''Amor Prohibido'' ( en, italic=yes, Forbidden Love) is the fourth studio album by American singer
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
, released on March 13, 1993, by
EMI Latin
Capitol Latin (formerly EMI Latin) is a brand of Universal Music Latin Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Group. Previously, it was a subsidiary of EMI.
History
In 1989, José Behar, the former head of CBS Discos, signed Selena to ...
. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next
studio release. Finding it challenging to write a follow-up hit after "
Como la Flor
"Como la Flor" ("Like the Flower") is a song that was recorded by American singer Selena for her third studio album ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' (1992). It was written by A. B. Quintanilla and Pete Astudillo. The song was conceptualized in 1982 afte ...
" (1992), Selena's brother
A. B. Quintanilla enlisted the assistance from band members
Ricky Vela
Ricardo Vela is an American musician and songwriter who was the keyboardist for the band Selena y Los Dinos from 1984 to 1995.
Works
Vela has either written or co-written the following songs that topped on ''Billboard'' 200, ''Billboard'' Latin ...
and
Pete Astudillo
Pedro Astudillo (born December 1, 1963) is an American singer and songwriter. He was a backup vocalist for Selena y Los Dinos and has released several albums as a solo artist.
Early life
Astudillo was born on December 1, 1963, in Laredo, Texas, t ...
with writing the album's songs. The resulting album has a more mature sound featuring
experimental
An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...
production that blends diverse musical styles from
ranchera
Ranchera () or canción ranchera is a genre of traditional music of Mexico. It dates to before the years of the Mexican Revolution. Rancheras today are played in virtually all regional Mexican music styles. Drawing on rural traditional folk music ...
to
hip-hop music. ''Amor Prohibido'' is a
Tejano cumbia album modernized with a
synthesizer
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
-rich delivery using a minimalist style that was quintessential in early 1990s
Tejano music
Tejano music ( es, música tejana), also known as Tex-Mex music, is a popular music style fusing Mexican and US influences. Typically, Tejano combines Mexican Spanish vocal styles with dance rhythms from Czech and German genres – particular ...
.
The album's songs deal with dysfunctional and volatile relationships; its lyrics explore
unrequited love
Unrequited love or one-sided love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer's deep and pure affection, or may consciously reject it. The Merriam Webster Online Dic ...
,
infidelity
Infidelity (synonyms include cheating, straying, adultery, being unfaithful, two-timing, or having an affair) is a violation of a couple's emotional and/or sexual exclusivity that commonly results in feelings of anger, sexual jealousy, and riva ...
, and
social division
A social class is a grouping of people into a set of hierarchical social categories, the most common being the upper, middle and lower classes. Membership in a social class can for example be dependent on education, wealth, occupation, inco ...
. With relatively few
love song
A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...
s, ''Amor Prohibido'' narrates a woman's struggles and triumphs following unsuccessful relationships with men who struggle with commitment. The album continued the singer's streak of number-one singles on the United States ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
''
Hot Latin Songs
The ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs (formerly Hot Latin Tracks and Hot Latin 50) is a record chart in the United States for Latin songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Since October 2012, chart rankings are based on digital sales, rad ...
chart with the title track "
Amor Prohibido
''Amor Prohibido'' ( en, italic=yes, Forbidden Love) is the fourth studio album by American singer Selena, released on March 13, 1993, by EMI Latin. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next
studio rele ...
"— which became
the most successful US Latin single of 1993, a feat she repeated
the following year with "
No Me Queda Más
"No Me Queda Más" ("There's Nothing Left for Me") is a song by American singer Selena on her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido''. It was released as the third single from the album in October 1994 by EMI Latin. "No Me Queda Más" was writ ...
". Along with the latter, "
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" is a song recorded by American Tejano singer, Selena. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). Originally written about a cheerful fish swimming freely in the ocean, the son ...
" and "
Fotos y Recuerdos
"Fotos y Recuerdos" ( en, Pictures and Memories) is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). It was released by EMI Latin in January 1995, as the fourth single. A cover version of ...
" also topped the US Latin chart, and together with "
Si Una Vez
"Si Una Vez" ( en, If I Once) is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). It was written by Pete Astudillo and produced by Selena's brother-producer A.B. Quintanilla. "Si Una Ve ...
" are regarded as Selena's
signature recordings.
When the album tour broke attendance records at the
Houston Astrodome
The NRG Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas. It was financed and assisted in development by Roy Hofheinz, mayor of Houston ...
and attracted a record-breaking crowd at Miami's
Calle Ocho Festival, Selena became recognized as one of the biggest US Latin touring acts at that time. ''Amor Prohibido'' became the first Tejano record to peak at number one on the ''Billboard''
Top Latin Albums
Top Latin Albums is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all ''Billboard'' album charts, the chart is based ...
chart, remaining in the top five for 98 consecutive weeks. The album holds the record for most weeks at number one on ''Billboard''s
Regional Mexican Albums
Regional Mexican Albums is a genre-specific record chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart was established in June 1985 and originally listed the top twenty-five best-selling albums of mariachi, tejano, no ...
chart at 97 nonconsecutive weeks, as well as crowning the chart in four different calendar years. ''Amor Prohibido'' received critical acclaim, it is considered to be Selena's best work and her band's "crowning achievement". The album's sound received the highest acclaim, it was noted by critics to have retained its innovative spirit well into the 21st century. ''Amor Prohibido'' is credited with catapulting Tejano music into mainstream success resulting in sales to listeners previously unfamiliar with the genre. ''Amor Prohibido'' was nominated for
Best Mexican-American Album at the
37th Grammy Awards. The record took
Album of the Year honors at the
1995 TMA's and the
Lo Nuestro Award for Best Regional Mexican Album.
On March 31, 1995, Selena was
murdered
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the c ...
by her friend and former manager of her
Selena Etc.
Selena Etc. was a South Texas-based boutique and beauty salon, which was founded and owned by the late American singer, Selena. Selena Etc. finished its building on January 27, 1994, in Corpus Christi, Texas, which was the headquarters buildi ...
boutiques,
Yolanda Saldívar
Yolanda Saldívar (; born September 19, 1960) is an American former nurse who was convicted of the Murder of Selena, murder of singer Selena in 1995. Saldívar had been the president of Selena's fan club and the manager of her boutiques, but she ...
. The record re-entered the
''Billboard'' 200 chart, peaking at number 29 and was
certified
Certification is the provision by an independent body of written assurance (a certificate) that the product, service or system in question meets specific requirements. It is the formal attestation or confirmation of certain characteristics of a ...
gold by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA). Within three weeks, it was certified platinum and was re-certified by the RIAA as 36×
platinum (Latin), denoting 2.14 million
album-equivalent unit
The album-equivalent unit, or album equivalent, is a measurement unit in music industry to define the consumption of music that equals the purchase of one album copy. This consumption includes streaming and song downloads in addition to traditi ...
s sold. ''Amor Prohibido'' is the second-highest
certified Latin album in the United States trailing only her posthumous album ''
Dreaming of You'' (1995), the fourth
best-selling Latin album in the US, the best-selling Tejano recording of the 1990s, and remains the best-selling Tejano recording of all time. ''Amor Prohibido'' has been ranked among the most essential Latin recordings of the past 50 years by ''Billboard'' magazine, while ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' magazine named it one of
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is a recurring opinion survey and music ranking of the finest albums in history, compiled by the American magazine ''Rolling Stone''. It is based on weighted votes from selected musicians, critics, and indust ...
.
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
ranked the album number 19 on their list of the 150 greatest albums made by women; it was the highest-ranking album by a female Latin artist and ninth highest-ranking recording by a
woman of color
The term "person of color" ( : people of color or persons of color; abbreviated POC) is primarily used to describe any person who is not considered "white". In its current meaning, the term originated in, and is primarily associated with, the U ...
.
Production and development
Background
Following the release of
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
's third studio album ''
Entre a Mi Mundo
''Entre a Mi Mundo'' ( en, italic=yes, Enter My World) is the third studio album by American singer Selena, released on May 6, 1992, by EMI Latin. In his recording debut with Selena y Los Dinos, guitarist Chris Pérez had fallen in love with Selen ...
'' and the launch of
a clothing boutique in 1993, the singer and her band began working on ''Amor Prohibido''. Having achieved the success and fan base that
EMI Latin
Capitol Latin (formerly EMI Latin) is a brand of Universal Music Latin Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Group. Previously, it was a subsidiary of EMI.
History
In 1989, José Behar, the former head of CBS Discos, signed Selena to ...
's president
Jose Behar
Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods.
* Jose ben Abin
* Jose ben Akabya
*Jose the Galile ...
was seeking, Behar aimed to capitalize on Selena's broad appeal with the next studio release. The label was keen to use a
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
-winning producer instead of the singer's brother,
A.B. Quintanilla
Abraham Quintanilla III (born December 13, 1963), known professionally as A.B. Quintanilla III or A.B. Quintanilla, is an American record producer, songwriter and musician, and the older brother of singer Selena, known as " The Queen of Tejano ...
. A.B. knew Selena's musical tastes and
vocal range
Vocal range is the range of pitches that a human voice can phonate. A common application is within the context of singing, where it is used as a defining characteristic for classifying singing voices into voice types. It is also a topic of stud ...
