Ricky Martin to go on tour again

Pop sensation Ricky Martin won over fans in the late 90s with hits such as Livin’ La Vida Loca. The Puerto Rican star is now enjoying a second wind in his career Down Under with the release of Come With me, his first new song in two years.

These days, the mere mention of Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin conjures up bored, uninterested reactions from my friends and acquaintances.

He's over the hill, they say. Anachronistic. Way past his prime.

If you ask me, their distaste for the suave 41-year-old singer's hip-shaking, smooth-jiving tunes is baffling, because back in the 90s, this dude was everywhere.

There was no escaping Martin's infectious earworm of a 1998 Fifa World Cup theme song The Cup of Life, what with its "go go go, ale ale ale" refrain, or his sexy, perfect-for-salsa dance numbers Livin' La Vida Loca, Maria and She Bangs (famously given new life by comical American Idol contestant William Hung).

Over the last three years, Martin's personal life somewhat overshadowed his music achievements.

Despite diversifying into TV (gueststarring in hit series Glee) and theatre (playing lead male protagonist Che in Broadway musical Evita), neither made as many headlines as his sexual orientation.

After years of speculation by the media and fans, Martin came out in 2010 on his website, posting a long statement that ended with: "I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."

He has two four-year-old twin sons, Matteo and Valentino, born via a surrogate mother in 2008.

Currently in a relationship with stockbroker Carlos González Abella, the singer has thrown his fervent support behind LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) causes.

In May last year, he held a fundraising event for US President Barack Obama over the latter's support for LGBT rights. He also spoke publicly at a United Nations conference against homophobia in December last year.

With the release of his latest English single Come With Me - his first new song in two years - last month, Martin is finally enjoying a second wind in his career.

Perhaps propelled by his popularity as a judge on the second season of reality TV singing competition The Voice Australia, Come With Me, an addictive, pulsating autotuned club banger, debuted at No. 3 on the Australian singles charts.

Come With Me will be included in his 10th studio album, slated to be released by Sony Music at the end of the year.

Martin, once dubbed "Latin music's global ambassador" by Billboard magazine, also has a nationwide Australian tour planned in October, covering the cities of Adelaide, Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

For long-time fans of the pop sensation, it has been a lengthy wait indeed, something Martin himself is aware of.

"I am so excited to be hitting the road again... It's been more than 10 years since I have done an arena tour (in Australia)," he said in an official statement.

"I'm looking forward to playing you some new material, as well as some of the classics that I know you'll enjoy and a few surprises along the way."