View Single PostPosted: Mon, Mar 31 2008, 10:21 AM Post subject: The influences of Selena - 13 years after her death
13 years after her death, the Tejano star's vibes direct new young talent
More than a decade after her death, Selena's influence still reigns over a diverse crop of present-day artists.
Tejano music's premier voice was silenced March 31, 1995, taking with it the promise that was only beginning to blossom. Selena's death also left a hole in the Tejano genre that, to this day, has never truly been filled.
But through her rich, passionate voice and innovative blend of styles, Selena left a unique musical blueprint that resonates with everyone from Tejano upstarts to bona fide superstar divas.
Others, too, will always wonder. But several artists look to Selena's songs and infectious spirit for constant motivation and inspiration. Here are a few:
Paula DeAnda
Her sound: DeAnda, 18, scored big with pop hits Doing Too Much, Walk Away and Easy, which made her an MTV TRL favorite. She's working on a second album and hopes to have a new single to the radio by summer, with full release in stores before November.
Selena influence: DeAnda was born in San Angelo but moved to Corpus Christi when she was 12. She started singing Selena songs at a young age and performing them at local parties and events. "I probably didn't sing the songs right, but I just loved her music so much," DeAnda says.
Favorite Selena song: "I think Como la Flor. She had that big intro for it (live); she sang it really slow, without the music, and then the music comes in. That was really dramatic."
A unique voice: "She's definitely one of a kind. She set an example for all Latinas out there, that they can do it, they can make it big. She's an amazing singer. Nobody can ever be like her. Nobody can top her."
Karina Nistal
Her sound: A mishmash of styles — electro, hip-hop, reggaetón, pop — that has her poised for a breakout.
Selena influence: Her street sensibility and bilingual tunes have earned her nicknames from the "Latin Mary J. Blige" to the "hip-hop Selena."
Favorite Selena song: "Cómo Quisiera is definitely one I found myself singing a lot. It's about a lost love that cannot be recovered. That song was performed so well with the mariachi feel. My favorite English one from her is Captive Heart."
A role model: "Selena continues to influence me because she was driven. She loved her family and her fans. She was a devoted entertainer who sang with her heart and soul. ... She was charismatic, and I could feel the emotion in all of her songs."
Jennifer Marie Rios
Her sound: The 16-year-old junior at Chavez High School released her first CD, Si Quieres Verme Llorar, last year. It's a collection of remakes produced by Ricardo Castillon of Tejano group La Diferencia. Rios performed earlier this month in the 28th annual Tejano Music Awards show.
Selena influence: Rios' disc includes Siempre Hace FrÃo, a gorgeous, mournful tune also covered by Selena.
Favorite Selena song: "Amor Prohibido. That was the first cumbia that caught my attention and was like, 'Wow.' I can really relate to it."
A timeless sound: "The first song that I ever sang in front of my parents was Como la Flor. I was like 7, 8 years old. In a sense, I took something from her voice. Every time I listen to a singer that I like, I try to take something from them. I can't be myself unless all of my influences come in together.
"Her music was so ahead of its time. It could still be hitting today. It somebody were to come out with that tomorrow, it would still be fresh, it would still be new."
Bobby Soloman Smith
His sound: The Houston pop/R&B singer recorded a duet with Paul Wall (More Than That) and toured with ex-98 Degrees member Jeff Timmons.
Selena influence: While a junior at Woodlands High School, Smith performed Selena's Como la Flor for a talent show. "I had girls jumping up onstage, dancing," he says. "I was throwing out roses."
Favorite Selena song: "No Me Queda Más — that is the most beautiful ballad. You can hear the story, the emotion. The girl could deliver a song. She always gives me chills on that song."
An inspirational style: "Selena influenced me in many ways: to never give up on your dreams, work hard and give it your all. Her influence is still with me to this day. I'm still chasing a dream, I'm always finding something else to challenge myself, as she did with her fashion line. She (also) thought outside the box with her music and style."
We must not forget,all of us regular people, who she inspired to reach higher in life. It was important to her,for her Raza to not settle for less,than we deserve! I know for me,that she will always be a great inspiration.Also her influence will always be with me. She showed me that no matter how hard your own life was,that you could still win in life,if you believed in yourself,and did your best to achieve your dreams!
" Thank You Heavenly Father For allowing This Magnificent Chicana, Selena,To Have Influenced Me Greatly. She Will Continue To Inspire Me Even In Death, Because Through Her Influence I learned To Live And To Love! "
Nice to see that up to this day selena is still remembered and is still inspiring others with her great music. She will always be remembered and will live on in all our hearts.