, though he found that he needed to outdo himself to remain her principal record producer. He found it challenging to meet expectations after the commercial success of ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' and its career-launching single "
Como la Flor
"Como la Flor" ("Like the Flower") is a song that was recorded by American singer Selena for her third studio album ''Entre a Mi Mundo'' (1992). It was written by A. B. Quintanilla and Pete Astudillo. The song was conceptualized in 1982 afte ...
". When A.B. met with record executives in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
and
Nashville
Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...
, they pressured him to come up with another successful song. He felt it was important that the music he produced for Selena remain fresh. He stressed that writing a successful song following "Como la Flor" was infeasible—as he expressed to ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'', "you don't try to outdo a
hit
Hit means to strike someone or something.
Hit or HIT may also refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Fictional entities
* Hit, a fictional character from '' Dragon Ball Super''
* Homicide International Trust, or HIT, a fictional organization ...
, you just write another hit". As with previous albums, A.B. enlisted
Selena y Los Dinos
Selena y Los Dinos ( en, Selena and the Guys, Selena And the Dinos=Selena And The Dinos) was an American Tejano band formed in 1981 by Tejano singer Selena and her father Abraham Quintanilla. The band remained together until the murder of Sel ...
band members,
Pete Astudillo
Pedro Astudillo (born December 1, 1963) is an American singer and songwriter. He was a backup vocalist for Selena y Los Dinos and has released several albums as a solo artist.
Early life
Astudillo was born on December 1, 1963, in Laredo, Texas, t ...
and
Ricky Vela
Ricardo Vela is an American musician and songwriter who was the keyboardist for the band Selena y Los Dinos from 1984 to 1995.
Works
Vela has either written or co-written the following songs that topped on ''Billboard'' 200, ''Billboard'' Latin ...
, to help with the writing process. The result included a mature sound for Selena with
experimental
An experiment is a procedure carried out to support or refute a hypothesis, or determine the efficacy or likelihood of something previously untried. Experiments provide insight into cause-and-effect by demonstrating what outcome occurs when ...
recording and production than her previous works. It was the final album featuring production and songwriting by Astudillo, who subsequently parted with Los Dinos to pursue a solo career.
Recording
''Amor Prohibido'' was recorded at
Manny Guerra
Manny Guerra is an American record producer, music engineer, and recording artist, who specializes in Tejano music. Guerra started in the industry playing with Sunny and the Sunglows, recording hit singles such as " Talk to Me", which peaked ...
's studio in San Antonio, Texas, and was engineered by Brian "Red" Moore. The production of ''Amor Prohibido'' lasted six months beginning on September 17, 1993. The recording schedule was squeezed in around touring commitments and the opening of Selena's boutiques, as Selena's husband and guitarist
Chris Pérez
Christopher Gilbert Pérez (born August 14, 1969) is an American guitarist, best known as lead guitarist for the Tejano band Selena y Los Dinos. He married the frontwoman of the group, Selena, on April 2, 1992. Pérez grew up in San Antonio, Te ...
recalled: "I don't even know how we managed to find time to make the next album." According to Vela, progress stalled and the band had to rush to finish production because of an approaching deadline. It then took two weeks to complete post-production. Vela said that it was common for the band to rehearse all of the music in advance of the recording sessions, as the band's production sequence remained unchanged for ''Amor Prohibido''. Selena and the band recorded their parts in the studio after they had first perfected them during pre-production. A.B. would then arrange and mix them, using an
AKAI MPC60 II for
timing and
tempo
In musical terminology, tempo (Italian, 'time'; plural ''tempos'', or ''tempi'' from the Italian plural) is the speed or pace of a given piece. In classical music, tempo is typically indicated with an instruction at the start of a piece (often ...
control before studio
mixing instruments were used. It took two weeks for Selena to record the album's ten tracks.
Pérez provided an evocative account of working with Selena during the sessions for ''Amor Prohibido''. Pérez wrote how Selena never complained in the studio, adding that the singer was never recalcitrant towards changes. Selena would often arrive at the studio during the album's production, "hum her part a little", and then proceeded to the mall informing the band not to worry because she would "know what to do when
he band isready to record." Nevertheless, Pérez explained that the band never had to approach Selena on changes in the studio as she disciplined herself and tracked her vocals while requesting a second take in order to "add little harmonies she'd create" during recording. A.B. described his own creative process during the sessions in a 1994 interview with
KMOL
The mole, symbol mol, is the unit of amount of substance in the International System of Units (SI). The quantity amount of substance is a measure of how many elementary entities of a given substance are in an object or sample. The mole is define ...
. He would use a
tape recorder
An audio tape recorder, also known as a tape deck, tape player or tape machine or simply a tape recorder, is a sound recording and reproduction device that records and plays back sounds usually using magnetic tape for storage. In its present- ...
to hum a
melody
A melody (from Greek language, Greek μελῳδία, ''melōidía'', "singing, chanting"), also tune, voice or line, is a Linearity#Music, linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity. In its most liter ...
before creating a title and concept of a song. If he caught himself humming a tune the next day "then it's catchy", and otherwise he "wouldn't use it." A.B. also requested material from
Rena Dearman, former keyboardist of the group, who provided several songs. A.B. favored "I'll Be Alright" and wanted Selena to record the song for ''Amor Prohibido''. After it was rejected by EMI Latin because it was incoherent of the album's theme, A.B. suggested that it could be included in Selena's next Tejano recording.
![Chris Pérez 2012](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d4/Chris_P%C3%A9rez_2012.jpg)
One song–"
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" is a song recorded by American Tejano singer, Selena. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). Originally written about a cheerful fish swimming freely in the ocean, the son ...
"–was improvised during a rehearsal starting off as a song with few, if any, lyrics. The band's drummer, Selena's sister
Suzette Quintanilla
Selena y Los Dinos ( en, Selena and the Guys, Selena And the Dinos=Selena And The Dinos) was an American Tejano band formed in 1981 by Tejano singer Selena and her father Abraham Quintanilla. The band remained together until the murder of Sel ...
, said "we were goofing off" and insisted that after A.B. began playing a
groove
Groove or Grooves may refer to:
Music
* Groove (music)
* Groove (drumming)
* The Groove (band), an Australian rock/pop band of the 1960s
* The Groove (Sirius XM), a US radio station
* Groove 101.7FM, a former Perth, Australia, radio station
...
on his guitar, Selena started singing, coming up with lyrics "as ideas came to her." It started off with lyrics about a cheerful fish swimming freely in the ocean, which Astudillo likened to a
nursery rhyme
A nursery rhyme is a traditional poem or song for children in Britain and many other countries, but usage of the term dates only from the late 18th/early 19th century. The term Mother Goose rhymes is interchangeable with nursery rhymes.
From t ...
, organized around a
wah-wah guitar
riff
A riff is a repeated chord progression or refrain in music (also known as an ostinato figure in classical music); it is a pattern, or melody, often played by the rhythm section instruments or solo instrument, that forms the basis or accompani ...
using a
crybaby
Crybaby, Cry-Baby, CryBaby or Cry Baby may refer to:
Music
None Albums
* Cry Baby (Garnet Mimms album), ''Cry Baby'' (Garnet Mimms album), 1963
* Cry Baby (Melanie Martinez album), ''Cry Baby'' (Melanie Martinez album), 2015
* ''The Crybaby' ...
that was improvised by Pérez. The track, then called "Itty Bitty Bubbles", became an extended jam during the band's concerts to prevent promoters from reducing their pay for playing for a shorter time than promised. Selena performed the song at the La Feria concert in
Nuevo Leon Nuevo is the Spanish word for "new". It may refer to:
* Nuevo, California, a town in the state of California
* Nuevo (band), featuring singer and musician Peter Godwin
* Nuevo (Bayamón), a settlement in Puerto Rico
* "Nuevo", Spanish-language vers ...
in September 1993, a day before the singer and Astudillo began "
utting
Utting am Ammersee (until 1953 just Utting) is a municipality in the district of Landsberg in Bavaria in Germany.
History
During World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world ...
the lyrics and melody together". A.B. saw potential in the tune and "nipped and tucked what Selena
ad already done. He joined as co-writer, writing the
guitar solo
A guitar solo is a melodic passage, instrumental section, or entire piece of music, pre-written (or improvised) to be played on a classical guitar, electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. In 20th and 21st century traditional music and popular m ...
s for Pérez, as well as the arrangements for the song. A.B. called it "kinda a little scary" finding the project the first of its kind. The day before the band was scheduled to record the album, A.B. approached Pérez and asked if he would be interested in working with Vela on "Ya No", a song that A.B. had written. Pérez worked with Vela throughout the night improvising the drum sounds and programming the music for it, adding
electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that requires external amplification in order to be heard at typical performance volumes, unlike a standard acoustic guitar (however combinations of the two - a semi-acoustic guitar and an electric acoustic gui ...
riffs, and complementing it with his own musical style. Pérez was dumbfounded that despite A.B.'s assistance he had been given creative control over the track.
The idea for the album's title track was Selena's own, although Astudillo had at one time aspired to write a
telenovela
A telenovela is a type of a television serial drama or soap opera produced primarily in Latin America. The word combines ''tele'' (for "television") and ''novela'' (meaning "novel"). Similar drama genres around the world include '' teleserye'' ...
