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Edmund Lee


48 HOURS: Have you ever partied to your own music? I imagine it's unavoidable
RICKY MARTIN: [ Laughs] I've been to a couple of weddings where they played my music. And I've danced to it, yes, to be honest.
Did you feel a sense of responsibility when you release a song that stays in people's heads forever? I mean, I can still sing your 1998 song, The Cup of Life.
I think that every artist, deep down inside, wants that — regardless of the outcome. You just want your music to transcend generations, and hopefully in the future someone will revive the song just to keep it going. When it actually happens, it's a sense of release; but yes, you feel pressure of what's coming up next.
It's fair to say that The Cup of Life is one of the most popular World Cup songs ever. 
Yeahhhh [l aughs]
What's the most surreal experience you've had with that song?
I was in Nepal trekking in the Himalayas. I thought I was in a really remote area — I thought I could touch the sky because of how high up in the mountains we were — and I walked into a very small shack, and someone had my poster [on the wall] and he was playing my song. I come from a very small island in the Caribbean. So to be in the Himalayas and interact with someone from a small village that he's never left was beautiful.
How does it feel to be recording Vida, one of the songs for this year's World Cup?
First of all, the song was written by the public, the audience. To give the power to your fans to write a song is something that I've never done before. It was a unique contest.
What was it about the song that captivated you?
Melody. For me, the melody was very catchy. [ Snaps fingers] I immediately heard a stadium singing the song. And later on, we worked on arrangements, you know. But when I first heard it, I said, "This is it". And apparently, we did something right in choosing the song, because the reaction on social media has been outstanding.
The last time you sang the World Cup song, France beat Brazil 3-0 in the final.
[ Shakes head repeatedly] I was there. I was in the stadium, and I was rooting for Brazil. Very painful.
I was going to ask, do you see … 
[ Interjects] Brazil winning! Revenge?
Maybe history will repeat itself.
You mean, like, Brazil beating France 3-0? That would be great. That would be … too much to handle. But I also believe that a good final between Brazil and Argentina could be fantastic as well. So, I'm going to have my aspirin and medication for my heart ready.
Do you have a favourite team - or teams? After all, you're personally connected to so many different countries.
Well, I grew up in Puerto Rico — and we don't have a team in the World Cup — but I'm a US citizen because I was born in Puerto Rico. I'm also a citizen of Spain, I have a Spanish passport. But then I lived in Mexico and Argentina and Brazil, too.
So which team are you rooting for?
I go for Brazil … and the US … and Spain … I don't know, it's very interesting.
It's also interesting that you, a sex symbol for many, are writing children's books these days.
I'm the father of two boys, and they keep giving me this information. I had so much information that I don't know what to do, so I started writing. I started with one book of children's stories and now I have five. It's effortless. It doesn't take much of my time, to be honest. It's fun. I love my kids and it's part of my legacy that I write for them.
Have you thought about doing something like this before? 
Never. If you asked me seven years ago, I'd be like, "Really?! OK … " I love it — and that was only the beginning. We have a children's clothing line, cartoons, and we're doing music for children — all with my record company. It's going to be very, very beautiful.
 


The Inquisition: Ricky Martin, singer

Magazines

48 Hours

The Latin crooner and resident of many nations has a good choice of teams to follow, but sings the praises of Brazil


The Latin crooner and resident of many nations has a good choice of teams to follow, but sings the praises of Brazil.


The Inquisition: Ricky Martin, singer

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The Latin crooner and resident of many nations has a good choice of teams to follow, but sings the praises of Brazil

The Latin crooner and resident of many nations has a good choice of teams to follow, but sings the praises of Brazil