performance.
Confetti, pyrotechnics, numerous costume changes, and two conveyor belts allowing Martin to move across the stage while standing still, were also part of the show. Martin used the conveyor belt to good dramatic effect. His departure from center stage as he finished singing "She's All I Ever Had" was one of the visual highlights of a excellent production.
Martin performed with the mutability of a chameleon. At times he seemed to absolutely revel in the screaming adulation of his female fans. At others he seemed humble and sincerely grateful for his sudden popularity as a pop heartthrob.
Give his fans credit for their part in making the show all it could be. Almost all of them had enough respect and self-control to keep quiet when Martin was talking about his music, his belief in God and his desire to transcend ethnic and racial divisions with his music.
Martin's Spanish-language selections seemed as popular as the English songs on his self-titled Columbia album. A number of fans waved Puerto Rican flags during the show.
Opening the night with his biggest hit could have been a dangerous gamble but Martin proved well able to maintain the energy level and momentum throughout the hour and 40-minute performance. "Love You For A Day" and "Spanish Eyes" solidified his hold on the fans who discovered him as a Latin crossover artist.
Martin was appealing whether speaking softly as an advocate of spiritual peace or performing as a rump-pumping go-go boy with "Shake Your Bon-Bon." The latter has been dismissed as only a minor hit, but it was scream fodder last night.
A hot band and impressive troupe of dancers helped cover for a number of smoothly negotiated costume changes.
The "Livin' La Vida Loca" show opener combining a video clip with the full-size Mustang on stage was the single most impressive production number but Martin and his group returned later to create a miniature Latin night club revue following another video clip.
Tightly choreographed work by the dancers and expressive work by Martin's guitarists and percussionist added other facets to the evening.
Martin opened his encore with "She's All I Ever Had " and capped it with "The Cup of Love." For his last move, he bowed to the crowd with palms of his hands together and his fingertips almost touching his lips, leaving his band to close the show.
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