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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, April 16, 2010

For Iglesias, Isles 'a dream'


By Kawehi Haug
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Julio Iglesias

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JULIO IGLESIAS

7:30 p.m. tomorrow, Blaisdell Concert Hall

$55-$125

800-745-3000; www.ticketmaster.com

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On the phone from Maui, the original Latin superstar, Julio Iglesias, chatted with us about his current "Starry Nights" tour, his love of the Islands and whether we can expect a father-son, Enrique-Julio duets album (hint: don't hold your breath for that one).

Iglesias will perform at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Welcome back to the Islands. You've performed here many times before — do you remember the first time you were here?

You weren't even born yet! I think it was in 1977 or '78. By the way: I was very young — around 10 years old, I think (laughs).

Are there things you look forward to when you visit Hawai'i?

I love Hawai'i. For us, coming to Hawai'i is like a dream. We get to play in paradise. I've been to Hawai'i many, many times and for me, it's very familiar. When I first heard the music and saw the beautiful girls dancing, I was crazy about it!

You and your sons, singers, Enrique and Julio Jose, are being called the Iglesias Dynasty. Would the three of you ever consider making an album together?

We are very different, and we are all very independent, but maybe one day. You never know. It would be great if we did something together. They are both very talented.

You sing in a number of different languages, including Portuguese, German, French and of course Spanish and English — do you speak all of those languages?

I speak some. French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and English. You know, I'm from Europe. It's normal!

When you perform at a concert, like at the Blaisdell, do you sing in multiple languages?

Yes. For the Honolulu concert I will sing in French, English and Italian, and I will sing in Tagalog with a young girl from the Philippines that is touring with us.

In your career, you've made 77 albums and have sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. That's amazing.

You're making me sound old!

No, you're not old. You've just been busy.

Exactly (laughs). I've been very, very busy.

And while you're touring the world, you're also working on a new album. You're a very busy man.

I have to work. I don't know what to do if I'm not working. What would I do? Go fishing?

You've had a very long, successful career as a singer, but you started out in the 1960s as the goalkeeper for the Real Madrid soccer team. In 1963, a car accident ended your soccer career. Do you ever wonder what your life would have been like if you hadn't been forced to quit playing soccer?

The day I had that accident was the luckiest day of my life. I was bedridden for three years, and that's when I started writing music. Music is my life. It's the reason I'm here.