“If You Ever Saw Her” and “Jezabel” warn listeners not to give their hearts to manipulative, promiscuous women. On “Are You in It for the Love,” Martin wants to know if a girl is smitten by him or his celebrity. The Puerto Rico native expresses romantic affection apart from sexual desire on “Amor,” “Come to Me,” “The Touch” and “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely,” however . . .
Several songs emote from below the belt. “One Night Man” promises a woman that she won’t forget or regret a casual fling together. On “St. Tropez,” the artist licks his chops when a “pristine” girl joins him for a walk on the wild side (he closes the tune with a sexual proposition). “She Bangs” and “Loaded” place undue emphasis on a female’s outward appearance. Employing slang and innuendo, the latter relishes wild physical activity that could be dancing—or something else.
“My culture is sensual,” Martin told USA Today, “I’m not forcing it. It’s just something that flows.” But do families want it flowing into their homes? As popular culture—from MTV to WB teen dramas—gets more and more enraptured with no-strings sexuality, songs like “One Night Man” will only accelerate the slide. Sure, Martin’s Latin-lover image isn’t without its benevolently romantic side, but sweet moments are overwhelmed by moral salsa. Too spicy.
