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Tribute to Selena
"Selena may no longer be alive, but she still lives in the heart of millions."
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By Genysys Sanchez
Selena Quintanilla Perez, known as just ‘Selena’ to her fans, is widely known for her charisma and her everlasting smile. Ever since I was a young girl, I loved her music; and to this day, she remains one of my idols. Even though this week marked the ten-year anniversary of her passing, Selena is still considered 'la Reyna del Tejano' - the queen of Tejano music - and is still adored by many fans.
Selena began her singing career at nine years old with her brother, AB, and her sister, Suzy. They had a band called "Selena y Los Dinos". Selena y Los Dinos started off singing at weddings, little clubs, and quinceaneras. It took Selena a while to gain star status.
Most of Selena's albums are in Spanish, despite the fact that she wasn’t really fluent in her native language. She tried to learn Spanish, because she knew without it, it would be harder to succeed in Mexico and other Latin American countries. However, when people saw how much charm and joy she had in her personality, they forgot that she wasn’t fluent.
When Selena began producing albums, it was harder for women to succeed in the entertainment industry than it is now. Right before her death, Selena became the number one female Latina star in the United States and Mexico. Selena's Grammy nominated album, Amor Prohibido, along with her 1993 Grammy winning album, Selena Live, went platinum.
Sadly, her life came to a tragic end. On March 31st, 1995, she was shot by Yolanda Saldivar at a Corpus Christi motel. Yolanda was the former president of Selena’s fan club.
I'm still one of Selena’s biggest fans. I have the whole collection of Selena CDs, which I always listen to when I want to bring my mood up. It's amazing how I always feel better after listening to her music. It's rare for me to cry when I see a movie, but whenever I see the movie about her life, I always end up in tears because she was full of potential and unlimited possibilities. The saddest thing is that when she died, her career was skyrocketing.
At the young age of 23, Selena accomplished much more than most people do in a lifetime. She represented the hopes and dreams of millions and is an inspiration to all her followers. Her legacy lives on, and all those who are still touched by her music cherish her memory.
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