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It was February of
1992, the annual Jalapeño Festival was being held that night.
I didn't have any plans to go, since I didn't really like Tejano music at
all. At the time I was married and my husband (now ex-husband) was
overseas serving our country in the Gulf War. I was depressed with worry,
as I learned he would be out for at least a year overseas.
His best friend would call me up occasionally, as sometimes "our group"
would go out to a small bar or a gathering. That night he called me and
told me he had a pair of two backstage passes to the Jalapeño Festival,
he told me Selena would be singing. I asked "Who is Selena?
And why is everyone is making a big fuss about her?" (Keep in
mind I didn't know who she was at all).
He was like “You know the Tejano singer.” I told him "But I hate Tejano, I don't want to go, give the pass to someone else!"
He said "NO! You have to go with me, I already wrote your name in the
guest list, I am going to interview her after the concert in the bus, please
come".
I still didn't want to go since I had no interest whatsoever in Tejano music (of course now I regret it!)
That same night my father came home just two hours shy of the show and he
handed me a ticket and said "Look Mija, a ticket for the Jalapeño
Festival” I was like "OH NO! Another one!" I
told him again how I didn't want to go and I didn't like Tejano or Spanish
music (at the time I was more into the pop early 90's music).
Well my parents and brothers FINALLY convinced me. I had a long sad face
driving all the way to the place where it was being held. I knew I didn't
want to be there. I knew there was going to be a lot of drinking and too
many food stands, I just didn't want to go!
We waited for a while, ate turkey legs - drank some coke. Meanwhile we saw
a little group of people gathering up in front of the stage. I was
like “OK I guess this is the main event!” (Still very
unhappy I just wanted to go home grab the nearest phone and call overseas!)
Finally, the MC (Luis "The Bird" Rodriguez) comes out to introduce
Selena. She was wearing a leopard bustier, a black jacket buttoned up
half way, black pants and black boots. Her hair was pulled back in a pony
tail. She kept smiling at the crowd as “The Bird” was introducing
her.
The crowd started going wild all chaos around the stage. People yelling "SELENA
SELENA SELENA!!!!”
I was just way in the back looking at her. Finally she starts singing her
first song, "LA CARCACHA.” I was like “WHOA! This girl can
sing. She has class...talent. She can dance…smile...she
seemed so humble...shaking fans hands...taking fans up on stage with her!”
I fell in love with her music right away no if, ands or buts about it! Now
I knew why everyone was so in love with Selena. She was a rising
star!
During the concert she picked out one guy and sang him "Que Creias."
It was the most awesome song I had ever heard! I was in awe...
After the show ended, about an hour in a half later, we left. I remember
one of the last songs she sang was "Missing My Baby" all the way to
the truck I kept singing that song just those few lyrics and at the time--I
could relate with them so much.
Selena helped me through one of the hardest times of my life waiting
for my husband at the time to come back, not to mention being worried sick
cause of the war. Songs like "Missing My Baby" really helped me
through that time. I grew stronger and stronger everyday.
A few weeks later, I learned she was going to sing in Mexico Nuevo Leon
Tamps. Since
Mexico is just one mile from us, I decided to go; it was my brother, his
girlfriend and a friend of mine.
The concert was awesome as always -- great show. I was way in the front. A
lot of pushing around. This concert was JAMMED packed!! One girl got
crushed under a fence (I really think this is the part of the movie where
they are in Mexico
where they have to stop the concert).
Selena stopped singing and told everyone to take five steps back. No
one would listen, we were all into her music the band was still kind of
playing the beat, but she kept saying "Please move back 5 steps for
me". Finally the fans moved back. It was a great concert
despite being so crowded.
To make a long story a little shorter let me tell
you about the last time I saw her…
It was the sixth Selena y Los Dinos concert I was to attend. I had already come back from
Washington State where
we were stationed. I found out she was singing on January 1st 1995.
I bought a ticket. It was only $15.00 pre-paid!
By this time, I was all crazy. I was really a big fan! My entire family
bought tickets; we got there about an hour before time to find a good table.
It was really close to the stage. The place was pretty packed! Not the
usual packed; my guess is because many people were spending New Years Day
visiting relatives or what not.
Anyhow we get there and we sit for a while. Pete Astudillo, a
local singer (ex-Los Dino) sang his few tunes first.
An hour passed by.
Next, I see a lot of smoke it covered the whole stage! I was like, “O-K-A-Y here she comes!!”
I went up to the stage standing right next to it. I was coughing
with all the smoke and the lighting was bright at first. I hear the slow
version of "Como
La Flor"
I was like OMG "YOU GUYS GET OVER HERE, IT'S SELENA!!!”
