Music: Selena Quintanilla Perez

My life has always been filled with music. I have such a deep appreciation for all types of music and it is something that has always brought my family together. Today I wanted to do a post in honor of a very special musician that truly influenced me in life. Selena Quintanilla Perez. She was a Mexican American singer who greatly influenced Latino music in bridging the gap between traditional Mexican music and current pop.  

She was a Grammy award winning Latina musician that was on the rise of super stardom when she was tragically killed when she was 23.  I can honestly say that I can remember vividly watching the news the day of her funeral and seeing her casket surrounded by white roses. 

When the movie came out in 1997 with Jennifer Lopez I fell in love with Selena. She became a hero and a person I wanted to be when I grew up.  In my mind I would sing, I would dance, dress like her, and I would be famous like her haha. I felt such a deep connection when I was younger because she was a Mexican American woman who was beautiful, successful, and seemed like she could be my sister. She loved to sing, dance,  and she even had to learn how to speak Spanish. That was my favorite thing about her! I am a fourth generation Mexicana to be born in California and I don't speak a word of Spanish. She was someone I felt was so similar to me and I truly idolized her. I remember constantly watching her movie and crying at the end, because I felt her loss every time I watched the movie (I was dramatic haha). I would play the soundtrack over and over again until I knew all the words. My earliest memories is sitting by myself and playing Dreaming of You over and over again. I truly love and cherish Selena and I am so happy that she is still honored and remembered today. <3