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“Livin’ La Vida Loca” Artist: Ricky Martin Musical Style Notes Music / Lyrics by Desmond Child “Livin’ La Vida Loca” instantly establishes its Latin musical influence with its percussion style, dance rhythms, and brass-heavy instrumentation. Layered over this are Martin’s and Robi Draco Rosa vocals, Rusty Anderson’s treble-heavy, surf-style guitar solos, and, near the end of the Label: Sony, from the CD track, a dazzlingly high trumpet part played by Tony Concepción. Structurally, it is a verse-chorus form; the verse has two sections of contrasting melodic content, and Ricky Martin (1999) the chorus features an extremely catchy “hook” in the “Livin’ La Vida Loca” line at the end—the kind of musical phrase that gets stuck in your brain for the rest of the day. Between the “hook,” the dance rhythms, the “surf” licks, and Martin’s charismatic vocal style, the different elements of “Livin’ La Vida Loca” comprised a sure-fire formula for a hit single. The musicians on “Livin’ La Vida Loca” are Ricky Martin, lead vocal; Rusty Anderson, guitar; Randy Cantor, keyboards; Robi Draco Rosa, background vocals; Rafael Solano, percussion; and Tony Concepción, trumpet.

Musical “Road Map” TIMINGS COMMENTS LYRICS

0:00–0:13 Instrumental introduction: full band, including horn section, Latin percussion

0:13–0:29 Verse 1, “A” section of the melody She’s into superstitions . . . (short guitar interlude before verse 2)

Listening Guide 35 Guide Listening 0:29–0:40 Verse 2, “A” section of the melody She’s into new sensations . . .

0:40–0:53 Verse 2, “B” section of the melody She’ll make you take your clothes off . . . vocal harmony

0:53–1:20 Chorus Upside, inside out— Livin’ la vida loca . . .

1:20–1:31 Same music as Introduction

1:31–1:41 Verse 3, “A” section of the melody Woke up in New York City . . . texture change at beginning

1:41–1:55 Verse 3, “B” section of the melody She never drinks the water . . .

1:55–2:22 Chorus Upside, inside out— Livin’ la vida loca . . .

2:22–2:32 Guitar instrumental solo (Note “surf” style.)

2:32–2:46 New verse, “B” section only She’ll make you take your clothes off And go dancing in the rain . . .

2:46–3:08 Chorus Upside, inside out— Livin’ la vida loca . . .

3:08–3:35 Chorus repeats Upside, inside out— Livin’ la vida loca . . .

3:35–4:01 Guitar instrumental solo (overlaid with super-high trumpet solo; listen at 3:46); takes the track to the end at 4:01.

450 ROCKIN’ OUT