Selena’s Legacy: Lessons on Latinidad, Gender & Cultural Pride

In the 1990s, it often felt like two separate musical worlds coexisted; distinct and unequal in cultural value. On one side was the mainstream, English-language music scene and on the other, the Latin music scene, largely confined to Spanish-speaking audiences, remained marginalized and unrecognized on a national scale. For artists navigating bicultural identities, the industry often demanded a choice. Pick a side, pick a language, pick a market.

The idea of fully embracing both worlds wasn’t yet a reality. And yet, even in that divide, some voices rose above it all, making space where there was none. Selena was one of those giants even though it came after her untimely death with the release of her first English-language album Dreaming of You after years in the Tejano music scene. Her legacy helped pave the way for what would later be called the “Latin Explosion” of the late ’90s following her death in 1995. 

Her fourth studio album Amor Prohibido (1994) became one of the best selling Latin albums in the U.S. and she could blend Tejano sounds with mainstream appeal. The title track, all about forbidden love, hit close to home for many Latina as it spoke to class divides, family expectations and cultural taboo. That’s real life for so many of us navigating bicultural realities. While the track went on to become the most successful U.S. Latin single of 1994, the album would also achieve massive success with her now signature tracks including “No Me Queda Más”, “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, “Fotos y Recuerdos” and “Si Una Vez”. 

Read the rest of my article on Hip Latina's site here

https://hiplatina.com/selena-quintanilla-legacy/.