In the 1980s,
Menudo was the Latin pop equivalent of
the Osmonds more than
the Jackson 5 -- that is, pure bubblegum rather than bubblegum combined with some grit. As one of the lead singers of that Puerto Rican group,
Ricky Martin was a superstar in Latin music.
Martin's music matured when he went solo, but he continued to appeal to a young, largely female audience. Me Amares isn't without its pleasures; it includes the dramatic ballad "Entre El Amor y Los Halagos," the urban contemporary-flavored "Ayudame," and "Que Dia Es Hoy (Self Control)," a Spanish-language translation of
Laura Branigan's haunting 1984 hit "Self Control." ~ Alex Henderson