Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias at the TD Garden in Boston, MA – October 5, 2021

Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin, both legends when it comes to Latin pop music, embarked on a co-headlining tour across North America. Originally scheduled for 2020, and then delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, the duo finally came to Boston almost exactly one year after originally planned. A full house came out, ready to dance the night away to the heat of some great Latin music.

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS

First off was Enrique Iglesias. He came out to his 2014 track, “I’m a Freak.” His set was about 50/50 in English and in Spanish. Opening with a trio of English language songs, later on in the set, the band all made their way to the B-Stage at the other end of the arena, and performed a few Spanish songs acoustically.

Not many pop stars have had the type of career that Enrique had. From 1999-2001, he had three huge hits, “Bailamos,” “Be With You,” and “Hero,” all of which were performed well tonight. Though he released more music over the next ten years, they didn’t hit the success he had before. Then in 2010, he released the album Euphoria, which contained the hits “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)” and “I Like It.” I remember when those songs came out, being amazed they were Enrique. He found himself again at the top of the charts with these new hits, which arguably, the crowd had an even greater response to tonight.

Enrique was supported by a fantastic band, with high caliber musicians playing guitars, horns, percussion, as well as great singers. All of this was accented by a great stage show, with very elaborate video backdrops, the occasional pyrotechnics, and of course, confetti.

RICKY MARTIN

Not many songs have as recognizable an intro as “Livin’ la Vida Loca” does, so when the intro video finishes playing, and the horns that start the song come in, the audience erupts. How many artists can make their entrance to one of the biggest singles of all time? Well for one, Ricky Martin can. With the screen showing his name in lights, and dancers waving feathers around him, it started off with the feel of an old-time Vegas show.

While he’s had a few Latin albums in the last 15 years, Ricky’s last English language album came out in 2005. I’m sure there’s a lot of people out there with the mindset of, “he’s still around?” Certainly I’m sure there were people curious how he looks and sounds after all these years. Well he looks and sounds as great as ever! Full of the charisma he always had, he put on a great show.

Ricky’s set leaned a little more toward his Spanish material, but it was all enjoyable. Whether you knew the language of the words or not, you could feel the language of the music. A night of great music to dance to was accented by the group of dancers he had with him on stage at all times.

Of course the set did feature all his huge English hits like, “She Bangs,” “Shake Your Bon-Bon,” and the finale of the show, “The Cup of Life.” The crowd sang along to every word of those hits, and any doubts anybody had that Ricky Martin still has “it” were dispelled.