Chayanne’s new look fools no one

Those unfamiliar with Latin pop star Chayanne should ponder the parallels with his contemporary and compatriot Ricky Martin. Both are Puerto Rican, both got their start in boy bands and both matured into exciting performers with pelvic dance moves that would make Elvis Presley blush.

Oh, and they both live in Miami. But that’s where the career comparisons stop. Martin, of course, went on to become a U.S. pop culture phenomenon with the crossover craze of the late ‘90s. Chayanne -- aside from his leading role opposite Vanessa Williams in the 1998 film “Dance With Me” -- has stuck mostly to making Spanish pop records (11 to date) and building a following to fill stadiums from Chile to Spain.

Fans who turned out for the singer’s concert Sunday at the Theatre at the Arrowhead Pond didn’t quite fill the Anaheim venue, but at 6,000 strong, they more than filled the arena with their screams and dramatically shouted sing-alongs during the two-hour show, a flashy, high-energy and high-decibel display of the heartthrob’s ample charisma, not to mention aerobic capacity.

The turnout -- almost exclusively Latino, overwhelmingly young and predominantly female -- helped make this 12-city tour his most successful to date in the U.S. Spotlighting his recent hit album, “Sincero,” the show marked a stylistic makeover for the 35-year-old performer, cut until now in a conventional Latin romantic mold with a tropical twist.

The new Chayanne has a rowdy rock edge with an ear-splitting eight-piece electric band and a group of four fabulous dancers.

The star still looks as wholesome as ever, in everyday jeans and T-shirts, one with a peace sign to add the night’s only note of substance. But his simulated naughtiness with the female dancers must have made some moms who chaperoned their young daughters just a tad uncomfortable.

The clean-cut star contrasted with his band members, with their leather-and-chains bad-boy biker apparel. For Chayanne, who’s been flying home to his family in his private jet after every concert stop, the raunchy front is completely unconvincing, and so is his rock conversion.

His obvious talent as a dancer allowed him to keep up with the perpetual-motion choreography by Nancy O’Meara, who worked with Paula Abdul.

But the modern moves don’t look natural on Chayanne. He’s absolutely sensational with salsa steps, noticeably absent from this show, but he looked somewhat stiff doing the American bump and grind, especially from the waist up.

His fans probably couldn’t care less if he came out in kilts and was backed by bagpipes. The night’s most touching moment came near the end, when the band got quiet for one merciful moment while the fans sang the lyrics to “Un Siglo Sin Ti” (A Century Without You), a ballad about a contrite boyfriend who vows to behave to get his girl back.

Finally, the sweet timbre of Chayanne’s voice came through, as did the sweet way he connects with his fans’ dreams and tender sentiments.