On March 31, of the year 1995, the music world mourned the loss of Tex-Mex singer Selena Quintanilla. The "Amor Prohibido" singer was murdered at the age of 23 by Yolanda Saldivar, president of her fan club. Selena was the youngest of three siblings and began singing at the age of three. At the age of nine, her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr. formed a musical group called Selena y Los Dinos, where her two older siblings also performed.
Her rise to stardom came when she released her "Ven Conmigo" album, which was the first Tejano album recorded by a female artist to achieve gold status. In 1992 another hit came with "Como La Flor" from her "Entre A Mi Mundo" album. Selena received a Grammy for Best Mexican-American Album for "Selena Vive!"
Although Selena's life was cut short, her music legacy lives on and is still remembered fondly by fans today. Below are 19 quotes to remember Selena Quintanilla by:
1. "Since I was small, when I was in school, I was a business girl. I would buy things to sell, gums for three cents, things like that.”
2. “Anywhere in the world you go, you find racism, discrimination. Not just in the United States, or in Texas. It’s very sad for me, but that’s the way it is. I can’t change the world by myself. I, being Hispanic, have also faced discrimination. But … the world keeps turning. Life is full of surprises. That’s all I will say.”
3. “All this is a dream to me. Everything, the applause, the fans asking for autographs, the trips, all that is a dream."
4. "Well, when I am singing I am a completely different person. I could be very free, depending on the situation I could do what I want. I could have to deliver, as with many songs, a lot of emotion if a song is very sad as with a very happy and excited song. It depends, it depends. Compared to when I am in my, I am normal, like whomever, of the public," during an interview with Cristina.
5. "First I want to say that my father wasn't like that. My father, he saw the talent and he tried to cultivate it and tried to do something about it. But it wasn't in a bad way. It was to help us to do something in life. I think it is something very sad because not all parents are like that. And even if the father of Michael Jackson did that, you have to love your parents even if they do bad things. You know, it's like the roles, like they reverse. When a child does bad things, the parents are always going to love their child even if they do something bad. They are always going to love them. It's like that love you have within a family."
6. "I have nothing bad to say about my job. I love the public, I love to talk, get to know people, everything."
7. "I give thanks to God for having in Chris [her husband] a companion, a true friend, and a good heart. I’m quite normal. I pay rent and eat. I love kids. I would love to have a family. But … I have a lot of time for that. That is more … for the future."
8. "I’m always planning for my future. The public can support an artist or let them fall. Aside from music, I love designing. I have to put money in something I like. That is why I have been thinking of the boutiques."
9. "I’d love to record a song with Luis Miguel. It’s right baby! It’s because he has sponsorship from Coca-Cola, like us. We’ve been with Coca-Cola for four years in the United States, and two more years in the United States and in Mexico."
10. "The life of an artist is not all glamorous. It's a lot of work. A lot of people think that it's very easy. They think you always stay in good hotels, you buy good things, but it is not like that. You have to work very hard like everybody."
11. On making time for fans: "For me, how can you do that when the public has you up there? You understand? How can you do that? They are the ones who make the artist! They buy the records, they buy everything. And you have to be grateful to the public in that way to give autographs if they want an autograph, you give them an autograph! It's not going to take very much of your time, I do it!"
12. "I admire Gloria Estefan because she opened the doors for latinos, completely. Not just for the female artists, but for the males as well. It’s the reason Jon Secada is having so much success. Before Gloria it was very difficult for Hispanics to enter the English market. She is an internationally known artist. I admire her very much."
13. "At first, when I went for the first time to the Festival de Acapulco, I was scared because I didn’t know who I was going to meet or how I was going to be received, and because it’s further south in Mexico and the music is a little different. But when I came on stage, I felt very comfortable and very happy. I’m ready to return. The public received us with open arms."
14. "I enjoyed the duet I did with the Barrio Boyzz. I loved the song. To make a duet work you have to get along with the people. I liked the boys. Jose Behar, the president of EMI Latin, had asked me to do it. For him, I’ll do anything, he’s a very good friend."
15. "I don’t do any crazy diets. I take vitamins and eat three times a day."
16. "I eat anything, and I’m not preoccupied with my figure. The most important is that the people accept me for my music, not for physical appearances. And if I get fat, let’s see what happens. And honestly, I won’t lie, sometimes I watch myself, because Hispanic women sometimes put on weight around the hips."
17. "I collect hats, caps and shoes. I have about 200 pairs of shoes. My favorite color is black. It is a very sophisticated color."
18. "I also don’t exercise. I can’t imagine exercising for two hours. Not my style."
19. "What I don’t like are arrogant people. We’re all equal. I don’t like it when a person assumes to be better. It angers me a little. There are a lot of people like that, but the world keeps turning. I also don’t like lies. I’m very honest. I’m always going to tell the truth. I don’t lie. I treat my friends the way I want to be treated."
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