He woke up that dead audience! 😂😂❤❤

I remember seeing this live on tv and thinking, “WOW!” I’ve seen so many “greatest Grammy performance” lists and still can’t believe that this one isn’t on ANY of them. Ricky Martin SHOCKED main stream USA and paved the way for the latin pop music explosion of the 2000s with this performance. The audience was stunned (and confused) by the performance and pageantry…and the day after, Ricky was booked on many talk shows in the US for the first time ( I believe). Greatest overlooked performance EVER. (To date…in my humble opinion.) Cheers and Rock On! Thank you for finding this gem.

This performance changed the game... You're welcome bad bunny

After this performance Ricky became a global superstar. Even Madonna was crazy over him and had a picture sessions with him at the backstage.

Best performance of his life. He had the charisma, the moves, the props, the energy…It was really entertaining

those pants are forever etched on my memory.

First Latin artist to get a standing ovation at the Grammys …amazing performance ❤

🔥🔥🔥killed it! That audience didn’t know what hit ‘em! Single handedly ushered in the Latin Music invasion of the late 90s early 2000s!

A stunned, mostly white, American audience didn't realize what hit them until the end. A gorgeous man, with a great voice and a hot body, was moving his hips in ways they'd never seen, and singing in two languages in ways they'd never heard, on such a big stage. It was a song most of them had never heard. The performance represented a category most of them didn't think too much about. But when it was over, their standing ovation spoke volumes and immediately began to echo through space and time. For Latin artists performing thereafter, audiences expected this sort of energy and passion and usually got it, ushering in a modern golden age for Latinx performers. Even Jennifer Lopez owes a lot to Ricky and this performance. As a Latinx performer she was mostly known for Selena and other acting roles. This night and this performance added a new dimension to who JLo was and it helped catapult her to even greater stardom through music. The following year, all eyes were on JLo as a popular Latinx performer, and that's when she broke the internet in the Versace dress. The following year, her second album "JLo" went to Number One. We remember the dress, but I wonder what happened to those leather pants Ricky wore. They should've been cast in bronze.

the best world cup theme song in lifetime and the most suitable one for the event

How was the audience able to SIT through this performance? I would be on my feet within seconds of him singing!

Absolutely killed it. That’s when the world found out Ricky Martin was the best performer in the world

It only took the entire performance for the zombies in that dead audience to recognize genius and come to life. The most well deserved standing O ever.

One of the great musical moments in Grammy history!!Hooray to R.M.!!

The people in the audience didn't know what hit 'em; didn't know how to react. Ricky Martin was gonna bring it no matter if they wanted it or not. Unbelievable performance that completely took them by surprise.

I remember watching this live and was like "WOW"! It was like an explosion! Incredible. Agree it should be top 10 Grammy performance of all time. Definitely best opener ever!

Best one ever. No one can ever beat the excitement of this one. Total jam

He is so young here, only 26 or something, but so confident... What a performer 🤩

JLo should’ve been the first one standing. Iconic performances only happen when we least expect them. She should’ve taken notes.

It took JLo long enough to stand up lol . Great performance. I remember watching it live . That crowd was a tad dull but at least they gave Ricky well deserved ovation at the end 😎😎😎

When the hairs on my arms stand up I know it's an amazing performance. The hairs still havent gone down since I watched this live on TV when he first performed it. It's still my favorite live performance of all time. Every once in a while I have to go back and watch it. Bravo!❤🎉❤🕺💃

Seriously he's the perfect male creation. I'm straight as they come but mate ide die to look like him ..

Dang J Lo, get up and gave him a deserving standing ovation. Was so reluctant.

*** Not many ARTISTS can identify a single moment when it all change for their careers...this was such moment for RICKY MARTIN...the NIGHT when he was catapulted to the MUSIC INDUSTRY'S STRATOSPHERE and onto becoming a MEGA STAR !!!!

I had been only a year in the US and I remember clearly this Grammy! My American friends were like who is this man???? Oh my gosh he is absolutely amazing they couldn’t stop dancing with this performance! He opened the doors for Latin singers to sing at the American Grammy’s!

This is where he was thrown into super stardom... for people who didn't already love him since Menudo❤

THIS MADE HIM HUGE

That was incredible

I am 43 and I always wanted a sweater like what he is wearing. It's 2022 I still own one.

Jesus. What a production. And what a performance. They’re doing it live on stage and not mimicking on a minus track. Things really used to be world class back in the days

What is really surprising about this video is that all those people in the audience remained seated in their chairs the whole time!!! I mean how could they resist the the urge of moving their bodies!!! I would have danced like a mad cow...

The day a star was born

Si la esposa de Sting se para aplaudir como si no hubiera un mañana, significa que has triunfado!

I remember watching this performance on TV and thinking, wait is that the guy I had the crush on from Menudo?! Sure was. It was cool to see him just in his element and blowing the minds of everyone in the audience. Love him!

I have a friend who worked at Sony records who was there that night. He told me that T.V. didn't show even half of Ricky's dancing. The director should have spent less time on the background and more focused on Ricky.

This is the best video quality I've seen of his whole performance. Wow, he has such stage presence!

Best Grammy opener EVER!!!

First time seeing this. The subdued crowd almost makes it a bummer. He actually sings better live than on the album.

Hadn’t seen it since watching it live. I remember at the end having my mind blown. Funny how memory works. I remember a NewYork’s New Year amount of confetti, double the amount of people on stage, and the crowd going batshit during the performance. Still one of the best performances.

If I recall correctly, Madonna herself said she watched this from backstage and was like, " Who is that??" Makes sense. Ricky is incredible.

