"You don't always have to sing in English in order
to be appreciated around the world."
In 1995, SONY Music released his third album "A Medio Vivir" (To Live By Halves). The album was a huge success, not only in Latin American countries but in European charts as well. It became a triple platinum and the single "Un, Dos, Tres Maria" a double platinum in Europe alone. He did concert tours around the world for more than a year, selling out tickets wherever he went. His songs were very popular although they are in Spanish, proving that music is indeed the universal language.

To read a review of the album, A Medio Vivir, follow here..

Ricky named his inspiration from great performers and composers such as Robi Rosa (Ian Blake), Franco DeVita, Alejandro Sanz, Cristóbal Sansano, Mónica Naranjo, Marcos Flores, Luis Gomez Escolar, Carlos Lara, Luis Angel, Manolo Tena. And under the direction of KC Porter (who has produced artists such as Bon Jovi, Boyz II Men, Richard Marx, and Patti) helped give life to A Medio Vivir. But working together with Robi Rosa certainly helped Ricky Martin in his ever ascending career. They were both with Menudo and have got quite a number of followers.

To know more about who Robi Rosa is, follow here..

Because of his growing popularity around Europe and Latin America, FIFA (World Cup's governing body) decided to contract him to sing its 1998 World Cup official song "The Cup of Life". "The Cup of Life" is also included in "Vuelve" (It Returns), his fourth album, which was released due to popular demand. The album came out on January 1998. It also carries the Spanish version of Walt Disney's Hercules theme song "Go The Distance" and the Spanglish version of his hit single "Un,Dos,Tres Maria". SONY also decided that Ricky is now ready to break into the Asian market. And as always, Ricky made an impact in everything he does. Asia loves Ricky, with his album getting platinum, double and triple platinum around the region.

"I am one of those people who fights hard for the public to demand more from artists and sometimes the material that you are given is not defensible in that aspect. That is why I refuse to do things I don't believe in, although I should say that I have been fortunate, because I have not had the economic necessity to do anything that I don't like. In any event, I will continue fighting and being demanding of myself".

And that's not the end of the story, Ricky's star continued to climb. in 1999, Ricky won his first Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance, he then went on to release his first English album. His self titled album, Ricky Martin, when released, sold millions around the world. The first single, "Livin' la Vida Loca" went up to number one not only in the US Billboard charts but also 26 other countries!! The song and album also gave him five Grammy nomination in the year 2000. Although Ricky did not win anything that night, his sell-out concerts in the States and his record-selling singles proves to critics that he is not just some one-hit wonder. Year 2000 will be another busy year for the man who had rock the world and will continue doing so - RICKY MARTIN

Ricky's Trivial