Ricky Martin, 25 Years After the Latin Music Explosion: “It Was All Worth It”

In an exclusive interview, Ricky Martin looks back at his days of “La copa de la vida” and “Livin’ la Vida Loca” and talks about his evolution and life today.

Ricky Martin still gets emotional when he recalls the night of February 24, 1999, when he sang “La copa de la vida” onstage at the GRAMMY Awards, which was broadcast from LA’s Shrine Auditorium. The world hasn’t forgotten that high-energy presentation either, even though 25 years have gone by.

“I knew it was a unique opportunity,” the 52-year-old Puerto Rican superstar told People en Espa?ol in an exclusive interview about that huge moment in his career. “On one hand, I was nervous. No denying that. But at the same time, I knew that this was the moment that had been in my mind since I was very young. Plus, I felt a big responsibility to represent our culture on such an important stage, and I was ready to do that."

In that performance, which lasted a little over four minutes, Ricky, then 27, owned the stage where luminaries like Madonna, Celine Dion and Luciano Pavarotti would also sing that night. He began his performance in English. “The Cup of Life, this is the one / Now is the time, don’t ever stop,” he sang, clad in black leather pants and with a bead necklace under his form-fitting gray sweater. Seconds later, he slipped effortlessly into Spanish: “Como Cain y Abel / Es un partido cruel / Tienes que pelear por una estrella.”

For the next three minutes, Ricky made his case, mixing his native language with English and French, gyrating his hips to the catchy song’s samba, salsa and mambo beats, making room on the stage for the musicians who came down the aisles of the auditorium carnaval-style playing percussion instruments. After Ricky climbed a metal staircase onstage, danced his last step and sung his last note, the theater erupted in a televised ovation that lasted almost half a minute.

“I remember all the feelings I had before and after the performance,” he says about that feat, which was followed by a visit from Madonna to congratulate him while he was still speaking to the press backstage. “What took me by surprise was the incredible reaction from the people who were there, seeing artists I admire so much, such as Sting and Madonna, get up from their seats,” he says. “Oh my God! At first I was in shock and, after that, came relief because I knew that all that work was worth it."

Did he foresee how that night would change his life? “Honestly, I was just thinking about giving it everything I had onstage. What came later, even though I’d always dreamed about it and worked to achieve it, surpassed my expectations. And it happened immediately,” says the singer and actor. “Not only did it open a lot of doors; I also received my first GRAMMY. It was definitely one of the most magical and unforgettable nights of my life, because everything changed overnight.”

And not just for him. While it was a watershed moment in a successful career that began in 1984 when he joined Menudo at the age of 12, Ricky became the emblematic figure of the Latin Music Explosion of the 2000s —and he helped open the crossover doors for colleagues like Shakira, Marc Anthony, Enrique Iglesias and Jennifer López.

“At the time I didn’t realize I was doing what you’re describing. I was working like crazy to make sure that door didn’t close again,” says the “La mordidita” and “Vente pa’ ca” singer. “The world needed to know about the richness of our music, and I’m so happy that I got to be part of that movement.”

After that night's rapturous applause from musical royalty, his message came through loud and clear. By then The Latin Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the television sponsors of the GRAMMYs had realized the importance of celebrating Latin music, and the inaugural edition of the Latin GRAMMYs was held the next year. “It doesn’t seem like it’s been 25 years. I’m talking to you as if it happened yesterday. I feel the same way I did 25 years ago. I’m just as nervous when I go on stage, with the same desire to always give it my all, with the same energy that I share with the audiences who have been with me over this 40-year career. And it’s just getting started,” he says. “I feel proud of everything I have in this life. I’ve worked for it every day.”

The following months were fruitful ones for the singer. There were his appearances on programs like Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno when his next hit, “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” rocked the world that summer. “It was great, again, because I knew the moment was bigger than me. It wasn’t just me. I was bringing an entire culture with me, just as Gloria Estefan, Julio Iglesias, Celia Cruz, Carlos Santana and Jose Feliciano had done,” he says of the Latino legends that opened doors for him, the same way he and his contemporaries have done for Bad Bunny, Karol G and Maluma, among others. “The idea was to take our music to the four corners of the Earth.”

