Livin' la Vida Loca

"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a song performed by Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999, from Martin's self-titled debut English-language album (he had previously released several albums in Spanish). The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa. La vida loca is Spanish for "the crazy life".

"Livin' la Vida Loca"
Single by Ricky Martin
from the album Ricky Martin
ReleasedMarch 23, 1999 (1999-03-23)[1]
Recorded1998
Genre
Length4:03
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Desmond Child
Ricky Martin singles chronology
"Casi un Bolero"
(1998)		 "Livin' la Vida Loca"
(1999)		 "She's All I Ever Had"
(1999)
Music videos
Livin' la Vida Loca on YouTube
Livin' La Vida Loca" (Spanish Ver.) on YouTube

"Livin' la Vida Loca" is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion that followed and made the transition of other Spanish-speaking artists (first Enrique Iglesias and Marc Anthony and later Shakira, Paulina Rubio and Thalía) into the English-speaking market easier. Before this time, most non-Latino Americans had never heard of Martin until what CNN reported was a show-stopping performance of "La Copa de la Vida" at the 41st Grammy Awards show, which became a catalyst in bringing Latin pop to the forefront of the U.S. music scene.[2] "Livin' la Vida Loca" is certified platinum in the US and the UK and is one of the best selling singles of all time.[3][4]

The song received various Grammy Awards nominations and Ricky Martin obtained enormous success inside the United States and worldwide. In 2007, the song was ranked at number 28 on the list of 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s by VH1.[5] It also ranks among the Best Latin Songs of All Time.[6]

Recording

The song was the first U.S. number one single to be recorded without using then-conventional recording studio equipment; instead the track was created at Desmond Child's Gentlemen's Club Studio,[7] which utilizes a 169-track Pro Tools system.[8] The recording is also noted for its exceptional use of dynamic range compression to increase the track's perceived loudness.[9]

Critical reception

Chuck Taylor from Billboard wrote that "there's no question that 'Livin' la Vida Loca'–'living the crazy life'–is a hit; it's so electrifying, so terrifically filled with life, that even folks at the retirement home down the street could get their groove on with couple spins," and described the song as a "frantically-paced, dance-ready track."[10] Rolling Stone placed "Livin' la Vida Loca" at No. 18 in their 2007 list of the "20 Most Annoying Songs".[11]

Music video

The video for "Livin' la Vida Loca", directed by Wayne Isham and starring Croatian model Nina Morić, was shot in Los Angeles. It aired later the same month and received six nominations at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Choreography in a Video and Viewer's Choice. It won two primary awards for Best Pop Video, and Best Dance Video, and was voted three additional awards in the international Viewers Choice categories. It also won Ritmo Latino Music Award for Music Video of the Year.

The video features Ricky Martin performing in a pub with his band and hanging out with a lady (Nina Morić) at different locations, including New York City. One scene shows several dancers taking their shirts off and performing choreographed dance moves while it rains; this scene coincides with the line in the pre-chorus "She'll make you take your clothes off and go dancing in the rain". Various snippets of the video seem to merge into each other over the duration of the song. Towards the end of the video, Martin gets distracted by his lady passenger while driving, causing him to drive erratically and causing another car to veer and hit a fire hydrant, releasing a fountain of water; this was also the first scene of the video.

As of June 2020, the video has received over 300 million views on YouTube and is one of the most viewed music videos from the 90s.[12]

Chart performance

"Livin' la Vida Loca" is Martin's biggest hit. It was his first number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining at the top in the United States for five consecutive weeks and ranking at number ten on the year-end chart of 1999. Starting on May 29, it remained number 1 on the Billboard Hot 200.[13] The single was certified Platinum for sales over one million physical copies in the US alone. It topped the Hot Latin Songs for nine weeks, and Latin Pop Songs for ten weeks. Although released before the digital era, it has sold 502,000 digital copies in the US, becoming Martin's best-selling downloaded track.[14] On the Canadian RPM Top Singles the song stayed at the top for eight weeks, and on the Canadian Singles Chart for three weeks.

In the United Kingdom, "Livin' la Vida Loca" debuted at number one and stayed there for three weeks. It has sold over 900,000 copies and was certified Platinum.[15] The song also reached number one in Greece, Hungary, Ireland and New Zealand. "Livin' la Vida Loca" peaked inside top ten around the world and was certified Platinum, Gold and Silver in various countries.

Awards
Year Ceremony Award Result
1999 Billboard Music Awards Hot 100 Singles Male Artist of the Year[16] Won
Billboard Latin Music Awards Hot Latin Track of the Year[17] Nominated
Latin Pop Track of the Year Won
MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year Nominated
Best Male Video Nominated
Best Pop Video Won
Best Dance Video Won
Best Choreography in a Video Nominated
Viewer's Choice Award Nominated
International Viewer's Choice Award — Latin America (North) Won
International Viewer's Choice Award — Latin America (South) Won
International Viewer's Choice Award — Russia Won
Ritmo Latino Music Awards Music Video of the Year[18] Won
Vogue Fashion Awards Most Stylish Video Nominated
2000 ALMA Awards Outstanding Music Video[19] Won
ASCAP Awards Song of the Year Pop/Ballad[20] Won
BMI Latin Awards Winning Song[21] Won
Grammy Awards Record of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Nominated
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) Nominated
International Dance Music Awards Best Latin 12"[22] Won
Latin Grammy Awards Record of the Year Nominated
Premio Lo Nuestro Pop Song of the Year Won
2004 Premios Juventud Best Re-Mix Nominated

Cover versions and media usage

The 2000 album La Vida Mickey features modern versions of Spanish songs with the voices of the Disney characters in the background singing along. It includes the track "Livin' la Vida Mickey" by Mark Lennon which is a cover version of "Livin' la Vida Loca".[23] Also Italian singer Dave Rodgers, recorded its eurobeat cover for Eurobeat Disney 3.

Japanese singer Hiromi Go remade the song as "Goldfinger '99". This version became a hit in Japan and was covered itself by multiple Japanese artists, including Koda Kumi who covered the song in 2019.[24][25]

Several bands covered "Livin' la Vida Loca" in their albums, such as Toy Dolls, a British punk rock band, on their 2000 Anniversary Anthems album,[26] Ten Masked Men, a British death metal band, on their 2000 album Return of the Ten Masked Men, Serbian rock band Night Shift on their debut album Undercovers, and ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) on Spoofernatural, which included a parody of this song, "Livin' What Jesus Spoke of".[27]

American singer-songwriter El Vez covered this song on his 2001 album Boxing with God.[28]

A version of the song performed by Eddie Murphy and Antonio Banderas is played at the end of the 2004 movie Shrek 2. It also appears on its soundtrack. According to Nielsen SoundScan, this cover version and Murphy's cover of "I'm a Believer" have sold over 3.6 million copies in the United States.[29]

Formats and track listings

Charts

Certifications and sales
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[97] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Belgium (BEA)[98] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[99] Gold 161,000[100]
Germany (BVMI)[101] Gold 250,000^
Italy (FIMI)[102] Gold 25,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[103] Gold 5,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[104] Gold  
Sweden (GLF)[105] Gold 15,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[106] Platinum 900,000[15]
United States (RIAA)[107] Platinum 1,200,000 (physical)[108]
502,000 (digital)
[14]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
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