Recordar es volver a vivir.
You don’t have to be Mexican, Texan, or of Latin-American heritage to appreciate Selena’s music. Selena sang about love and love is one of three, universal languages.
I’ll tell anybody who is willing to listen how great it was to grow up in the ‘90s, more so to grow up in Los Angeles, California. A city so rich in Chicano culture you’d have to actually try, should you wish to ignore the music, the people, and the history. I remember a childhood that was simple yet so diverse, and with a sound that would go on to stick with me for life. Every time I hear it mi corazon quiere cantar así!
I wanted to dance, look, and sound like Selena. Before ‘Sunday scaries,’ my Sundays were more consumed by irony. After church I’d spend a good part of my afternoon dancing in the living room to her music, wearing tiny crop tops, flowy pants, big hair, and hoops. If you’re wondering — yes, my parents hated to see me act years beyond my age, but chucked it up to girls will be girls, so long as she doesn’t leave the house looking this way.
March 31, 1995, is one of the few days of my childhood I remember so vividly. High-level overview: For lunch I had a turkey avocado sandwich on wheat, I wore white lace ruffle socks with my Saint Jeanne De Lestonnac uniform. The sun had gone down around 5:00 pm PST, and my mom picked me up shortly thereafter from after-school care. We drove West down Venice Boulevard, I walked in, washed my hands, and sat on our brown living room rug to watch the evening news with my mother.
María Celeste Arrarás and Mirka Dellanos, in a monotone voice reported the ongoing [breaking] news, Selena Quintanilla had been shot by Yolanda Saldivar and later passed due to excess blood loss at Corpus Cristi Memorial. The images of the Days Inn, room 158, and Yolanda Saldivar in her red pick-up truck surrounded by swat teams, replay in my mind from time to time. It was a painful day for music and even more painful for Selena fans worldwide. The only thing we now have left of her were fotos y recuerdos. Pero recordar es volver a vivir, right? It’s been said that the way to keep memories alive is to share the story. Accordingly, the Quintanillas spoke, and Hollywood wrote.
For the last 25 years, I have watched the Selena film (1997) countless times. From twice in theaters at Universal City Walk, to VHS, to DVD, to my Prime Video digital library — I know it by heart. Over time, her anniversary tributes have only gotten better. One of my favorite performances is from Pete Astudillo, Selena’s long-time friend, and beloved band member. It is evident that Como te Extraño was Astudillo’s creative coping mechanism, which flourished over time as a result of her tragic death.
Here is what you came for: Selena the Series on #Netflix.
When I first learned of its production (mid-2019), I was outraged. How do you do this 25 years later to a legend we had preserved in the museum of our minds? Who Selena is to the Latinx culture is synonymous with who Aaliyah is to R & B — there will be many, but never another. I think sequels spoil a lot of originality, and in a time where there is a lack of innovative storylines in Hollywood, this seemed like a completely disrespectful move. By the same token, and to justify me watching it, my thought process went a little like this:
- I can count on one hand the Netflix originals that have disappointed [me]
- This series was in fact a Q-Production, and Selena was an icon, so I gave in to watch what [they] came up with
Four minutes in, and I had tears streaming down my cheeks. Naturally, I proceeded to watch all nine episodes in one day. Yes, I have a job, and yes, I have now watched the series twice.
You should note: I’m not into spoilers and this isn’t a defense essay.
Part One of Selena the Series goes beyond treading familiar grounds with the characters of the 1997 motion picture. We have established there will never be another Selena, and in that statement, lies great power. Contrary to mainstream portrayal, Selena did not start at the top, she started in the backyards of the neighborhood(s) she was growing up in, while her dad had some connections with the music industry, few at the time were willing to take a chance on a young Selena y Los Dinos (her band).
Many are going into Selena the Series expecting to see the acting-grade of JLO and Edward James Olmos (23 years later). What if we looked at it through a different lens? What if we looked at it as Selena’s journey into Stardom — in the event that “Part One” wasn’t indicative enough that this would be a journey.
Personally, I appreciated a walk down the late ’70s and ’80s aesthetic, the strong sense of family unity, AB Quintanilla’s passion for music production, and Abraham Quintanilla’s demand for success. The series gives an all-around view of Selena’s influences, from academic, social life, to family life, her early and humble musical engagements, as well as the faith and admiration everyone who surrounded Selena, had in her.
An overtly criticized character is Abraham Quintanilla, Selena’s father. His stoic demeanor, business-minded determination [often confused for ego], arguably stubborn — but a man who had a [very] soft spot for his youngest daughter, Selena.
There are countless remarks floating in online communities about machismo —strong or aggressive masculine pride — often present in antiquated Latin-American households. Such which have a synonymity with the patriarchal antics of Selena’s father. Here is where I must insert a couple of observations.
I read an Instagram post about Selena’s creativity and it being her method of expression in response to her father’s controlling ways, and her ‘provocative’ outfits being her method of rebellion, respectfully, I disagree.
I see her bold persona shining through her fashion styles.
After all, she did idolize Paula Abdul, Madona, Donna Summer, etc.
Selena was keeping up with the times, her father was her greatest ally, and in retrospect, his opinion of her was important but not detrimental. A devoted father will always protect his daughter(s) above all things.
Some viewers have strongly criticized the wigs, the wigs, and the wigs. Others have criticized, the machismo exuded by her father, and again the wigs.
Interactive Questions for the [Series] Critics:
Who would you have cast as Selena?
What would you have done differently to adequately capture her trajectory in part one?
What would make the Selena series more acceptable [in your opinion]?
As we gear toward the release of part two (anticipated release date May 14, 2021), we can expect the slow-burning story to continue. Something that has fascinated me about this series is the emphasis on family and the warmth of the Latinx culture. For those of us with Latinx heritage, family lies at the core of our culture, and that is a critical theme in the Selena series. It was always a family act, and anyone who came onboard as a member of Selena y Los Dinos turned into family, again the focus on the warmth and welcoming nature of Latinx culture (we welcome everyone!)
Closing Remarks
Many critics have failed to realize is that the 1997 Selena score we love so much, was almost two decades of a young woman and her family’s musical trajectory condensed into two hours. A series was naturally going to come with expansive detail, and as an opportunity for viewers to learn about the influence(s) behind Selena’s success— which we can now identify as family and a profound affinity for music.
In my humble opinion, Christian Serratos has a fascinating resemblance to a young Selena, and her voice — wow! Gabriel Chavarria does a fantastic job as a lead male role, playing A.B. Quintanilla, Selena’s primary producer and songwriter.
I look forward to part two, where we can surely expect to learn more about Selena and Chris’ relationship, as well as the treacherous insertion of Yolanda Saldivar into the Quintanilla family’s life.
With all the love and respect, que viva Selena. Let’s pick this conversation back up in May!
Fun fact: Did you know prior to the production of the 1997 film, JLO moved in with Suzette Quintanilla for 30 days to learn her mannerisms, watch music videos together, and ask questions in order to nail her role down?