That’s something Gloria Estefan knows from her own experience. “The reaction to Ricky’s [performance] was a big help in getting the Anglo world to see the power of our music and of the incredible Ricky Martin,” says the Cuban singer. “Emilio and I have always believed in the potential of Latin music, and we’ve spent our lives working to help and promote Latino artists.”

Adds her husband, Cuban producer and musician Emilio Estefan, who fought for over decade for the creation of the Latin GRAMMYS and for Ricky to be able to set foot on that state in February 1999: "I was telling everybody, 'This kid is about to go on, and he’s incredible.' I was promoting Ricky as if he were my own son. I was telling them, 'Please, pay attention to how good he is.' When I saw that, like wow, everybody was on their feet, I got really emotional. I said, 'You know what? Sometimes in life you have to do what your heart [tells you to do].'"

His second album in English, Sound Loaded, released in late 2000, brought Ricky more applause and hits on the radio. “I honestly didn’t have time to think or feel anything. I just kept thinking, ‘Let’s go, let’s go. There’s an audience I have to entertain!’ I was working nonstop because I knew that opportunities like that weren’t easy to come by, especially back then,” he recalls. “I remember being on the road every day because I wanted to go to all the places where they wanted to hear my music. I would do up to 40 interviews a day with countries around world, speaking English and Spanish, and I would change clothes in seconds to have a different look in each place. Then I would go out and sing for thousands of people. My team and I worked toward that beautiful goal almost 20 hours a day over the following years.”

The singer doesn’t regret the sacrifices on the way to the top. “It was a roller coaster, where I had so many incredible experiences that I don’t think I’ve taken it all in, even now,” he says. “After all that, I stopped. I realized that I could keep working, but not the same way. I had to find a balance, as with everything in life, because no human being can live life at that pace.”

Ricky has also learned over the years to adapt to new sounds and forms of expressing his art. “On an artistic level, I think that ever since I was little I have been able to move into different areas of entertainment and I’m still doing that today,” he says. “I’m very restless, always looking for projects that will challenge me, both in music and in acting. I’m not afraid to try new things, but I do it with a lot of respect—and that’s why I prepare really well for every project.”

The powerful spell he casts isn’t limited to music. The singer of “Vuelve,” “Maria,” “She Bangs,” “La bomba” and “She’s All I Ever Had” has also triumphed on the small screen. He made his acting debut in 1986 in the series Por siempre amigos, which was filmed in Argentina with other Menudo members, including Robi Draco Rosa. “That’s where I really felt the power of acting and how it helped me connect with my emotions. At the time I said that acting was going to be my life’s focus, but then music wound up casting a powerful spell over me. And, of course, that story shows how important it was for me to stick with music,” he reflects. “But nobody can take away what belongs to you.”

Years later, after being accepted to New York University’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts to study acting, he travelled to Mexico to see a friend’s play, and was offered a role in the production. It was a fateful voyage. He never returned to the Big Apple, remaining instead in the Mexican capital, acting alongside Angélica Vale in Mamá ama el rock. His brilliant stage performance led to his first telenovela role, in 1992, in Televisa’s Alcanzar una estrella II alongside Sasha Sokol, Angélica Rivera, Erik Rubín, Biby Gaytán and Pedro Fernández. In 1994, he crossed over into acting in English on the ABC soap General Hospital in the role of bartender Miguel Morez.

In 2012, he would star on Broadway in Evita, and in 2018, he landed the acclaimed role of Antonio D’Amico in the series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (FX), where he played the late Italian designer’s romantic partner. This year, he was cast in the Apple TV+ series Palm Royale as Robert Díaz, a bartender at a high-end Palm Beach country club full of secrets and intrigue.

