Selena Facts
General
Selena Quintanilla Perez did not
have a middle name.
Selena's favorite flowers were long stemmed, white roses.
Avas Flowers
would agree that white roses are one of the most popular flowers. The
Avas Flowers website
says that white roses symbolize peace and purity.
Selena's favorite colors were purple and black.
One of Selena's dreams was to have her own farm. Towards the end of her life
she and Chris had purchased 10 acres of land just outside of Corpus Christi,
on which they planned to build a farm, raise horses, and build their own
house. Selena had already picked out the furniture.
Selena had an extensive Faberge egg collection. In her living room, she had
big glass cabinets in which she kept more than 500 designer eggs. She had
everything from gold to diamond, every size. If it looked like an egg she
bought it. Her friends and family related this hobby to the fact that she
was born on Easter Sunday. According to Suzette, each egg tells a story.
There's one that Chris bought her a week before she died and then there's
one Selena bought at Universal City in Los Angeles. All of the eggs are on
display in their original cases at the Q-Production's Selena Museum. In the
display case, they're arranged exactly the way they were in Selena's living
room.
Selena once drove a black BMW but it was stolen and dumped into the ocean
only to be replaced by Selena's legendary red Porsche Targa.
Selena loved to shop at Wal-Mart and Pay Less Shoes Source.
In middle school Selena was asked to try out for the cheerleading squad but
because of her touring with the band she didn't have time for it.
As a teenager Selena's favorite TV show was the 80's hit 'Moonlighting'
which starred Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepard.
Selena's family teased Selena, saying that the only reason she opened a
salon was so that she could get pampered for free.
Selena was a Democrat.
Every day Selena took a walk through her neighborhood.
Selena found it impossible to turn down a dare.
Her nickname was "Preciosa"- which means beautiful, spirited and
wonderful.
She never refused to sign an autograph
She never built a fence between herself and her fans
The name Selena comes from the words "Selenite" and "moonstone"
Selena had 5 dogs and a python
Selena had a black BMW, but it was stolen and found at sea. She then bought
her Porsche.
Selena wore contacts
Selena once filled the middle of Oreo Cookies with Mint Toothpaste, to play
a joke on a fellow singer, but her father ate it.
Selena was 5'6" in height.
Selena designed all of her stage outfits herself.
Selena's favorite lip color was the now discontinued "Brick" from Chanel.
Once Selena, bored on an airplane ride, got up and sang to her fellow
passengers. She then put on an apron and asked them if they would like a
drink.
Selena paid $300 to save a rabbit she accidentally ran over in the street.
Selena was in the process of building a new home containing 10 bedrooms to
be located in the lush "King Estates" south of Corpus Christi overlooking
Oso creek near the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens.
Selena liked to drink hot tea w/honey and lemon before her concerts.
Selena weighed 5lbs 10 1/2oz at birth.
Selena went bungee jumping on a dare
Selena's first publicist was Ramon Herrera
When Selena Y Los Dinos first started out, the Quintanilla's made lights out
of peach cans
Selena had a black Pomeranian named Pebbles
Selena had a motorcycle
Selena was a spokes person for: Coca-Cola, AT&T and Southwestern Bell and
Agree Shampoo (Dep Corp)
Selena was on the TV Novella "Dos Mujeres, Un Camino"
Selena also did a cameo in the film "Don Juan De Marco"
Once a fan offered to give Selena a ranch.
Selena had scars on her legs that she was embarrassed about.
Selena earned a GED (General Equivalency Diploma) from
The American School of Chicago
in
1989.
Selena last attended school, as a regular student, at West Oso Middle
School.
Selena had been accepted to the Louisiana State University.
Food Related
Selena's favorite restaurants were Pizza Hut and The Olive Garden.
Selena's favorite food was pizza. She loved to brag that she could polish
off a whole medium pizza by herself.
Selena loved Whataburgers
Selena loved tacos from
Jack In The Box when she was touring. In the early days, Jack In The Box was
her family's favorite fast food restaurant.
Music Related
The Beginning
Selena recorded her first album with Freddie Records in the early 80's.
Selena sang at her father's restaurant "Papa Gayo's" in 1980
Selena started singing with A.B. and Suzette at the age of 6
Album Sales
Selena was named by Billboard Magazine as the Best Selling Latin Artist of
the Decade (90's), selling approx 18,000,000 albums.