-esque song entitled "
Amor Prohibido
''Amor Prohibido'' ( en, italic=yes, Forbidden Love) is the fourth studio album by American singer Selena, released on March 13, 1993, by EMI Latin. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next
studio rele ...
". Together with A.B. and Astudillo, Selena began writing and recording a track based on a story about her great-grandparents. The singer was inspired by love letters written by her great-grandmother who wrote about her experiences as a maid to the Calderon family, a wealthy family who lived in
Nueva Rosita
Nueva Rosita is a town in the northeastern part of the state of Coahuila in northern Mexico. It lies about northwest of the city of Sabinas on Federal Highway 57, and serves as the municipal seat of San Juan de Sabinas municipality.
In 1990 ...
, Mexico who immigrated from Spain, and her infatuation with their son. Her great-grandmother was forbidden to form a relationship with him because of her social class and described it as "forbidden love". Astudillo feared that Selena's father would reject the song because of the lyrical content of disobeying one's parents to pursue true love, as Selena herself had done when eloping with Pérez in 1992. Abraham heard "Amor Prohibido" after Selena recorded the track and enjoyed it, he found the lyrics to be relatable something "many families have gone through". While recording the song, Selena had
ad-libbed
In music and other performing arts, the phrase (; from Latin for 'at one's pleasure' or 'as you desire'), often shortened to "ad lib" (as an adjective or adverb) or "ad-lib" (as a verb or noun), refers to various forms of improvisation.
The ...
"oh whoa, baby". Her brother believed that the recording would not have been the same had she not added the "oh whoa, baby" part. "Amor Prohibido" sampled the ''
cencerro
A cowbell (or cow bell) is a bell worn around the neck of free-roaming livestock so herders can keep track of an animal via the sound of the bell when the animal is grazing out of view in hilly landscapes or vast plains. Although they are t ...
'', which was intended by A.B., to attract people of different ethnicities to Selena's music. The media attention following Selena's death led the Calderon family to Selena and the song "Amor Prohibido", they visited the family for the first time and traveled to Corpus Christi. After falling in love with Suzette, and finding out about her marriage in September 1993, Vela wrote down how he felt; which he had kept private from her. The resulting song was titled "
No Me Queda Más
"No Me Queda Más" ("There's Nothing Left for Me") is a song by American singer Selena on her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido''. It was released as the third single from the album in October 1994 by EMI Latin. "No Me Queda Más" was writ ...
" and it was given to Selena to record for the album. According to Abraham, Selena provided an emotional delivery while recording the track and was seen sobbing in the recording studio because "she knew how
elafelt" about Suzette.
During recording sessions for "
Techno Cumbia
"Techno Cumbia" is a song recorded by American singer Selena for her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). It was posthumously released as the b-side track to " Dreaming of You" through EMI Latin on August 14, 1995. Techno Cumbia wou ...
", A.B. encouraged Selena to
rap
Rapping (also rhyming, spitting, emceeing or MCing) is a musical form of vocal delivery that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and street vernacular". It is performed or chanted, usually over a backing beat or musical accompaniment. The ...
with a
New York accent
The phonology, sound system of New York City English is popularly known as a New York accent. The New York metropolitan area, New York metropolitan accent is one of the most recognizable accent (sociolinguistics), accents of the United States, ...
similar to
Rosie Perez
Rosa Perez (born September 6, 1964) is an American actress, choreographer, dancer, and activist. Her breakthrough came with her portrayal of Tina in the film ''Do the Right Thing'' (1989), followed by ''White Men Can't Jump'' (1992). Perez's perf ...
. During a New York trip, A.B. heard
the Pretenders
Pretenders are an English–American rock band formed in March 1978. The original band consisted of founder and main songwriter Chrissie Hynde (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), James Honeyman-Scott (lead guitar, backing vocals, keyboards), Pete Fa ...
' 1983 single "
Back on the Chain Gang
"Back on the Chain Gang" is a song written by Chrissie Hynde and originally recorded by her band the Pretenders, and released as a single by Sire Records in September 1982. The song also was released on '' The King of Comedy'' soundtrack album i ...
" on the radio. Concerned about the lack of material the band had to record for the album, and captivated by the idea of reworking "Back on the Chain Gang" into a Spanish-language
cumbia
Cumbia refers to a number of musical rhythms and folk dance traditions of Latin America, generally involving musical and cultural elements from American Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans during colonial times, and Europeans. Examples include:
...
song, A.B. asked Vela to write a translation of the lyrics. After discovering that Selena had sampled her song, Pretenders' vocalist
Chrissie Hynde
Christine Ellen Hynde (born September 7, 1951) is an American musician. She is a founding member and the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of the rock band the Pretenders, and one of the band's two remaining original members alon ...
prevented the band from releasing ''Amor Prohibido'' and demanded a translation from Vela before she approved a
rights agreement. At the time of Hynde's refusal, the band had $475,000 (1994 USD) of pre-sale copies in a warehouse that included "
Fotos y Recuerdos
"Fotos y Recuerdos" ( en, Pictures and Memories) is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her fourth studio album, ''Amor Prohibido'' (1994). It was released by EMI Latin in January 1995, as the fourth single. A cover version of ...
". Noticing it was the shortest track on ''Amor Prohibido'', musicologist James Perone felt that "Fotos y Recuerdos" had "stripped some of the edge off of Hynde's text but retained the basic premise of
Back on the Chain Gang". Perone complemented A.B.'s
arrangement
In music, an arrangement is a musical adaptation of an existing composition. Differences from the original composition may include reharmonization, melodic paraphrasing, orchestration, or formal development. Arranging differs from orches ...
as "an example of
isuniversal Latin approach."
Composition
''Amor Prohibido'' contains a more diverse collection of musical styles than Selena's previous work, ranging from
ranchera
Ranchera () or canción ranchera is a genre of traditional music of Mexico. It dates to before the years of the Mexican Revolution. Rancheras today are played in virtually all regional Mexican music styles. Drawing on rural traditional folk music ...
to
hip-hop music. Music critics believe it is an album of various genres accessible to both traditional and contemporary Latin music fans. Jeff Young, then-EMI Latin's sales director, labeled ''Amor Prohibido'' as "Pop International", which Mark Schone of ''
Newsday
''Newsday'' is an American daily newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI", and f ...
'' believed was a ploy by the company to broaden Selena's appeal. Musicologist Matt Doeden found the album as having "a new sound" whose aim was to appeal to a broad audience. Perone found the mixture of compositions on the album to be rock and
dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded danc ...
, and according to Frank Hoffman in the ''
Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound
The ''Encyclopedia of Recorded Sound'' is a reference work that, among other things, describes the history of sound recordings, from November 1877 when Edison developed the first model of a cylinder phonograph, and earlier, in 1857, when Léon ...
'', the album exhibited the band's broad range of styles. ''
Newsweek
''Newsweek'' is an American weekly online news magazine co-owned 50 percent each by Dev Pragad, its president and CEO, and Johnathan Davis (businessman), Johnathan Davis, who has no operational role at ''Newsweek''. Founded as a weekly print m ...
'' found the music in ''Amor Prohibido'' to have combined
house music
House is a music genre characterized by a repetitive Four on the floor (music), four-on-the-floor beat and a typical tempo of 120 beats per minute. It was created by Disc jockey, DJs and music producers from Chicago metropolitan area, Chicago' ...
,
cumbia
Cumbia refers to a number of musical rhythms and folk dance traditions of Latin America, generally involving musical and cultural elements from American Indigenous peoples, enslaved Africans during colonial times, and Europeans. Examples include:
...
,
rock
Rock most often refers to:
* Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids
* Rock music, a genre of popular music
Rock or Rocks may also refer to:
Places United Kingdom
* Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...
,
dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially, dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s.Barrow, Steve & Dalton, Peter (2004) "The Rou ...
, and
new wave that was modernized in a kaleidoscopic form that embodied postmodern maelstrom of the mid-'90s. ''Amor Prohibido'' diverged from Selena's "stock-in-trade contemporary Tex-Mex sound." Mario Tarradell of ''
The Dallas Morning News
''The Dallas Morning News'' is a daily newspaper serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas, with an average print circulation of 65,369. It was founded on October 1, 1885 by Alfred Horatio Belo as a satellite publication of the ''Galvesto ...
'', however, believed the title track and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" contained Selena's cheerful and enthusiastic personality that were prevalent in previous recordings. The album's musical influences include
salsa
Salsa most often refers to:
* Salsa (Mexican cuisine), a variety of sauces used as condiments
* Salsa music, a popular style of Latin American music
* Salsa (dance), a Latin dance associated with Salsa music
Salsa or SALSA may also refer to:
...
,
funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...
,
R&B,
bubblegum pop
Bubblegum (also called bubblegum pop) is pop music in a catchy and upbeat style that is considered disposable, contrived, or marketed for children and adolescents. The term also refers to a rock and pop subgenre, originating in the United States i ...
,
teen pop
Teen pop is a subgenre of pop music that is created, marketed and oriented towards preteens and teenagers.Lamb, Bill"Teen Pop" About.com. Retrieved January 28, 2007. Teen pop incorporates different subgenres of pop music, as well as elements o ...
,
pop ballad
A sentimental ballad is an emotional style of music that often deals with romantic and intimate relationships, and to a lesser extent, loneliness, death, war, drug abuse, politics and religion, usually in a poignant but solemn manner.J. M. Cur ...
s,
techno
Techno is a genre of electronic dance music (EDM) which is generally produced for use in a continuous DJ set, with tempo often varying between 120 and 150 beats per minute (bpm). The central rhythm is typically in common time (4/4) and often ch ...
