Enrique Iglesias
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| Enrique Iglesias | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler |
| Born | May 8, 1975 Madrid, Spain |
| Origin | Miami, Florida |
| Genre(s) | Pop, Latin pop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1995-present |
| Label(s) | Interscope |
| Website | http://www.enriqueiglesias.com |
Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (born May 8, 1975) is a Spanish pop singer-songwriter. His career started in Mexico on Indie label Fonovisa who helped turn him into one of the most popular artists in Latin America and in the Latin market in the United States, selling more Spanish albums than any other artists in that period of time. Before the turn of the millennium he made a crossover into the mainstream English market and signed a unique multi-album deal with Universal Music for an unprecedented $48,000,000, with Universal Music Latino to release his Spanish albums and Interscope to release English albums. Iglesias has had two Billboard Hot 100 #1s and one #3, and he holds the record for producing eighteen number #1 Spanish-language singles on the Billboard's Hot Latin Tracks.
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[edit] Early life & family
Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler, was born on May 8, 1975 in Madrid, Spain. He was the third and final child of singer Julio Iglesias and Isabel Preysler, Filipina host and journalist. He has a sister Chabeli Iglesias, and a brother Julio Iglesias Jr., Julio and Isabel divorced in 1978 and the following year Julio moved to Miami, Florida to further his musical career.
In 1983 Enrique along with his brother were sent by their mother to live with their father in the US following the kidnapping of their grandfather, Dr. Julio Iglesias Puga because Isabel feared her sons might suffer a similar fate as her father-in-law. Enrique graduated from the Gulliver Preparatory School in 1993. He went on to the University of Miami where he studied business but he dropped out in order to pursue a career in music. Enrique did not want his father to know about his plans for a musical career, so when he was shopping around his demo to the record companies he went by the name of Enrique Martinez using his first name and the last name of his manager Fernan Martinez. He also did not want his famous surname to help advance his career. Enrique was signed by a then small Indy record label called Fonovisa. He went to Toronto, Canada for six months while recording his first album.
Isabel has remarried twice and has two daughters one from each marriage (Tamara Falcó and Ana Boyer). Julio has lived with Miranda Rijnsburger for almost twenty years their union has produced five children, Miguel Alejandro, Rodrigo, Cristina, Victoria and Guillermo Iglesias.
[edit] Career
[edit] Enrique Iglesias (1995)
On July 12,1995 Iglesias released his first album titled Enrique Iglesias, a collection of light rock ballads, including such mega-hits as "Si Tú Te Vas", "Experiencia Religiosa", and others. The record sold half a million copies in its first week, a rare accomplishment then for an album recorded in a language other than English.
His song " por Amarte" was included in Televisa's telenovela Marisol, but with a twist: instead of Por amarte daria mi vida (To love you, I'd give my life), the words were Por amarte Marisol, moriría (To love you, Marisol, I'd die). The CD also yielded Italian and Portuguese editions of the album, with most of the songs translated into those languages.
Five singles released from this album, such as "Por Amarte", "No Llores Por Mí", and "Trapecista" topped the Latin charts. The album went on to win Iglesias a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Performance.
[edit] Vivir (1997)
In 1997, Iglesias' star continued to rise with the release of Vivir (To Live), which put him up with other English language music superstars in sales for that year. The album also included a cover version of the Yazoo song "Only You", translated into Spanish as "Solo en Tí".
Insisting on playing large arenas and stadiums, that summer, Enrique, backed by sidemen for Elton John, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel, played to sold-out audiences in sixteen countries. Beginning the tour in Odessa, Texas the tour went on to three consecutive nights in Mexico's Plaza de Toros, two consecutive nights at Monterrey's Auditorio Coca Cola and two at the Estadio River Plate in Argentina to over a hundred and thirty thousand people as well as nineteen arenas in the U.S. The tour is considered by many to be the biggest tour by a non-English speaking act of that time.[1]
Three singles released from Vivir ("Enamorado Por Primera Vez", "Sólo en Ti" and "Miente") topped the Latin singles chart as well as those in several Spanish-speaking countries. Along with his father and Luis Miguel, Iglesias was nominated for an American Music Award in the first-ever awarded category of Favorite Latin Artist. It was said beforehand that the elder Iglesias would walk out if he did not win the award. Iglesias lost out to his father this time, but did perform the song "Lluvia Cae" at the event.
