Mending Marc Anthony

Mended. Not a very good title for an album that’s meant to embody stability and progress. What was there for Marc Anthony to fix?

Clearly not his vocal talent. The guy’s got a knack for belting out sugary love ballads with such melodramatic meaning. He is constantly praised for his "flawless singing". Surely, it’s an added bonus to have an unadulterated voice…never wanting or needing to be synthesized back to health. (Not that Madonna ever had a problem with her career because of this slight imperfection.)

Maybe Marc Anthony went through some sort of mid-life crisis, and felt the need to renew himself. If he really knew what was good for him, he would have summoned another three or four musically inclined friends and come up with a Latino boy band. God knows this world needs more groups like Menudo. Besides, that whole "I’m-young-and-hot" feel will cure and insecurity.

Nah. What in hell would Marc Anthony have to be insecure about? He’s got a gorgeous wife (for those of you who haven’t come out of your clueless holes in a while, he’s married to the once cheesy Philippine Sunday variety show princess Dayanara Torres…who doubled up as a Miss Universe crown carrier, of course), beautiful kids who love their ‘papa’, and a home town (Spanish Harlem…not to be messed with) who adores the ground the guy walks on.

Sure, he may look years ahead of his time. And even sound it. Yes, the art of salsa may sound like a far-fetched concept for over-the-hill, menopausal, unhappy first wives and their oh-so-eager, wined-and-dined dance instructors. Not true! For all you ’80s junkies out there, back this truth up! Although Robbie Rosa ain’t the prettiest picture, nobody could have denied it, salsa is one sensual dance. Sweaty bodies curled up in continuous rhythm, going deep into the night, forgetting the world revolving around them. How very enticing.

Imagine someone moving to his own enigmatic voice. Double points! To accomplish both takes major talent. Or much practice, at the very least. This was necessary in Marc Anthony’s case. "To sing came easy for me. Once I knew the physical aspect of it, the only thing I had to concentrate on was my performance and that’s what it’s all about: Not just to sing but to perform."

He must’ve mastered the art of performance. He’s impressed the likes of Paul Simon (who immediately cast Marc Anthony in his musical The Capeman) and Martin Scorsese (Remember catching a glimpse of him in Bringing Out The Dead?). Although acting has become a favorable option, the rush will hardly ever replace the passion this man has for his music.

So he got the salsa thing down pat. Obviously he wanted bigger and better things, like wanting to cater to a broader audience spectrum. Thus his quest to record English albums. As with all his ventures, Marc Anthony didn’t fail to please. Dubbed by the New York Times as "somebody who could compete with the great pop figures of the (20^th) century," this guy should really have nothing to fear. Or mend.

So what exactly is Mended—his second effort at an English album—trying to say? He seems to have it all. His style hasn’t changed all that much; he’s still doing the ballad thing, with a lot of get-up-and-dance numbers. Maybe Marc Anthony underwent some sort of spiritual overhaul, making his lyrics a notch deeper…his catchy rhythm a level higher. One can only speculate.

Whatever the case may be, there’s no stopping this "flame that walks," an image of the talented musician, bestowed upon him by a writer (consequently a fan), succinctly encapsulating a legacy that Marc Anthony is establishing for himself.