1999–2002: Crossover to English Ricky Martin

after receiving commercial success throughout asia, europe, , latin america, martin prepared first english album in 1999 in attempt cross on united states market. self-titled album, debuted @ number 1 on billboard 200 , sold 661,000 copies in first week of release, became successful album debut on billboard charts hispanic artist. contained material writers , producers such desmond child, diane warren, william orbit, george noriega , longtime childhood friend draco rosa. album featured special guests: madonna on spanish-english duet careful (cuidado con mi corazón) , meja on private emotion . 2 weeks after album s release, martin featured on cover of time title latin music goes pop! . before album s release, janet jackson collaborated ricky martin latin american version of ask more , promotional single , commercial released part of advertising campaign soft drink company pepsi.

the first , prominent single livin la vida loca , reached number 1 in many countries around world, including united states, united kingdom, canada, ireland , new zealand. livin la vida loca ricky martin s biggest hit. video livin la vida loca directed wayne isham , starring model nina moric. followed s ever had peaked @ number 2 on billboard hot 100. both tracks peaked @ number 1 on hot latin songs. livin la vida loca seen song began latin pop explosion of 1999 , made transition of other latin artists (first jennifer lopez , enrique iglesias, later shakira) english-speaking market easier. ricky martin became 1 of top-selling albums of 1999, , certified 7× platinum in united states, selling on 22 million copies worldwide. in october 1999, martin embarked on successful year-long livin la vida loca tour.

after success, new english-language album, sound loaded, released in november 2000. debuted @ number 4 on billboard 200 , certified 2× platinum riaa. bangs , nobody wants lonely (duet christina aguilera) peaked @ number twelve , thirteen on billboard hot 100, respectively. both singles reached number 1 on hot latin songs. sound loaded has sold on 8 million copies worldwide.

in february 2001, martin released spanish greatest hits album entitled la historia, went number 1 5 weeks on billboard top latin albums , debuted @ number eighty-three on billboard 200. topped chart in sweden 3 weeks. album contained reworkings of 2 of songs fuego contra fuego , el amor de mi vida . in november 2001, english-language greatest hits album, best of ricky martin released outside north america. contained 2 new remixes of amor .