Livin' la Vida Loca

"Livin' la Vida Loca"
Single by Ricky Martin
from the album Ricky Martin
Released March 23, 1999
Format
Recorded 1998
Genre
Length 4:03
Label Columbia
Writer(s)
Producer(s)
  • Desmond Child
  • Robi Rosa
Ricky Martin singles chronology
"Corazonado"
(1999)		 "Livin' la Vida Loca"
(1999)		 "She's All I Ever Had"
(1999)

"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a number-one hit song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin's self-titled debut English album (he had previously released several albums in Spanish). The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999. La vida loca is Spanish for "the crazy life."

"Livin' la Vida Loca" is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and made the transition of other Spanish-speaking artists (first Enrique Iglesias, then later Shakira and Thalía) into the English-speaking market easier. Before this time, most non-Latino Americans had never heard of Martin until what CNN reported was a show-stopping performance of "La Copa de la Vida" at the 41st Grammy Awards show, which became a catalyst in bringing Latin pop to the forefront of the U.S. music scene.[1] "Livin' la Vida Loca" sold over 8 million copies, making it one of the best selling singles of all time.

The song received various Grammy Awards nominations and Ricky Martin obtain enormous success inside the United States and worldwide. In 2007, the song was ranked at number 28 on the list of 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's by VH1.[2] It is Martin's signature song.

Martin performed the song on second series of The Voice Australia with fellow judges Delta Goodrem, Joel Madden and Seal.

Recording

This song was the first U.S. number one single to be recorded without using then-conventional recording studio equipment; instead the track was created at Desmond Child's Gentlemen's Club Studio,[3] which utilizes a 64-track Pro Tools system.[4] The recording is also noted for its exceptional use of dynamic range compression to increase the track's perceived loudness.[5]

Music video

The video for "Livin' La Vida Loca" was directed by Wayne Isham and starring Croatian model Nina Morić in Los Angeles 1999. Aired later the same month, and received six nominations at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Choreography in a Video and Viewer's Choice. It won two primary awards for Best Pop Video, and Best Dance Video, and was voted three additional awards in the international Viewers Choice categories. It won also Ritmo Latino Music Award for Music Video of the Year.

The video features Ricky Martin performing in a pub with his band and hanging out with a lady (Nina Moric) at various different locations. Various snippets of the video seem to merge into each other, over the duration of the song. Towards the end of the video, Martin gets distracted by his lady partner while driving, causing another car to veer and hit a fire hydrant, releasing a fountain of water. This scene coincides with the line in the chorus "She'll make you take your clothes off and go dancing in the rain".

Chart success

"Livin' la Vida Loca" is Ricky Martin's biggest hit. It is his first number-one song on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining at number one in the United States for five consecutive weeks and ranking at number ten on the year-end chart of 1999. The single was certified Platinum for sales over one million physical copies in the US alone. It topped the Hot Latin Songs for nine weeks, and Latin Pop Songs for ten weeks. Although released long before the digital era, it has sold 502,000 digital copies in the US, becoming Martin's best-selling downloaded track.[6] On the Canadian RPM Top Singles the song stayed at the top for eight weeks, and on the Canadian Singles Chart for three weeks.

In the United Kingdom, "Livin' la Vida Loca" debuted at number one and stayed there for three weeks. It has sold 832,000 copies and was certified Platinum. The song also reached number one in Ireland and New Zealand. "Livin' la Vida Loca" peaked inside top ten around the world and was certified Platinum, Gold and Silver in various countries.

Awards

Year Ceremony Award Result
1999 Billboard Music Awards Hot 100 Singles Male Artist of the Year[7] Won
Billboard Latin Music Awards Hot Latin Track of the Year[8] Nominated
Latin Pop Track of the Year Won
MTV Video Music Awards Video of the Year Nominated
Best Male Video Nominated
Best Pop Video Won
Best Dance Video Won
Best Choreography in a Video Nominated
Viewer's Choice Award Nominated
International Viewer's Choice Award — Latin America (North) Won
International Viewer's Choice Award — Latin America (South) Won
International Viewer's Choice Award — Russia Won
Ritmo Latino Music Awards Music Video of the Year[9] Won
Vogue Fashion Awards Most Stylish Video Nominated
2000 ALMA Awards Outstanding Music Video[10] Won
ASCAP Awards Song of the Year Pop/Ballad[11] Won
BMI Latin Awards Winning Song[12] Won
Grammy Awards Record of the Year Nominated
Song of the Year Nominated
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance Nominated
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s) Nominated
International Dance Music Awards Best Latin 12"[13] Won
Latin Grammy Awards Record of the Year Nominated
Premio Lo Nuestro Song of the Year Won
2004 Premios Juventud Best Re-Mix Nominated

