Our Top 10 Selena Songs list takes a look at the Queen of Tejano music. She was the Jackie of all trades because she was a singer, songwriter, actress, spokesperson, model and fashion designer. She was one of the most celebrated Mexican American entertainers of all time because of her work in music and fashion. She was compared to Madonna because of her fashion style. She was a wholesome singer with a good girl image. Selena was able to cross over into the mainstream market. She sold over 18 million albums worldwide.
She is an award winner. Her life was tragically cut short when she was murdered at the young age of 23. Selena became even more famous after her death. There was a movie made about her life called Selena. Jennifer Lopez played the starring role. Her hits include “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “Baila Esta Cumbia,” “La Carcacha,” “Sin Una Vez,” “Fotos y Recuerdos,” “No Debes Jugar,” “Amor Prohibido,” Donde Quiera Ques Estes,” “Dreaming of You,” “I Could Fall in Love,” “Como la Flor” as well as other hit singles.
Selena was born Selena Quintanilla Perez on April 16, 1971 and died March 31, 1995. She had musical ability when she was a child. She was singing while she was going to school. Selena was in a Tejano band in 1981. She formed the band with her father. The band stayed together until her untimely death. Her popularity grew as a singer. It started to affect her education. She dropped out of school, but eventually earned her diploma through correspondence school. Selena wanted to record English music, but would go on to record Tejano music. Her father wanted her to do music that was related to her heritage. She had to learn how to sing in Spanish. Her father taught her how to sing in Spanish.
Selena released her eponymous album in 1989. It peaked at number seven on the Mexican albums charts. It features the singles “Contigo Quiero Estar,” “Mentiras” and “Sukiyaki.” She won a Tejano Music Award for this project. It led her to become a sex symbol. Ven Conmigo was released in 1990. It peaked at number three on the Mexican charts and number 22 on the pop charts. It features the singles “Ya Vez,” “Baila Esta Cumbia” and “La Tracaiera.” The album went three times platinum.
Entre a Mi Mundo was released in 1992. This album was about female empowerment and self-assertion. It peaked at number one on the Mexican albums charts and number 97 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Como la Flor,” “La Carcacha,” “Que Creias” and “Amame.” The album went diamond. Amor Prohibido was released in 1994. It peaked at number one on the Latin charts. It was the first Tejano record to peak at number one. It peaked at number 29 on Billboard 200. It features the singles “Amor Prohibido,” Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” “No Me Queda Mas” and “Fotos y Recuerdos.” The album sold over two million copies.
Dreaming of You was released in 1995. It was released after her death. It peaked at number one on the Latin charts and Billboard 200. It sold 179,000 copies its first day. It features the singles “I Could Fall in Love,” “Tu Solo Tu,” “Dreaming of You,” “Techo Cumbia,” “La Toro Relajo” and “I’m Getting Used to You.” This is one of the best selling Latin albums of all time. The album sold over five million copies.
Selena was a pioneer for Latin women. She was able to maintain success in a male dominated genre. She had several successful albums and singles during her career. She was groomed to be the next Madonna of the Latin community. She proved that you didn’t have to flaunt your body in order to be successful. She let her voice do the talking. Her life was cut tragically short, but her legacy lives on through her music. This Top 10 Selena Songs list will feature her best songs.
# 10 – Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
The first song on our Top 10 Selena Songs list is “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” from the Amor Prohibido. The song has a Tejano dance pop reggae Mexican cumbia beat. The upbeat song is about the sound your heart makes when you fall in love. Anyone who has fallen in love for the first time can relate to the lyrics. You can relate to the lyrics even if you have been in love for years.
The title may make you think it is a novelty song, but it is a song about love. This is one of Selena’s signature songs. This track was a favorite for her younger fan base because of the catchy beat. The music mixes a lot of genres so fans of different genres will enjoy it. The energetic beat is designed to get you out of your seat and move around. It is impossible to sit still while you are listening to it. It has a summer vibe to it. You can have a lot of fun listening to the song. The track is bouncy and infectious. Selena doesn’t sing the lyrics in English.
You don’t have to understand the language in order to feel what she is saying. She sounds as if she is having fun while she is singing the lyrics. She sounds like a combination of Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. She holds notes towards the end of the song that you don’t see coming. Her vocals are very powerful and strong. This song is one of the many that show what a great singer she was.
# 9 – Sin Una Vez (If I Once)
The next song on our Top 10 Selena Songs list is “Sin Una Vez (If I Once)” from the Amor Prohibido. The song has a Mariachi and cumbia beat. The bittersweet song is about her wondering why she ever loved her partner. He is abusive to her. She ends things with the man. She decides that she is never going to make the same mistake again.
The subject of the song is really deep. People don’t usually sing about abuse so it was a different choice for her to sing a song like this. People who have questioned their love for someone will resonate with the lyrics. The lyrics will hit close to home. Most of us have been in relationships where we wonder why we fell in love with the person. We also decide that we don’t want to make the mistake of falling in love with that person again. Selena was out of her wheelhouse with the lyrics of the song because she was usually upbeat and happy.
