Download Selena Quintanilla Perez. Though she passed away before she was

Selena
The Life, the Movie & the Icon
Shilpa Rupani
April 2002
Branham Per. 1
Selena Quintanilla Perez. Though she passed away before she was 24 years old,
she died as a daughter, a wife, a Tejano songstress, an entrepreneur and a role model.
Soon after she died, she became an American popstar and the subject of a dramaticbiographical movie, which became one of the top grossing musically based movies ever.
“Selena,” the movie, generally portrayed her life effectively however did not show a few
aspects.
Born April 16, 1971 at Freeport Community Hospital in Lake Jackson, Texas,
Selena Quintanilla was the third child of Abraham Jr. and Marcella Quintanilla. When he
was younger, Abraham was a part of the group Los Dinos and because of the large role
music had played in his early life, Abraham made his children, A.B., Suzette and Selena,
perform at his restaurant, Papa Gayo’s, as the group, “Selena y Los Dinos.” As the
children grew up and performed more and more, Selena’s popularity grew. Her talent
became more recognized. Soon Selena y Los Dinos were signed to EMI Capitol Latin
record label. They put out eight full-length releases and were featured on countless other
compilation releases. On April 2, 1992, Selena married Chris Perez, a guitarist in her
band. As her popularity grew, Selena broadened her horizons. She opened two Selena
Etc. boutiques in Texas, produced a perfume and had a cameo in the film Don Juan
DeMarco. Though Selena y Los Dinos recorded in Spanish and won a Grammy for the
album “Selena Live,” Selena was recording a crossover album that was unfinished when
she died.
On March 31, 1995, Selena’s fan club president Yolanda Saldivar shot her at the
Days Inn in Corpus Christie, Texas. Selena trusted Yolanda immensely and considered a
part of her family. At 1:05 pm, Selena died of internal bleeding and cardiac arrest at
Memorial Medical Center in Corpus Christie, Texas. After two hours of deliberation, a
jury in Yolanda’s murder trial found her guilty and sentenced her to life in prison. Parole
would not be possible for at least 30 years.1 Though her crossover album was unfinished
when she died, the English tracks, combined with a few Spanish songs, made up
“Dreaming of You,” released in 1995. Her English album made her non-Latino fan base
skyrocket and soon after she died, the movie Selena was released with which many more
were introduced to Selena’s life and talents.
Making a movie about Selena’s life was actually decided by her family. Her
father Abraham was the executive producer of the film. Jennifer Lopez was cast as the
lead role in the Warner Brothers picture. In order to prepare for the role, Jennifer spent
many hours with the Quintanilla family. Abraham said that Jennifer portrayed his Selena
so well that having her around was almost like having his daughter alive again.2 After
the movie, Jennifer became a bona fide movie star and later the top paid Latino actress.
The movie showed a new set of people who Selena was and what her music sounded like.
It also increased the support of her English music career.
The film portrayed a young Selena as a happy go lucky child who was extremely
talented, very hardworking and despite the fact that she didn’t speak Spanish, she still
learned to sing it. According to her first grade teacher Nina Glashen, Selena was a
“perky, enthusiastic, happy little girl. She was well-liked and had a bubbly personality.”3
Harold Lindloff, an officer in a Lake Jackson bank, described her as “vibrant” and
“respectful.”4 Besides portraying her childhood effectively, the young Selena in the
“Selena’s killer gets life.” Kidnews page 3, Chicago Tribune, October 31, 1995.
“Driven: Jennifer Lopez” VH1 production: 2002.
3
Patoski, Joe Nick. Selena: Como La Flor. Little, Brown and Company: New York, NY, 1996. pg 38.
4
Selena: Como La Flor. pg 31
1
2
movie looked very similar to Selena at a young age. Many said that the young actress
was chosen because of her uncanny resemblance to a young Selena. Another aspect of
Selena’s life that was shown effectively in the film was the amount Abraham controlled
Selena’s career. In an early performance by Selena y Los Dinos in the movie, Selena
removes her jacket only leaving a very tiny shirt covered in rhinestones. When Abraham
sees it, he becomes out of control saying that it would attract negative male attention and
forbade her from wearing similar clothing. In real life, Abraham also kept Selena on a
short leash. Though she had quite a bit of creative freedom, “…that creative freedom did
not translate socially. Selena was shielded by the outside world by Abraham.”5 Also, in
terms of smaller details, the film did an incredible job. Instead of recreating similar
costumes that Selena wore, Jennifer wore some of the same outfits that Selena wore in
performances including her performance at the Houston Astrodome in 1994. Musically,
her most popular songs were featured in the movie in some way. “Como La Flor,” “Bidi
Bidi Bom Bom” and “Dreaming of You” were performed live and other songs including,
“Amor Prohibido,” were played as background tracks during the film
Even though the film effectively portrayed Selena’s life for the most part, there
was one part of her life that was not included in the movie at all. Maybe it was too
painful for the family to portray or perhaps they felt that they didn’t know all the details
enough but Selena’s shooting was not shown at all. Ambulance footage and shots of
Yolanda in her truck with a gun pointed at her head are shown to imply the occurrence of
the shooting and the death, but just after the montage, footage of Selena’s real life and
some of the candlelight vigils held in her honor close the movie.6 When Selena and
5
6
Selena: Como La Flor. pg 78.
