Fans Swoon for Enrique, Aventura

By Broadside Staff Writer Gabriella Leone

Enrique Iglesias and Aventura, a Bachata music group from New York, rocked the Patriot Center last Friday night, with Latin beats and hundreds of screaming women both young and old.

Iglesias opened up the concert, by rising from underneath the stage, singing a rock version of “Not In Love.” The audience went insane and began screaming and throwing underwear on the stage; and this was only the first song. Iglesias asked “Does anyone in here know Spanish?” before he seduced the crowed with his song “Solo En Ti.”

“D.C., how are you guys tonight? You all look beautiful,” Iglesias said as fans cheered. “Are you guys younger or am I just older? It’s been a long time, D.C., let’s have fun tonight.”

Iglesias’ songs are usually very romantic, with a Latin pop spin to them, but at the concert, his songs held that Latin flavor, adding a new rock and roll element. Iglesias kept it laid back; he wore faded jeans, a t-shirt and a baseball cap, showing fans he is just a normal guy who also happens to be a Latin superstar.

Slowing down the energy of the crowd, Iglesias sang “Nunca Te Olvidare” followed by the classic track “Cien Años,” a song about how no matter what changes in life, certain lovers are never forgotten. The audience sang along, swaying their arms to the beat and reaching their hands out to the stage. Iglesias then quickened the pace with fan time favorites “Rhythm Divine” and “Bailamos.”

Iglesias had black couches set up on stage, and pulled people up from the crowd to sit with him. Friday night’s lucky audience members were two men and three girls. Iglesias chatted with them about their lives, took pictures with them, sang with them and took shots of vodka with them.
“I need a drink, you guys want a drink?” he said, grabbing a bottle of Grey Goose Vodka. He even allowed a man from the audience to rock out on stage and sing one of Iglesias’ songs. Iglesias cheered the man on, throwing his arms around his shoulders and even bowing to him.

After the couches were removed, Iglesias returned to the stage to finish the night with his most popular songs. He ran up and down the stage runway, touching fans’ hands, letting them sing into the microphone and encouraging fans to throw up their cameras so he could take pictures of his face, his stomach and as he leaned back and pulled at his pants, he even aimed the camera down his pants to snap a picture.

As silver paper confetti flew everywhere, Iglesias finished the night singing “Be With You,” “Dimelo” and “Hero.” When singing “Hero,” he brought up an older Latina woman and serenaded her. She grabbed his butt, and even gave him a few kisses, leaving him laughing and grabbing her butt as well, all in good fun, of course.

He came out one last time, saying goodnight and thanking the audience, when to everyone’s surprise a teenage girl climbed up on stage and ran to him. She threw herself at him, hugging him, kissing him and Iglesias was a good sport. He threw her up over his shoulders, said goodnight to the crowed and brought her off stage.

Iglesias songs were romantic, youthful and fun, like his concert, but Iglesias really made everyone feel like they all knew him, as if they were all old friends just hanging out with him.

After Iglesias finished his set, around 10:30 p.m., most of the older audience left, leaving young teenage girls awaiting Aventura.

Aventura came out to blasts of fireworks and flashing lights, sending chills of excitement through the audience. Lead singer Anthony “Romeo” Santos took control of the band as he went up and down the runway and stage screaming, “Buenos noche, D.C. How’s everyone doing? Let me hear you scream.”

Although Aventura was loved by the crowd, it was apparent that the favorite of the night was Iglesias. The audience started getting smaller and smaller throughout Aventura’s performance until there were really only teenage girls and their parents left.

The Kings Tour will continue through October in the United States and tour dates can be found on ticketmaster.com.