As we all know, the 20-year anniversary of our beloved Selena Quintanilla’s (better known by her mononym, Selena) death was last month. The star was a Mexican-American singer/ songwriter from Texas, and known throughout the state as the “Queen of Tejano Music.” The young talented singer’s influences on the music and fashion communities have made her one of the most renowned Mexican-American entertainers of the last century. In her too-short lifetime, Selena was nominated for a total of 82 awards, of which she won 66 including 13 Billboard Latin Music Awards, 10 Lo Nuestro Awards, 36 Tejano Music Awards, and a Grammy Award. As of 2012, it was estimated that Selena has sold over 60 million albums worldwide. Sadly, her success was cut short by a bullet through the back from Yolanda Saldívar, her “friend” and former employee at her boutiques. She would have been turning 44 this year, and it is so sad to think of what she could have accomplished in the time she lost. To get a better gist of Selena’s biography, watch Selena. If you haven’t seen the 1997 Warner Bros. movie, starring Jennifer Lopez, I suggest you drop everything and watch it now. This movie has to be one of my favorites and is also a fanatic tribute to our Mexican-American Tejano queen. Not to mention it is filled with amazing music, comedy, romance, and drama.
Ten years after her death, the “Selena ¡Vive!” concert was created as an homage to our cherished singer. This year, the Reliant Stadium in Huston, Texas was the stage for this mega-concert. This year’s show was extra special because a hologram of the artist was revealed. It has been announced that the hologram of the singer will record new music and will even go on tour. I still have mixed feelings about that, but we’ll see how it turns out! To start of the festivities, Jennifer Lopez invited all of the fans to relive this magical moment. Then she “transported” us to the Astrodome in Texas, the place where Selena gave her last concert. Her parents, Marcela and Abraham Quintanilla, were shown on the front row, proving that the spirit of their daughter is more alive than ever. The night then continued with a series of Selena songs being preformed by artists such as Thalía, La India, Ana Bárbara, Alicia Villareal, Ana Gabriel, Pablo Montero, Pepe Aguilar, Olga Tañón, Paulina Rubio, Gloria Estefan, A.B. Quintanilla, and the Cumbia Kings. It was a night to remember, and a true celebration of Selena’s life and impact on the world around her. If you’ve never heard any Selena songs, stop what you are doing put those headphones in now! My favorites are Baila Esta Cumbia, Como La Flor, Amor Prohibido, Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, Dreaming of You, and I Could Fall in Love. I promise you that you’ll be dancing and singing along within seconds.
Happy listening!
