Fans go loca over Ricky

TORONTO (CP) -- About a thousand fans -- mostly scantily clad women -- chanted "Ricky, Ricky, Ricky" as they waited on a steamy Saturday for a look at the Latin heartthrob who has put this city in the grips of Martin Mania.

Instead of belting out lines about a girl with devil red lips from his single Living la Vida Loca (Living the Crazy Life), Martin wowed the 40 fans who managed to get inside the MuchMusic studio with his thoughts on the importance of living for today, and his most embarrassing moment.

"I was doing Les Miserables on Broadway and, ah, I . . . ah, forgot the lines," he said. "Everything . . . But not only me, the next guy forgot, and it was like a domino reaction.

"So we started laughing. It can happen to anyone."

When asked by a woman in the audience to chose a time in his life to revisit, he answered: "Today is really awesome.

"Yesterday and tomorrow can really break you down . . . this is us today and we are having a good time."

Martin also spoke of getting jitters before performing at this year's Grammy awards.

"I was very nervous. First of all it was in front of a lot of people," said Martin. "But also there was Sting, Pavarotti, Celine Dion and Madonna -- people that I respect and admire. People that give me the tickles . . . the goose bumps."

During a break in the live interview while television viewers saw a Martin video, those in the studio audience got the full Ricky -- charm, that is.

One woman waved coquettishly at him and he looked straight at her and winked. Veronica, from suburban Richmond Hill, got weak-kneed and clasped both hands over her heart.

"I've died and gone to Latino heaven," said the 21-year-old.

Two other women in the studio slept outside the building overnight to get a glimpse of Martin.

"I'm without words," said Laura, 20, who lives in Toronto but is originally from Colombia.

Saying he is mostly about music, Martin acknowledged that hip wiggling -- not to mention endless brown eyes and an irresistible grin -- are also part of his appeal.

"It's about music but it's also about this," he said with a mischievous grin while wiggling in his seat.

The audience went wild.

"I have a soul and it's all about being comfortable with yourself.

"If you trust yourself you are going to shake yourself," he said, lifting himself out of the leather sofa to gyrate.

"You can't even imagine how exciting this is," said Ginna, 19, also originally from Colombia. "I've followed his career for 14 years.

"I like his Spanish songs better but I guess some people like Livin' La Vida Loca."

More than some. The album sold 62,635 copies in Canada in its first week of release.

On Friday, thousands of fans shut down Yonge Street for a few hours during an appearance at a record store on the main drag -- much to the irritation of those who had never heard of Ricky Martin.

For them, the hip-shaking Latin Ken doll seems an overnight sensation but Martin has been speeding up the pulse of girls for years.

In 1984, Martin joined the Latin pop group Menudo, a manufactured boy band that dismissed members at the ripe age of 17. After that he did some theatre in Mexico before getting huge exposure on the daytime drama General Hospital and then a role on Broadway in Les Miserables.

Even for those who didn't camp out overnight to catch a glimpse of Martin on his only promotional stop in Canada, Martin's visit to Toronto had some impact.

At a hair salon in upscale Yorkville, the staff all wanted to know more about Ricky when they learned one of their clients would get a chance to meet him.

"When you see him, can you get him to sign my poster," said the receptionist, who swore the autograph was for her niece.

"Ask him if he needs a body double," said one handsome hairdresser sporting the same boyish haircut with the blond highlights.

"Cut off his face and put it over mine so I might have a better chance with girls," said another stylist.

"Ask him for the number of the chick in his video," pleaded another.