Ricky Martin's "Musica+Alma+Sexo" (Music+Soul+Sex) tour stopped in Orlando for a concert Friday night that was heavy on the "sexo."
Martin, 39, strutted, danced, flirted and charmed through a high-energy concert packed with surprises both musical and visual.
"I came to this city to have a really, really good time," Martin proclaimed. "I'm going to leave my soul on stage tonight."
Things got off to a raucous start with the curtain falling to reveal a chrome-plated set of nine squares arranged like a tic-tac-toe board — a high-tech version of the old "Hollywood Squares" set with Martin in center square.
He and the dancers shimmied, shook their bon-bons and swung from the set's framework — but the crowd's screams didn't reach the stratosphere until Martin got those famous hips gyrating.
Clad all in black leather, Martin might have seemed a dangerous bad boy – except for the giant grin on his face. Before long, he was cavorting with two shirtless guitarists. Martin's open shirt showed he's pec-a-licious as ever – but what's up with that haircut in which he has shaved the sides of his head and left a mop on top?
Many of the surprises came in musical tweaks to his hits. The tempo on "She Bangs" was slightly slowed, the brass instruments played up, creating a sultry rhythm that even breathed new life into the old concert choreography of dancing with chairs. It also gave way to a new take on the song's title, as the female dancers ended up in a cat fight.
"Loaded" featured an almost-1940s sound; Martin and the male dancers strutting in fedoras.
For "Livin' la Vida Loca," Martin shot up onto the stage from a trap door like a jack-in-the-box, nattily dressed in a white sport coat and vest over black shirt and pants. The song was stylishly staged with his troupe of energetic dancers, dressed in black and white framing him.
He threw in songs from all over his career: A rocking rendition of 1993's "Que Dia Es Hoy," based on the melody of Laura Branigan's old hit "Self Control" energized an already peppy crowd.
The Spanish ballads were crowd pleasers, too: A stripped-down "Vuelve" and "Basta Ya," from Martin's current album showed his voice maintains its resonance on the high notes.
Tracks from the new CD, such as "Frio" and "Mas" were sprinkled throughout the show, never stealing the thunder from old favorites such as "Maria" and "The Cup of Life."
Martin's personal life has overshadowed his music as of late: He is raising two sons born via a surrogate mother, and came out as gay a year ago.
None of that came up in the party atmosphere, but two voice-over interludes, presumably by real people, told stories about experiencing prejudice. One young man talked of realizing his father wouldn't accept him for being gay. "Be yourself," his voice urged, as the crowd erupted in cheers.
Those fleeting reflective moments, however, were no match for the old bump-and-grind: How can social consciousness compete against bustier-wearing women dancing with whips?
mpalm@tribune.com or 407-420-5038
