Residente Teams Up with Ricky Martin for Epic Single “Quiero ser baladista”

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Tom Castaneda

Residente is going the distance with Ricky Martin…

The 45-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer, songwriter and filmmaker. whose real name is René Pérez Joglar, and the 51-year-old Puerto Rican singer/actor have joined voices to release the new track “Quiero ser baladista.”

More than a song, Residente’s nine-minute, seven-second long single is being called a stream of consciousness on tiradera (diss tracks), music, lyrics, performance art and entertainment value, where the music video –a bona fide short film—is as important as the music.

The black and white flick kicks off with Residente being shot dead in an elevator, as what sounds like a tinkly “elevator music” version of Ricky Martin’s hit “Vuelve” plays in the background. From there, Residente revives, brings down his assailants, and, over sparse chords, delivers one of his signature raps centering on his lyrical prowess and the fact that he’s the best (“I’m the wolf who upsets the henhouse”).

Then, things take a turn. Residente reveals that his tied up captive is actually Sony Music Latin Iberia chairman Afo Verde, auditions as a balladeer, in Ricky Martin’s voice, then shoots Verde.

In turn, Martin shoots Residente and channels the rapper, in a recall of Justin Bieber playing Drake in “Pop Star.”

Enrique Iglesias Announces Co-Headlining North American Tour with Ricky Martin

Posted on March 5, 2020 by Tom Castaneda

Enrique Iglesias is joining forces with a fellow Latin superstar…

The 44-year-old Spanish singer and Ricky Martin have announced their first-ever co-headlining tour in North America.

Iglesias and Martin will be joined by rising star Sebastian Yatra, who will perform as a special guest on the trek.

The tour will kick off on September 5 in Phoenix and make stops in major cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami and New York. The ambitious tour will wrap up on October 30 in Atlanta.

Both superstars in their own right, the Grammy-winning artists boast chart-topping success throughout their careers, landing No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including Iglesias’ “Bailamos,” which hit No. 1 on the chart dated September 4, 1999, and “Be With You” on June 24, 2000, and Martin’s smash hit “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” which topped the chart dated May 8, 1999.

On the Hot Latin Songs chart, they both have multiple No. 1s under their belt. Martin has had a total of 11 chart-toppers, including “Vuelve” and “Pegate,” while Iglesias has 27 No. 1s, including “Bailando” and the Nicky-Jamassisted reggaetón hit “El Perdón.”

Tickets for the highly anticipated tour go on sale to the general public starting on March 12.

Here are the tour dates:

Sept. 5 — Phoenix, AZ — Gila River Arena
Sept. 6 — El Paso, TX — Don Haskins Center
Sept. 9 — Edinburg, TX — Bert Ogden Arena
Sept. 11 — San Antonio, TX — AT&T Center
Sept. 12 — Houston, TX — Toyota Center
Sept. 13 — Dallas, TX — American Airlines Center
Sept. 17 — Los Angeles, CA — STAPLES Center
Sept. 22 — San Jose, CA — SAP Center
Sept. 24 — Sacramento, CA — Golden 1 Center
Sept. 26 — Las Vegas, NV — MGM Grand Garden Arena
Oct. 1 — Chicago, IL — Allstate Arena
Oct. 6 — Boston, MA — TD Garden
Oct. 8 — Toronto, ON — Scotiabank Arena
Oct. 10 — Montreal, QC — Centre Bell
Oct. 14 — Philadelphia, PA — Wells Fargo Center
Oct. 15 — Washington, DC — Capital One Arena
Oct. 17 — Newark, NJ — Prudential Center
Oct. 18 — New York, NY — Madison Square Garden
Oct. 23 — Miami, FL — AmericanAirlines Arena
Oct. 29 — Orlando, FL — Amway Center
Oct. 30 — Atlanta, GA — State Farm Arena

Cardi B Earns First No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay Chart with “La Modelo”

Posted on February 28, 2018 by Tom Castaneda

Cardi B has added another chart-topper to her resume…

The 25-year-old half-Dominican American rapper has earned her first No. 1 on Billboard’s Latin Airplay chart dated March 3, as her collaboration with Ozuna “La Modelo,” zooms 12-1 in its seventh week.

It’s Ozuna’s second No. 1 on the chart.

The track, which earns Greatest Gainer honors, rises a whopping 70 percent in audience in the week ending February 25, according to Nielsen Music, climbing to 16.84 million.

It’s the second song to vault to No. 1 from outside the top 10 in 2018, following Jennifer Lopez’s “Amor, Amor, Amor,” featuring Wisin, which also rose 12-1 (February 3).

Prior to Lopez, Don Omar and Zion & Lennox did it a little over a year ago with “Te Quiero Pa’mi,” jumping 11-1 on the December 24, 2016-dated chart.

“I’m super happy with this No. 1,” Ozuna tells Billboard. “My team and I have worked extra hard to achieve it. I thank God for everything that is happening in my career, my family and followers for the support, and of course, my friend Cardi B for being part of this. I am extremely thankful with her for giving me this opportunity and working with me on ‘La Modelo.'”

Ozuna first led Latin Airplay as the featured act on Wisin’s “Escapate Conmigo,” which spent one week at No. 1 (Sept. 9, 2017), after holding in the top 10 for 16 weeks.

Over on the Hot Latin Songs chart — which blends airplay, sales, and streams — “La Modelo” rises 6-5 as the chart’s greatest gainer in airplay. Ozuna collects his fourth top five on the list and his third this year. Concurrently, the track ascends 86-72 on the Billboard Hot 100.