, a fusion of
reggae
Reggae () is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1960s. The term also denotes the modern popular music of Jamaica and its diaspora. A 1968 single by Toots and the Maytals, " Do the Reggay" was the first popular song to use ...
and dancehall, rock,
polka
Polka is a dance and genre of dance music originating in nineteenth-century Bohemia, now part of the Czech Republic. Though associated with Czech culture, polka is popular throughout Europe and the Americas.
History
Etymology
The term ...
,
conjunto
The term ''conjunto'' (, literally 'group', 'ensemble') refers to several types of small musical ensembles present in different Latin American musical traditions, mainly in Mexico and Cuba. While Mexican conjuntos play styles such as '' norteño' ...
,
flamenco
Flamenco (), in its strictest sense, is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia, and also having historical presence in Extremadura and ...
,
mariachi
Mariachi (, , ) is a genre of regional Mexican music that dates back to at least the 18th century, evolving over time in the countryside of various regions of western Mexico. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, t ...
,
corridos, and
Tejano cumbia. Tejano cumbia is used heavily throughout ''Amor Prohibido''. Author Ed Morales noticed its representation of the "cumbia sound" already established by Tejano band
La Mafia
La Mafia is a five-time Grammy Award-winning musical group. It has its roots in the Northside neighborhood of Houston, Texas, and has charted a course as a Latin music band.
History
La Mafia was founded in 1980 in Houston, TX. Vocalist Osca ...
, though
Donald Clarke found Selena's delivery to be more of a modernized
synthesizer
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
-rich sound. While ''Amor Prohibido'' is a cross-cultural musical fusion, it remains an authentic Tejano recording, which uses a minimalist style that was quintessential in early 1990s Tejano music.
Selena called the recordings on ''Amor Prohibido'' as "
love song
A love song is a song about romantic love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. A comprehensive list of even the best known performers and composers of love songs would be a large order. ...
s
r songs aboutgetting your heartbroken". Lyrically, the title track "Amor Prohibido" encapsulates the
social divide between a poverty-stricken woman and the man of unreachable rank with whom she has fallen in love. The lyrics have been analyzed by authors, musicologists, and critics, who found them relevant to issues facing the
LGBT community
The LGBT community (also known as the LGBTQ+ community, GLBT community, gay community, or queer community) is a loosely defined grouping of lesbian, gay men, gay, bisexuality, bisexual, transgender, and other queer individuals united by a comm ...
. They are ambiguous, and have been interpreted to portray prohibited romance between
same-sex couples
A same-sex relationship is a romantic or sexual relationship between people of the same sex. ''Same-sex marriage'' refers to the institutionalized recognition of such relationships in the form of a marriage; civil unions may exist in countries ...
, modern society's views of romantic relationships, and to ''
Romeo & Juliet
''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...
''. A review in ''The Monitor'' felt that the lyrics portrayed the forbidden love that Selena and Pérez hid from her overbearing father. Musically, the titular song is "an emotional uptempo ballad" which showcases the singer's "passionate side". In "Cobarde", the protagonist calls her partner a "coward" upon learning on his inability to face her after feeling reticent about his affair. Two other tracks, "Ya No" and "Si Una Vez", delve into heartaches of failed relationships with the protagonist in the former song angrily refusing to take back a cheating partner. Selena's vocals were called "strong
ndraspy" in "Si Una Vez". Suzette particularly liked because Selena gave "that attitude" in the song.
"Tus Desprecios" has a storyline typical of mariachi recordings, concerning dysfunctional and volatile relationships. The track uses the traditional Tejano conjunto (small band) style and includes a trilling accordion motif. On the day Selena recorded the song, she was suffering from a
bronchitis
Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...
episode. Perone wrote that the song showed Selena's ease with pop, Latin, and Tejano styles. Writing for ''
The Miami Herald
The ''Miami Herald'' is an American daily newspaper owned by the McClatchy Company and headquartered in Doral, Florida, a city in western Miami-Dade County and the Miami metropolitan area, several miles west of Downtown Miami.[digital processing
Digital data, in information theory and information systems, is information represented as a string of discrete symbols each of which can take on one of only a finite number of values from some alphabet, such as letters or digits. An example is ...]
. Another track, "No Me Queda Más", uses the identical style of ranchera songs, with the female singer agonizing over the end of a relationship. The lyrics explore an
unrequited love
Unrequited love or one-sided love is love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer's deep and pure affection, or may consciously reject it. The Merriam Webster Online Dic ...
in which a woman wishes the best for her former lover despite her own agony.
Jose Feliciano
Jose is the English transliteration of the Hebrew and Aramaic name ''Yose'', which is etymologically linked to ''Yosef'' or Joseph. The name was popular during the Mishnaic and Talmudic periods.
* Jose ben Abin
* Jose ben Akabya
*Jose the Galile ...
express his take on the song, noting a sense of sorrowfulness in the lyrics, while finding cognitive parallels to Selena's life, and noticed a comparison of compositions that are typically recorded by
Pedro Infante
Pedro Infante Cruz (; 18 November 1917 – 15 April 1957) was a Mexican ranchera music singer and actor, whose career spanned the golden age of Mexican cinema. His popularity spread across Latin America.
Infante was born in Mazatlán, Sinaloa ...
. Selena's voice was admired for being powerful and emotive, while her vocals were found to have been subdued and solemn and were sung in a desperate and emotional way. ''
Hispanic
The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad.
The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...
'' magazine praised Selena's vocal interpretations in "No Me Queda Más", citing the singer's ability to tackle such a song reserved for established musicians twice her age.
Joe Nick Patoski of ''The New York Times'', recognized the melody of "Fotos y Recuerdos" from the Pretenders' new wave sound, that played on a ''
rock en español
Rock en español () is a term used widely in the English-speaking world to refer to any kind of rock music featuring Spanish vocals. Compared to English-speaking bands, very few acts reached worldwide success or between Spanish-speaking countri ...
'' groove surrounded with
organs and percussions which "transcend
dtraditional Tejano sounds." He also noticed that Pérez's lead guitar emulated the style of the Pretenders'
James Honeyman-Scott
James Honeyman-Scott (4 November 1956 – 16 June 1982) was an English rock guitarist, songwriter and founding member of the band The Pretenders.
With the band, Honeyman-Scott established a reputation, in the words of AllMusic, as "one of th ...
. ''Newsweek'' praised Pérez' guitar solos and the lyrics on "Fotos y Recuerdos" which explored forbidden romance, with the singer "cherishing memories of a relationship". John LaFollette of ''The Monitor'' called Selena's simultaneous appeals to
multiculturalism
The term multiculturalism has a range of meanings within the contexts of sociology, political philosophy, and colloquial use. In sociology and in everyday usage, it is a synonym for "Pluralism (political theory), ethnic pluralism", with the tw ...
and commerce in the song "as American as apple pie." The track supplements rock and house rhythms with
synth
A synthesizer (also spelled synthesiser) is an electronic musical instrument that generates audio signals. Synthesizers typically create sounds by generating waveforms through methods including subtractive synthesis, additive synthesis and ...
-driven
strings
String or strings may refer to:
*String (structure), a long flexible structure made from threads twisted together, which is used to tie, bind, or hang other objects
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Strings'' (1991 film), a Canadian anim ...
and
layers
Layer or layered may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* ''Layers'' (Kungs album)
* ''Layers'' (Les McCann album)
* ''Layers'' (Royce da 5'9" album)
*"Layers", the title track of Royce da 5'9"'s sixth studio album
*Layer, a female Maveric ...
of
percussion
A percussion instrument is a musical instrument that is sounded by being struck or scraped by a beater including attached or enclosed beaters or rattles struck, scraped or rubbed by hand or struck against another similar instrument. Exc ...
, including
steel drum
The steelpan (also known as a pan, steel drum, and sometimes, collectively with other musicians, as a steelband or steel orchestra) is a musical instrument originating in Trinidad and Tobago. Steelpan musicians are called pannists.
Descripti ...
s under a cumbia
beat
Beat, beats or beating may refer to:
Common uses
* Patrol, or beat, a group of personnel assigned to monitor a specific area
** Beat (police), the territory that a police officer patrols
** Gay beat, an area frequented by gay men
* Battery (c ...
. Perone located suggestions of
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
,
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
, and
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...
. "Techno Cumbia" featured Selena rapping under a cumbia beat supplemented with
congas
The conga, also known as tumbadora, is a tall, narrow, single-headed drum from Cuba. Congas are staved like barrels and classified into three types: quinto (lead drum, highest), tres dos or tres golpes (middle), and tumba or salidor (lowest) ...
