Still Livin’ la Vida Loca After All These Years

My husband and I caught Ricky Martin’s concert at the Mohegan Sun Arena in the casino of the same name in Connecticut on Oct. 18. Here we are a little over two weeks later, and I’m still feeling the uplifting effects of the show.

I’ve been fortunate to follow Ricky’s career since he joined the boy band Menudo in 1984, and when I say follow, I mean I’ve been there for the acting, the early Spanish-language albums, the exciting times, and even the quiet times. In other words, long before he was singing “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” I knew Ricky Martin was going places, and I was more than happy to come along for the ride.

While I saw him perform three years ago with Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias at Madison Square Garden and in New Jersey two years before that with Enrique, it had been several years since he took his solo show on the road in the United States. I was ready for it, and Ricky didn’t disappoint.

The show was an energetic trip down memory lane as he filled the concert with both his Spanish and English hits, including “Vuelve,” “Bon bon de azucar,” “La mordidita,” “La bomba,” “Livin’ la Vida Loca,” “Maria,” “The Cup of Life,” and even the new song he collaborated on with Brazilian singer Pedro Sampaio, “Pikito, Pikito.”

As always, the musicians, backup singer Carlos Perez and dancers were top-notch, many of them having toured with him for several years. You can feel the chemistry among all of them, so while their skills and professionalism creates a high-quality show, their bond adds a down-to-earth vibe. To me, it felt like walking in on Ricky and friends partying, and they were inviting us to join them for a fun night.

The show was the kind where you’re on your feet the whole time, dancing along. Speaking of dancing, Ricky may be turning 55 this Dec. 24, but he still can dance with the best of them. He told the audience how much he enjoys performing, and how he plans to do so until he’s 80. My friends and I joke that we’ll attend his concerts until we can’t anymore, even if it means bringing walkers and canes, so he will definitely have people cheering him on, no matter how old he is.

As for the near future, he announced he’s working on new music that should be available next year, and he also plans to start touring again in 2027. The 2026 U.S. tour was announced a few months before the first date, with shows mostly at casinos. Maybe it was just a way to see if the fans are still there, which I’m sure everyone discovered, they are. I have to say, the Mohegan Sun Arena was the perfect venue for a concert. So, Ricky, if you want to hit the casinos again, I’m there.

Here’s to 2027 and the years to come, because God willing, we’ll all be shaking our bonbons with Ricky for another quarter-century.

Editor’s note: Want to learn more about Ricky’s Menudo days. Check out my posts about where his life was taking him in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988 and 1989.