Current Mood:
_________________
her [9:59 P.M.]: phss im never letting you go..
i'll be bugging you if your not with me.. cuz you know what?
aha Y0UR MiNE.. jUP Mi0.. S0 fCK EVERY0NE ELSE.. CUZ i L0VE
Y0U & iM G0NNA BE WiTH Y0U f0REVER. Y0UR tHE 0NE f0R ME.
chicanas3xy13 I can get used to this
Joined: Dec 05 2007
Posts: 210
Location: 3ast Coast votes: 2
5858.55
View Single PostPosted: Wed, Apr 02 2008, 10:32 AM Post subject:
I kno huh
Current Mood:
_________________ x3 ALWAYZ LOOK UP N3V3R LOOK DOWN B3CAUS3 TH3R3'S ALWAYZ SOM3ON3 TH3R3 TO F*C* YOU OV3R L3ARN FROM TH3 PAST LIV3 IN TH3 PR3S3NT PLAN FOR TH3 FUTUR3 X3
mzbrownluv I can get used to this
Joined: Jan 11 2008
Posts: 121
Location: Texas
4768.27
View Single PostPosted: Thu, Apr 03 2008, 11:39 AM Post subject:
damn selena, i loved her i was always singin como la flor and bidi bidi bom bom when i was litte...da day she was shot i got really sick wit a fever i had to be taken to da hospital, my uncle was watchin da news at dat time dat selena was at da hospital at da same time dat i was...if i hadnt been taken to da hospital i coulda died...after dat til this day ive never gotten a fever
Current Mood:
_________________ Live the Life you Love, Love the Life you Live!
Here is some good information (short bio) on Selena and how accomplished she was. Its super cool to see such a wonderful example of how great, Mexican-American women can become, if they set their minds to it!
I've only heard of Paula DeAnda, she gets a lot of radio play here. And she's visited here a few times. I guess she's pretty good for a 17 year old.
I've always been a huge fan of Selena, I remember when she passed away. it was 5 days before my birthday. I was little but she was probably my first "idol" I guess you could say. You know how little kids have their favorites. But I'd always sing and dance to her music, and I remember how devastated I was. Like as if she were someone I personally knew. I think it was just emotional because of the way her music affected me.
Here is some good information (short bio) on Selena and how accomplished she was. Its super cool to see such a wonderful example of how great, Mexican-American women can become, if they set their minds to it!
Yeah that's a pretty good overview of Selena's life BUT there are some inaccuracies and misleading statements, which as much as I loved Selena and still do, I don't think it is necessary to imbellish on her accomplishments, especially when they take credit away from someone else and give it to her.
Take the following paragraph:
Quote:
By the mid-1980s Selena had crossed into the national Latino and Latin-American market. A recording with Puerto Rican band the Barrio Boyzz furthered inroads into this area. Selena y Los Dinos began to acquire a following in Mexico (Matamoros) as early as 1986. Along with Emilio Navaira, Selena y Los Dinos attracted 98,000 fans in Monterrey, and thus popularized Tejano music in Mexico. .
It makes it sound like she was already a national and international success in the 80s, and while her music may have been heard in Matamoras back in the 80s (coming from the Texas side of the border) , it wasn't until she signed with EMI , which occurred in 1989 that recorded with the Barrio Boyzz (and also Alvaro Torres), which EMI paired her with to promote her internationally.
And YES , her success in Mexico HELPED make Tejano popular in Mexico, BUT the truth is that it was La Mafia who was the first band to successfully take Tejano Music into Mexico when nobody else was going there. They started out by playing parking lots in Matamoras. The first time they went down there, they drew a crowd of about 1,000 people, and were surprised that they knew all their songs (from listening to the Tejano station on the Texas side of the border). The crowds grew larger and larger and La Mafia began to gradully work their way deeper into Mexico until they were filling stadiums all over the country. Others had tried before them, but the Mexican audiences had not been accepting of them , La Mafia won them over with their humility, and by acknowleding that while they didn't speak Spanish perfictly , that they wre proud of their Mexican roots. So yeah that scene in the Selena movie where Abraham goes into his speech about "It's hard to be Mexican-American" was a cute scene, but bottom line, while Selena DID have to win the Mexican audiences over in her own way, the door was WIDE OPEN for her. In 1991 Abraham Quintanilla stopped off at La Mafia's office (he knew them very well, as they had been very instrumental in Selena's career, taking her on the road with them as an opening act, as a PACKAGE deal, when all the promoters were telling they were crazy to do it) to ask for advice on going down to Mexico, like what promoter to go with, and various other things. When Selena won a Premio Lo Nuestro Award in 1993 (she tied with La Mafia) , she thanked them on International TV for opening the door for her.
I think it's a shame that neither the movie , nor any of the articles about her life even mention her very close and touching relationship with her dear friends, La Mafia.
VAMPZ Not so Newbie
Joined: Nov 07 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Revere, MA
1520.17
View Single PostPosted: Sat, Jul 05 2008, 11:13 PM Post subject:
Wow......13 yrs and still remembered.....what i do wonder is how that psycho of Yolanda must be doing.....is she still under close watch and in her own personal cell.....
79303.29
View Single Post
![Show personal gallery [32 Pics]](templates/zoneCopper/images/lang_english/icon_album.gif "Show personal gallery [32 Pics]"){kind=icon}
![[Cool]](images/smiles/smiley16.gif "Cool")
We must not forget,all of us regular people, who she inspired to reach higher in life. It was important to her,for her Raza to not settle for less,than we deserve! I know for me,that she will always be a great inspiration.Also her influence will always be with me. She showed me that no matter how hard your own life was,that you could still win in life,if you believed in yourself,and did your best to achieve your dreams! ![[Rosa]](images/smiles/53.gif "Rosa")
![[]](images/smiles/smiley26.gif)
![[ :?]](images/smiles/smiley29.gif ":?")
