Ricky Martin – Vector Arena

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DSC_4226Get ready to shake your bon-bon, as Ricky Marty opens his One World tour in New Zealand, with the premiere at Auckland’s Vector Arena.

First off, I must admit I can hardly be called a Ricky Martin fan…I can probably name two of his songs and I’ve never seen X Factor, so whatever shenanigans took place there are of no interest to me.

I expected to be entertained for a couple of hours, and that’s exactly what happened.

The lights came down in the Vector at 8:35, the disco music started pumping, the vari-lights were flashing, the 8 dancers were shaky their booties and Ricky was being lowered onto the stage, dressed in an all-white jump suit complete with cape, singing his most recent single, Mr Put It Down.

And if you didn’t appreciate Ricky’s costume, no need to worry, he changed his clothes for virtually every song, so there was bound to be something to find appealing as the evening progressed.

Most of the audience was made up of women, and what they found appealing was Ricky himself. The 43-year-old entertainer looked to be in good shape and he showed off his impressive dance moves while his 9-piece band supported him.

Interestingly, Ricky chose to load up the first half of the show with his biggest hits…Shake Your Bon-Bon, Livin’ La Vida Loca and She Bangs all got an early airing…and all performed with plenty of energy, although I’m not sure that the “remixed” version of She Bangs really works that well, I remember the original being much more fun.

Things got a little off-track in the middle of the show with Come With Me and I Am Made Of You sounding like 1980’s power ballads and Ricky’s guitarist sounding like he was Slash auditioning to join Night Ranger.

These were followed by a handful of Spanish-language ballads that further slowed down the pace.

“You want some more?” Ricky asked the crowd.

Well, yes, but not more ballads…we came here to dance.

Finally, after one or two too many ballads Martin got the crowd on its feet with I Don’t Care.

That turned out to be the final song of the set and Ricky finished it off, standing centre-stage with his arms raised triumphantly.

He and the band returned for The Cup Of Life, everyone had a good sing, a good dance, confetti was shot out of cannons and all was right with the world once more.

A word of advice to Ricky…keep leave those power ballads to the likes of REO Speedwagon and Poison and do what you do best, which is shaking those bon-bons.

Marty Duda

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