Feature

Ricky Gets Real

Anonymity.

R.M.: Anonymity. New York City for anonymity -- it's perfect. For me, it was so important to walk through a park and sit on a bench and just look at people and just think about my stuff. Because for the first years of my career in Menudo, it was all about giving, giving, giving, giving. They said, "You have to wear these clothes and wear this haircut and sing this song." So after a while, I lost my personality, who I am. What I hated and what I liked. Because I didn't know myself back then. I didn't know myself at all.

And now you're back where you started in a way. Even in New York you probably can't walk the street anymore, can you? I mean, without being recognized?

R.M.: It depends what kind of beard I wear laughs.

What makes you happy?

R.M.: Laughs Simplicity. That's all.

I know that you went through a lot of religious experimentation, like Scientology and Judaism. What were you looking for?

R.M.: Yeah, Judaism, but also a little bit of everything -- Buddhism, everything. I grew up being Catholic, a beautiful religion. But you have to search. You cannot have tunnel sight. You have to keep looking for meaning.

If you went to my temple, I'd probably go more than once a year.

R.M.: Laughs Maybe I'll start.

It occurred to me watching you on the Today show that you're living the ultimate fantasy. You're young and rich and famous and healthy and beautiful and talented -- right now you kind of own the world. And I wanted to know, what does the

world look like from that vantage point?

R.M.: Oh, it feels small laughs. I don't mean that in an arrogant way. It just gets much, much smaller. The other day, I was talking to my father, and I was telling him, "Dad, you know what it is to go to New Delhi in India and to be recognized?" And when it comes to music, once again, every fucking sound has a link. It's all the same. You listen to Hindu sounds; they are very similar to the Gypsy sounds from the southern part of Spain, and that makes a bridge to Latin America. Asian sounds and Latin sounds are the same. The world is suddenly smaller than it ever seemed.

It seems that a frustrating part of the modern celebrity thing is having all these nervous handlers, people who follow you around and look after you and get you mashed potatoes and watch your every word. And I wonder if you ever feel like just jumping into your car and taking off and leaving them all in the dust . . .

R.M.: I've done it.

Is it harder and harder to do that?

R.M.: No, you have to do it. Even if you have to scream to be left alone, you do it. "You know what? Leave me alone! I need to spend time for myself. I don't want a phone call from my manager! I don't want a phone call from anybody. I'm not even picking up the phone." Laughs You know what I'm saying? Because that's the only way you can step out of the picture, analyze what you've done, analyze what you want to do, and go back and make it happen. At the end of the day, that's what the audience is looking for: sincerity and spontaneity at the same time.

Do you get worried that you won't be able to keep this going?

R.M.: It's something that every entertainer worries about. But I'm telling everybody, I have great producers, I have great musicians. I am always looking for new, new sounds and new things. People are not going to be tired of me. In ten years, I won't be doing what I'm doing now. Yeah, I sometimes worry. But I don't want to be too hard on myself. You know, I haven't done too badly. I'm always whipping myself, and now I just need to keep it simple.

Do you ever get scared onstage?

R.M.: No.

What does it say about American culture at this particular moment that the two biggest stars of the summer are you and Jar Jar Binks?

R.M.: Jar Jar Binks?

From Star Wars. The poor imaginary bastard was just denounced as a racist and outed by The Village Voice.

R.M.: Really? Laughs Too bad for him. But I'm planning to be around for longer than just the summer, dude.