"I Wish To Be Like Elvis or Carlos Gardel"
Chayanne in his house in Miami
Cara
Before his arrival to Argentina, where he will made his shows in front of 250.000 people, the singer opened the doors of his mansion in Key Biscayne and talked about the love and the success.
Inside the firmament of latin pop, Chayanne (30) shines like a bright star.
In his 15 years of career as soloist, the singer and dancer from Puerto Rico imposed his style, and sold 5 millons of albums and wan more than 60 discs of gold and platinum. In Argentina he sold 320.000 copies of "Atado a tu amor", his last album, and that located him on the top of the sales. Behind him we can find Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias.
250.000 people will assist to his 17 shows in 8 provinces, including his 4 presentations in the "Luna Park" and 1 in "Boca Juniors Stadium". In his refuge of Key Biscayne, in Miami, during a short rest of his last tour that he started in Europe - when he finished his tour round American countries he will arrive to USA -, the singer acceded to an exclusive interview and talked about his intimacy. "If you want things to look good you have to work very hard. I have to accustom to the possibility of not being with my family in some important dates, when they are sick... I have sacrificed a lot for my career. Today I can only give my family a 10 % of my attention. The rest of the time I work. I don' t know how I can do this, but I carry parallel and without inconvenient my two loves: my family and my career", confess this artist whose real name is Elmer Figueroa. His wife Marilisa, a beautiful venezuelan, and his son Lorenzo who is only 1 year and a half, are accustomed to this professional rhytm, that makes Chayanne being far from home for weeks.
When he was 8, Chayanne sang in a group called "Los Chicos". That was the springboard to his soloist career, that he started 7 years later. The transformation from nice guy into an integral artist succeeded naturally, while the time was going on. Today he is acknowledged as an impeccable singer and dancer, beyond the howls he awakes in female multitudes.
"For a long time my public ignored my marriage status. I haven' t hidden it for any strategy or for shame, cause the celibacy does not adds fans. I only took my time, till I considered that was the moment to say it. That' s my way of being. I want to protect my family and the silence is the best weapon. I am accustomed that a stranger approach me, greets me and asks me about my life. But I can' t know the intentions of somebody that do the same with my family. My wife and son are my motor and my base, they make me strong. And I don' t say it as a cliche. Paternity is a experience that opens your heart. I'm not the same Chayanne I was before Lorenzo' s birth. He gives me maturity and makes me more sensitive. The kid is very lively joyful. He' s a beautiful boy and in that he looks like his mother. He hypnotizes with my music and he dances even tough when somebody hit the table with his hands. This kid drives me crazy. With Marilisa, we carry years of relation. She understands that the career of an artist is difficult. She' s a lawyer, an excellent professional, intelligent, sensitive and she loves reading. She has personal ambitions, she does the activities she wants, she does not conform with being "the wife of...". This is very important cause I won' t like to have a doll in my house. I want somebody by my side that is happy for what she does and for being herself. I won' t like to truncate her life, cause that is one of the reason that with the time come the separations.", he afirms.
Without scandals or fugacious loves, the singer could impose, working very hard. During his tours, he works with very famous people: Kenny Ortega, who worked with Michael Jackson and Cher, with Vince Paterson, who worked with Madonna and with Jerry Evans, that worked with Paula Abdul and in the movie "The Mask".
On the stage, the energy of his dance can be compared with Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson.
"I' ve been on a stage since I was 10 and there was where I learned all I know. I' m still growing. One day I wish to be like Elvis Presley or Carlos Gardel. I mention them from the admiration. I will like to leave a name, a footstep, something that can help the others, as they got it. Doing their work, they were known around the world, and they are in everybody hearts.", he confesses.
Like Elvis or Gardel, he also filmed a movie. He was the protagonist of "Dance with me" with Vanessa Williams and Kris Kristofferson. This filmed let him showed that he is also a great actor.
"When I act I try to show the character and not the musician. It' s a big challenge. You have to be good in what you undertake, so as to win the respect of your public and your coleagues. It' s a great risk but I wanted to assume it, as I know that it would be good for my career.", he admits.
Chayanne knows how to transform every challenge into a gain. With his songs and his sensual dance, he conquered the public, that made Chayanne a provocative of great hits.
Translated by Chayfan Maru