THE last few minutes of the Ricky Martin spectacular at Nassau Coliseum Thursday said all you need to know about the Latin superstar.
By the end of the two-hour show, Ricky had shaken his bon bons, lived la vida loca and smitten the estrogen-charged crowd, who didn’t know whether to scream, cry or stare at the handsome singer in slack-jawed awe.
Confetti and streamers littered the floor and the devoted cheered in the darkness, begging for more.
When Ricky returned for the encore, he was greeted rabidly. His baby-blue long-sleeved jersey was damp, stained slightly with sweat and slightly rumpled. His tussled hair lent him an even more boyish look.
Martin had the audience in his palm.
During the sexy yet very wholesome ballad “She’s All I Ever Needed,” screams became sighs as mothers and daughters were wooed by Martin’s sweet tenor, heartfelt delivery and appeal.
Had the concert ended there, no one would have complained, but the night’s capper was the money song that sent everyone home smiling, including dancing security guards.
For the evening’s whiz-bang grand finale, Martin lit the fuse on his Grammy-snagging single, “Cup of Life,” with its infectious chorus, “a le, a le, a le!” (Rough translation: “la di da.”) Martin sang the tune with well-oiled precision as an elevator lifted him to the rafters.
All the while, Martin’s female dancers played strap-on drums, and the fellows in the dance troupe offered “De La Guarda”-style bungee acrobatics and literally danced on the walls.
It was a spectacular sight and a fitting end to a fine concert.
Ricky Martin continues at thearena in the MeadowlandsSports Complex Monday andTuesday. Show time is 8 p.m.