Enrique’s great summer album

Escape, the latest album by Latin pop idol Enrique Iglesias, was released in the market in the fall of 2001 but it might as well be the summer album for 2002. For some reason or another, every cut conjures up images of drumming on the dashboard during lazy afternoon drives, of long walks on the beach, coconut drinks and sinuous dance movements under the moon. The best way I can describe the contents of Escape, which come to think of it, is a very apt title, is that it is a mix of Latin rhythms, ’60s fun music by the Beach Boys and sexy R&B by TLC.

I do not know how it happens but the combination works and results in what must be Enrique’s best and most adventurous album to date. From the first plucked strains of the title track down to the pounding Don’t Turn Off the Lights, the Ace of Base inspired Love 4 Fun to the provocative One Night Stand, Escape is one fluid tune after another. Each one is a well thought out production, painstakingly detailed and rendered with utmost passion. And not only that, Enrique wrote all of the songs and also produced the album himself. Sure he has competent collaborators but I do not think that even dad Julio ever exercised as much control and emerged a winner in any of his albums.

The first single release is Hero, a strange choice because it is the only ballad in an album of rock sounds. But again, the song works. It slows the beat but keeps up the rhythm until the engaging I Will Survive picks it up again. Singing wise, this guy is no Luis Miguel or Marc Anthony but unlike the rumors, he can sing and has a style that is all his own. The other songs in the album are Love to See You Cry, Maybe, She Be the One, If the World Crashes Down, plus the Spanish language version of Escape, titled Escapar, of Don’t Turn Off the Lights, No Apagues La Luz and of Hero as Heroe.

Still on Hero, those who have seen Enrique in the music video with Jennifer Love-Hewitt will surely agree that he cuts quite a striking figure. He has his father’s Latin charm. He is lean and tall and has this dark, brooding look that translates wonderfully on the screen. He will probably make a fine actor and if plans do not miscarry he will soon be able to gauge his box-office potential. Enrique has a minor role in this political thriller, Once Upon a Time in Mexico. It is about a drug lord who pretends to overthrow the Mexican government to accomplish what he wants. Enrique gets to do some fighting and shooting alongside stars Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp, Ruben Blades, Eva Mendez, Willem Dafoe and Mickey Rourke. The movie is expected to hit the screens later this year.

Banderas, who like Enrique is Spanish, was Che Guevarra in Evita, and the young Zorro in The Mask of Zorro. He is the most popular Latino actor nowadays. But you have to admit that he is getting a little long in the tooth and out of the reach of swooning 12 and 16-year-olds. This means that there is void for a young Latin sex symbol just longing to be filled. Now since Ricky Martin looks too blonde and handsome to be interesting, he is only sexy when he moves and Marc Anthony is more interested in heavy character roles, 26-year-old Enrique might just become the big movie star.

But even if that fails to happen, Enrique, who is part Filipino on his mother’s side, will still remain a star, thanks to his success as a musician. He launched his career by shopping his demos as a Central American singer named Enrique Martinez. It was only after he got signed to a recording contract that he informed his parents of his decision to become a singer and that he told his label that he is indeed the son of the great Julio. He released his first album Enrique Iglesias in 1996 and there was no stopping stardom after that. Vivir followed, then Cosas del Amor and his first English language release Enrique. His hit single Bailamos is one of the featured songs in the soundtrack of Wild, Wild West.

Though big, that one was too Ricky Martinish for comfort so it is heartening to find out that Enrique has at last found his own kind of music with Escape.