Billboard magazine named Selena the greatest female Latin artist of all time; although she wasn’t able to break through to mainstream North American pop music market during her lifetime, she was beloved by millions of fans. From LoveSelena.com: “The New York Times praised Selena as a ‘young artist with unlimited possibilities.’ According to TIME magazine, Selena ‘was the embodiment of young, smart, hip Mexican-American youth, wearing midriff-baring bustiers and boasting a tight-knit family and a down-to-earth personality, a Madonna without the controversy.’ … Dubbed by her fans as the ‘Queen of Tejano‘ … the posthumous release of the album Dreaming of You gave a clear indication that Selena was, in fact, on her way to becoming a star in the English market as well.”
Selena was only in her mid-20s when, in 1995, she was murdered by an employee who was later convicted of misappropriating and embezzling the artist’s funds. The LoveSelena site continues: “Since her passing, Selena’s life has inspired a hit movie, a Broadway bound musical, and a successful clothing line … People magazine’s commemorative issue of Selena, which sold a record number of copies, ultimately spurred the creation of the now-popular magazine People En Espanol.”
“El Chico del Apartamento 512 (The Guy from Apartment 512),” reports EMI Latin, “is a Spanish-language cumbia with influences of Colombian and South American music.” According to Billboard, the tune describes a woman who knocks on the apartment door of a prospective love interest. His sister answers, but is mistaken for his girlfriend. Justino Aguilar of Billboard described the track as one of Selena’s most memorable; released just a few months before her death, it was certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA. There are unprepared half-step modulations at 2:14 and 2:44.
Many thanks to longtime MotD fan Alex M. for this submission!
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