Selena Day, observed annually on April 16th, is a day dedicated to honoring the life and legacy of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, the beloved Tejano music superstar. This day provides an opportunity for fans around the world to celebrate her groundbreaking achievements in music and her lasting impact on Latino culture.
Despite her tragic passing in 1995, Selena’s vibrant spirit and influence continue to illuminate the music industry. Selena Day is not just a tribute, but a continuance of her musically enriched legacy.
History of Selena Day
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez was born on the 16th of April, 1971, in the small Texan city of Lake Jackson. She was born into a musical family, with her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., previously having a career as a musician. Recognizing his daughter’s innate musical talent, he formed the band “Selena y Los Dinos” during the 1980s, and Selena naturally took on the role of lead vocalist. In 1990, her foremost music album, “Ven Conmigo,” received widespread acclaim and was the first Tejano genre album to reach gold status, symbolizing over 500,000 units sold.
Selena’s stardom continued to rise in the early part of the 1990s with popular singles like “Como La Flor”, “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom”, and “Amor Prohibido”. She quickly grew to become a significant figure in the Latin music industry and earned herself the title of “The Queen of Tejano Music”. The album ‘Live’, released by Selena in 1993, was recognized with a Grammy for the best Mexican-American album, marking a crucial moment in her musical journey.
In an event that shocked her fans worldwide, Selena’s life was taken abruptly on March 31, 1995. Her former fan club president and the manager of her fashion boutiques, Yolanda Saldivar, was responsible for her untimely death. Despite her life being cut short, Selena’s music continues to inspire, with her legacy living on in the Latin music world. Her life and musical journey were immortalized in a television biographical drama “Selena: The Series” by Netflix, released in 2020.
Selena Day Timeline
Birth of Selena Quintanilla
Selena Quintanilla was born on April 16, 1971 in Lake Jackson, Texas.
Selena's music career begins
At the age of 10, Selena became the lead singer in her family's band, Selena y Los Dinos.
Selena's first major award
Selena won the 'Female Vocalist of the Year' award at the Tejano Music Awards.
Signing with EMI Latin
She signed with EMI Latin and released a self-titled debut album the same year.
Grammy award
Selena won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Album for 'Live!'.
Tragic Death
Selena was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar, her fan club's president, on March 31, 1995 at the age of 23.
Biographical Film Release
A film about her life and career, starring Jennifer Lopez as Selena, was released.
Netflix miniseries
A two-part miniseries titled 'Selena: The Series', which chronicles her life and career, was released on Netflix.
Ideas to Celebrate Selena Day
Selena Sing-Along Session
Gather friends and family for a fun karaoke night featuring Selena's greatest hits. This can be a fun and interactive way to celebrate and pay tribute to the music icon.
Movie Screening
Watch the biographical film 'Selena' starring Jennifer Lopez. This film vividly recounts the life of Selena Quintanilla, making it an apt choice for Selena Day.
Selena-Inspired Fashion Show
Selena was known for her unique and iconic style. Organize a fashion show where friends and family dress up in outfits inspired by Selena's looks. This adds a creative and fun element to your Selena day celebrations.
Fan Art Session
Arrange a fan-art crafting session where participants can express their love and admiration for Selena in various art forms such as painting, drawing, or sculpting.
Dance Choreography
Set up a dance session for Selena’s most iconic songs such as 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom' or 'Como La Flor' in a group setting and capture the moments on video.
7 Interesting Facts About Selena (singer)
Queen of Tejano Music
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, known simply as Selena, was crowned the 'Queen of Tejano Music.' Tejano music is a popular genre combining elements of Country music, Jazz, and Polka, native to the Texan-Mexican border.
Record Breaking Artist
Selena's posthumously released crossover album, 'Dreaming of You,' debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, making her the first and only female Latin artist to accomplish this.
Her Own Fashion Line
Selena was not just a singer, but also a businesswoman. She launched her own boutique-clothing line called 'Selena Etc.' which featured clothing designed and sewn by her and her team.
First Latin Artist Honoured at Wax Museums
Selena was the first Latin artist to be commemorated with a wax figure at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood, Las Vegas, and New York.
Posthumous Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In 2017, 22 years after her death, Selena was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. More than 4,500 fans attended the star's unveiling, setting a new record for the largest crowd ever at such an event.
The Influence of 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom'
The song 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom' was an original composition by Selena and became one of her signature songs, despite it not being a commercial single. The song's title, 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom' is an onomatopoeic phrase intended to mimic the sound of a beating heart.
Biographical Movie
A biographical movie about her life and career, titled 'Selena,' was released in 1997. Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez played the role of Selena, which catapulted JLo to international fame.
Selena Day FAQs
Next Selena Day Dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | April 16th | Sunday |
| 2024 | April 16th | Tuesday |
| 2025 | April 16th | Wednesday |
| 2026 | April 16th | Thursday |
| 2027 | April 16th | Friday |
| What is the pattern? | Every April 16th | |
Selena Day Word Search
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- Quintanilla