She also sang songs about love so it was a change of pace for her to sing a bitter song about questioning her love for a partner. Here is a fun fact. Selena was in love when she sang this song so it was weird that she would sing a song about heartbreak. The music is melodic. It features a horn section, keys, drums, and guitars. There are a lot of musicians featured in the track that created an amazing sound. Selena has a beautiful tone to her voice. This is another song that showcases how great of a singer she was. She sings in time with the music. She can be heard over the loud music.
# 8 – Baila Esta Cumbia (Dance This Cumbia)
The playful song is from the Ven Con Migo album. The song has a Mexican cumbia beat. The joyous song is about dance. This would technically qualify this song as a novelty song since it is about dancing. The song isn’t meant to be taken seriously. It is a fun song about dancing. The music is infectious and will have you moving around on the dance floor.
There is no way to sit still while listening to it. This is something you can hear playing in a Mexican club. This is the type of song you can hear if you don’t feel like listening to love song. If you want to listen to something fun and upbeat, you can check this track out. It will grab your attention immediately. The music features the piano, horn section, guitar and drums.
The musicians did an excellent job with the music. They get their chance to shine in the track, especially during the musical pauses. Selena sounds like an angel in this song. Her voice is similar to Jennifer Lopez’s in this song. She makes you feel the lyric if you don’t understand what she is saying. The background singers have amazing harmony. This song is proof that she could sing anything and make it sound good. The only minor complaint is the song is really short. The song is under three minutes so it ends too quickly.
# 7 – La Carcacha (The Jalopy)
The intriguing song is from the Entre a Mi Mundo album. The song has a Latin pop and cumbia beat. The unique song is about a woman who is in love with a guy with an old car. This definitely wins the award for the most unique subject.
There aren’t too many people who sing a song about being in love with a guy who has an old car. She tells an interesting story about a woman loving a guy who has an old car. Don’t let the subject matter fool you. This is a good song. The music is a highlight of the track. The musicians hold nothing back while they are playing. It has a true Latin flavor. If you’re not a fan of Latin music, this song will change your mind. You can work up a sweat dancing to this song. The keyboard is the true star. The keyboardist is a maestro on the keys.
There is a musical pause that is worth checking out. Selena sounds great on this track. She shows she has strong pipes because she was able to hold he own against the loud music. She is just as loud as the music. She doesn’t hold any notes in this song, but it wasn’t needed. It wouldn’t have hurt the song if she did add notes. It would have made the song even better.
# 6 – Fotos y Recuerdos (Photos and Memories)
The reflective song is from the Amor Prohibido album. The song has a rock and house beat. The sad song is about a woman who feels lonely so she decides to kiss the picture of the man she loves every night before she falls asleep. The subject of the song is sad and sweet at the same time. The song is sad because she doesn’t get to be with her lover and she feels lonely. It’s sweet because she misses him so much that she wants to kiss his picture every night so she could fall asleep.
The woman really loves the man in her life and misses him while he’s gone. Anyone who misses the person they love will feel the same way she does about her lover. If you think about it, you don’t have to be in love to relate to this song. This song could be about missing a family member or a good friend. This song was her first song to become her first number one song after she died. It’s bittersweet to listen to this track because it became more popular after she was killed. Selena’s fans could also feel the way she does in the song since she’s no longer with us.
The song has a surprisingly upbeat sound considering it’s about someone being lonely and missing someone. The track has a midtempo beat, but you can move around to it. It’s better that it has an upbeat sound so you won’t feel sad while listening to it. The musicians are fantastic. They know how to make you move while you listen to them play. Let’s get to Selena’s vocals. She sounds amazing while she sings the song. Her soprano tone blends perfectly with the music. She didn’t hold any notes, but she did little runs at points in the song that are worth checking out.
# 5 – Donde Quiera Que Estas (Where Do You Want Me to Be) ft. Selena
The next song on our Top 10 Selena Songs list is “Donde Quiera Que Estas (Where Do You Want Me to Be)” is from the Barrio Boyzz album of the same name. The song has a dance pop and hip-hop beat. The heartbreaking song is about the feeling you get when you break up with your true love. This song tells a story about a couple who break up with each other.
They hope they will get back together one day. This will resonate with couples who break up and make up. Here is some trivia about the song. The Barrio Boyzz and Selena didn’t know each other when they recorded this song. Their labels wanted them to work together. The labels made the right decision because they worked very well together. The music is fire. It will have you on the dance floor. It is a great blend of dance and hip-hop. The music has great cross over appeal.
The music features the piano and drums. The musicians knew what they were doing when they created this music. The song was released in the 90s, but it doesn’t sound old. The Barrio Boyzz and Selena sound amazing together. They may not have known each other when they first recorded this song, but their voices were made for each other. Their voices blend well together. They all harmonize well with each other. Selena does runs throughout the song that are worth checking out. Her voice is very big and powerful in this track.