,
hi-hat
A hi-hat (hihat, high-hat, etc.) is a combination of two cymbals and a pedal, all mounted on a metal stand. It is a part of the standard drum kit used by drummers in many styles of music including rock, pop, jazz, and blues. Hi-hats consist o ...
s, techno samples, and
EBM. Patoski acclaimed the band's new take on the cumbia rhythm, updated vocal samples, drums inspired from
, and
horn charts taken from
soca from the Caribbean. "Techno Cumbia" was praised as the first successful case of a cumbia-rap prototype in the industry. "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", which also draws on music from the Caribbean, features lusher arrangements and less driven,
trebly synthesizers than the first four songs on ''Amor Prohibido''. Infused with cumbia and reggae, its
onomatopoeic
Onomatopoeia is the process of creating a word that phonetically imitates, resembles, or suggests the sound that it describes. Such a word itself is also called an onomatopoeia. Common onomatopoeias include animal noises such as ''oink'', ''m ...
title and its nonsensical lyrics suggests the sound of Selena's heart palpitating whenever she thought of her husband. Critics praised the song's catchiness and noted a sense of conviviality in the track. "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" is musically similar to "El Chico del Apartamento 512"; Perone noted a recurring theme of attraction to a young man. The latter song's
hook
A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...
is more accessible to listeners with limited Spanish than that of "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom". In "El Chico del Apartamento 512", called a "sunny pop anthem", the protagonist is hit on by several men whom she has no interest in, except for the song's "boy in apartment 512". She finds enough courage to knock on his door to find it answered by a woman who asks if she is searching for her brother. To Perone, the song's lightness represents a relief from the heartbreak and despair elsewhere on the album.
Release and promotion
''Amor Prohibido'' was released in the United States on March 13, 1994. The release followed a recording contract with EMI Latin's pop division
SBK Records
SBK Records was a record label, owned by Universal Music Group, that was currently part of the Capitol Music Group, where it is in hibernation. The label was founded in 1988 and during its time in activity existed as part of the EMI Group.
Histo ...
, who aimed Selena to
crossover
Crossover may refer to:
Entertainment
Albums and songs
* ''Cross Over'' (Dan Peek album)
* ''Crossover'' (Dirty Rotten Imbeciles album), 1987
* ''Crossover'' (Intrigue album)
* ''Crossover'' (Hitomi Shimatani album)
* ''Crossover'' (Yoshino ...
into mainstream
American pop
''American Pop'' is a 1981 American adult animated jukebox musical drama film starring Ron Thompson and produced and directed by Ralph Bakshi. It was the fourth animated feature film to be presented in Dolby sound. The film tells the story of f ...
music, in November 1993. After this news reached ''Billboard'' magazine, ''Amor Prohibido'' was given a spotlight feature in its album reviews which called its release a continuation of her "torrid streak." While Mark Holston of ''Hispanic'' magazine, wrote that the album's release reinforced her reputation as one of the leading Hispanic singers of the 1990s. With EMI Latin's president Jose Behar requesting enhancements to their commercial appeal, the band gave Argentine arranger
Bebu Silvetti
Juan Fernando Silvetti Adorno (27 March 1944 – 5 July 2003), professionally known as Bebu Silvetti or simply Silvetti, was an Argentine- born Mexican pianist, composer, conductor, arranger, and record producer. In the 1970s he moved to M ...
the song "No Me Queda Más" to be reworked into a pop-style track for its single release in October 1994. ''Amor Prohibido'' was subsequently re-released with a red sticker indicating that it included a "new version" of the song. In a ''Billboard'' interview, Behar said that "No Me Queda Más" was "internalized" without affecting the originality of its recording. During the twenty-year celebration of Selena releasing music, ''Amor Prohibido'' was repackaged and was made available for physical and
digital purchase on September 22, 2002. The limited edition version included Selena's duet with
the Barrio Boyzz
The Barrio Boyzz were an American Latin pop group. The group was made up of Puerto Ricans who grew up in New York City. They gained popularity during the 1990s, when they became label-mates with Selena Quintanilla then landed their first ''Billb ...
on their 1994 single "
Donde Quiera Que Estés
"Donde Quiera Que Estés" ( en, "Wherever You Are") is a duet recorded by American Latin pop quintet the Barrio Boyzz and American Tejano singer Selena. Released on the Barrio Boyzz' album of the same name, "Donde Quiera Que Estés" was written ...
", music videos for "Amor Prohibido" and "No Me Queda Más", as well as spoken
liner notes
Liner notes (also sleeve notes or album notes) are the writings found on the sleeves of LP record albums and in booklets that come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for cassettes.
Origin
Liner notes are desce ...
containing commentary and recollections of each track provided by the singer's family, friends, and her band.
After featuring on "Donde Quiera Que Estés", Selena went on a mini-tour with the Barrio Boyzz that enabled her to visit New York City,
Argentina
Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the second-largest country in South America after Brazil, th ...
,
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
, the
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic ( ; es, República Dominicana, ) is a country located on the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antilles archipelago of the Caribbean region. It occupies the eastern five-eighths of the island, which it shares wit ...
, and
Central America
Central America ( es, América Central or ) is a subregion of the Americas. Its boundaries are defined as bordering the United States to the north, Colombia to the south, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. ...
, where she was not well known. In September 1994, Selena sold out the 10,000 seats
D.C. Armory
The D.C. Armory is an armory and a 10,000-seat multi-purpose arena in the eastern United States, located in Washington, D.C., east of the U.S. Capitol building. Managed by the Washington Convention and Sports Authority, the Armory was constructed ...
in
Washington, DC
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan ...
, with mostly Central Americans in attendance. Daniel Bueno, who organized the event, told ''
The Washington Post
''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'' that Central Americans loathe Tejano music and thought that the addition of reggae and
tropical music
Tropical music ( es, música tropical) is a term in the Latin music, Latin music industry that refers to music genres deriving from or influenced by the Spanish-speaking areas of the Caribbean. It includes the islands of Music of Cuba, Cuba, Music ...
into her repertoire had helped her appeal to Central Americans. Nelly Carrion, a journalist for the ''Washington Hispanic'', expressed how the audience resonated emotionally towards Selena's performance and stressed how people were desperate to touch Selena, forcing her act to be suspended. Selena made several appearances on television and in live shows to promote ''Amor Prohibido''. Most notably, her performance at the
Houston Astrodome
The NRG Astrodome, also known as the Houston Astrodome or simply the Astrodome, is the world's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, located in Houston, Texas. It was financed and assisted in development by Roy Hofheinz, mayor of Houston ...
on February 26, 1995, has been called one of her best. The event was critically praised for breaking attendance records set by
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
musicians
Vince Gill
Vincent Grant Gill (born April 12, 1957) is an American country music singer, songwriter and musician. He has achieved commercial success and fame both as frontman of the country rock band Pure Prairie League in the 1970s and as a solo artist b ...
,
Reba McEntire
Reba Nell McEntire (born March 28, 1955), or simply Reba, is an American country music singer and actress. Dubbed " the Queen of Country", she has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Since the 1970s, McEntire has placed over 100 single ...
, and
George Strait
George Harvey Strait Sr. (born May 18, 1952) is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor, and music producer. Strait is considered one of the most influential and popular recording artists of all time. In the 1980s, he was credited for ...
. Her performance in the Astrodome was emulated by
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Affleck (' Lopez; born July 24, 1969), also known as J.Lo, is an American singer, actress and dancer. In 1991, she began appearing as a Fly Girl dancer on the sketch comedy television series ''In Living Color'', where she rema ...
in her role as the singer in the
1997 biopic. The singer appeared at the
Calle Ocho Festival in Miami, with an estimated 100,000 in attendance breaking previous audience records. Her performance on a November 1994 episode of ''
Sabado Gigante
Saturday is the day of the week between Friday and Sunday. No later than the 2nd century, the Romans named Saturday ("Saturn's Day") for the planet Saturn, which controlled the first hour of that day, according to Vettius Valens. The day's na ...
'' was ranked among the most memorable moments in the show's 53-year history. Selena performed "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", "No Me Queda Más", "El Chico del Apartamento 512", and "Si Una Vez" on the ''
Johnny Canales Show'', which was later released as part of the host's "favorite songs" on DVD. Selena's performance of "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" on July 31, 1994, at
Six Flags AstroWorld
Six Flags AstroWorld, also known simply as AstroWorld, was a seasonally operated amusement park in Houston, Texas. Owned and operated by Six Flags, the park was situated between Kirby Drive and Fannin Street, directly south of I-610. The park o ...
was the subject of a video released by the ''
Houston Chronicle
The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. , it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. With it ...
'' for their segment "On This Forgotten Day". Ramiro Burr, of ''Billboard'', called the singer's tour for her album a "tour de force". The concerts established Selena as one of Latin music's most successful contemporary acts.
Singles
Tracks released from the album continued the singer's streak of US number-one singles. The title track, "Amor Prohibido", was the album's
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
released on April 13, 1994. The song peaked at number one on the ''Billboard''
Hot Latin Songs
The ''Billboard'' Hot Latin Songs (formerly Hot Latin Tracks and Hot Latin 50) is a record chart in the United States for Latin songs, published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. Since October 2012, chart rankings are based on digital sales, rad ...
chart the week ending June 11 – her first number one as a solo artist – and remained atop the chart for nine consecutive weeks becoming the
most successful US Latin single of 1994. "Amor Prohibido" was certified 7× platinum by the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) denoting sales of 420,000 digital units. "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" followed in July, reaching the top of the chart in its eleventh week on October 29, it remained at number one for four consecutive weeks, and was certified 9× platinum by the RIAA for sales of 540,000 digital copies. "No Me Queda Más" was released in November peaking at number one for seven nonconsecutive weeks. The single fared better in 1995, remaining entrenched in the top ten on the Hot Latin Songs chart for twelve consecutive weeks, earning it the title of ''Billboard''
most successful US Latin single that year. The track was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA for digital sales of 240,000 units. The album's final single "Fotos y Recuerdos", released in January 1995, peaked at number one following the
shooting death of Selena on March 31, 1995. At the time of her death, the song was at number four. "Fotos y Recuerdos" peaked and remained atop the Hot Latin Songs chart for seven weeks, finishing the year as the second most played track in the US trailing "No Me Queda Más". The song was certified platinum by the RIAA for digital sales of 60,000 copies. Although not released as singles from ''Amor Prohibido'', "Techno Cumbia" was certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of 60,000 digital units, "El Chico del Apartamento 512" was certified double platinum for selling 120,000 copies, while "Si Una Vez" received a triple-platinum certification for 180,000 copies sold.
