selena-quintanilla
Selena Quintanilla Mezcalent

March 31 marks the 22nd anniversary of Selena Quintanilla’s death, better known as Selena, The Queen of Tejano Music.

Originally from Lake Jackson, Texas (the Quintanilla’s later moved to Corpus Christi, where "Fiesta de la Flor" is celebrated every year in her honor), Selena and her family began the Tejano Music movement in the 1990s, which gave birth to the music genre and turned her into an international superstar.

Unfortunately, her fame and success were short-lived. In 1995, Selena was shot to death by Yolanda Saldívar, a woman she believed to be her close friend, president of her fan club, and clothing boutique manager. She was sentenced to life prison on October 26, 1995, with parole eligibility set for thirty years (March 30, 2025).

The devastating news left millions of saddened fans who still play Selena’s songs and wonder what the music world would be like if Selena y Los Dinos were still playing the arenas today.

To remember her, and her incomparable talent, we have picked five of our favorite scenes from the movie "Selena," where The Tejano Queen was made immortal by the one and only, Jennifer Lopez.

"It has always bugged me that people would try to think that there’s a 'next Selena.'" JLo told Billboard in 2015. "It’s like saying there’s another James Dean or Marilyn Monroe. People like that don’t come along every day. There is never going to be another Selena. And as far as music goes, that’s what’s beautiful about artistry. Somebody is going to come along and move the world in a different way. There was Celia Cruz, there’s Gloria Estefan. I’m still around. Marc Anthony is an iconic Latin artist, Ricky Martin. But it’s not something that happens all the time. It’s a special thing that Selena had. That’s why we’re still talking about her 20 years later."

1. "Anything for Salinas"

2. "Como la Flor"

3. "Selena bonds with new guitar player (her future hubby) over pizza and hot sauce"

4. "Let's get married"

5. "Baila esta cumbia: The busticaca scene"

© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.