[edit] Cosas del Amor (1998)
In 1998, Iglesias released his third album, Cosas del Amor (Things of Love). Taking a more mature musical direction, the album, aided by the popular singles "Esperanza" and "Nunca Te Olvidaré", both of which topped the Latin singles chart, helped cement his status in the Latin music scene.
Iglesias did a short tour of smaller venues to accompany the release of the album, with one show being televised from Acapulco, Mexico. This was followed by a larger world tour of over eighty shows in even bigger venues. The Cosas del Amor Tour was the first ever concert tour sponsored by McDonald's.
He won an American Music Award in the category of Favorite Latin Artist against Ricky Martin and Los Tigres del Norte. The song "Nunca te Olvidaré" was also used as the theme music for a Spanish soap opera of the same name and he sang the song himself on the last episode of the series.
[edit] Enrique (1999)
By 1999, Iglesias had begun a successful crossover career into the English language music market. Thanks to other successful crossover acts, most notably that of Ricky Martin, Latino artists and music had a great surge in popularity in mainstream music. Iglesias' contribution to the soundtrack of Will Smith's movie Wild Wild West, "Bailamos" became a number one hit single. The song's success was helped by its having two videos, one based around the film and the other set in a nightclub defining Enrique's image for years to come clad in tight shirt and black leather trousers. He was going out with Christina After the success of "Bailamos", several mainstream record labels were eager to sign Enrique. Signing a multi-album deal after weeks of negotiations with Interscope, Iglesias recorded and released his first full CD in English, Enrique. The pop album, with some Latin influences, took two months to complete and contained a duet with Whitney Houston called "Could I Have This Kiss Forever" and a cover of the Bruce Springsteen song "Sad Eyes". The album's third single, "Be With You", became his second number one.
The final single from the album was the song "You're My #1", re-recorded and released in selected territories as a duet with local acts - Alsou in Russia, Sandy & Junior in Brazil and Valen Hsu in Asia.
[edit] Escape (2001)
Iglesias followed up in 2001 with the album Escape. Where most of the Latin crossover acts of the previous year experienced some difficulty matching the record sales of their first English language albums, Iglesias actually went on to sell even more. The album's first single, "Hero", became a number one hit in the United Kingdom, and in many other countries. The entire album was co-written by Iglesias.
Escape is his biggest commercial success to date. The singles "Escape" and "Don't Turn Off The Lights" became radio staples, fairing well and placing highly or topping various charts both in North America and elsewhere. A second edition of the album was released internationally and contained a new version of one of Enrique's favorite tracks, "Maybe", as well as a duet with Lionel Richie called "To Love a Woman".
Iglesias capitalized on the album's success with his "One-Night Stand World Tour" consisting of 50 sold-out shows in 16 countries. Including Radio City Music Hall and three consecutive nights in London's Royal Albert Hall, the tour ended with a big show at Stadium National Lia Manoliu in Bucharest, Romania. The concert launched MTV Romania, with the video for "Love to See You Cry" being the first to be shown on the channel.
The second leg of the tour, "Don't Turn Off The Lights", was completed in the summer of 2002, with two sold-out nights in Madison Square Garden and another two in Mexico's National Auditorium. The tour finished with a single show in the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
[edit] Quizás (2002)
Returning to his native language, and hot on the heels of his biggest-selling album, in 2002, Iglesias chose to release a fourth Spanish-language album titled Quizás (Perhaps). A more polished musical production than his previous Spanish albums and containing more introspective songs, the album's title track is a song about the strained relationship Iglesias has with his famous father.
