"Livin' la Vida Loca" | ||||||||
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Single by Ricky Martin | ||||||||
from the album Ricky Martin | ||||||||
Released | March 23, 1999 | |||||||
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Recorded | 1998 | |||||||
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Length | 4:03 | |||||||
Label | Columbia | |||||||
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Ricky Martin singles chronology | ||||||||
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"Livin' la Vida Loca" is a number-one hit song by Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin. It was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin's self-titled debut English album (he had previously released several albums in Spanish). The song was composed by Desmond Child and Draco Rosa and topped the charts during 1999. La vida loca is Spanish for "the crazy life."
"Livin' la Vida Loca" is generally seen as the song that began the Latin pop explosion of 1999 and made the transition of other Spanish-speaking artists (first Enrique Iglesias, then later Shakira, Thalía, and Paulina Rubio) into the English-speaking market easier. Before this time, most non-Latino Americans had never heard of Martin until what CNN reported was a show-stopping performance of "La Copa de la Vida" at the 41st Grammy Awards show, which became a catalyst in bringing Latin pop to the forefront of the U.S. music scene. "Livin' la Vida Loca" sold over 8 million copies, making it one of the best selling singles of all time.
The song received various Grammy Awards nominations and Ricky Martin obtain enormous success inside the United States and worldwide. In 2007, the song was ranked at number 28 on the list of 100 Greatest Songs of the 90's by VH1. It is Martin's signature song and still maintains a cult following.
Martin performed the song on second series of The Voice Australia with fellow judges Delta Goodrem, Joel Madden and Seal.