Formats and track listings

Australian CD maxi-single #1
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Album Version) – 4:03
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Scissorhands Push & Pull English House Mix) – 7:09
  3. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Trackmasters Remix) – 3:46
  4. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores English Radio Edit) – 4:07
  5. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores Spanish Dub-apella) – 7:51
Australian CD maxi-single #2
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Album Version)
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Spanish Version)
  3. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Spanglish Version)
European CD single
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores English Radio Edit) – 4:07
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Scissorhands English Radio Mix) – 3:43
European CD maxi-single
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores English Radio Edit) – 4:07
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores English Club Mix) – 10:04
  3. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Scissorhands English Radio Mix) – 3:43
  4. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores Spanish Radio Edit) – 4:08
Japanese CD maxi-single
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Album Version) – 4:03
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Scissorhands Push & Pull English House Mix) – 7:09
  3. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Track Masters Remix) – 3:46
  4. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores English Club Mix) – 10:04
  5. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores English Radio Edit) – 4:07
UK CD maxi-single #1
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Album Version) – 4:03
  2. "La Copa de la Vida" (Spanglish Version - Radio Version) – 4:35
  3. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Joey Musaphia's Deep Vocal Edit) – 6:45
UK CD maxi-single #2
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Album Version) – 4:03
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Amen Eurostamp Mix) – 7:18
  3. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Joey Musaphia's Carnival Mix) – 8:48
US CD single
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Album Version) – 4:03
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Spanish Version) – 4:03
US CD maxi-single
  1. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Album Version) – 4:03
  2. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Scissorhands Push & Pull English House Mix) – 7:09
  3. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Trackmasters Remix) – 3:46
  4. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores English Radio Edit) – 4:07
  5. "Livin' la Vida Loca" (Pablo Flores Spanish Dub-apella) – 7:51

Charts and certifications

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak

position
Australia (ARIA)[14] 1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 6
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 6
Canada (RPM)[15] 1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[16] 1
Canada Dance (RPM)[17] 1
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[18] 4
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[14][19] 1
France (SNEP)[14] 7
Germany (Media Control Charts)[20] 6
Ireland (IRMA)[21] 1
Italy (FIMI)[22] 5
Japan (Oricon)[23] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[24] 9
New Zealand (RIANZ)[14] 1
Norway (VG-lista)[14] 1
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[25] 2
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[14] 4
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[14] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[26] 1
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 1
US Billboard Adult Contemporary[28] 18
US Billboard Adult Pop Songs[27] 1
US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs[27] 5
US Billboard Hot Latin Songs[27] 1
US Billboard Latin Pop Songs[27] 1
US Billboard Tropical Songs[28] 1
US Billboard Pop Songs[27] 1
US Billboard Rhythmic Top 40[28] 1
Chart (2008) Peak
position
Italy (FIMI)[14] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position
Australian Singles Chart[29] 21
Belgian Flandres Singles Chart[30] 35
Belgian Wallonia Singles Chart[31] 40
Canadian RPM Top Singles[32] 1
Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary[33] 14
Dutch Single Top 100[34] 52
French Singles Chart[35] 34
Swedish Singles Chart[36] 12
Swiss Singles Chart[37] 18
UK Singles Chart[38] 6
US Billboard Hot 100[39] 10
US Billboard Adult Pop Songs[39] 14
US Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales[39] 2
US Billboard Hot Latin Songs[39] 5
US Billboard Latin Pop Songs[39] 2
US Billboard Pop Songs[39] 3
US Billboard Tropical Songs[39] 8

Certifications

Region Certification Sales/shipments
Australia (ARIA)[40] 2× Platinum 140,000^
Belgium (BEA)[41] Gold 25,000*
France (SNEP)[42] Silver 161,000[43]
Germany (BVMI)[44] Gold 250,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] Gold 7,500*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[46] Gold 5,000*
Sweden (GLF)[47] Gold 15,000x
United Kingdom (BPI)[48] Platinum 900,000[49]
United States (RIAA)[50] Platinum 1,000,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Preceded by
"Si Te Pudiera Mentir" by Marco Antonio Solís		 Billboard Hot Latin Tracks number-one single
April 24, 1999 – June 19, 1999 		Succeeded by
"No Me Ames" by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Preceded by
"No Scrubs" by TLC		 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single
May 8, 1999 – June 5, 1999 		Succeeded by
"If You Had My Love" by Jennifer Lopez
Preceded by
"No Scrubs" by TLC		 Canadian RPM Dance/Urban number-one single
June 14, 1999 - June 21, 1999 (2 weeks) 		Succeeded by
"Skin" by Charlotte
Preceded by
"I Want It That Way" by Backstreet Boys		 RIANZ (New Zealand)
number-one single
June 20, 1999 		Succeeded by
"You Needed Me" by Boyzone
Preceded by
"9 PM (Till I Come)" by ATB		 UK Singles Chart number-one single
July 11, 1999 – July 31, 1999 		Succeeded by
"When You Say Nothing at All" by Ronan Keating