Selena. Produced by Abraham Quintanilla. Warner Brothers 1996.
Yolanda met in that Corpus Christie motel, Selena intended to fire her because of missing
financial records and other monetary files. However, when she saw Yolanda had a gun,
“Selena turned in a panic to run. The gun went off. A bullet struck Selena in the right
shoulder as she ran. Selena managed to open the door and ran out toward the swimming
pool. Yolanda ran behind her, holding the weapon as if she was going to fire a second
shot.”7 But because no one witnessed the shooting, there is no way to determine if this is
exactly how the shooting occurred. However, if these details are indeed true, it is
understandable why the Quintanilla family chose not to show the murder in the movie.
Another part of Selena’s life and career that wasn’t shown in the film was her
impact on fans. Her throngs of fans were shown at her performances however she
strongly influenced many young people and upcoming performers as well. Seventeenyear-old Stefanie Berecz, the Latina member of the Chicago female pop trio Scandelle
Us, explained how much Selena influenced her in the early part of her career. “When I
first bought Selena’s CD, Amor Prohibido, I was just learning how to speak Spanish
and… I began to sing a lot of her Spanish songs at a lot of my concerts,” Stefanie said.
“When she came out with her English album… I gained even more respect for Selena and
she showed the world that there can be no limits. Selena has been a perfect example to
me that I can do anything that my heart deserves and achieve anything but yet still be a
well-grounded and beautiful person.”8 Selena didn’t just influence young females.
Twenty-two year-old Justin Roman, who is half-Mexican, described how Selena
influenced his singing career as well. Justin is one third of MCA recording artists Vi3, a
male vocal trio from Chicago. “[Selena] made me realize how beautiful the Spanish
7
8
Selena: Como La Flor. pg 160-1.
Interview with Stephanie Berecz. Via e-mail April 12, 2002.
language can sound in music. She wasn’t born speaking Spanish… she learned it at
around eight or nine. Nobody would ever know that by hearing her sing because is
sounded so natural to her. That made me realize that anything is possible musically.”9
Selena’s impact on these talented musicians will be more and more obvious as these
artists’ popularity and success grow. Vi3 have already been named the Pop Recording
Artist of the Year at the 2001 Chicago Music Awards and were signed to MCA Records
before they had been performing for six months. Both Justin and Stefanie began as fans
of Selena’s and her talent helped motivate them to get to where they are today. In the
film, thousands of her fans were shown at her performances but, her profound impact on
her supporters wasn’t shown.
If Selena had still been around, her influence would have been felt on more artists
who would have soon become her peers. If Selena had still been around, her fan base
would have multiplied without the aid of a biographical drama. But since the world lost
this talented singer so early, Selena’s legacy must live on through her CD’s, the movie
and the many fans and musicians whose lives she deeply touched and influenced.
9
Interview with Justin Roman. Via e-mail April 13, 2002.
Bibliography
Associated Press. “Recording star Selena slain in Texas.” Chicago Tribune, page 4.
April 1, 1995.
Berecz, Stephanie. Interview conducted via e-mail, April 12, 2002.
Chicago Tribune Wires. “Ex-fan club president held in singer’s slayings.” Chicago
Tribune, page 7. April 2, 1995.
De la Garza, Paul. “Singer’s death pushes her to mainstream fame.” Chicago Tribune,
page 1. April 4, 1995.
“Driven: Jennifer Lopez.” VH1 production, 2002.
Patoski, Joe Nick. Selena: Como La Flor. Little, Brown and Company: New
York, NY, 1996.
Roman, Justin. Interview conducted via e-mail, April 13, 2002.
Romero, Martiza. Selena Perez: Queen of Tejano Music. Rosen Publishing: New
York, NY, 1997.
Selena. Produced by Abraham Quintanilla. Warner Brothers, 1996.
“Selena’s killer gets life.” Kidnews page 3, Chicago Tribune, October 31, 1995.