Mario Tarradell of ''The Dallas Morning News'' wrote that the singles from ''Amor Prohibido'' elevated Selena to success on Latin radio whose promoters had not previously taken the singer seriously. "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" was ranked number 54 on the ''
Dallas Observer
''Dallas Observer'' is a free digital and print publication based in Dallas, Texas. The ''Observer'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music, and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue circ ...
''s list of the Best Texas Songs of All-time. The song was listed as an honorable mention on ''Billboard''s top ten list of best Tejano songs of all-time, while "No Me Queda Más" ranked ninth. Lisa Leal of
KVTV
KVTV, virtual and VHF digital channel 13, was a CBS- affiliated television station licensed to Laredo, Texas, United States. The station was owned by Eagle Creek Broadcasting.
On July 1, 2015, Gray Television, owner of NBC affiliate KGNS-T ...
said that "No Me Queda Más" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", continue to be popular with fans and are Spanish-language counterparts of
the Beatles
The Beatles were an English Rock music, rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1960, that comprised John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr. They are regarded as the Cultural impact of the Beatles, most influential band of al ...
' 1965 single, "
Yesterday", in fan popularity. Author Kristine Burns also considered that the two aforementioned singles aided the growth of Selena's fan base. "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" was the most-played song from ''Amor Prohibido'' on Mexican radio, and remains a
Latin pop
Latin pop (in Spanish and in Portuguese: Pop latino) is a pop music subgenre that is a fusion of US–style music production with Latin music genres from anywhere in Latin America and Spain. Originating in Spanish-speaking musicians, Latin po ...
and
American pop
''American Pop'' is a 1981 American adult animated jukebox musical drama film starring Ron Thompson and produced and directed by Ralph Bakshi. It was the fourth animated feature film to be presented in Dolby sound. The film tells the story of f ...
standard Standard may refer to:
Symbols
* Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs
* Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification
Norms, conventions or requirements
* Standard (metrology), an object th ...
. "Fotos y Recuerdos" has been recognized as the singer's "best-known dance tracks", while "Amor Prohibido" was popular on radios across Spanish-speaking countries. "Techno Cumbia", considered a stable in the 1990s for family gatherings in South Texas, is believed by musicologists to have spearheaded a new style of music. Following the 16th anniversary of the album's release, a readers poll in ''The Monitor'' saw participants choosing "No Me Queda Más" and "Fotos y Recuerdos" as their top picks, saying they "loved the feeling and musicianship in those two songs." Three tracks on ''Amor Prohibido'' ranked among ''Billboard''s Greatest Hot Latin Songs of All-Time list in 2016, including "No Me Queda Más" at number 13, "Fotos y Recuerdos" at number 29, and "Amor Prohibido" at number 46. The majority of the recordings found on ''Amor Prohibido'' have been named Selena's
signature song
A signature (; from la, signare, "to sign") is a Handwriting, handwritten (and often Stylization, stylized) depiction of someone's name, nickname, or even a simple "X" or other mark that a person writes on documents as a proof of identity and ...
s including the title track, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", "Fotos y Recuerdos", and "Si Una Vez".
Critical reception
Reviews
The vast majority of contemporary reviews were positive. Critics at ''The New York Times'' overwhelmingly praised the album: Peter Watrous felt it stayed honest to her "country, working-class constituency" and Greg Kot praised its "contemporary snap", while Joe Nick Patoski hailed ''Amor Prohibido'' as a "watershed" recording from a supergroup at the top of its game. Others, such as
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
's
Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Stephen Thomas Erlewine (; born June 18, 1973) is an American music critic and senior editor for the online music database AllMusic. He is the author of many artist biographies and record reviews for AllMusic, as well as a freelance writer, occ ...
, musicologist James Perone, and music editor Mario Tarradell panned the album initially before coming to view ''Amor Prohibido'' positively. Tarradell called Selena "Miss Mexican Lite" and criticized the lack of songs true to regional Mexican music, before calling the album "delightfully infectious". Perone felt the album sounded dated, despite providing ample evidence of the singer's appeal, whereas Erlewine characterized ''Amor Prohibido'' as "slightly uneven" and praised Selena's success at recording the weaker material. Erlewine would later describe ''Amor Prohibido'' as Selena's strongest album, and an effective introduction to her work that highlighted her successful interpretation of the Tejano sound.
The album's sound received positive reviews. Described by author Ed Morales as a "subtle evolution", and by ''The Dallas Morning News'' as "delightfully infectious, hummable
ndultra radio-friendly", the tracks were summarized and praised by ''The Monitor'' as "romantic, charming and ebullient." ''Billboard'' characterized the album's sound to be transparent for those unfamiliar with its musical diversity, while the ''
Houston Chronicle
The ''Houston Chronicle'' is the largest daily newspaper in Houston, Texas, United States. , it is the third-largest newspaper by Sunday circulation in the United States, behind only ''The New York Times'' and the ''Los Angeles Times''. With it ...
'' marveled ''Amor Prohibido''s ability at retaining its innovative sound well into the 21st century; a sound which was "light years ahead" of the singer's contemporaries. The singer's "seductive alto" was described as at a peak of expression. The ''
San Antonio Express-News
The ''San Antonio Express-News'' is a daily newspaper in San Antonio, Texas. It is owned by the Hearst Corporation and has offices in San Antonio and Austin, Texas. The ''Express-News'' is the third largest newspaper in the state of Texas, with ...
'' collectively praised the band as being at their "creative peak", while A.B.'s production was highlighted by the ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' who labeled it the "Selena sound" that would have made the singer a dominant force on the music charts had it not been for her death. ''Amor Prohibido'' hinted of a "pop potential", an opinion echoed by author Matt Doeden, who felt that the recording exhibited Selena's potential to become the genre's first pop musician.
Many critics found ''Amor Prohibido'' to have been Selena's best work, calling it her band's "crowning achievement." Other reviews called the work the singer's "
blockbuster
Blockbuster or Block Buster may refer to:
*Blockbuster (entertainment) a term coined for an extremely successful movie, from which most other uses are derived.
Corporations
* Blockbuster (retailer), a defunct video and game rental chain
** Bl ...
album", her signature album, a "career-defining" release, her "most interesting" and "sleekest" record, a "desert island album" for fans, calling it a "notch up" in her career, a "landmark", a "victory" recording, a "sultry, regional anthem." and an "overnight sensation".
Recognition
At the time of its release, ''Amor Prohibido'' was regarded as very popular in Hispanic communities, albeit one that exemplified a generational split within the Tejano market at the time. Musicians found contemporary Tejano more sophisticated and noticed that it was unnecessary to explore their roots to have successful recordings. A.B.'s musical production of fusing and blending urban musical compositions in ''Amor Prohibido'', revolutionized Tejano music. With ''Amor Prohibido'', Selena brought Tejano music to unprecedented levels of mainstream success. The album was considered one of the first Latin recordings that were enjoyed in the United States during the 1990s Latin explosion, a period known as the golden age of
Latin music
Latin music (Portuguese language, Portuguese and es, música latina) is a term used by the music industry as a catch-all category for various styles of music from Ibero-America (including Music of Spain, Spain and Portuguese music, Portugal) ...
which was fueled by the singer's death in 1995. ''Amor Prohibido'' popularized Tejano music among a younger and wider audience than at any other time in the genre's history. The album was instrumental in popularizing Tejano music and has been credited for "
utting
Utting am Ammersee (until 1953 just Utting) is a municipality in the district of Landsberg in Bavaria in Germany.
History
During World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world ...
Tejano music on the map." ''Amor Prohibido'' was called the first record many young Hispanic females bought "with lyrics in the language
heir
Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...
blood is rooted in." With ''Amor Prohibido'', Selena provided a voice and exhibited the experiences of
Latinos in the United States
Hispanic and Latino Americans ( es, Estadounidenses hispanos y latinos; pt, Estadunidenses hispânicos e latinos) are Americans of Spanish and/or Latin American ancestry. More broadly, these demographics include all Americans who identify as ...
. At the time of its release, the album was aimed to surpass limitations in the music industry, ultimately becoming "an ageless cultural symbol".