On the Top Latin Albums chart, Ozuna’s Odisea spends a 26th week at No. 1, tying with Ricky Martin’s Vuelve for the fourth-most weeks ever atop the 24-year-old list.

VH1 to Spotlight Ricky Martin’s Las Vegas Show with One Hour Special

Posted on August 23, 2017 by Tom Castaneda

Ricky Martin is giving you an intimate look inside his Sin City show…

VH1 is chronicling the seven-week preparation for the 45-year-old Puerto Rican singer’s current Las Vegas residency with a new one-hour television special set to premiere next month.

Ricky Martin: Behind The Vegas Residency will offer fans a look at every candid moment that led up to the “Vuelve” singer’s mammoth live show, which hit the Park Theater of Monte Carlo Resort and Casino in April and continues with scattered dates through September 23.

The show includes intimate interviews with Martin himself, encounters with fans and family, backstage footage and other tidbits.

Martin first announced his Vegas residency last November, joining the likes of Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez and Celine Dion, who have all notched the music career bucket list item.

The live concert was produced by the legendary Jamie King, who has worked on shows for the likes of Madonna and Britney Spears, and also serves as executive producer on the newly announced VH1 series.

Ricky Martin: Behind The Vegas Residency is set to go live on Monday, September 4 at 10:00 pm ET/PT on VH1.

Daddy Yankee Releases First English Track “This Is Not a Love Song”

Posted on September 10, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

Daddy Yankee is switching tongues…

The 37-year-old Puerto Rican reggaeton singer-songwriter and actor has released the uptempo song “This Is Not a Love Song” en ingles.

Daddy Yankee’s new track was produced by the Cataracs, who’ve worked with everyone from Enrique Iglesias to Beyonce. It also features newcomer Duncan.

There are currently no plans for an English-language album, according to a spokesperson for the entertainer, one of the most revered rappers in Latin music.

But Daddy Yankee is releasing the 10th-anniversary edition of Barrio Fino on October 7.

Yankee, who has been working with producers like Diplo and Jim Jonsin, was searching for the right English-language song. When the Cataracs song surfaced, it struck a chord.

“Over these past 10 years I focused on bringing my music to the forefront of the Latin music world, but when I got this track from The Cataracs, I knew I had to run with it,” Yankee said in a statement. “Most people have only ever heard me in Spanish so it shocks everyone to hear me rap all in English. The hook helps bring it to life. Duncan’s voice is one of a kind and he just adds that magic touch to the record.”

A decade ago, Barrio Fino was heard around the world. In the U.S., sales have totaled 1.08 million to date, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

The album debuted at No. 1 on Top Latin Albums on July 31, 2004. It spent 24 weeks at No. 1 and holds more weeks at No. 1 than any other urban album in the chart’s history. Only four other albums have had more weeks at No. 1. The ranking:

Gloria Estefan, Mi Tierra (58 weeks at No. 1)
2. Selena, Dreaming of You (44 weeks)
3. Luis Miguel, Segundo Romance (29 weeks)
4. Ricky Martin, Vuelve (26 weeks)
5. Daddy Yankee, Barrio Fino (24 weeks)

The album peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard 200 on April 16, 2005.

“Ten years ago ‘Gasolina’ introduced me and my music to the mainstream market and helped pave the path for many artists that came after me with a vision and a dream,” Yankee added.

“This Is Not a Love Song” went on sale Tuesday (Sept. 9) through iTunes and other digital platforms.

de Vita to Receive the Prestigious Billboard Hall of Fame Award

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Tom Castaneda

It’s the Fame game for Franco de Vita…

The 60-year-old Venezuelan singer-songwriter will be feted with the Billboard Hall of Fame Award at this year’s Billboard Latin Music Awards, which will take place on April 24.

The Billboard Hall of Fame Award is reserved for those artists who’ve achieved global recognition for a career that transcends genre and language.

de Vita is being recognized for his perceptive pop/rock ballads that have brought him international acclaim over his three-decade career.

He’s sold more than 25 million albums worldwide, achieving 11 top 10s and one No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.

One of Latin pop’s most revered artists, de Vita became known as the lead vocalist, keyboardist, and songwriter of the trio Icaro before launching his solo career.

After a string of hits in the 1980s including “Solo Importas Tu,” “Te Amo,” and “Louis,” his song “No Basta” spent six weeks atop the Hot Latin Songs chart in 1991.

Most recently, “Te Pienso Sin Querer,” featuring Gloria Trevi, peaked at No. 17 on Latin Pop Airplay.

de Vita has also composed hit songs for other artists including pop star Chayanne (“Contra vientos y mareas,” “Y Tú Te Vas” and “Un Siglo Sin Ti”); and Ricky Martin (“A Medio Vivir,” “Vuelve,” and “Tal Vez”). Those collaborative works alone have sold more than 30 million albums around the world.

He’s known for his frequent collaborations with a broad spectrum of artists. He performed “The Good Life” with Tony Bennett on the American crooner’s 2012 Duets album. de Vita’s latest production, Vuelve en Primera Fila (Sony Music Latin) features urban artist Wisin, salsero Victor Manuelle and rising Spanish pop singer India Martinez, among others.

de Vita’s Vuelve en Primera Fila tour will take him to the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Chile, Paraguay and Argentina this spring. The Venezuelan leg of the tour, planned for March, was cancelled. “With the hope that my country achieves peace and harmony I hold the firm conviction that we will see each other soon,” The artist announced on his Website.

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