Narrated by Natalie Gadeikis, Staff Writer
Written by Gabriella Garcia, Staff Writer
(Click here to listen to The Pulse’s Selena playlist!)
When you hear the name “Selena,” you probably think about Selena Gomez. But for some people, the Queen of Tejano music comes to mind: Selena Quintanilla.
When it comes to Tejano (te-hano) female artists, there were few to none in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Mexican-Americans were not really famous. But that didn’t stop Selena from making history, it only made her that much greater. Though she was killed March 31, 1995, by her friend and former fan club manager, there is one thing that Selena accomplished in the 23 short years she lived on this Earth — she achieved the American Dream.
Being born into a poor family didn’t keep Selena and the Quintanilla family from their love for music. Selena y Los Dinos was their family band formed by her father, and Selena was the lead singer, starting at the age of 10.
The group definitely faced hard times gaining popularity, with all the band members being Mexican-American, and Tejano music not well known. Selena made her recording debut in the ‘80s. As she got older, her music began breaking through and growing. Still today, her songs are catchy, a beautiful blend of Tejano, disco and pop music.
Selena grew up speaking English, but her father taught her Spanish. The majority of her songs are in Spanish, which of course made her popular in Spanish speaking countries. But when the talented singer released her first English hit “Dreaming of You,” just a month before her murder, it was instantly a massive success. The album featuring the song, which was also titled Dreaming of You, is the last one the beloved superstar got to record.
It is truly heartbreaking that Selena did not get to hit her peak. Though she had already accomplished so much, she was capable of more. She was just on the brink of an incredible crossover. Do you remember Taylor Swift switching from country to pop? Well, it was kind of like that, but better.
Selena brought two cultures together when she started singing English songs along with her Spanish songs. It made her memorable for all kinds of people. She was the first recording artist to place five Spanish-language albums simultaneously on Billboard 200. Selena was the first female artist to win a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album at only age 22.
Her love for fashion and giving girls confidence drove her to open up her own boutique. Even after experiencing this high level of fame, she lived in the lower middle-class neighborhood where she grew up. Selena was incredibly humble and worked hard for every bit of her success.
Her work, and the barriers she broke for Latinos, Hispanics, and women will not soon be forgotten. She proved that the minority can accomplish great things despite being in the shadow of the majority. Several big celebrities today have been influenced by her and all she stood for. Selena is clearly still remembered today, celebrations and memorials are still held in her memory. Her dazzling smile and warm personality made the world a little better.