After the album's release, Selena was considered "bigger than Tejano itself", and was credited for tearing down barriers in the Latin music market. ''Amor Prohibido'' established Selena as a figure in American pop music. Critics felt the recording elevated Selena among the leading females in the Latin music sector and established her as a leading performer among young singers with mainstream appeal. Mario Tarradell of ''The Dallas Morning News'' believed Selena had "conquered the Latin pop landscape", while Herón Márquez called it a "landmark success". In a November 1994 ''Billboard'' issue, ''Amor Prohibido'' was named, among other Latin recordings, as an example to show that
American Latinos were able to sell albums in English-speaking markets across the US that had historically overlooked Latin music. According to Gisela Orozco of the ''
Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'', Selena became the most successful Tejano musician following the album's release. ''Amor Prohibido'' was played in its entirety at the 25th anniversary of the D.C. Latino Festival in July 1995, which followed her death in March of that year.
The album appeared on Tom Moon's list of the ''1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List'' (2008). The ''
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'' (popularly known as the ''Seattle P-I'', the ''Post-Intelligencer'', or simply the ''P-I'') is an online newspaper and former print newspaper based in Seattle, Washington, United States.
The newspaper was foun ...
'' included ''Amor Prohibido'' on its list of the best-produced albums of 1994, while the ''
Houston Press
The ''Houston Press'' is an online newspaper published in Houston, Texas, United States. It is headquartered in the Midtown area. It was also a weekly print newspaper until November 2017.
The publication is supported entirely by advertising ...
'' placed it on its list of the best Texas albums of the past 30 years. ''Amor Prohibido'' was ranked ninth out of ten on Latin music critic Mario Tarradell's list of the best Latin music albums of the 1990s. BuzzFeed ranked ''Amor Prohibido'' number 22 on its list of the "35 Old-School Latino Albums You Probably Forgot About". ''Billboard'' magazine ranked ''Amor Prohibido'' among the most essential Latin recordings of the past 50 years, and included it on its list of the top 100 albums of all-time. In 2017,
NPR
National Public Radio (NPR, stylized in all lowercase) is an American privately and state funded nonprofit media organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with its NPR West headquarters in Culver City, California. It differs from other ...
ranked ''Amor Prohibido'' at number 19 on their list of the 150 greatest albums made by women, the highest-ranking album by a female Latin artist, and ninth highest-ranking recording by a woman of color. Music and media outlets,
BuzzFeed
BuzzFeed, Inc. is an American Internet media, news and entertainment company with a focus on digital media. Based in New York City, BuzzFeed was founded in 2006 by Jonah Peretti and John S. Johnson III to focus on tracking viral content. Ken ...
, ''Billboard'', and
Apple Music
Apple Music is a music, audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users select music to stream to their device on-demand, or they can listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the Internet radio stations Apple M ...
, commemorated the album's 25th anniversary in March 2019. Other media outlets, such as
Entertainment Tonight
''Entertainment Tonight'' (or simply ''ET'') is an American Broadcast syndication, first-run syndicated news broadcasting news magazine, newsmagazine program that is distributed by CBS Media Ventures throughout the United States and owned by Para ...
and the ''Houston Chrionicle'', interviewed Jennifer Lopez,
Ally Brooke
Allyson Brooke Hernandez (born July 7, 1993) is an American singer. She is a member of the girl group Fifth Harmony. Brooke began to establish herself in 2017 as a solo artist, featuring on Lost Kings' " Look at Us Now" with rapper ASAP Ferg. ...
,
Cierra Ramirez
Cierra Alexa Ramirez (born March 9, 1995) is an American actress and singer. She is best known for playing Mariana Adams Foster in the Freeform television series '' The Fosters'' and reprising her role in the spin-off series '' Good Trouble'', w ...
,
Natti Natasha
Natalia Alexandra Gutiérrez Batista (born December 10, 1986), better known by her stage name Natti Natasha, is a Dominican singer. She was signed to Don Omar's label Orfanato Music Group. Her debut EP, ''All About Me'', was released on March ...
,
Anitta Anitta may refer to:
* Anitta (king), Hittite king
*Anitta (singer)
Larissa de Macedo Machado (born March 30, 1993), known professionally as Anitta, is a Brazilian singer, songwriter and television host. She is regarded as one of biggest Brazi ...
,
Farina,
Angela Aguilar,
Becky G
Rebbeca Marie Gomez (born March 2, 1997), known professionally as Becky G, is an American singer and actress. She first gained recognition in 2011 when she began posting videos of herself covering popular songs online. One of her videos caught t ...
, and Kam Franklin on their take of ''Amor Prohibido'' and the singer's impact on their careers. In an interview with ''Billboard'', Mexican singer Danna Paola spoke about how ''Amor Prohibido'' was the first album she ever bought. American soul singer Kam Franklin called the record as "one of the greatest albums of all time". In the updated edition of ''Rolling Stone'' magazine's
The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time
"The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time" is a recurring opinion survey and music ranking of the finest albums in history, compiled by the American magazine ''Rolling Stone''. It is based on weighted votes from selected musicians, critics, and indust ...
, the album ranked at number 479.
Accolades
Selena dominated the 1995 Tejano Music Awards, winning every category in which she was eligible. ''Amor Prohibido'' won the Tejano Music Award for Album of the Year – Orchestra, while the title track won Record of the Year and Tejano Music Award for Single of the Year, Single of the Year. "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" was Tejano Music Award for Song of the Year, Song of the Year, while "Techno Cumbia" received the award for Best Crossover Song. ''Amor Prohibido'' received a nomination for
Best Mexican-American Album at the 37th Annual Grammy Awards. Music critic Chuck Philips, believed Selena was "the politically correct candidate" to win the Grammy, "with all the heavy media coverage she [had] received in the last two years [1992-94]". At the Premio Lo Nuestro 1995, the album won Lo Nuestro Award for Regional Mexican Album of the Year, Best Regional Mexican Album and its titular single won Lo Nuestro Award for Regional Mexican Song of the Year, Regional Mexican Song of the Year. At the second annual Billboard Latin Music Awards, ''Billboard'' Latin Music Awards in 1995, it won Regional Mexican Album of the Year, Female and its namesake song won Regional Mexican Song of the Year while "No Me Queda Más" received the award for Music Video of the Year. ''Amor Prohibido'' was nominated for Album of the Year at the 1995 Desi Entertainment Awards, while the title track was nominated for Spanish-language Song of the Year. At the 1995 Pura Vida Hispanic Music Awards, music industry professionals voted for that year's Best Album for which they awarded to ''Amor Prohibido'' along with "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" which took Music Video of the Year and Song of the Year honors.
Commercial performance
Chart history
''Amor Prohibido'' debuted at number three on the US ''Billboard''
Top Latin Albums
Top Latin Albums is a record chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine and is labeled as the most important music chart for Spanish language, full-length albums in the American music market. Like all ''Billboard'' album charts, the chart is based ...
chart the week ending April 9, 1994. The following week it rose to number two and received the greatest jump in sales for that week. In an interview with ''Billboard'', A.B. was frustrated that the album had yet reached number one. He explained that they were limited in their capabilities with Tejano music and spoke about his excitement when ''Amor Prohibido'' finally topped the chart, saying the event "was a big thing [for us]." ''Amor Prohibido'' peaked at number one in its tenth week, becoming the second album to place first on the newly formed Top Latin Albums chart displacing Cuban singer Gloria Estefan's ''Mi Tierra'' from the top spot. Sales were so vigorous it nearly entered the US
''Billboard'' 200 and became the first Tejano record to peak at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart. The event marked Selena as the "hottest artist in the Latino market." The following week, the album entered the ''Billboard'' 200 chart at number 183, becoming the first record by a non-crossover act to do so since Mexican singer Luis Miguel's album ''Aries (album), Aries'' (1993). The album also became the first recording by a Tejano singer to chart on the ''Billboard'' 200. Mario Tarradell of ''The Dallas Morning News'' called the event "groundbreaking" and named ''Amor Prohibido'' as one of the most popular Latin recordings of 1994. ''Amor Prohibido'' and ''Mi Tierra'' switched back and forth between the first and second positions on the Top Latin Albums chart for five consecutive weeks.
On July 16, the album debuted at number 18 on the US ''Billboard'' Heatseekers Albums chart and ranked number one in the South Central United States region. By May 1994, ''Amor Prohibido'' had outsold other competing Tejano albums and lead the list of best-selling Tejano records of 1994. ''Amor Prohibido'' became the singer's third consecutive album to outsell men in the Tejano market who historically were unchallenged by women. By June 1994, ''Amor Prohibido'' outsold ZZ Top and Willie Nelson's recent releases in the state of Texas. Within 19 weeks of its release, the album outsold her previous recordings. It was selling 2,000 units a week in Mexico, while Selena was growing a following in Latin music in Canada, Canada following the release of ''Amor Prohibido''. By November 1994 a report by ''Billboard'' showed the singer was one of the top-selling acts in Mexico. ''Amor Prohibido'' finished 1994 as the Top Latin Albums Year-End Chart#1994, fourth best-selling US Latin album and the best-selling regional Mexican album. After 48 weeks at number one on the US ''Billboard''
Regional Mexican Albums
Regional Mexican Albums is a genre-specific record chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart was established in June 1985 and originally listed the top twenty-five best-selling albums of mariachi, tejano, no ...
chart, ''Amor Prohibido'' was displaced by Bronco's ''Rompiendo Barreras''. The recording became the second Tejano album to reach year-end sales of 500,000 copies, a feat that previously had only been accomplished by La Mafia. Despite this, Nielsen Soundscan reported that the recording actually sold 184,000 units by April 1995. According to Behar, sales figures Nielsen Soundscan provides do not include sales in small shops specializing in Latin music. Before Selena was murdered in March 1995, the album remained in the top five on the Top Latin Albums chart for 53 consecutive weeks. Album sales in the four weeks preceding her death were slightly above 2,000 units a week. In the week immediately before her death, ''Amor Prohibido'' sold 1,700 units. In Mexico, ''Amor Prohibido'' sold 400,000 units by April 1995, and subsequently received a gold certification.