Selena was named the fastest selling female artist in history back in 1995,
when her albums "Dreaming Of You" sold well over 175,000 copies it's first
day.
Selena broke Mariah Carey's sales record. Selena's "Dreaming Of You" sold in
one day, what Mariah's CD sold in one week.
Selena, was the first Latin artist to chart a Latin album (at least 50%
Spanish) at #1 on the Billboard 200 Pop Charts.
Selena's 1994 album "Amor Prohibido" has sold over 5,000,000 copies.
Selena's 1993 Grammy - winning album "Live" has sold over 1,500,000 copies.
Selena has sold approximately 20,000,000 albums in 6 years.
"Dreaming Of You" has sold over 5,000,000 copies.
"All My Hits - Todos Mis Exitos" made up 50% of EMI Latin's sales in 1999.
The 3 - Disc "Anthology" sold 500,000 copies its first two weeks. Selena spent more weeks at
number 1 on Billboard Top 50 Latin charts than any other artist. 'Amor
Prohibido' was number 1 for 78 weeks, which beats Gloria Estefan's 58 weeks.
Awards and Sales Charts
Selena was the first Tejano artist ever to win a Grammy Award.
Selena's album "Ven Conmigo" was the first Tejano album ever to go Gold.
Selena was named "Female Artist of The Year" for 9 years in a row, at the
Tejano Music Awards.
Selena y Los Dinos was named 3rd Best Dressed Group in 1994.
Selena is the only Latin and FEMALE artist ever to place 5 consecutive
albums is Billboard 200 top Selling albums in the U.S. and UK. This has only
been accomplished by Elvis, The Beatles, and Garth Brooks.
"Ven Conmigo" was the first Tejano album to go Gold
Selena's 7 number 1 singles
were 'Buenos Amigos' which was at the top for a week, 'Dondequiera Que
Estes' which was at the top for 6 weeks, 'Amor Prohibido' which topped for 9
weeks, 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom' which topped for 4 weeks, 'No Me Queda Mas' which
was number 1 for 7 weeks, 'Fotos Y Recuerdos' which was number 1 for 7
weeks, and 'Tu Solo Tu', the biggest hit of her career with 10 weeks at the
top.
Selena recorded "Buenos Amigos" a duet with Alvaro Torres in 1991, her first
#1 song
Selena was nominated for another Grammy in 1995, for "Amor Prohibido"
Videos
"La Carcacha" was Selena's first music video.
The music video for the song "Amor Prohibido" was shot in Joshua Tree,
California in 1994.
Selena's "No Me Queda Mas" video was shot entirely in San Antonio, TX. The
stair case scene was shot at the Amtrak Railroad station, the wedding scene
at the S.A. Botanical gardens, the restaurant scene at Michellino's on the
riverwalk.
There was a delay in beginning production for the "No Me Queda Mas" video,
because Selena wanted a white rose to be given to her in the video, not the
red one that they had ready.
Songs
Selena co-wrote the songs "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" and "Amame".
Selena favorites songs were "Amor Prohibido" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"
"Amor Prohibido" was written about Selena's grandparents
The songs "Where Did The Feeling Go?", "Is It The Beat?" and "Only Love"
were recorded a few months after Selena singed on with EMI Latin in 1989.
They remained unreleased until 1996 and 1997.
The song 'No Me Queda Más' was written by Ricky Vela about Suzette. He has a
crush on her, but she met her now husband Billy, and that's when he wrote
the song
Selena was always writing songs. What she wrote was never put to music. She
used to sit around the house and jot down lyrics impulsively in notebooks
and then leave the notebooks lying all over the house causing Chris to have
to go around and collect them. A.B. hinted once that the most complete set
of lyrics might be put to music one day as the final Selena song.
"A boy like that" was recorded in 1994, it was a project to raise money for
the Grammy's, it was released on the album “The songs of the West Side
Story”
Selena Live
Selena's biggest fear was that no one would come watch her perform.
After every concert Selena always asked her dad, 'How'd I do?'.
Selena's final performance was on March 19, 1995 in Chicago. The Houston
Astrodome Concert (February 26, 1995) was her last televised concert.
"Live", was recorded on February 7, 1993 at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus
Christi, TX.
There was 61,041 at her last big performance (Houston Astrodome) before she
died
Her actual last performance was made a few days before her death for a
children's charity.
