Top Ten Songs by Selena

Selena Quintanilla Perez was one of the best female Tejano singers. Her voice blended well with trendy Mexican pop music and with traditional mariachi songs (as well as American pop). Though Selena is no longer alive to make new recordings, her existing music is excellent and abundant, so you are sure to find a gem among her many CDs. And, thanks to the efforts of her family, some of her material which was unknown during her lifetime is available now. Choosing only 10 favorite songs was difficult as she has about 14 albums, including her posthumously released CDs. While the more recent albums are more like greatest hits, there are still numerous tracks to choose from. Below are my personal favorites with a description of what each song is about. Be aware that most of the tracks listed are in Spanish and they are not ranked in any particular order as they are all good. I have made a notation when the song is in English.

1. I Could Fall In Love

This is the first English Release from her final CD, Dreaming of You, which sold 175,000 copies on it’s first day of sales and made Selena the first Latina singer to debut at #1 on the billboard charts. “I Could Fall in Love” is a really touching ballad about not knowing if you should take the next step and give your heart away when you know that the man you love is not available. The song is written by Keith Thomas.

2. Dame Tu Amor

This is an under-recognized song of Selena’s. It appears on the Anthology Album which contains 3 CDs worth of songs, some of which were sung when Selena was very young (though this album was not released until 3 years after her death). This song appears on the “Mariachi CD”. The youthfulness of her voice gives an innocence and purity to the song that otherwise would not be there. It is a traditional Mexican ballad sung to a guitar and trumpet, though the music is so subtle that you forget that it is even there. Every time I hear it, I get lost in the emotion of the song and the tenderness of falling in love and wanting to know if your beloved feels the same way. Dame Tu Amor is exquisite!

3. Bidi Bidi Bom Bom

This song was composed by the legendary Pete Astudillo and Selena herself. It’s a fun dance song with a very 90’s sound to it. It has an island flavor and is basically talking about how her heart beats like crazy when she’s around the man that she loves. It appears on the Amor Prohibido CD, which is Selena’s best known album.

4. Baila Esta Cumbia

This is a dance hit. It’s one of those songs that everyone is supposed to follow along and dance to. Selena directs you to move your hips and raise your arms and shout with joy. I first heard this song when I watched a friend’s tape of Selena’s last concert. It’s a song that is even more adorable when you can see Selena herself dance to it. It’s just a fun song that makes you want to do the Cumbia. You can find this song on Selena’s second album, Ven Conmigo.

5. Amor Prohibido

This is a very well known song which is also the title of Selena’s most famous album. It is a song that was inspired by Selena’s grandparents who came from different social classes. One character in the song is wealthy and the other is poor and they are fighting the social pressures of their families to be together. A feel good song, it speaks of love crossing boundaries and overcoming the dictates of society.

6. La Carcacha

This is a funny song that is on the Entre A Mi Mundo CD. It has an interesting blend of sounds, including a slow running engine and car horn. When I first heard it, I was learning Spanish and I had no idea what Selena was talking about until my friend explained it. Basically, Selena talks about loving a guy who is really unattractive and she compares him to an old raggedy car that’s really ugly but runs when you need it. She says that she stays with her jalopy-man because he is caring and loyal.

7. I’m Getting Used to You

This is another English song of Selena’s which talks about resisting love. It’s a song about not looking for love and not really being interested, but as you get to know someone, they grow into your heart when you’re not even looking. It’s a classic song that doesn’t feel as “dated” as some of her other songs. “I’m Getting Used to You” appears on the Dreaming of You CD.

8. Cobarde

This is a song for anyone who has been cheated on and dumped. It’s about a man who spoke all kinds of words of love and need to a woman, then cheats on her. Selena talks about all of the lies that he tells and how he isn’t worth it. The song title in English means “coward.” You can find this track on Amor Prohibido.

9. Si Una Vez

This is also a song for someone with a broken heart. It’s like a Tejano equivalent of “I Will Survive.” When you see the light and realize that your boyfriend is a jerk and you’re not going to take it anymore, pick up this song and just hit the repeat button. I love the rhythm of this song. Each verse starts out slow with pauses and then suddenly speeds up very fast as the moment of realization comes that this guy is not worth the time. In each line, Selena sings about taking back any time she ever loved this jerk or gave her energy to him. It’s an incredibly empowering song when you are feeling irritated with people who take advantage of you. It appears at the end of the Amor Prohibido CD and also on her more recent release, Ones.

10. Siempre Hace Frio

Another song from Anthology, this is a touching ballad that Selena sung when she was 14 years old. It’s incredible because she sang it when she was sick with a cold or flu and so it had this rich texture to her voice that made her sound mature. While it is beautiful and rich in quality, it’s a haunting, sad song about the loss of love. Each time I hear it, it sinks deeply into my soul.

Though it has been 11 years since Selena’s death, her music still lives on. Even if you are coming to listen to her a bit late, do not miss the chance to be healed and transformed by this music. It truly is heartfelt and there is so much to choose from-Pop, Cumbia, Boleros and English Ballads. So, whether you are in a dancing mood or you’re in a somber mood, there is a Selena song for you!