Martin brings Latin pop hits to Palace

It was an awesome spectacle to see 20,000 Ricky Martin fans on their feet dancing at his sold-out performance at the Palace of Auburn Hills Monday night. At one point he even became an instructor, teaching the newly converted the fine art of Latin Dance.

The performance began with brief film montage of Martin trying to escape his fans in a silver convertible, then he emerged, dancing on the hood of the very same car. Greeting him were the screams of a mostly female audience that fell into the 18-35 age demographic. It appeared as though most of these women had followed Ricky in his teen idol days, considering many were still wearing the risqué clothing they probably wore to his Menudo shows as teenagers. There was also a strong continge

Courtesy of Sony Ricky Martin dazzled metro Detroit fans with "La Vida Loca."

nt of those who came to represent Puerto Rican pride.

Martin opened the show with his radio mainstay "Livin' La Vida Loca," ensuring that the main focus of the performance would draw from his solo career and not just what he's done in the last year. It is to be commended that he didn't sell out the fans who have followed him since his pre-chest hair days.

Following his opening number, Martin performed many of his Latin hits, ranging from ballads like "Vuelve" to more upbeat dance numbers. The music was a fusion of Spanish- Caribbean styles and various types of mainstream American dance tracks.

Beyond the music, the show was a visual extravaganza. Martin sang and danced on a gigantic stage that bore a strong resemblance to an erector set. Various moving platforms attached to polls and cables kept shifting him around while his back-up singers and numerous scantily clad dancers moved over the stage. Even the band was on a set that kept revolving as three video screens moved in and out. On the backdrops was a collection of pictures and special effects, and occasionally, the actual performance itself. Towards the end of the show, as Martin was being lowered on a scaffold he held a video camera that projected its images on the large screen. Even those with hearing difficulties weren't left out. In one corner of the area stood a women signing the lyrics and the mood of the music.

One non-musical highlight of the performance was Martin's butt. The area was enhanced by his various Armani threads which left little to the imagination. Every time he turned around and shook his "Bon, Bon" there was a deafening roar. This trademark should solidify its place in music history along with Elvis' Pelvis and Dolly's chest.

The only real weakness of the show was Martin's cross-over pop tunes songs "I Am Made of You" and his current single "She's All I Ever Had." These tracks, which probably would have worked for Michael Bolton couldn't hold up against his sultry Latin love ballads and his wild dance numbers.

Martin closed out his set with Spanish dance song that kept counting off the steps "Uno, dos, tres" as the entire audience danced and waved their hands high in the air. It ended with an explosion of streamers and confetti. This was only topped by the final song of his encore, "The Cup of Life" the theme from the 1998 World Cup which is one of his biggest hits. As the Ricky led the multitudes in the chorus "Here we go, OLE, OLE, OLE" dancers literally climbed the walls thanks to special harnesses and acrobats tumbled through the air. It was a fitting finale to the evening.

With this tour, Ricky Martin has successfully brought the "Crazy Life" of Latin Pop to the Rust Belt. But essentially, he's just showing the midwest what people in places like New York, Florida and all of Latin America have known for years. That the music is addictive.

11-03-99