What do you do if your father is a living legend and you are merely his shadow? Enrique Iglesias found the answer, which changed the world of pop music and rewrote the history of a famous surname.
The Shadow of a Great Father
The childhood of Enrique Miguel Iglesias Preysler, born on May 8, 1975, in Madrid, was far from idyllic. His father, Julio Iglesias , was already a superstar, known worldwide for his songs. His mother, Isabel Preysler, also shone brightly—a former model of Filipino descent who made a successful career in TV journalism.
One might think that a boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth would be destined to bask in parental love and attention. But reality proved much harsher: his father's endless tours, extramarital affairs, and complete indifference to his own children led to the marriage's collapse just as the boy turned three.
Source:
totalisimo.com
Moving to Miami
In 1985, fate had a challenge in store for the family: Enrique's grandfather (Julio's father) was kidnapped by Basque separatists. They issued a sinister ultimatum – either he pays two million dollars, or not only his father would suffer, but also his ex-wife and children. Fortunately, the police acted swiftly, and the elderly man was rescued from the clutches of the bandits.But staying in Madrid became too dangerous. So, nine-year-old Enrique, along with his brother and sister, found themselves in Miami under the care of their father, whom they hardly knew. The boy's life was turned upside down: instead of carefree walks and playing football with friends, there was the constant presence of bodyguards, the elite Gulliver Preparatory School attended by the children of celebrities. And a complete lack of paternal love and support.
At school, young Iglesias felt like an outsider. Classmates, driving around in luxurious limousines, made it clear that they considered him a second-rate person. The only support for the boy was his nanny, Elvira, who became like a mother to him.
Reluctantly, at his father's insistence, Enrique enrolled in the finance faculty of a local university. But the dream of a musical career would not let him go. He spent all his free time composing songs and knocking on the doors of recording companies, offering them to listen to his material.
To avoid associations with his famous father, the young man introduced himself to producers with a fictitious name – Martinez. Receiving rejections time and again, Enrique began to lose faith in himself. During this challenging period, he even turned to drinking, often spending evenings in bars with a glass of whiskey.
Turning Point
Fate sometimes offers surprising twists. One day, after having a bit too much to drink at a bar, Enrique climbed onto the stage and gave an impromptu concert. Among the patrons was Guillermo Santiso, a producer and founder of the Spanish-language label Fonovisa Records. Impressed by the young man's talent, he invited him to the studio.For Enrique, this was an opportunity he couldn't pass up. He left his hated university, signed a contract with the label, and moved to Canada to work on his debut album.
In the fall of 1995, the singer's first collection titled "Enrique Iglesias," dedicated to his nanny Elvira, was released. The success was overwhelming—6.5 million copies sold and a Grammy nomination for Best Latin Pop Album. The song "Por Amarte" became the soundtrack for the popular Mexican telenovela "Marisol."
Rivalry on Stage and in Life
In January 1997, Enrique released his second album "Vivir" and embarked on a world tour with 78 concerts in sixteen countries. That same year, he was nominated for the American Music Awards, where he competed... with his own father.On the eve of the ceremony, Julio Iglesias made a loud statement: if his son won the award, he would demonstratively leave the hall. Seeking to avoid further straining their already tense relationship, Enrique made a difficult decision – to voluntarily forgo the award.
Julio received the coveted statue, but even at the moment of triumph, he couldn't resist making jabs at his son. Enrique stoically swallowed his resentment, not responding to his father's jibe. And when he took the stage and performed the song "Lluvia Cae," the hall literally erupted in applause.
Source:
upi.com
Different Paths to Success
As time went on, Enrique gradually built his own career, stepping out from his famous father's shadow. He became an idol for the younger generation, a sex symbol, and a trendsetter in Latin American music. His songs were heard everywhere, and his albums sold millions of copies.In 2003, fate presented another symbolic moment – father and son Iglesias simultaneously released new albums. For Enrique, it was his seventh collection (he simply named it "Seven"), while Julio released his seventy-seventh. This time, the victory was on the father's side: critics called his record the best of his career, while the son's work was received rather modestly.
Despite all the difficulties in his relationship with his father, Enrique never publicly criticized him. On the contrary, in interviews, he always spoke of him with respect, emphasizing that Julio Iglesias is his benchmark in the profession, a standard to reach or even surpass.
Enrique IglesiasI don't think I need to sit across from my father and ask his forgiveness, nor does he need to ask mine. We have nothing to regret. I love him, respect him, and understand him. He is a big star, he has sold many albums and concert tickets worldwide. That is my goal, my point of reference for comparison. I need to reach that level or even higher.
Different Destinies, Different Values
Interestingly, in their personal lives, father and son Iglesias chose completely different paths. Julio Iglesias always had a reputation as an incorrigible womanizer, and his father (Enrique's grandfather) even became a father at 90! Meanwhile, Enrique has been faithful to one woman for over twenty years—the Russian tennis player Anna Kournikova, who has given him three children.Perhaps life experience has taught Enrique to value family happiness much more than fleeting affairs. He spends a lot of time with his children and looks genuinely happy in their company.
Source:
people.com
Who knows, maybe one day the world will witness a joint performance by the two legendary Iglesias? In the meantime, fans can enjoy their music—so different and yet bearing the mark of one family name.
In March 2024, Enrique released the album "Final, Vol. 2," which he stated would be the last full-length album of his career. However, the singer does not plan to retire completely from the stage—he intends to occasionally delight fans with individual singles. Well, perhaps now, as career ambitions take a back seat, it will be time to strengthen family ties, we believe at zoomboola.com. After all, as the saying goes, there's nothing more important than family, even if your last name is Iglesias.