The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, the highest placement of a Spanish language album on the chart at the time. Quizás sold a million copies in a week, making it the fastest-selling album in Spanish in five years. The three singles released from the album all ended up topping the Latin chart, giving Iglesias a total of sixteen number ones on the chart. He currently holds the record for the most number one singles on Billboard's Latin Chart. His last single from the album, "Para Que la Vida", reached a million spins on U.S. radio, the only Spanish language song to do so.[2]
The video to the song "Quizás" was the first Spanish language music video to be added to the selection on MTV's popular show Total Request Live. Iglesias performed the song on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, becoming the first to sing a Spanish song on the show, and opening doors for other artists such as Ricky Martin, Juanes and Jorge Drexler to perform their Spanish material. Iglesias included songs from Quizás in his "Don't Turn Off the Lights Tour", and the album went on to win a Latin Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album.
[edit] 7 (2003)
In 2003, Iglesias released his seventh album, which he called 7, the second to be co-written by Iglesias. Among its more 1980s-inspired material, it features the song "Roamer", which he wrote with his friend and longtime guitarist, Tony Bruno. The CD also contained the song "Be Yourself", a song about independence (the chorus talks about how Iglesias' own parents didn't believe he'd ever succeed in his singing career). The first single was the song "Addicted", and was followed closely by a remix of the song "Not in Love", featuring Kelis.
With this album, Iglesias went on his biggest world tour to date. The highly publicised tour started with twelve shows in the United States ending with Iglesias playing at Houston Rodeo and continued on to several countries, most of which he'd never previously visited playing to sold-out arenas and stadiums in Australia, India, Egypt and Singapore before ending his tour in South Africa.
In 2003 Enrique Iglesias started in Once Upon a Time in Mexico playing the role as Lorenzo the one that carried a guitar case full of weapons.
[edit] Post 7 activities 2004 - 2006
He has made a number of guest appearances in the media. He has been a guest on Oprah Winfrey's talk show, surprising one of his fans and spending the day with her. He also appeared at the Premios Juventud and was a musical guest on the final broadcast of Diego Maradona's television show in Argentina.
Iglesias has also attended various promotional events for the Tommy Hilfiger fragrance called True Star Men, which he is endorsing. Enrique stars in the commercial for the fragrance itself with the theme song "Ring My Bell" which is a track on his latest album. Iglesias has also appeared on the season finale of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition singing a song called "Somebody's Me", also from his latest album.
More recently, Iglesias has also performed live in one-off concerts in Italy, Uruguay and Israel, as well as performing at a festival for MTV in Malaga alongside Paulina Rubio and has completed a series of concerts in the States. The "For the Fans Tour" featured much of his older repertoire as well as new songs in both English and Spanish. Iglesias appeared on the May 7, 2007 episode of CBS' Two and a Half Men as 'Fernando' the Handyman.
The first single, "Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)" from his new album Insomniac released on June 12 was premiered on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on KIIS-FM on Tuesday, April 10, 2007. Enrique performed "Do You Know?" for the first time as well as "Hero" for a live taping of the U.S. series of Dancing with the Stars.
The single "Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)" was featured in an episode of Rob and Big where Rob started singing the song in a car wash. This was the first episode of season 3.
[edit] Insomniac (2007)
Iglesias released his new album Insomniac on June 12, 2007. The album was so named due to it being recorded mainly at night. The album contained a more contemporary pop style than that of previous albums with many of the tracks being described as r&b. Among the albums highlights include "Push", a hip-hop-flavored collaboration with rapper Lil' Wayne, as well as "Ring My Bells", and a cover of Ringside's "Tired of Being Sorry".
The first single "Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song)" became a worldwide hit peaking in the top ten several countries and reaching #1 in many. The Spanish version of the song entitled "Dimelo" was #1 on Bilboard's Hot Latin Tracks for eleven unconsecutive weeks becoming one of his best performing songs on the chart.
Iglesias followed up with the ballad Somebody's Me which was released as a single in the American Continent. The song was played extensively on AC radio with the song peaking high on Billboard's Hot AC and the Spanish version also performing well on the charts. The song was featured on the soap The Young and the Restless and Iglesias performed the track on the show. In Europe the second single was Tired Of Being Sorry which was a success in many countries. Recently Iglesias has recorded a version of the song with French singer Nadiya which has reached #1 in France.
