M.M. finds me woefully uninformative about Ricky Martin:
>>>OK, so who is that guy? The name sounds vaguely familiar, and since
>>>you wrote "a record", he's presumably a musician. I'm not kidding, I
>>>honestly don't know who he is.
I unhelpfully replied:
>>The latest incarnation of Desi Arnaz...
>
>Oh, I see. Unfortunately, I never heard of Desi Arnaz.
Cuban mambo bandleader of the 1940s and '50s. Made a Hollywood film
appearance or two... Well known throughout the Americas in the 50s and
60s.
>>...without the maracas
>
>That's a pity, it's a nice instrument. I have a pair at home.
Arnaz is probably why.
>>or the dizzy redhead.
Lucille Ball, US comic actress he married ...thanks to whom his fame
lasted past his orchestral hits. She had one of the most successful TV
shows ever: I Love Lucy, and variations on that theme. He produced, and
negotiated the business side.
>>[Martin] Puerto Rican pop/mambo sensation with a monster
>>hit: "Livin' la vida Loca." The jury's out on whether he's got another
>>one in him.
>
>I'm trying to imagine the kind of music, but it's tough. Thanks anyway.
He waves his arms, wiggles his bum; that sort of thing. The girls, I think
ages 11 to 15, love(d?) it.
>>If you stretch to this kind of music,
>
>I hardly ever stretch to music,
I am sorry to hear this. I'm currently trying to 'stretch my ear' to
Ligeti. Some of it's most compelling, but some may remain past my musical
reach.
>and, as I said, I have difficulties with imagining what kind this kind
>is.
If Perez Prado, Xavier Cugat, and the words 'mambo,' 'dengue' and
'huaracha' mean nothing, I'd give up. You might seek out some of it,
if you have any interest in latin-american music.
>>I'd recommend the more tongue-in-cheek but true-to-the-roots Lou Bega.
>
>Never heard of, either...
I think he's German-born, curiously. Possibly a US Army base brat.
>...Unforgivable gaps in my classical music education.
Who said anything about classical? I did say "monster hit." More a gap in
other kinds of musical exposure. Some might say blessed. I wouldn't.
Bendy ears.
Bert B
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