Selena (album)

Production

José Behar, president of EMI Latin, attended the 1989 Tejano Music Awards, and was scouring the area for new acts. After Selena performed, Behar called his boss and told him about her. Behar thought he found the next "Gloria Estefan", to which his manager thought he was illogical. Selena later signed with EMI Latin later that year and became the first artist to sign with them. Recording began immediately after she signed with them in 1989. Initially, EMI Latin did not want Selena's brother A.B. Quintanilla III to write and produce any of her songs; they felt that they were "gambling" when they opened a Latin division of EMI Records. The company allowed A.B. to write and produce Selena after the family argued that the recording label should give him a chance. A.B. said in 2002 that Selena displayed a mix of music genres that became a standard practice when he began producing Selena's career. Their father and manager Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. gave the job to A.B, after he successfully produced several recordings in Selena's musical career prior to their arrival at EMI Latin. Selena recorded most of the songs in San Antonio, Texas at AMEN Studios, while "Sukiyaki" and "My Love" were recorded in Houston, Texas at Sunrise Studios. The former was written by Selena, who wanted the song to be on the album. A.B. believed "My Love" echoed works by Exposé and Sweet Sensation that had a "club feel".

The only tracks A.B. did not composed were "Sukiyaki", "Contigo Quiero Estar", and "No Te Vayas". The latter was an original 1960s Japanese recording by Kyu Sakamoto. The lyrics Selena used were a Spanish version of an English version of the song by Janice Marie Johnson. Keyboardist of Los Dinos, Ricky Vela and backup dancer Pete Astudillo helped with the translation of "Sukiyaki"; Vela confessed in 2002 that his Spanish wasn't perfect and cited Astudillo as having done the majority of the songwriter for the track. Vela also said that he used a music sequencer and began "elaborating" Selena's music with the start of "Sukiyaki". Selena's sister and drummer of the band, Suzette Quintanilla, said in 2002 that "Sukiyaki" was her favorite track off Selena. Texas Monthly called "Sukiyaki" a "sentimental" song. "Contigo Quiero Estar" was written by Mexican songwriter Alejandro Montealegre while "No Te Vayas" was written by Reinaldo Ornelas. Abraham called the recording a "Tejano ranchera" tune. The song was produced with a D50 synthesizer, handled by Joe Ojeda who joined the band a few days prior to the recording session of "Contigo Quiero Estar". A.B. wanted "No Te Vayas" on the album because of its reggae feel, he thought it would make the album "exotic" from other Spanish-language albums that were released at that time. "Tengo Ganas de Llorar" was the last song recorded and included on Selena.

Release

Selena was released on October 17, 1989 through EMI Latin. In its first week on the U.S. Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart (December 2, 1989), it was positioned at number 17. It peaked at number seven on March 24, 1990. It was on the chart for another three weeks. On May 5, 1990, it reentered the chart at number 14, after the release of Ven Conmigo (1990). However, it slipped off the charts once again. It reentered the chart again two times in August 1990. "Contigo Quiero Estar", "Mentiras", and "Sukiyaki" were released as singles. The lead single, "Contigo Quiero Estar" peaked at number eight on the U.S. Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart. The album was a moderate success for Selena.

At the 1990 Tejano Music Awards, Selena won Female Vocalist of the Year and Female Entertainer of the Year. "Amame, Quiéreme", a duet with Astudillo, was nominated for "Vocal Duo of the Year" at the 1990 Tejano Music Awards. On August 27, 2002, Selena was re-released as part of the 20 Years of Music series. It had one bonus track ("La Bamba") and spoken liner notes by the singer's family, friends, and former band.

Legacy and reception

Her album Selena performed better than albums from other female Tejano singers. Lee Stacy wrote in her book Mexico and the United States (2002), that Selena "achieved reasonable success". According to Billboard magazine, Selena's recordings were not successful until she signed with EMI Latin in 1989 and released her debut album with them. Manuel Pena wrote in his book Música Tejana: The Cultural Economy of Artistic Transformation, that after 1989, Selena's popularity increased and she became a sex icon following her album's release. According to Latin Style magazine, the tracks "Sukiyaki", "Contigo Quiero Estar", and "Besitos", were "pivotal" recordings that showcased Selena's "mixed rhythm and sound" which the magazine attributed it as being her "trademark".

Credits

Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.

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