Julio Iglesias: ‘I’m Not a Saint’

Julio Iglesias, returning to Orange County this week for the first time in five years, is balancing a bundle of other firsts:

His first tango album.

His first greatest-hits CD.

His first newborn in more than two decades.

“I have an incredibly cute baby,” he said from his car phone the other day.

Michael Alexander Iglesias was born Sept. 7 to Iglesias and his longtime girlfriend, Miranda Rijnsburger, a 32-year-old Dutch model. The world-famous crooner, 54, has three grown children from a previous marriage, Isabel; teen heartthrob Enrique, who tops Pop on the Latin charts, and Julio Jr., who is launching a recording career.

“He’s going to be amazing,” Iglesias said. “His style is completely different than Enrique and me.”

That could be a good thing.

Critics dinged “Tango,” released last fall, for being watered down.

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“They did not like it,” volunteered Iglesias, who streamlined 12 classic songs, including the iconic “La Cumparsita” and several by tango titan Carlos Gardel. “The style of 1920s and ‘30s tango is very syncopated and baroque, so we simplified the rhythm,” he said.

The record is selling well, No. 8 on the Latin pop chart, according to SoundScan.

Meanwhile, the Madrid-born workaholic, with dozens of albums in six languages, is putting together his first greatest-hits release so he can spend less time touring and recording and more time with his baby, he said.

The CD will include four new songs, plus duets with Sting, Diana Ross, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.

Iglesias will also continue his work with UNICEF. As a special representative for the international children’s relief organization, he has staged benefit concerts and attended fund-raisers and the like.

He has no plans to wed Rijnsburger, with whom he lives in Miami, and he doesn’t believe that decision undermines his role as an ambassador for children.

“We care about the child so much, and I think that’s enough,” he said.

“I’m not a saint,” Iglesias added. “I have a lot of contradictions in my life--thank God. It’s why I have to work every day to be better.”

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* Julio Iglesias performs songs from his new album, “Tango,” plus popular favorites, Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 4 p.m. at the Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa. $15-$70. (714) 740-2000 or 556-2787.