Has it really been 16 years since the world first got a look at the baby-faced son of Latin American icon Julio Iglesias?
Hard to believe that kid, Enrique Iglesias, is now 36 and has sold more than 100 million records internationally.
As he’s matured, the younger Iglesias has mastered the balancing act between seductive balladeer -- no doubt skills learned from his father -- and casually hip dance floor czar.
From “Hero” to “Bailamos” to last year’s club bangers “I Like It” and “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)” -- not to mention his nine No. 1 hits on the Billboard Latin Chart over the past decade -- Enrique Iglesias has developed into an international star whose bookshelf must heave under the weight of his Grammys and other awards.
The singer’s dimpled smile has been on display onstage since the latest round of his worldwide Euphoria tour launched last month; he’ll wrap up the jaunt Oct. 22 in his hometown of Miami, but first hits Gwinnett Arena Oct. 20.
In a recent teleconference conducted in English and Spanish, Iglesias said he worked hard to create a show that emphasizes the mood of each song through lighting and video. The key, he said, is “to make it look very simple. The energy is focused a lot on my band and myself rather than having 1,000 dancers up onstage.”
For many fans, the appearance of Pitbull on the bill is a bonus. The shades-sporting rapper guests on Iglesias’ “I Like It” and “I Like How It Feels,” and for Iglesias it was a no-brainer asking his friend to join him on the road (and occasionally onstage).
“Although it might seem like we come from different musical backgrounds, when I sat down and started talking to him [I learned] we both listen to a lot of music. He’s a bit of a music encyclopedia,” Iglesias said. “We’re both from Miami. We’re both Hispanic. It felt real; it didn’t feel forced at all.”
Iglesias is frequently viewed as having cleared the way for other bilingual acts to cross into the mainstream. The inclusion of not only Pitbull, but Dominican (by way of the Bronx) singer Prince Royce on the bill reiterates Iglesias’ commitment to a multicultural audience.
“Prince Royce is a perfect example of an artist who will be embraced by an English audience,” Iglesias said. “He speaks more English than Spanish. It’s a new generation -- the kids who have Hispanic parents but grew up in America. Their parents listen to Hispanic music and watch Spanish TV, but the kids are able to do both [languages]. I think they’re going to have an easier time with it than I probably did.”
Generally, Iglesias doesn’t alter his set lists much when performing in America because he figures his audiences appreciate both his English and Spanish songs. But thanks to his two opening acts, he can gauge the crowd before going onstage and make last-minute tweaks if necessary.
His other pre-stage activity? A shot or two of rum.
“It helps me with my nerves,” he said.
As if a guy with his success needs to worry about butterflies.
Concert preview
Enrique Iglesias with Pitbull and Prince Royce. 7 p.m. Oct. 20. $19.50-$89.50. Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth. 1-800-745-3000, www.ticketmaster.com.
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