Enrique Iglesias

black&blue4ever · #1 19-04-2004, 05:37

Biography

The name's familiar, the heart-throb looks are familiar, and now the figures are beginning to look familiar, too. Enrique Iglesias, son of the best-selling singer of all time, has already notched up sales of over 25 million in seven years and scored a Grammy for Best Latin Performer. All of which puts the handsome young Spaniard well on the way to catching up with his father's world record of 250 million in sales. Even the Beatles can't out-sell Julio. The question is, can his son?

Born in Madrid on May 8, 1975, to internationally renowned balladeer Julio Iglesias and Filipina model turned journalist Isabel Preysler, Enrique Iglesias Preysler moved to Miami to live with his father after Basque terrorists kidnapped the singer's grandfather and demanded a ransom. "He was rescued unharmed," says Enrique, "But suddenly it got a little dangerous."
In the US the young Enrique was left in the charge of the family nanny, who effectively raised him while his globe-trotting father was away on tour. Julio's lengthy absences meant he had little inkling of his son's burgeoning musical talent. At 13 Enrique was already indulging his passion for music by keeping a "secret diary" of songs and by 15 he was playing in secret with two older musicians - one of whom, Robert Morales, would collaborate on Enrique's platinum-selling first album, which was dedicated to his nanny.
His transition from beach hunk – watersports and hanging out on Hawiian beaches were favourite occupations – to budding star came when he plucked up the courage to ask one of his father's ex-managers to go along and see him play. The former Iglesias staff-member was stunned by the young man's dedication and stubborn insistence that he wouldn't use the family name until he landed a recording contract.
Portraying himself as Enrique Martinez, a little-known singer from Central America, the fledgling pop star signed to the Mexican label Fonovista and dropped out of his Miami University business course. When his son informed him that he had been awarded a contract, Julio was presented with a fait accompli. The older singer was less than impressed with his offspring's news, however, and – concerned about the vagaries of the music industry and what he saw as its innate dishonesty – tried to prevent his son performing. But Julio's attitude only spurred the teenager to greater efforts.
In some ways it was a predictable response – Enrique's determination and formidable work ethic are well documented. "I'm never satisfied," he says. "Sometimes I should sit around and stop and look around and enjoy." That is an unlikely scenario, however, especially with Hollywood beckoning – he secured a role as a gunfighter opposite Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp and Antonio Banderas in 2003's Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
As Enrique makes waves in film and music, his personal life has also been making headlines. The heart-throb is currently linked to tennis star Anna Kournikova, who co-starred in the steamy video for his hit single Escape.

black&blue4ever · #2 19-04-2004, 05:59

ENRIQUE (1999)

1. Rhythm Divine
2. Be With You
3. I Have Always Loved You
4. Sad Eyes
5. I'm Your Man
6. Oyeme
7. Could I Have This Kiss Forever - (with Whitney Houston)
8. You're My #1
9. Alabao
10. Bailamos
11. Ritmo Total
12. Mas Es Amar
13. No Puedo Mas Sin Ti

black&blue4ever · #3 19-04-2004, 06:05

ESCAPE (2001)

1. Escape
2. Don't Turn Off The Lights
3. Love To See You Cry
4. Hero
5. I Will Survive
6. Making Love For Fun
7. Maybe
8. One Night Stand
9. She Be The One
10. World Crashes Down
11. Escapar
12. No Apaquez La Luz
13. Heroe

black&blue4ever · #4 19-04-2004, 06:11

SEVEN (2003)

1. Not In Love
2. It's The Way You Touch Me
3. I Need You To Say It
4. California Callin'
5. Addicted
6. Shake Me, Break Me
7. Free
8. Be Yourself
9. Wish You Were Here With Me
10. You Rock Me
11. Roamer
12. Live It Up Tonight
13. Adicto

black&blue4ever · #5 19-04-2004, 06:32

He may be one of Latin music's hottest stars, but with the release of his new album 7, Enrique Iglesias has all but eliminated any reference to his Spanish heritage.