“We’re at a really interesting point, where I’m back to acting and, fortunately, getting some recognition, not just from my colleagues but also from the industry, with an Emmy nomination for my work on the Gianni Versace series and now as part of the Palm Royale cast, where I’m surrounded by Oscar winners such as Laura Dern and Allison Janney. Sharing scenes with Kristin Wiig and the legendary Carol Burnett makes me think that life is somehow telling me, ‘This is a good path for you,’ and I need to stick with it.”

Following his heart and his gut has taken him a long way. “When I look back, I feel great pride and satisfaction. I have overcome the tough moments and learned from them, enjoyed the good ones, and today I feel extremely fulfilled because I’m at peace, living my life the way I want to, being myself. It took me a while to get here, but I did it,” reflects the artist, who will be filming season two of Palm Royale in September and has concerts scheduled until December. “Then I’ll be taking a short break with my kids, to enjoy Christmas and celebrate Lucia’s and my birthday,” he says, referring to his daughter, who, like him, was born on Dec. 24th. “Very quiet, but together,” he says about celebrating one more trip around the sun.

It’s crystal clear that what he values most in life can't fit inside a trophy case. The father of twins Valentino and Matteo, 16; Lucia, 5; and Renn, 4, knows exactly what he treasures most: “My kids: my top priority and my greatest joy.”

The globetrotting and eligible single dad, who announced his divorce from painter and artist Jwan Josef in 2023, loves “having them with me everywhere,” he says of his offspring and favorite travel companions. “The thing is that now the twins are 16 and the little kids are already 4 and 5, and they all have totally different priorities. But whatever we do, whether it’s traveling, going to the park or watching movies at home, we have a great time. I can’t live without my kids,” he concedes. “In fact, when I’m working, which is most of the year, they come with me. I can’t be away from them for long. That’s been rule number one ever since they were born.”

How does he achieve a balanced life? “For me, being very disciplined is key, so I can get everything done; being mentally prepared and taking very good care of myself, because first of all, I have to be okay,” he says. “Sometimes I take a solo trip just to ground myself again. I also work with a team that knows exactly what my needs are and can arrange my work schedule so it doesn’t affect my personal life at all.”

A health issue last year also helped him put things in perspective. “In December I had a pretty serious health scare, when I got COVID and wasn’t doing too well. I felt like I was going to die,” he says. “That moment was a catalyst, where once again I held tight to my spirituality and went back to living life day-to-day surrounded by my family and friends, and not afraid of new experiences. We’re here today. Tomorrow, who knows?” reflects the artist, who appreciates life more than ever. “Now I’m living and experiencing love, fatherhood, my professional work, my creative work in a very powerful way, focusing more on my needs than on the needs of others,” he says. “It’s not about being selfish, I’m just building my self-esteem.”

Today he sees the fruits of his labor every time he takes the stage in a sold-out stadium, and is grateful for his fans' enduring love. How has he managed to stay relevant for four decades? “On top of the huge passion I feel for what I’m doing and the desire to give back to the audience everything they’ve given me, I credit the work ethic I was taught since I was 12. Without that, none of the things I’ve experienced would have happened.”

The future looks bright, both personally and professionally. “I have lots of things left to achieve, including making movies,” he says. “I’ve always been passionate not just about acting, but also producing. I would love to be part of something that has an impact on society or play a role that allows me to explore other creative venues. I’m working on that.”

PHOTO CREDITS

Photo by Fernando Sippel @fernandosippel; Producer: Patricia Rivadeneira @DuckBoxProductions; Producer on set: Annee Elliot @annee_elliot; Production assistant: Max Castro/All In Productions; Make up: Hanic Arias @HanicBeauty; Hair: Shaul Arbiv @shaularbiv; Stylist: Douglas VanLaningham @dvlstylist; Photo with dark coat: Full look by Emporio Armani; Photo all in black: Polo: Ernest W Baker; Trousers: Setchu; Shoes: Emporio Armani; Photo with Henley shirt: Henley: Zadig & Voltaire; Trousers: Hed Mayner; Belt: Emporio Armani; Boots: Bottega Veneta; Bracelet: Jonas Studio; PR: @RondenePR