Who Selena Liked
Selena was a huge fan of
Bonnie Raitt,
Garth Brooks and
Janet Jackson.
As a child Selena loved
Donna Summer, R&B duo "A Taste of Honey" and rock
group
Air Supply.
Selena loved the music of
Gloria Estefan, Luis Enrique, The Barrio Boys,
Emilio,
Roberto Pulido, La Mafia and
Rocio Durcal.
Miscellaneous
Even when she was on the verge of pop superstardom, Selena didn't want to
turn her back on the Tejano fans that had made her such a big success. She
planned on going into a studio to record a new Spanish language album as
soon as she completed work on her English album.
Billboard Magazine declared the release and success of "Dreaming Of You", as
a historic day in Latin Music History.
The Hard Rock Cafe, San Antonio has a Selena star on the sidewalk in front
of the restaurant. Selena was one of the celebrities on hand in January of
1995 attending the opening of the restaurant.
Even though Selena's English Album wasn't released until 1995, she was
signed to SBK records in November of 1993 to make the album.
After the release of 'Entre A Mi Mundo,' Mexico wanted Selena! Everyone was
worried about Selena's ability to communicate in Spanish with the Mexican
media. Of course Selena went in and charmed them and when she left, they
said she was "una artista del pueblo." No one called her on any
mispronunciations.
Selena was EMI Latin's first artist.
Selena was named "The Queen Of Tejano Music", as she easily surpassed the
sales of both male and female Tejano artists.
The original members of Selena Y Los Dinos (1986) included Selena, Suzette,
AB, Ricky Vela, and Roger García
Selena never took singing lessons
Shelly Lares (another Tejano singer) once sang backup for Selena
Once Selena was late for an
8:00 p.m. gig at the Tejano Rodeo in Dallas because her plane was delayed by
a snowstorm. When she showed up at 10:00 instead of canceling like many
stars would do she walked out on stage apologizing heavily and then sang and
danced all night so her fans wouldn't feel shortchanged.
Selena and Chris
Selena is the reason that Chris speaks Spanish. When she started learning
the language it inspired him to learn too. He spent free time with her
practicing.
Towards the end of her life, Selena and Chris planned on having children as
soon as Selena's career settled down some. It was one of Selena's biggest
dreams to be a mother. She hoped to one day have five kids.
Selena and Chris first admitted that they loved each other at a Pizza Hut in
the Rio Grande Valley.
Selena was married on April 2, 1992.
Shelly Lares invited Selena to a rehearsal in 1988 and was introduced to Chris
In the "Amor Prohibido" music video, Selena wore her husband's shirts
Selena and Chris once vacationed in Jamaica
Selena’s Community
Involvement
Selena felt it was important to find
time to encourage children and young adults to stay in school. She spoke
many times in schools about the importance of getting a High School diploma
and achieving your goals. Selena loved
to go to public middle schools and high schools to talk to the kids about
the importance of staying in school, avoiding drugs and alcohol, remaining
chaste and pursuing goals.
In 1993, Selena gave a free concert for
Texas students who drastically improved on their grades, and donated $2,500
to School Programs.
She did a public service video for school's entitled Mi Musica, which
was sponsored by Agree Shampoo. In the video,
Selena spoke about Mexican music in America, but left them
an important message that staying in school and graduating high school is
the most important thing that they will do in their life.
(To view it click here and select "Mi Musica - Mexican
American Music of Today" under "Selena Video Clips".)
Selena was a spokesperson for the
D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program to keep kids
off drugs and a Battered Women’s Help Hotline. It’s been said that when
Selena's commercial for the help hotline aired, the phone lines would light
up.
Selena also participated at many Stay
In School Jamborees, her last being in March of 1995, just two weeks
before her death. She expressed her excitement at the turnout, "It shows
that kids want to do something good for themselves..."
She was also in the process of organizing a benefit concert for The Boys
and Girls Clubs located in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Her Community Services were honored on April 8, 1994 when the mayor of
Houston proclaimed that day "Selena
Quintanilla Day".
Selena was definitely not a normal
artist, who was only preoccupied with her success. She really cared for
people and that's why people cared so much for her.
(Note:
This is from the main site page.)
Coca-Cola
Selena was a spokesperson for Coca-Cola from 1989 till the
time of her death. She filmed three commercials for the company.
