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Remember This Banger: Selena’s ‘Dreaming of You’

BBG News

Prior to Selena Quintanilla’s tragic death on March 31, 1995, she was standing at the edge of a significant milestone — all her hard work and perseverance in the Tejano music industry were about to catapult her to even greater heights. At just 23 years old, this Grammy-winning artist had already achieved so much, earning adoration from fans who donned Stetson hats and frequenting rodeos.

But just when the promise of more was on the horizon, Selena’s light was snuffed out.

Over the past 30 years, the late singer has been revered as almost saintly by many Latinos (and others) following her death. Her tale is a heart-wrenching one, marked by an untimely end that denied her the chance to fully explore her talents. Among her songs, none better captures this sentiment than “Dreaming of You.

On August 14, 1995, “Dreaming of You” was launched as the lead single from the late singer’s fifth and final studio album, also named “Dreaming of You.” This was the first Spanish-language album to debut at number one on the Billboard 200. In its initial week, it sold an impressive 331,000 copies, and for the next two decades, it remained the best-selling Latin music album.

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Selena’s influence has surpassed the number of years she lived, with her legacy serving as her most successful endeavor. The Quintanilla family has consistently profited from Selena’s memory, earning vast sums through her likeness, narrative, and music. This financial exploitation occasionally stirs discomfort among fans. However, in 1995, the album served as a meaningful tribute to Selena’s abilities, a chance to express grief over her demise, and a place to reflect on the potential of what a long life together could have offered both her and her supporters. As her death occurred during recording sessions, songwriters, producers, and family were left to complete the album in her absence, filling the gap not just as an artist, but as a cherished loved one.

In an oral account by Chris Perez, who was Selena’s husband, he shared the challenging nature of working on the “Dreaming of You” album shortly following her passing.

He shared, “At that specific moment, hearing that voice was truly uncomfortable.” In fact, he found himself asking for it to be almost silent, only playing occasionally to help him navigate the song. Simply put, it wasn’t enjoyable.

The album aimed to be Selena’s significant attempt at crossing over into the English-speaking market, with “Dreaming of You” taking the lead. Originally composed by Franne Golde and Tom Snow for the Minneapolis pop R&B group The Jets, “Dreaming of You” is a tender, yearning ballad about a girl who pines for her beloved from her room. It carries the emotional resonance of a teenage diary entry: Late at night when everyone else is asleep / I stay awake and think of you / And I hope on a star / that somehow, you’re thinking of me too…

Selena’s hit single, ‘Dreaming of You’, reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 and encapsulated Selena’s life up to that point. It tells a story of a young girl who defied her parents’ disapproval by eloping with a man she loved, symbolizing the struggle of a young Mexican-American woman navigating two cultures, feeling pressured to meet expectations from both sides.

Entertainment & Arts

Nearly three decades following the fatal shooting of beloved artist Selena Quintanilla-Perez, the woman responsible for her death has been refused parole.

Selena primarily sang in Spanish and drew inspiration from artists such as Donna Summer, Jody Watley, and Paula Abdul within the predominantly Mexican music scene. Her ambition was to become an American R&B-pop singer, but her father’s business decision kept her from pursuing that path when she was too young to fully express herself. However, creating a space that allowed her to showcase her true self became the main focus of her artistry.

This is particularly noticeable on “Dreaming of You.” In this emotional hit, she draws upon the same soulful, ranchera ballad singing she displays in songs like “Tú Solo Tú” and “No Me Queda Más,” but translates it to English pop music. To underline the cross-over, she includes a Spanish interlude. This acts as a link between two phases of her career, facilitating her fans’ transition along with her.

Despite the fact that it represents a tale of “unrealized possibilities,” the truth is that Selena achieved the career she had always envisioned. Transitioning into the afterlife, she simultaneously entered the American pop mainstream, which was her aim during her lifetime on Earth. And as her music gets passed down from one generation to the next, fans continue to make her dreams a reality.

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2025-03-28 19:01

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