Posthumous commercial performance
Media attention had helped increased sales of ''Amor Prohibido'' as well as her back catalogue. As a result, EMI Latin increased the production of the singer's albums at their Los Angeles, California, and Greensboro, North Carolina plants. In the hours immediately after her death, it was the most requested album by people in music stores looking for her work. An Austin, Texas music retailer expressed how ''Amor Prohibido'' sold more units in the first month following her death "than it did the entire year it was out." This was echoed by a music wholesaler in Manhattan, who constantly sold out of Selena's albums the same day they received them, telling the local newspaper that "It used to be just the Mexicans [in Manhattan]. Now everybody likes her." In McAllen, Texas, music shops reported that people bought the singer's earlier works than ''Amor Prohibido'', citing that "most fans already have her latest [album]". Music stores in Washington, DC, reportedly sold out of ''Amor Prohibido'' within days of her murder. The album reached number one for the fifth time on April 15, 1995, with sales of 12,040 units - a 580% increase over the previous week. The record subsequently re-entered the ''Billboard'' 200 chart at number 92 and at number one on the Regional Mexican Albums chart. The album sold an additional 28,238 units (a 136% increase) and rose to number 36 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. ''Amor Prohibido'' peaked at number 29 during its fifth week on the ''Billboard'' 200. The event was "a rare feat" for a non-English album in the United States. The album jumped from number 20 to number six on the list of the best-selling albums in Southern California in the week following her death. The recording eventually ranked second on their list of the best-selling albums in the state. In a June 1995 report, ''Amor Prohibido'' was the second best-selling record in Puerto Rico. ''Amor Prohibido'' and her 1992 studio album ''Entre a Mi Mundo'', rose 1,250% in sales in the eight weeks following her murder. The album helped increase local record shops in Texas who were "selling more than when [Selena] was alive". ''Amor Prohibido'' remained at number one on the Top Latin Albums chart for 16 weeks following her death until the release of her crossover album ''
Dreaming of You'' replaced it on August 5. The album remained behind ''Dreaming of You'' for seven weeks. By the end of 1995, ''Amor Prohibido'' ranked second to ''Dreaming of You'' for the best-selling Latin album for that year, and remained the best-selling regional Mexican recording for three consecutive years.
After 98 weeks the album dropped from the top five on the Top Latin Albums chart, though it remained within the top ten for 12 additional weeks. ''Amor Prohibido'' holds the record for most weeks at number one on the Regional Mexican Albums chart at 97 weeks, and is the only album to reach number one in four different calendar years. ''Amor Prohibido'' became the ninth best-selling Latin album of 1996, and ranked as the second best-selling Latin catalog album of 1997, while in 1998 it placed third. ''Billboard''s revised catalog criteria made it ineligible for the Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums chart on January 18, 1997. The album was removed from the list and began charting on the newly formed Latin Catalog Albums chart positioned at number two. Since 1997, the album has spent 13 nonconsecutive weeks at number one on the Top Latin Catalog Albums chart including three weeks in 2010. Following another revision to its Latin albums charts, ''Billboard'' removed its two-decade-long ban of catalog albums in its chart beginning with the February 11, 2017 list; ''Amor Prohibido'' re-entered the Top Latin Albums and Regional Mexican Albums chart after 20 years. Still popular today, Nielsen SoundScan reported that ''Amor Prohibido'' was the ninth best-selling Latin record of 2016. After its revision, ''Amor Prohibido'' reclaimed the number one position on the Regional Mexican Albums chart in May 2017. ''Amor Prohibido'' was the first album by a woman to claim the top position since Jenni Rivera's ''Paloma Negra Desde Monterrey'' (2016). ''Amor Prohibido'' became the Women in Latin music#Visibility, last album by a woman to claim the top spot until Rivera's daughter Chiquis Rivera debuted atop the chart in March 2018. As of 2018, the album has spent twenty weeks atop the Top Latin Albums chart, which is the ninth most weeks an album has spent at number one. ''Amor Prohibido'' has spent 111 weeks within the top ten of the Top Latin Albums chart, which is the second most weeks behind American singer Romeo Santos' ''Formula, Vol. 2'' (2014).
In May 1995, the
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
(RIAA) RIAA certification#Latin, certified the album gold, for shipments of 500,000 units. Within three weeks, it was certified platinum for increments of one million units. ''Amor Prohibido'' became the first Tejano record to receive a platinum certification. The ''Sydney Morning Herald'' called the event "an achievement" for a Spanish-language album which was not "the music industry's language of choice." By June 1995, it had sold 1.5 million units in the US, of which 100,000 were sold in Puerto Rico alone. In March 2011, the RIAA updated its certification of ''Amor Prohibido'' as double Diamond during an unveiling of the United States Postal Service's forever stamps honoring Selena and several other Hispanic/Latino Americans. , the album has been certified 36× platinum (Latin), denoting 2.14 million
album-equivalent unit
The album-equivalent unit, or album equivalent, is a measurement unit in music industry to define the consumption of music that equals the purchase of one album copy. This consumption includes streaming and song downloads in addition to traditi ...
s sold. ''Amor Prohibido'' is the second-highest
certified Latin album in the United States trailing only her posthumous album ''Dreaming of You'' (1995). ''Amor Prohibido'' is the fourth List of best-selling Latin albums in the United States, best-selling Latin album of all-time in the US with over 1.246 million copies sold . The album has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. The recording has been ranked as the best-selling Tejano album of the 1990s, and the best-selling Tejano album of all-time.
Track listing
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Amor Prohibido''.
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''Amor Prohibido''.
;Vocal credits
*
Selena
Selena Quintanilla Pérez (; April 16, 1971 – March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American Tejano singer. Called the " Queen of Tejano music", her contributions to music and fashion made her one of the most celebrated Mex ...
– vocals, backing vocalist, background vocals, composer
*Stephanie Lynn, Rick Alvarez, "Rock 'n' Roll" James – background vocals
;Visuals and imagery
*Lisette Lorenzo – art director, art direction
*Maurice Rinaldi – photography
;Instruments
*
Suzette Quintanilla
Selena y Los Dinos ( en, Selena and the Guys, Selena And the Dinos=Selena And The Dinos) was an American Tejano band formed in 1981 by Tejano singer Selena and her father Abraham Quintanilla. The band remained together until the murder of Sel ...
– drums, producer
*
Chris Pérez
Christopher Gilbert Pérez (born August 14, 1969) is an American guitarist, best known as lead guitarist for the Tejano band Selena y Los Dinos. He married the frontwoman of the group, Selena, on April 2, 1992. Pérez grew up in San Antonio, Te ...
– electric guitar, programming (music), drum programming, arranger
*
A.B. Quintanilla
Abraham Quintanilla III (born December 13, 1963), known professionally as A.B. Quintanilla III or A.B. Quintanilla, is an American record producer, songwriter and musician, and the older brother of singer Selena, known as " The Queen of Tejano ...
– bass guitar, bajo sexto
*Henry Gomez – guitar
*Joe Ojeda – keyboards, arranger
*
Ricky Vela
Ricardo Vela is an American musician and songwriter who was the keyboardist for the band Selena y Los Dinos from 1984 to 1995.
Works
Vela has either written or co-written the following songs that topped on ''Billboard'' 200, ''Billboard'' Latin ...
– keyboards, programming, arranger, composer
*Johnny Saenz – accordion
*Rafael Gasca – trumpet
*Rene Gasca – trumpet
*Gilbert Garza – trombone
;Technical and production credits
*A.B. – composer, producer, programming, audio mixing (recorded music), mixing, arranger
*Jorge A. Pino – executive producer
*Brian "Red" Moore – audio engineer, engineer, mixing
*Nir Seroussi – editing
*Guillermo J. Page – reissue producer
*
Bebu Silvetti
Juan Fernando Silvetti Adorno (27 March 1944 – 5 July 2003), professionally known as Bebu Silvetti or simply Silvetti, was an Argentine- born Mexican pianist, composer, conductor, arranger, and record producer. In the 1970s he moved to M ...
– arranger, producer
Charts
Weekly charts
Quarterly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications and sales
!scope="row", Worldwide
,
, 2,500,000
, -
See also
* 1994 in Latin music
* Selena albums discography
* List of number-one Billboard Top Latin Albums from the 1990s
* Billboard Regional Mexican Albums Year-end Chart, 1990s
* List of number-one Billboard Regional Mexican Albums of 1994
* List of number-one Billboard Regional Mexican Albums of 1995
* List of number-one Billboard Regional Mexican Albums of 1996
* List of best-selling Latin albums
* List of best-selling Latin albums in the United States
* Latin American music in the United States
* Women in Latin music
Notes
References
Works cited
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External links
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{{Authority control
1994 albums
Albums produced by A.B. Quintanilla
EMI Latin albums
Spanish-language albums
Selena albums
Tejano Music Award winners for Album of the Year
Albums recorded at Q-Productions