In 1994 to commemorate her 5 years with the company, Coca-Cola issued
special Selena coke bottles that sold out rapidly. One was and might still
be displayed in the San Antonio Hard Rock Cafe with her signature on it.
Selena was buried in the sparkly purple outfit she wore to the 1995 Tejano
Music awards just a month before she died.
Selena
- The Movie
More then 20,000 girls auditioned for the role of Selena for
the movie.
Jennifer Lopez became the highest paid Latina in Hollywood history by
playing Selena, earning a then-unheard of, $1,000,000. Jennifer now earns 9
to 10 times that much.
Liza Ybarra auditioned and was one of the finalist for the role of Selena in
"Selena, A Musical Celebration Of Life", but was given the role of Suzette.
The studio were Jennifer Lopez is 'recording' "I Could Fall In Love" in the
movie, is Studio A in Q-Productions, where Selena actually recorded her
English Album.
Both Jennifer Lopez (Selena in the movie) and Veronica Vazquez (Selena in
the musical) went to the same dance school in NY at the same time.
"Selena - The Movie" was released Internationally, and dubbed in over 20
different languages.
Selena and her family
If Selena was a boy, her name would have been "Marc Anthony", they got the
name from the lady in the next room who was supposed to have a girl, while
Marcella was supposed to have a boy
During a long conversation at the Olive Garden, Selena told her mother,
Marcella, about a previous visit to the same place, she'd seen a little old
lady eating by herself and felt sorry for her. Selena paid for the woman's
meal and but told the waiter not to let her know "I want you to give her one
of those little cakes you give people on their birthdays, Put it in a bag so
she could take it home". Marcella felt so proud of her daughter. She was so
giving so generous with her love as well as her material wealth. Show
business could be such a competitive down and dirty endeavor, people
crawling over each other in pursuit of riches and recognition, but her
daughter rose above the fray, her goodness neutralized all the unsavory
aspects of making music for a living. On the way home, as Selena was zipping
in and out of traffic, singing at the top of her voice, her mother leaned
over to her and spoke into her ear "I Love You", Selena looked back and
smiled "I Love You Too Mama" This happened on March 30, 1995- Less than
24 hours later Selena had died and this was the very last time Marcella seen or
talked to her beloved youngest daughter.
Selena's name was chosen when her mother's Hospital Roommate had chosen the
name for her little girl, but she had a boy. Marcela liked the name, and
gave it to her daughter.
Selena's brother lived in the house on the opposite side of her parent’s
house
Selena Etc.
Selena opened two boutiques in 1994. Selena Etc. Inc, one in Corpus Christi
(January 27th) and another in San Antonio.
The designer that was helping Selena was Martin Gomez
Miscellaneous
"Selena, A Musical Celebration Of Life" star Aaron Lhor (Chris Perez) was a
dancer in Selena's video "Techno Cumbia".
About 1,000 women auditioned for the musical "Selena Forever".
In the 1996 film, 'Dear God', which stars Greg Kinnear ('As Good As It
Gets') and Laurie Metcalf ('Roseanne'), Selena's 'Amor Prohibido' poster is
shown several times tacked up on a wall.
The tragic day of Selena's death was also to be the day that Johnny Canales
married, he considered canceling the wedding, but instead he and his bride
dedicated their wedding to Selena.
Selena lived on 705 Bloomington St, in Corpus Christi, TX.
The Aftermath
Selena was laid to rest at Seaside Memorial Park on April 3, 1995
The People Tribute Issue to Selena sold 1,000,000 copies it's day of
release, spawning People En Espanol.
Selena was in the 1999 Book Of World Records in the category of Most
Dominating Musical Artist.
George W. Bush named April 16, 1995 as Selena Day in Texas.
The memorial statue on Corpus Christi's bay front was unveiled on May 27,
1997. It cost around $600,000 to construct.
The Selena Museum is visited by 100's of fans each week. People from as far
away as Japan, Australia, and Europe have visited.
In 1995 the Houston City
Council unanimously voted to rename Denver Park to Selena Quintanilla Perez
Park.
Selena is considered one of the top 10 most important Latinos in history, on
the internet.
In 1998 Selena was picked by People Magazine as one of "The Most Intriguing
People Of The Century".
Selena was the only female Latina to receive a Golden Eagle Award in 2001,
to honor her positive impact on millions of Latinos. Others to receive it
that night were Tito Punete, and Anthony Quinn.
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