Driving from work to the grocery store the other day, I was listening to Ricky Martin’s “Asignatura Pendiente.” The song, written by Ricardo Arjona, who also sang his own version of it, is among my favorites.
As I drove into the parking lot of the grocery store, I was only halfway through the song, so I sat in the car until it was over. The wind started blowing, and tiny, orange leaves fell off a nearby tree. They looked like orange flurries, and with the song playing in the background, it felt magical.
As a longtime Ricky Martin fan, I thought, “Well, the journey of being Ricky’s fan has been sort of magical.”
Granted, it was a few days after seeing him, Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias at Madison Square Garden during their Trilogy Tour stop in New York City. I was feeling good and still on the high of seeing three Latin heartthrobs who know how to create good vibes.
Several people have asked me what I thought about the three-hour-long concert, and I considered writing a review for this blog. I’ve reviewed productions at regional theaters for a newspaper, so I’m sure I could handle a concert review. But, let’s face it, I am biased.
Yes, my favorite performer on the night of Oct. 26 was Ricky.
Pitbull brought the party; Enrique brought the flirting and sexual tension, but Ricky was the overall entertainer and professional he has been since the day he stepped on stage with Menudo in 1984.
As a longtime fan of Ricky’s, his songs are part of the soundtrack of my life, and reading about his philanthropy and his perspectives on things has inspired me through the years. And, as one of the fans who has been fortunate to have met him several times — even though it’s been a while since I saw him face-to-face — I can’t forget how gracious he has been with me and my friends.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t always agree with everything Ricky does. There have been a few songs, dance moves, outfits and interviews that have made me cringe. However, when all is said and done, my memories are good ones, and the sound of his voice is comforting to me.
The one issue my friends and I have about his past performances is that we wish he would interact with the audience more, like shaking their hands, using Stage B and even getting down on the floor with the fans like Enrique does. Sometimes, his set seems too choreographed.
Speaking of dancing … That’s a soon-to-be 52-year-old man keeping up with young dancers. His energy is unbelievable and inspiring.
So, you can’t really go by me regarding the Trilogy Tour, even though if you love these three performers’ songs, it’s a fabulous night that shouldn’t be missed. I’m glad I went, even though I almost didn’t, because of ticket prices.
So, let’s talk about those ticket prices …
Since Ricky’s first solo concert in New York City at Radio City Music Hall in 1996, I haven’t missed one of his tours. The last time I saw him was in 2021, when he shared the stage with Enrique Iglesias.
I get it. Prices, in general, are through the roof, and it takes a lot to put on a concert, but I wanted to faint when I saw tickets on the floor priced at $800. And as people resold those tickets, they went well over $1,000.
I wanted to bring my husband to the concert because it would be nice to share with him what I have experienced through the decades. Just give him a taste. However, as I kept checking higher sections at MSG, the prices weren’t in sync with the section as far as I was concerned. There was no way I would pay $250 for seats in the nosebleed sections when, just a couple of years ago, I was on the floor for about that price or a little more.
When I texted my husband to tell him how much the tickets were, he said, since the show was around our third anniversary, go for it. But it was the principle of it all. Seats in the upper section of a concert venue should not be $250. My husband even suggested I go alone and get better seats, but I felt all the prices were inflated. (P.S. I had a bunch of friends going, and we usually get a solo ticket or two together to increase our chances of getting better seats.)
A few weeks later, my friend Sandra called me to tell me that through her job, she would be getting box seats for the first night at MSG for free. She invited me to come with her, and of course, I said, “Yes.”
While I’m happy I went, I hope to see more reasonable ticket prices in the future. It would be a shame if true fans who have supported artists through the years attending concerts in the past and buying music were no longer able to see their favorite performers live. Granted, there will always be people with money who will go, but when a person buys tickets to say they experienced something, there’s usually not much longevity in them supporting an artist long term. As for the ones who go into debt to buy tickets, well, that usually catches up with them eventually.
As I mentioned earlier, prices have generally increased and going on tour costs more money than I can imagine. But as far as my friends and I go, plus a lot of people we know, regarding our favorite singers, they can just come out on stage, wear one outfit through the whole set and with a band behind them, sing our favorite songs, and we’ll be happy.
And that definitely goes for Ricky, even though we appreciate and admire his creativity from the videos that play on the screen before he comes out to his fabulous outfits and his dynamic dancers. However, if cutting all that out means we can afford to see him when he comes to our town, we’ll opt for that.
Donnie Wahlberg from New Kids on the Block said in a recent interview promoting their upcoming 2024 Magic Summer Tour on WKTU, the group has learned what is best for the group and the fans. One of the things they have learned is to eliminate some of the extras — even though they can be fun — and connect and interact more with their fans.
“We’ve learned over the years that magic is in the moments and the memories that we make with our fans every single night, and the time we share with them. And for us, it’s all about creating more special times for them.”
Rita's Rambling Road 