Cover versions

See also

References

  1. ↑ CNN.com - Ricky Martin Leading The Latin (music) revolution
  2. ↑ VH1: 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's
  3. ↑ The Gentlemen's club: DESMOND CHILD'S VIRTUAL AESTHETIC
  4. ↑ The Making of a Hard Disk Hit
  5. ↑ See Chapter 8 of Perfecting Sound Forever: the Story of Recorded Music by Greg Milner. Granta Books, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86207-942-7
  6. ↑ "Ask Billboard - Viva la 'Vida' singer". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2011-01-28. Retrieved 2011-01-28.
  7. ↑ http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0878678.html
  8. ↑ Lannert, John (April 29, 2000). "Pop Track of the Year, Livin’ La Vida Loca". Billboard (Prometheus Global Media) 112 (18): 16. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  9. ↑ "Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony win Latin Music Awards". Wn.com. 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2014-09-19.
  10. ↑ "2000 ALMA AWARD". Retrieved 2014-08-15.
  11. ↑ Pesselnick, Jill (May 20, 2000). "Pérez Honored at 8th El Premio ASCAP Gala". Billboard (Nielsen Company) 112 (21): 123. Retrieved May 5, 2012.
  12. ↑ "BMI Latin Awards 2000". BMI. Retrieved 2014-07-18.
  13. ↑ http://wintermusicconference.com/events/idmas/index.php?wmcyear=2000
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 14.10 Ricky Martin - Livin' la Vida Loca (song). Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  15. ↑ Top Singles - Volume 69, No. 6, May 31 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  16. ↑ Top Singles - Volume 69, No. 7, June 07 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  17. ↑ Top Singles - Volume 69, No. 8, June 14 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  18. ↑ "Hits of the World: Eurochart Hot 100 (IFPI/Nielsen Marketing Research) 07/03/99". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media) 111 (27): 61. July 3, 1999. ISSN 0006-2510.
  19. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 205. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  20. ↑ Single-Chartverfolgung. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  21. ↑ The Irish Charts. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  22. ↑ Top Italian singles of 1999
  23. ↑ Ricky Martin singles sales ranking. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  24. ↑ Nederlandse Top 40. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Ricky Martin – Livin' la vida loca" Canciones Top 50.
  26. ↑ Top 75 Releases. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 27.4 27.5 Livin' la Vida Loca - Ricky Martin. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 28.2 Billboard Singles. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  29. ↑ "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1999". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  30. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1999". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  31. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 1999". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  32. ↑ Top Singles - Volume 70, No. 8, December 13 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  33. ↑ Adult Contemporary - Volume 70, No. 8, December 13 1999. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  34. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten - Album 1999". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  35. ↑ "Classement Singles - année 1999". Disque en France. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  36. ↑ "Årslista Singlar - År 1999". Grammofon Leverantörernas Förening. Retrieved 2011-04-18.
  37. ↑ "Swiss Year-end charts 1999". Hung Medien. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  38. ↑ "Yearly Best Selling Singles 1999" (PDF). The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-04-11.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 "The Year in Music 1999". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 1999-12-25. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  40. ↑ "ARIA Charts - Accreditations - 2013 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  41. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 1999". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  42. ↑ "French single certifications – Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  43. ↑ http://www.infodisc.fr/Single_Certif.php
  44. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Ricky Martin; 'Livin’ La Vida Loca')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  45. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  46. ↑ "Norwegian single certifications – Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  47. ↑ "Årslista Singlar - År 1999" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved February 19, 2013.
  48. ↑ "British single certifications – Ricky Martin – Livin' La Vida Loca". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 3, 2013. Enter Livin' La Vida Loca in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
  49. ↑ Lane, Daniel (27 June 2013). "Official Charts Flashback 1999: Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  50. ↑ "American single certifications – Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 28, 2011. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links