On July 4, Enrique Iglesias became the first Western artist to play a concert in Syria in three decades when he performed for a sold-out crowd of 10,000 in the capital city of Damascus and in the same week performed on Live Earth. He would also make a second appearance The Royal Variety Performance.
The Insomniac world tour was launched at the Dome in Johannesburg, South Africa, the same venue he ended his last world Tour and took him to sold out arenas throughout Europe. It was his first arena tour of the UK with him playing venues such as Manchester's MEN Arena and Wembley Arena. The tour ended with Iglesias performing at newly opened L.A. Live. A second leg of the tour has taken him throughout Latin America from Mexico to Argentina.
The song "Push" was added to the soundtrack of the movie Step Up 2 the Streets albeit without Lil Wayne. The song was regarded as the third single from the album. A music video was shot which features the film's lead actors. Despite never being officially added to radio the song has charted in several countries.
Enrique's song "Can You Hear Me?" has been chosen as the official song of the UEFA Euro 2008 football tournament.[3] He will perform the song live at the June 29, 2008 final in Vienna, Austria.[4]. The song will also feature on a re-issue of the Insomniac album being released in certain countries.
[edit] Spanish Greatest Hits Album: 95/08 Exitos (2008)
Enrique released a Spanish Greatest Hits album in March 25th, 2008 which included his seventeen #1 songs on Hot Latin Tracks chart, plus two new songs. The first single was the song "Dónde Están Corazón", which is written by Argentinean star Coti and became Iglesias's 18th #1 single on Billbooards Hot Latin Songs. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard's Latin Album Charts and #18 on Billboards top 200 Album chart. It was Enrique's second Spanish Album to debut in the top 20 Billboards Top 200 Albums (Quizás debuted at 12 in 2002). The album has been recently certified double platinum in the U.S.and in some Latin American countries.
Iglesias was a surprise performer at the Lo Nuestro Awards, opening the show with a medley of "Dónde Están Corazón" and "Dimelo". He also performed at the Billboard Latin Music Awards, where he received a special award.
The album's second single will be a remix of the song Lloro Por Ti featuring Wisin & Yandel.
Iglesias will be performing in front of 40,000 people at the Isle Of MTV 2008 at the Floriana granaries, Malta, on 25th June 2008, with free entrance.[5][6] This will be the second time that Iglesias takes the Maltese stage, as last year he headlined the Isle of MTV 2007.
[edit] Songwriting, producing, and acting
Iglesias has collaborated with songwriter Guy Chambers to write "Un Nuovo Giorno", the lead single from Andrea Bocelli's first pop album. The song was later translated into English as "First Day of My Life" and recorded by Spice Girl Melanie C. The song has since gone to become a huge hit throughout Europe, and peaked in the number one spot in numerous countries. Iglesias also wrote the single "The Way" for American Idol runner up Clay Aiken. Four songs co-written by Iglesias appear on the UK band The Hollies' current album. Many times Iglesias has said that should he ever retire, he wants to write and produce songs for other artists.
In 2000, Iglesias co-produced an off Broadway musical called Four Guys Named Jose and Una Mujer Named Maria. In the musical, four Americans of Latin heritage possess a common interest in music and meet and decide to put on a show. The show contained many references and allusions to many classic and contemporary Latin and pop songs by the likes of Carmen Miranda, Selena, Richie Valens, Santana, Ricky Martin and Iglesias himself.
Iglesias also developed an interest in acting, starring alongside Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek and Johnny Depp in the Robert Rodriguez film Once Upon a Time in Mexico, in which he played the foul-mouthed gun-wielding Lorenzo. In 2007, he had a cameo role in the TV comedy Two and a Half Men, starring Charlie Sheen. He says that he would act again if given small roles that he could fit in between his musical commitments.
He also played Gael, a guitar playing/surfer/massage therapist and Enrique Iglesias lookalike on the tv show How I Met Your Mother.