I was literally yelling across stage. Finally my family got there, my
cousin from Monterrey, my brothers, their girlfriends and wives were all
there. I could see all the Dinos, but no Selena; just musical
instruments were playing.
Out of nowhere the smoke disappears and then I see Selena right in
front of me!
She was wearing a lavender/purple shirt, a black bustier and black Levis
jeans...I was in shock to see her that close up ~ honestly I didn't expect
her to be THAT close.
I started snapping photos left and right...all night long! Anyhow, she sang
"Como
La Flor" and
all her hits from Amor Prohibido, since it was new. I already knew
all her songs.
She kept giving me the thumbs up! Blowing kisses at her fans.
While she sang "Cobarde" for some reason she kept pointing at my
cousin and sang the song to him. I thought that was just so funny he was
like "What did I do to her?!" He was kind of offended, but it
was so funny we all knew how humorous she was with the fans by this time. (“Cobarde”
means “Coward” in English)
I remember she also sang "Que Creias" to a man. She made him kneel
down, he put his hat on his chest and she belted out the song to him! It
was so emotional, but cute at the same time. The guy was shaking. I could
see him because he was right in front of me! It was too funny.
She took a break while Pete Astudillo came back around to sing for
another hour. The last song that Pete sang was "Amame,
Quiereme/Siempre Estoy Pensando En Ti." A duet they did when they
were together in Selena Y Los Dinos.
When the music came on Selena rushed out and started singing it with
him it was so awesome to see them singing together again! As Pete
was about to leave the stage they gave each other a huge HUG! (I was
still snapping photos) Once he left, the Dinos came back.
Selena
was just laughing and kidding around with the audience.
She was putting on her show again when a little boy (my guess is he was about 5 years old) gave her a napkin with a
message. She kneeled down and got the napkin, as A.B. tapped her in
the back shaking his head "No No!"
A.B. was looking so cool with those yellow fashion shades and the
little black caps he would wear. Well, she still took the note, got the
little boy up on stage with her and went up to Abe and was joking with him.
We were like, "OH OH! What is she going to do next!" Well
she goes up to him takes his glasses off and starts imitating A.B.,
it was the funniest thing ever, all you could hear was silence, but
Selena's laughter echoing all over the ballroom!
She told the audience, "Hi Everyone, I am A.B. Quintanilla and I don't
take autographs anymore because I am so famous."
As she turned around to look at A.B. you could tell he wasn't a happy
camper! It was all too funny. She read the
paper and it was a dedication to the little boy's parents who had already
been married for 6 years or so. The little one was still up there with her;
she was squatting down to get his name and asked him if he had a girlfriend
and stuff. It was the cutest thing, something you don't see an artist do
everyday.
Well they kept singing their songs. While singing the first and second time
around she shook my hand at least eight times. She smiled with me and my
family. It was really nice of her. I was becoming more and more of a fan!
After she was done singing, she was signing autographs. I went up to her
and I was just standing in line. I was in awe, I was so nervous. I forgot
to take a marker and paper so I was just standing there while she's signing
autographs, she's making small talk with me: "So what's your name,
are those your real eyes, they are so beautiful, I have never seen eyes that
pretty, how old are you, are you in school?" Things of that sort.
She smiled, I thought she was only going to shake my hand, but - to my
surprise - she leaned over and hugged me. She was very, very down to
earth. Just like you read in books, articles etc. I was surprised that she
was talking to me and all the fans surrounding the table.
She promised us she would be back in April of that
same year. She mentioned the English album coming out in July and she said, "I will always be a Tejana and I hope you will all love me after I
record my English album."
I didn't even get an autograph. I thought “this marvelous singer
will be here forever and I will get her autograph in April when I see her
again.”
I left the concert again so happy, singing all her tunes; it was the most
amazing concert I had ever attended. Something I will NEVER forget because
it was the first time I talked to her and it was an amazing experience. For
me it was like meeting Madonna--someone that famous!
Two months later, I got "THE PHONE CALL."
I didn't want to believe it, I couldn't believe it. Not until I saw it for
my own eyes on TV or heard it on the radio...I was in shock.
I didn't talk to anyone; I almost passed out a few times. It was the most
horrible feeling I had it was almost like losing the sister I never had --
at this time, I felt so close to Selena. I was so heart-broken!
Even today, I feel the pain that she is no longer here with us. But, I know
she's in a much more beautiful place named heaven, singing amongst all the
angels. Rest in Peace Selena! I love you! I'll see you
again one day...
- Sylvia, South Texas / September 14th, 2004
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