The Latin hero as pop idol

The sound of a ping pong ball is what introduces the song Do You Know? in Enrique Iglesias’ latest album titled Insomniac from MCA Music, Inc. I do not know what ping pong has to do with the song or with Iglesias. The use of the sound of a tennis ball on the court would have been more understandable because as per the gossip outlets, Enrique has been dating beauty and tennis champion Anna Kournikova for some years now. But then a tennis ball does not make the distinctive sound that a ping pong ball does when it hits the wooden table. So ping pong it is.

I also do not know what place ping pong has in a love song but I must admit that the sound of that ball has an almost hypnotic effect on the listener. You wonder what happened when you do not hear it and wait for it to once more go tock tock and tock tock again in the background. It is a clever, intriguing device in the arrangement and must be one of the reasons why Dimelo, the Spanish version of Do You Know? (The Ping Pong Song) is the No. 1 selling single in the Latin charts in the US today.

Of course ping pong or no ping pong Do You Know? or Dimelo has the kind of sexy, uptempo beat that Enrique does so well. It is however more pop than his past big sellers like Bailamos. There is some danger that this new lighter sound might not sit well with some of his fans who expect a fiery Latin hero and not a diluted pop idol. I say then that they should just remind themselves that given Enrique’s looks and pedigree, he is every bit the pop heartthrob. With Insomniac he has now found the music that should go with the image.

The melodies in the album are as pop as anything that comes out of Jesse McCarthy or the Backstreet Boys. But then they do not have the passion for romance that Enrique was born with. He is after all, the son of the legendary Julio Iglesias. He brings a lot of that into this album and whatever he has toned down in the music he makes up for with the lyrics. “You’re gonna love what I’d do when I’m on top of you…” naughty Enrique sings in Top of You and I get the urge to stamp an “explicit lyrics, parental guidance required” warning on the cover.

Seriously though, although I do not understand most of the words, I must admit that pop melodies with Spanish lyrics make a great combination. There is a sensual urgency in the way Enrique sings them that should turn the ladies weak-kneed and willing to be seduced. I believe that that is the reason why the three Spanish cuts come off as the best among the selections. The fact that these songs are also presented in their English versions makes the difference more noticeable. Aside from Don’t You Know? these are Somebody’s Me or Alguien Soy Yo and Tired of Being Sorry or Amigo Vulnerable.

Insomniac is Enrique’s first album in quite a while, perhaps three or four years, and there seems to be some eagerness on his part to please everybody. So he pretty much covered a lot of ground with his materials. Some fast, some slow. A little Latin here. Some R ’n B there. He wanted hip-hop too just like what divas Shakira and Rihanna have done with their hits. That is why he has Push featuring rapper Lil’Wayne.

Best ballad of the lot is the soulful Somebody’s Me while Wish I Was Your Lover is the one that will get you out on the dance floor for some sexy Latin moves. Other songs included are Ring My Bells, Miss You, Little Girl, Stay Here Tonight, Sweet Isabel, Don’t You Forget About Me and a Thunderpuss Edit of Enrique’s No. 1 seller Hero.

Do not look for any song titled Insomniac in the album or for anything about not being able to sleep in the lyrics. Like the ping pong sound, Insomniac has nothing to do with the songs. The only reason I can think of for having this title is it has something to do with Enrique.