I remember this! Sting's wife jumped up at the end clapping. Sting? Not so much...

The moment Latina music came to the world globally!

A star is born.

Remember seeing this performance n knew he was destined for greatness. Hew flew out off earth atmosphere!!

I remember seeing this live back in '99 and I was in awe! Such an amazing performance!

To this day there has never been a greater opening number at the politically run Grammys. Ricky killed it!!!!!!

I was 23yrs old when I first saw this on TV in 1999, and immediately thought "WOW, who is this guy that, all of sudden, just brings life and pazazz into the Grammy?.?." AND he so dam HOT.🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵♨♨🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 The next day people were saying he's Ricky Martin from the Menudo group and again I was like WAIT WHAT, I do remember hearing Menudo's music back in the mid 80s to late 90s, just never knew their names 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

I remember this so vividly and thinking I wish I could watch that again. Nowadays you can hit the rewind button but back then you couldn't.

I remember this. HOLYSHIT he is fantastic!!!

And,......A STAR WAS BORN.

Unique, Talent 100% . Pure talent

Ricky Martin just moves differently

de pie todo mundo......despues de ese momento nadie dejaba de hablar de ricky martin

Ricky killed it that night.

Después de esta presentación fue el boom de Ricky Martín! Recuerdo que lo estaba viendo con mami y mi sobrina bebé en la falda! Muy orgullosas!

The night I fell in love with Ricky Martin! 💗

I would be dancing! I love this song & ricky

Ricky Martin singlehandedly saved the most boring Grammys to date. The audience was a bunch of stiff fuddy-duddies, including J-lo. Had that performance been today, people would have been jumping out of their seats.

El último artista latino masculino q dejo en alto Latinoamérica en los Grammys despues de Ricky hasta ahora no hay nadie. Hace poco fue la bestia fe bad bunny y fue un asco su presentación tuvo su oportunidad y la desaprovecho porq no es artista en cambio Ricky si lo es lo fue y lo sera por algo todavia nadie lo supera a nivel masculino. Grande Ricky!!!

MARVELOUS ❤❤❤!!!

El público del Grammy américano de pie para la Ricky y la comunidad latina wow... Algo que no se ha visto en años

Funny thing is, the idiotic masses didn't even realize it was the same guy they had been watching on General Hospital just a few years earlier.

Why is nobody moving or dancing? 😆 only Celine Dion showed some emotions lol

This performance, Janet Jackson’s 1987 performance and Aretha Franklin’s version of Nessum Dorma are like the only Grammys performances that I will always remember, seriously.

I’m here after listening to New York Times describing this as the break out moment. He sung in Spanish!

I remember watching this with my babies over and over! Still the greatest performance at the Grammys I have ever seen!!! ❤

Terminobde manera épica y el supo con su mirada y brazos abiertos lo logré; conquiste el mundo y la ovación rotunda lo confirno de inmediato!

The day I totally fell in love with him.

Such an incredible performance for those years...

Esto si es ser latino !!!! Excelente presentación en una época donde los latinos son marginados !!!! Gracias a Ricky y Shakira ayudaron a mejorar la perspectiva !!!

Simplemente Magistral!!!! Esa noche nació una mega estrella 🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷

I fell in love with Ricky because of this song & festive artistic infectious performance....few songs are so uplifting that they bring tears to your eyes. Did when I watched it live then & STILL does today! I became such of a fan of his that. I wrestled in refried beans to get free tickets. Finally, the beans are out of my hair but that concert lives in my heart forever! To Ricky Martin & the Cup of Life, salute!

Ricky haciendo historia... simplemente inolvidable.

Ricky's 💋 Grammy debuttt Historical night🌠 written for music 🎶 world 💯🤳🤗❤️💚💙💜

Simplemente lo mejor, Dios te bendiga grandemente Ricky

Lightning in a bottle 🔥

Classic to this day

Regarding the audience, instead of receiving a goodybag upon entering, I believe they each got two Valium…A star was born that night!

El momento en el que Ricky se convirtió en una superestrella a nivel global.

Awesome performance and performer ❤

Era muy niña cuando vi esto pero recuerdo que sentí orgullo de ser latina! ❤️ Ricky eres lo mejor!

Grande Ricky. Tanto derroche de alegria y belleza en esta cancion. Lo que me pregunto es como hizo esta pobre gente del auditorio para permanecer quieta sin bailar, si aca hasta los resotes de mi silla bailan emocionados!!! Bravo Ricky!!!

This is still one of my son's favorite songs and he was ~1yo when we watched this performance.

Always love watching Madonna grooving to this performance, knowing they worked together right after!

Americans dont know the joy of real football and worldcup so they were kinda taken aback by this performance i think😅

That drummer 😮

Menudo and general hospital TV show made me and my lady 4 ever fans

I would dance there like crazy 😂 comon this is ricky Martin ⚽️⚽️👏❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ الافضل ريكي مارتن

History of Latin music. 👑

WOW!

sempre que vejo essa apresentação eu me arrepio ele foi tao longe aí

Orgullosa de Ricky martin, uno de los primeros latinos que nos representó como se debe🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤😊

“Oh hell yeah” 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Puertorican like me ! I'm exhausted!

3:50 when you know you've nailed it! a football anthem.

Great performance ❤

El único que lo canto en los Grammys nadie más Ricky,Shakira y Jungkook los mejores

Imagine sitting down through this whole performance wow

Still fabulous and spectacular talent

Ricky's a star is born moment. Btw the lady in red? That is Sting's wife 😁