"There is not even a burrito on this album," he laughed. "That's what the record company executive told me when he heard the album. I may be Spanish, but I grew up listening to '80s pop music, so that's much more my reference than salsa or merengue."

Still, Latin music is where Iglesias got his start - his first four albums were recorded in Spanish, selling more than 14 million copies and making him one of Latin music's biggest-selling artists.

His first English album, Enrique, in 1999 was his breakthrough crossover album, selling 5 million copies worldwide. He topped that with the release of Escape in 2001.

"The whole Latin thing exploded, then faded when I was still making Escape, and I was worried I was going to get stuck in that trend and not be able to emerge from it," Iglesias said. "I felt a lot of pressure. I felt people didn't really care about me musically, but I got lucky and it ended up being my best album so far."

It also rid him of the nagging tag of being "son of" one of Latin's music's most famous Lotharios, Julio Iglesias.

"When I first started there were interviewers who would introduce me as 'the son of' and I would get up and walk out," he said. "It used to annoy me so much. But the more success I had the more I got away from that."

To this day, father and son have a strained relationship, especially as the younger Iglesias's star has risen.

"When I am with him we never speak about business. I keep it totally separate. He still has never seen me perform," he said. "People find that strange, but I think it would be a very awkward moment the day he comes to see me."

It was suggested recently that the pair were considering a duet.

"I was asked to sing with him, but I didn't feel it was the right time. I respect him and I admire his career, but the day I sing with my father it has to be spontaneous.

"I don't want it to be a set up by the record company."

He also avoids being set up as a sex symbol. "We were going through the shots for the album package and there were all these head shots and beauty shots and I was saying, 'Oh no, take it away.' I'm not stupid, I know sex sells, but I just hate it.

"I'd rather just focus on the music. To be honest, I could stand naked on the cover of the album with the biggest penis in the world and if the music ****ed, nobody would buy it."

But the singer has made one recent concession to beauty, even if he likes to downplay the whole procedure. A trademark mole that punctuated his right cheek (and was the butt of many a joke, particularly on Saturday Night Live) has been removed.

"Did you notice it?" he asked, feigning naivety. "A lot of my good friends who see me all the time didn't even notice it."

Yeah right.

Due to the pressure of fame, the singer said he needed a break before recording 7.

"I needed to live and to have a normal life and get some inspiration for some songs," Iglesias said.

The first single from the album is Addicted, a slow, moody ballad. "I wrote that song when I was feeling a little depressed about being on the road for so long," he said. "I felt it was really different and dark and could be talking about a lot of things, not just love."

On the subject of love, the softly spoken but chatty Iglesias is amiable on most topics, except one - his girlfriend, tennis sex kitten Anna Kournikova. When I mention that Kournikova has, to excuse the pun, been the butt of a few jokes, he quickly rises to her defence.

"I thought music critics are bad, wow, sports writers are much worse," he said.

"Here you have this girl who came out of Russia when she was a little girl and got to No.8, but that's still not good enough. To me she is one of the smartest girls I have ever met, and her career is far from over."

The two met on the set of his video Escape.

"Yes I know it's very cliche and very Hollywood, but that's how we met," he admitted shyly.

When pushed on the state of the relationship, he answers evasively.

"At the end of the day you can have a million girlfriends and I really have not been good for relationships in the past.

"I lose focus easily. But I can now say I'm more focused and it is important to have someone special."

black&blue4ever · #6 19-04-2004, 06:43

THE RESUME

Won a Grammy (1996)

Won a Billboard award (1997)

Won an American Music Award (2001)

Recorded 'Be With You' and 'Rhythm Divine'
Entertainment during the Superbowl halftime show (2000)

black&blue4ever · #7 19-04-2004, 06:50

black&blue4ever · #8 19-04-2004, 06:55

black&blue4ever · #9 19-04-2004, 07:06

...........

black&blue4ever · #10 19-04-2004, 07:08

black&blue4ever · #11 19-04-2004, 07:11

California^Babe · #12 19-04-2004, 15:57

hot bebe hot

Goca_e_urte · #13 19-04-2004, 19:53

he's so hotttttt i wish all guys looked just a bit like him....
mmmmm baby