This weekend marked 17 years since the death of Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla Perez. Some refer her to as “the Mexican Madonna” while others referred to her as “Queen of Tejano Music.” At the age of 23, she was shot to death by the president of her fan club, Yolanda Saldivar.
I still remember hearing about her death when I came home from 2nd grade and at that point, I didn’t realize the importance of who she was and what impact she had on people. I watched the TV and so many people were on camera crying about the loss of a superstar and how she impacted their lives with her music and her personality. It was until later on that I realized the impact that she had in the Hispanic community and how many held her in high regards.
Watching the biopic, Selena, with my parents is one of the memories I’ll always have because that film just showed how much she accomplished in such a short period of time but it also serves as a reminder that anything is possible if you fight for your dreams. Besides, this film is a breakthrough role for Jennifer Lopez as we watch her transform herself into the star that so many people loved during and after her death.
Luckily, she still lives on through her music which include the classics such as “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, “Amor Prohibido”, and “I Could Fall in Love With You.” What’s your favorite Selena track?
-A.