Iglesias also played the part of an evil Roman emperor in an ambitious TV commercial for Pepsi, which sponsored his last world tour. He starred alongside Britney Spears, Beyoncé and Pink, who turn the tables on him in the commercial.
[edit] Personal life
In June 2000, radio personality Howard Stern received a tape of a supposedly off-key (MP3 of Iglesias singing,[7] along to the track "Rhythm Divine". Stern played this humorous clip throughout the week on his radio show insinuating that Iglesias lip synched and couldn't sing well outside the studio, even suggesting that Iglesias himself did not sing on his albums, comparing him to Milli Vanilli. Iglesias flew straight in to New York to appear on Stern's show, singing acoustic versions of "Rhythm Divine" and "Be with You", after which Stern told Iglesias he had silenced his critics. Iglesias would go on to say that controversy and his appearance on the show was the best promotion he could have.[8] Enrique is currently dating tennis star Anna Kournikova.
Iglesias confirmed that his trademark facial mole was surgically removed in August of 2003.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Hot Latin Tracks number-one singles
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[edit] Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
[edit] UK Singles Chart number-one singles
[edit] ARIA Singles Chart number-one singles
[edit] French SNEP Singles Chart number-one single |
[edit] Awards and achievements
- 1996
- Premio Lo Nuestro: Best Interpretation (Si Tú Te Vas)
- Premio Lo Nuestro: Best Composer (Si Tú Te Vas)
- Premio Lo Nuestro: Best New Artist
- Premios Eres: Best Song
- Premios Eres: Best Video
- Premios Eres: Best Launch
- Ace Award: Vocalist of the Year
- Premio TV Novelas: Best Male Vocalist
- Billboard Award: Album of the Year - New Artist
- World Music Award: Hispanic Artist of the f n Year
- World Music Award: Revelación of the Year
- 1997
- Grammy: Best Latin Performer
- ASCAP Award: Si Tú Te Vas
- ASCAP Award: No Llores Por Mí
- ASCAP Award: Por Amarte
- ACE Award: Performer of the Year
- Radio Music Awards : Best Artist Contemporary Format
- 1998
- Billboard Award: Best Latin Pop Artist
- 1999
- American Music Award: Favorite Latin Artist
- 2001
- World Music Award: Best Selling Pop Male Artist
- World Music Award: Best Selling European Pop Artist
- World Music Award: Best Latin Artist
- American Music Award: Favorite Latin Artist
- 2002
- Premio Ondas: Most Successful Spanish Artist of the Last Decade
- American Music Award: Favorite Latin Artist
- National Music Award: Favorite Album (Escape)
- 2003
- Latin Grammy: Best Male Pop Album (Quizás)
- 2004
- MTV India Awards: Best Male Pop Act International
- 2005
- Premio Lo Nuestro : Not in Love/No Es Amor Club Remixes
- 2007
- TMF Award : Best International Video (Do You Know)
- 2008
- Best International Artist: Radio Regenboen Awards en Alemania
- International Male Artist 2007: Bulgaria's Fan Tv.
[edit] References
- ^ "Enrique Iglesias begins his worldwide tour Vivir", Ondanet, 2008-5-31.
- ^ "Enrique Sets Billboard Record", Geffen, 2008-5-31.
- ^ "Iglesias to Star at UEFA Euro 2008™", UEFA Euro 2008™, 2008-05-22.
- ^ "Enrique Iglesias to Sing to Soccer Fans", A Socialite's Life, 2008-05-20.
- ^ Isle of MTV - Malta Special 2008.
- ^ YouTube - ISLE OF MTV 2008 - OneRepublic, The Kooks, N.E.R.D, and more.
- ^ http://media2.yourdailymedia.com/files/enrique_iglesias_caught_with_his_mic_on.wmv Video of Iglesias singing
- ^ http://www.marksfriggin.com/news00/6-5-00.htm
[edit] External links
- Enrique Iglesias Official website
- Enrique Iglesias Official Fan Club
- Interscope Records Official Site
- Enrique Iglesias at MySpace
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