# 4 – No Debes Jugar (You Should Play)
The empowering song is from the Live! album. The song has a Tejano Mexican and cumbia beat. The anthemic song is about a woman who feels unappreciated by her man. She decides to stand up for herself and tells him that she is finished playing around with him. She tells him that she is ready to leave. This dramatic song is like a soap opera and a Lifetime movie of the week.
This song is an inspiration to women who are tired of their men treating them badly. This track will motivate them to leave the relationship. This will definitely resonate with women who are sick and tired of being treated badly. Women want to be appreciated by their husbands and boyfriends. The song has a fast and bouncy beat. It makes you think the song is a happy song. You would think the song would have been a ballad based on the subject matter.
With that said, the music will have you moving in your seat. The music features the guitar, keys and drums. Selena sings this with sass. She convincingly pulls off the part of the frustrated lover. She has a double in the song, which gives it something extra. She belts throughout the song, which is always a treat. She has the voice of an angel. She sounds similar to Madonna and Jennifer Lopez in this track. Selena had a good girl image so it was a change to hear her sing a dark song. Once again, she proved she could sing anything. The only flaw with the song is it is too short. When you are expecting to hear more, the song is over.
# 3 – Amor Prohibido (Forbidden Love)
The romantic song is from the album of the same name. The song has a dance pop Tejano and cumbia beat. The touching song is about forbidden love. The couple is from two different worlds and they fall in love with each other. Here is some trivia about the song. This song is about Selena’s grandparents. Her grandfather was rich while her grandmother was a maid.
The lyrics are reminiscent of a soap opera. It’s always interesting for a couple to fall in love when they are from two different worlds. This is an anthem for star-crossed lovers. This song is proof that love can conquer anything. It can overcome many obstacles. The LGBTQ community chose this song as their anthem. The music is energetic and lively. The music is very synth heavy.
It also features the bass guitar, guitars, accordions, flutes, drums as well as other percussions. They blend together to make spunky music. It will take a lot to sit still throughout the track. Selena’s voice is really pretty in this song. She sings in time with all of the beat changes. She starts the song softly and then gets louder and the music gets louder. She belts the chorus beautifully. Her voice blends well with the background singers. Don’t be too surprised if you find yourself singing along with her because she is practically begging you to sing with her.
# 2 – I Could Fall in Love
The poignant song is from the Dreaming of You album. The song has a pop and r&b beat. The emotional song is about falling in love with someone. She wants to find love, but isn’t able to get it. Here is some trivia about the song. People thought this track was about Selena’s father because he didn’t approve of her relationship with her husband Chris Perez. He didn’t approve of the relationship because he was a rocker.
The lyrics tell the story of a woman in agony because the man she loves may not feel the same way about her. In the first half of the song, she is ready to walk away because her feelings for him are too intense. She is afraid she will lose control over herself. In the middle of the song, she talks about dreaming about him and hoping he feels the same way about her. In the end, there is no decision on whether she gets the guy or not. This is one of the only English songs on our Top 10 Selena Songs list. Selena got to achieve her goal of releasing English music with this track.
The music is a blend of pop and r&b. It has a mix of Latin to give it something special. Selena sounds incredible singing this song. She proved she could sing English tracks. She sounds like Madonna and Jennifer Lopez in this song. This song was released posthumously so it may be a little hard to listen to this song. If you can get past the sentiment of her no longer being here, you will find her voice very enjoyable on the track.
# 1 – Dreaming of You
The number one song on our Top 10 Selena Songs list is “Dreaming of You” from the album of the same name. The song has a pop and r&b beat. The longing song is self-explanatory. It is about her dreaming of the guy she loves. She wishes for the guy to feel the same way she does about him.
Here is some trivia about the song. Selena wasn’t the original choice for this song. The r&b group The Jets were originally offered the track. They didn’t want to sing the song so it was offered to Selena. The powers-that-be made the right decision to give the haunting song to Selena. She did a fabulous job with the track. The music is soft and soothing. The musical arrangement is flawless.
It is the perfect blend of r&b and pop with a hint of Latin to give it some flare. Selena sounds like an angel. She sings in time with all of the musical beat changes. She has perfect diction throughout the song. The song’s strengths are her voice and delivery. Her voice is strong and beautiful. She sounds seductive as she is talking about dreaming about the man she loves.
It may be hard to listen to her sing this song because she is no longer with us. It makes the song bittersweet to listen to. Everything about this song works. It is a beautiful song that will stay in your head after you finish listening to it. It deserves to be number one on our list.
Feature Photo: Anton Vierietin
Top 10 Selena Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2022
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business, or organization is allowed to re-publish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either public domain creative commons photos or licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with ClassicRockHistory.com. All photo credits have been placed at end of the article.
