Typically, the act of leaving Prudential Center is unceremonious.
Maybe a staff member says “have a good night” as you speed-walk through the door, praying to avoid parking lot gridlock.
But Saturday night, fans exiting Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin’s co-headlining performance were met with, what’s this, snacks for the road? Staffers handed out free bags of plantain chips and packs of Maria cookies.
This, my friends, was a first.
Now, as an inherently skeptical New Jerseyan, I immediately question all acts of kindness and charity. Who’s really got skin in this plantain game, huh? The Moltisantis?!
But the treats did indeed fit the night’s hospitable atmosphere, fueled by two Latin pop stars eager to serve the crowd just what they wanted.
Only the hits, baby!
Martin and Iglesias, who were both integral to the Latin invasion that briefly commandeered late-’90s American pop, delivered matching 70-minute sets dripping with passion and bilingual thrills for the cheering Newark crowd.
Iglesias, 46, took the stage first. I assumed he’d close, considering he’s touring on a new album, September’s “Final” — which he’s suggested may be his last-ever LP — and has landed more than double the English-language hits Martin has over the last 25 years.
Sure enough, Iglesias unloaded what felt like a headlining set, with all the requisite bells and whistles: pyrotechnic blasts, confetti cannons, dozens of oversized balloons and a stage that featured a moving sidewalk (like the ones at the airport) to transport Iglesias down a ramp to a platform near the center of the bowl.
The set opened with a trio of dance-pop bangers largely removed from Latin influence — “I’m a Freak,” (2013), “Chasing the Sun” (2021) and “I Like How It Feels” (2011) — before launching into his 2016 chart-topper “Duele el Corazon,” to which the crowd yelled every word. While Iglesias hasn’t made much noise in the U.S. mainstream this past decade or so, he’s consistently dominated the Latin charts — 27 No. 1 singles and counting.
To that end, the audience ate up his enduring hits “Cuando Me Enamoro” and “Loco” and “Me Pase,” all performed from an auxiliary stage built at the back of the arena, so more fans could get a good look at the guy. The latter tracks, being more tender ballads, were performed as duets with a female back-up singer, finishing with the pair slow-dancing cheek to cheek. Steamy!
Predictably, the grandest sing-alongs came from his early crossover hits “Bailamos” and “Be With You,” plus the sappy smash “Hero” — with hundreds of smartphone flashlights waving — and 2001′s “Escape,” which remains a criminally underrated offering to the early ‘00s pop conversation.
The nine-piece band boomed on the sprawling stage, backed by a triple-panel Jumbotron to create a screen that spanned the width of the arena. Iglesias trotted from corner to corner, flashing his million-dollar grin and urging fans to sing, especially as the encore finished with world-beaters “Bailando” and “I Like It.”
While the Spanish star was fully energized, his smooth-operator aura would appear tame compared to old pal Ricky.
Following Iglesias’ final beat, the stage was quickly reorganized for Martin, rolling in a staircase and two oversized percussion platforms, otherwise leaving open space for the larger cohort supporting the Puerto Rican idol.
Martin’s set began at full throttle, kicking off with his 1999 career-defining single “Livin’ La Vida Loca,” as his own nine-piece band exploded and a seven-member dance troupe bounced around the stage touting palm fronds. Martin, 49, was at the center of it all, of course, plowing through the track that made the ex-Menudo member a household name.
As many of Martin’s live performances over the last five years were tied to his “All In” Las Vegas residency in 2017-18, his set featured similar glitz and hammy showmanship — new set pieces and costumes for each song, packing in as much hip-shaking flash as possible.
Martin spoke to the crowd at greater length than Iglesias, noting how his show was “about closing old cycles and opening new cycles … a path filled with light, thinking about only positive things.”
Early on, it felt as Martin might’ve fired the golden bullet too soon with “Loca” opening the show, but the crowd kicked back in for his 1998 Spanish-language ballad “Vuelve,” which showcased his wide-vibrato, almost operatic vocal style — worlds different than Iglesias’ voice steeped more in pop.
Martin also participated in more deliberate choreography, perpetually in motion with his dancers, who were given the spotlight several times while Martin trotted off to change his costume. Before ‘98′s “Lola, Lola,” six dancers came forward with drums slung on their hips, banging an intricate rhythm that became faster and more complex, like a Latin drum line.
What Martin’s set lacked in universal hits — not to discredit him, he’s notched 11 Latin No. 1s of his own — it made up for in unpredictable magnetism. I couldn’t wait to see what came next.
Fans jumped in for party tracks “She Bangs” and “Shake Your Bon-Bon,” plus the monumental closer “The Cup of Life” — “Here we go! Ale, ale, ale!” may be stuck in my head through Thanksgiving.
All in all it was an exciting, highly produced co-headlining performance from two time-tested stars — as sweet and familiar as those cookies.
Enrique Iglesias’ setlist
Oct. 16, 2021 — Prudential Center, Newark, N.J.
- “I’m a Freak”
- “Chasing the Sun”
- “I Like How It Feels”
- “Duele el corazón”
- “Bailamos”
- “Cuando me enamoro”
- “Loco / Me pasé”
- “Súbeme la radio”
- “Be With You”
- “Escape”
- “Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You)”
- Encore:
- “Hero”
- “El perdón”
- “Bailando”
- “I Like It”
Ricky Martin’s setlist
- “Livin’ la Vida Loca”
- “La bomba”
- “Qué rico fuera”
- “Vuelve”
- “Lola, Lola”
- “She Bangs”
- “Shake Your Bon-Bon”
- “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely”
- “Pégate”
- “La mordidita”
- “María”
- “Vente pa’ ca”
- Encore:
- “The Cup of Life”
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Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier and Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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