It’s been 25 years since Ricky Martin topped & the world was never the same again
epic hip-shaking Grammy performance of “The Cup of Life” that knocked the earth’s off its axis, Ricky Martin managed to outdo himself by reaching a new zenith in his career.On May 8th, 1999, exactly 25 years ago, Martin topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for the first time with his career-defining hit “Livin’ La Vida Loca.”The track, which dethroned Jennifer Lopez‘s “If You Had My Love,” would go on to spend five weeks at #1 and solidified the so-called “Latin pop explosion” he ignited following his Grammy night assault on the senses.Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.In addition to reaching the top in more than 20 countries, “Livin’ La Vida Loca” also hit #1 on nearly ten other U.S.
Billboard charts including: Pop Songs, Adult Pop Songs, Top 40 Tracks, Rhythmic Top 40, and Adult Pop Airplay.While the Spanish version reached the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks, where it remained for nine weeks.Needless to say, the song was everywhere and Martin would perform it live for the very first time at the 1999 World Music Awards in Monaco.Written by Martin’s fellow Menudo alum Draco Rosa and out songwriter Desmond Child, the lyrics detail a wild seductress who lures others into her tempestuous world.Since it would be more than 11 years before Martin would publicly come out, the Puerto Rican heartthrob played the part of a dude unable to resist the power of the song’s temptress.The music video shows Martin performing at a lively nightclub filled with salsa dancers intermixed with clips of him cavorting with Croatian model Nina Moric.
