BY LAURA EMERICK lemerick@suntimes.com July 31, 2012 7:42PM
HOLMDEL, NJ - MAY 20: Enrique Iglesias performs onstage at 103.5 KTU's KTUphoria at PNC Bank Arts Center on May 20, 2012 in Holmdel City, New Jersey. (Photo by Brian Ach/Getty Images)
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ENRIQUE IGLESIAS & JENNIFER LOPEZ
â—† 7:30 p.m. Friday
â—† United Center, 1901 W. Madison
â—† Tickets, $19.50-$199.50
â—† ticketmaster.com
Updated: July 31, 2012 8:04PM
When it comes to collaborations, Enrique Iglesias rules as the ultimate music-action hero.
“Euphoria†(2010), his most recent disc, teams the Latin pop star with no less than six other music muscle men, including Usher on “Dirty Dancer,†Akon on “One Day at a Time†and Pitbull on “I Like It†(with a cameo from Lionel Richie, whose “All Night Long†provides the song’s hook). Toss in the Pussycat Dolls’ NicÂole Scherzinger, tropical Latin icon Juan Luis Guerra and Yandel of reggaeton powerhouse Wisin y Yandel, and it’s like Iglesias is starring in a music version of the “Expendables†franchise, with Enrique as Sly, of course.
Now he’s off on the biggest collaboration of them all: a co-headlining tour with Jennifer Lopez, which stops Friday at the United Center. “It’s a huge production, and you get to know a lot about all the skill required in putting it all together,†said Iglesias, 37, between concerts last week. He filled us in on all things Enrique â€" including the possibility of a future studio collaboration with Lopez: “We’re hoping to work something out. But after the tour is over. I can’t record while I’m on the road.â€
Here are the top 10 soundbites from our interview:
1 “Jenny from the Block†travels with lots of neighborhood buds: “Yeah, it’s a big entourage, there’s a lot of people, but she’s a sweetheart. She’s a perfectionist and a total professional. ... She has a gifted smile. You could be in a bad mood or she could be telling you off, but then she smiles, and you’re like, well, OK.†Just like she did when she guest-starred on “Will & Graceâ€? [Laughs] “Oh, I never watched those shows.â€
2 A little music festival in Grant Park doesn’t faze him: “Yeah, I noticed we’re here on the opening day of Lollapalooza. But they appeal to a different audience. Of course, the fewer events [you’re competing against] the better it is. But the show’s great, and the tour has been going so well so far.â€
3 Chicago’s his kind of town, even if they don’t always play his songs on the radio: “People have to remember that radio is a business. So if makes more sense to add a third regional Mexican music station [and shut down the city’s Latin pop outlet], then it’s hard to argue with that. Besides, Chicago has always been good to me. I started out on Fonovisa [a regional Mexican label], and the Mexican stations were always very loyal.â€
4 The best collaborations are spontaneous: “Sometimes a collaboration works, sometimes it doesn’t. Like ‘Cuando Me Enamoro’ with Juan Luis Guerra. A lot of its success had to do with [work] after the song was written. If you try to plot everything out in advance, the song gets pressured, and it doesn’t come out right.â€
5 Ryan and Randy can forget about putting out the welcome mat for him on “American Idolâ€: “I’ve been asked this question a billion times in the last week. No way would I replace Jennifer on ‘American Idol.’ But I think she did great. It must really be tough if you’re a known artist. If you’re a label exec or a newcomer, it might be good exposure. But once they know you, it’s a tough, tough job.â€
6 Though he’s worked with Pitbull, Akon and Lil Wayne, he doesn’t think he’s moved to a harder sound: “Pitbull is pop as it gets now. I still love ballads like ‘Hero’ [one of his biggest hits], but in the last four years, I haven’t felt comfortable with any of the ballads I’ve written in English. For ‘I Like It,’ I went through so much with that song and went through such a transition. I told my label, this is the song. They told me, ‘You’re crazy. It’s never going to work.’ I had it for three years on the shelf and I even changed labels [because of the disagreement]. When I wake up, I’m really moody. But I’d play this song and perk up because it was like an energy blast. My gut told me that it had something.â€
7 Lionel Richie did him a solid for “I Like Itâ€: “I originally sampled his vocals [from ‘All Night Long’] but it didn’t work. So I called him immediately, and he came right to the studio to re-record it. It was surreal to watch him re-record lines from his most recognized song. I watched him and thought, ‘This guy’s the s---.’ And here’s another example of how things can come together during a project. You could never plan that.â€
8 Not every Latin music star has an alcohol product to promote â€" even though Pitbull was just here touting his vodka and now Iglesias co-owns Atlantico Rum: “The rum thing was pretty organic; one of my best friends started this brand. I wasn’t a rum drinker but I fell in love with it. I’m bad when it comes to promoting brands, but I was really passionate about this.â€
9 Though Iglesias has a signature look â€" baseball cap, jeans and boots â€" don’t expect him to go Kanye and start designing or endorsing clothes: “I wouldn’t be the one to do it. When you’re dealing with big companies, there’s always compromise. If I had some artistic freedom, that would be one thing. But I’m not going to do it just because I’m getting a big check.â€
10 He takes fame in stride: “If you would have asked me when I startÂed if I’d still be at this 15 years later, I wouldn’t have believed it. I still don’t know how I’m going to handle it [long term]. I really haven’t, it’s kinda scary. I love what I do and still can’t believe I get paid for it. Well, the performing, but the promotion â€" that’s another matter. But in the end, you are a piece of meat. The minute you go a little bad, it’s over. You’re only as good as your last hit.â€
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