Enrique Iglesias

This article is about the singer/songwriter. For the Uruguayan economist, see Enrique V. Iglesias.

Enrique Iglesias

Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler (born on May 8, 1975 in Madrid, Spain), better known as Enrique Iglesias, is a Spanish-Filipino pop singer-songwriter and model. Iglesias started his musical career in Mexico, when he signed with 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 sold over 50 million albums worldwide 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.

Early life & family

Iglesias was the third and final child of Spanish singer Julio Iglesias and Spanish-Filipina journalist and model Isabel Preysler. He has a sister Chabeli Iglesias, and a brother Julio Iglesias Jr., their parents divorced in 1978 and the following year their father moved to Miami, Florida to continue on with his musical career.

In 1983 Iglesias's grandfather, Dr. Julio Iglesias Puga was kidnapped by the terrorist group ETA. Fearing for his children's safety he sent his two sons to live with their father in Miami.

Iglesias 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 Fernán Martínez. He also did not want his famous surname to help advance his career. Iglesias was signed by a then small indie record label called Fonovisa. He went to Toronto, Canada for six months while recording his first album.

Iglesias is the fourth cousin of fellow Disney Channel teen star, Anna Maria Perez de Tagle.

Career

1995-1997 Enrique Iglesias

Main article: Enrique Iglesias

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 daría 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.

1997-1998 Vivir

Main article: Vivir

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 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 Buenos Aires, Argentina to over a hundred and thirty thousand people as well as nineteen arenas in the U.S. The tour made good use of the latest pyrotechnics, video displays and sound equipment. In fact the sound equipment alone needed to be transported from location to location by the use of two Jumbo Jets. This tour would also go on to show Enrique's ability as an entertainer; where he displayed his dedication to his performances and to his fans. Enrique would also refuse the use of personal bodyguards and against his managements wishes would allow his fans to flock alongside of him when on the stage performing. This move heighted the pandemonium his career had experienced up until then. Some of the concert's highlights included him being suspended by a crane without the use of a safety harness over thousands of screaming fans. Throughout all of his concerts Enrique would bring up a fan to the stage and serenade her with one of his ballads (on many occasions acoustically.) This tour is considered to be the biggest tour by a non-English speaking act of that time.

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, but did perform the song "Lluvia Cae" at the event.

Enrique has been known to say his favorite song in the Album is the title Miente.

1998-1999 Cosas del Amor

Main article: Cosas del Amor

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.

1999-2000 Enrique

Main article: Enrique

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 in the US.

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.

2001-2002 Escape

Main article: Escape

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.

2002-2003 Quizás

Main article: Quizás

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.

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.

2003-2004 7

Enrique Iglesias on stage.

Main article: 7

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 GIANT PENIS, 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 starred in Once Upon a Time in Mexico, playing the role of Lorenzo, who carried a flame thrower disguised as a guitar case.

2004-2006 Post Seven activities

While recording new material Iglesias usually forgoes public appearances but during this period he made a number of guest appearances in the media. He was 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 and few days later performed at a Christmas concert in support of the Special Olympics.

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 Bells" which was a track on his the forthcoming album. Iglesias 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 7 May 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 12 June was premiered on Ryan Seacrest's radio show on KIIS-FM on Tuesday, 10 April 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.

2007-2008 Insomniac

Main article: Insomniac

Iglesias released his new album Insomniac on 12 June 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 and is one of his most highly rated songs amongst fans.

Enrique's song "Can You Hear Me" has been chosen as the official song of the UEFA Euro 2008 football tournament. He performed the song live at the June 29, 2008 final in Vienna, Austria. The song featured on a re-issue of the Insomniac album being released in certain countries.

2008 Spanish Greatest Hits Album: 1 95/08

Main article: Enrique Iglesias: 95/08 Exitos

Enrique released a Spanish Greatest Hits album on 25 March 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 Argentine 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.

The album's second single Lloro Por Ti is currently charting and has an official remix featuring Wisin y Yandel. Iglesias included both new songs in his arena tour of the US. Beginning in Laredo Texas and ending at the Izod Center in New Jersey he was accompanied though most of the tour with Bachata band Aventura who also performed "Lloro Por Ti" with him at the Premios Juventud.

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.

Iglesias performed for the second consecutive year for 40,000 people at the Isle Of MTV 2008 at the Floriana granaries, Malta, on 25 June 2008, with free entrance.

2008 Forthcoming English Greatest Hits

After the success of his Spanish Greatest Hits compilation, it has been reported that Iglesias will release an English version on November 11th

The album will iclude "Can You Hear" me as well two new songs. The first single is entitled "Away" ft Sean Garrett and is being released to radio soon, the other new track is called "Takin' Back my Love" and features Ciara

Articles on the album have stated that the complilation will likely include the five English songs such as "Bailamos", "Hero", "Be With You", "Not In Love" and "Escape" which have topped the various Billboard Charts (two of which on Hot 100) as well as songs such as Rhythm Divine, Push and Do You Know (The ping pong song) which have also topped charts in Europe.

After the successful collaboration with Nadiya Iglesias has recorded a second duet with her called "Miss You" which previously featured on his album Insomniac. The duet will be on the French Edition of the album.

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.

Personal life

In June 2000, radio personality Howard Stern received a tape of a supposedly off-key MP3 of Iglesias singing, 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.

In 2002, Enrique began filming the music video for his single "Escape". While filming, he would meet his girlfriend, Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova. Many reports started showing up in 2007 of them splitting, and in 2008, after Enrique making a publicity joke, people made accusations of the couple being formerly married and now divorced. Enrique has stated in interviews after that that it was simply a joke, and they are still very much together.

Discography

Main article: Enrique Iglesias discography

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 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)
• Premios jeventud

2008

• Best International Artist: Radio Regenbogen Awards in Germany
• International Male Artist 2007: Bulgaria's Fan Tv.

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External links

• Enrique Iglesias Official website
• Enrique Iglesias Official Fan Club
• Interscope Records Official Site
• Template:MySpace
• Enrique Iglesias on YouTube
• OnlyEnrique (Fansite)
• Enriqueonline (Fansite)