By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: The Today Show
Selena y Los Dinos: A Family’s Legacy is a brand-new documentary that’s streaming on Netflix. In this documentary, you see the never-before-seen behind-the-scenes and interviews of the group that was active in the late 80s and early 90s.
It’s a fascinating and heartfelt documentary about a group that worked together as a family, always staying together 24/7. English was their first language, and initially, the group struggled to build a fan base because they didn’t speak or play traditional Spanish music. It took a while, but they got adjusted to it and ended up winning the hearts of many fans.
Selena was a hard-working machine, very strong-willed, and always carried a smile on her face. There were moments where she felt vulnerable, but she didn’t show it to the public, only with her loved ones. She was cheerful. She loved designing, and she created all her own stage outfits.
AB Quintanilla sometimes doesn’t get enough credit for his writing and producing skills. The man is very talented and played a significant role in Selena’s success. He learned Cumbia from one of the band members of the group.
Cumbia is a catchy genre. The rhythm of the music can make you jam very quickly. The cumbia sound is a big deal in Mexico and every Spanish-speaking territory with a significant Mexican demographic, such as Texas and California, but especially in Texas.
“Baila La Cumbia” was the song that genuinely put the Group on the map. But the song “Como La Flor” is what took Selena and the group to the stratosphere and gained much more attention from the public.
Selena’s signing and appearance in commercials for Coca-Cola was a game-changer and one of the most significant accomplishments of her career.
Chris Lopez shares amazing stories about himself and Selena. It was tough to see the scene where he reads a yellow letter that Selena had written to him while they were apart. Chris still holds that letter to this day.
One of the most emotional moments of the documentary is when Suzette, Selena’s sister, shared a story about Selena telling her about looking forward to the day when Selena and Suzette’s children will play together and bond. Suzette choked during the interview, reminiscing about that conversation.
It’s been 30 years since the tragic death of Selena, but her music is still listened to this day. No one has forgotten about her. People still talk about her, and the love for Selena continues to grow from one generation to the next. In that aspect, the family has done a great job of keeping her memory and legacy alive.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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