Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 - March 31, 1995), known mononymou… Read Full Bio ↴Selena Quintanilla-Pérez (April 16, 1971 - March 31, 1995), known mononymously as Selena, was an American singer who is regarded as one of the biggest stars of the Tejano genre of music. She was born in Lake Jackson, Texas and grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she began her musical career. Her father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr., was a singer with the original Los Dinos from 1957-1972, and nurtured the burgeoning musical talent of his children. Selena, her brother Abe III (bass), and their sister, Suzette (drums), were a second generation of Los Dinos. Its other two members who started in the band were Ricky Vela on keyboards and Roger Garcia on guitar.

Selena made her first public appearance at her father's Mexican restaurant in Lake Jackson at eight and recorded her first record at nine. Throughout her adolescence Selena was constantly on tour. She completed her education via correspondence courses. The singer signed with Capitol EMI in 1989, and released several albums with that label, including 1994's wildly popular 'Amor Prohibido'.

Chris Perez replaced Roger Garcia as guitar player. A romance budded between Perez and Selena, and the two married on April 2, 1992. Even as Selena's career skyrocketed she remained very close to her family, choosing to live next door to them in Corpus Christi.

Selena holds the record of drawing the biggest concert crowd in the history of the Houston Astrodome, for her February 1995 performance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

The greatest irony in Selena's musical career is that she became a star singing in her second language. Her first language was English, not Spanish.

Aside from her singing, Selena was an avid clothing designer. Boutique shops with the Selena name opened in Corpus Christi and San Antonio in 1994. She also dabbled in acting, making a cameo in the Johnny Depp film 'Don Juan de Marco'.

A woman named Yolanda Saldívar worked her way into the singer's inner circle, becoming president of Selena's fan club and manager of the boutiques. In 1995 the Quintanillas found out Saldivar had embezzled money from these ventures and decided to fire her. Selena agreed to meet Saldivar at a Corpus Christi Days Inn on the morning of March 31, 1995 in order to retrieve paperwork for tax purposes. At the motel an argument ensued over the embezzlement and Saldivar shot the singer once in the back. Selena died within hours at a local hospital.

Selena's death shocked and saddened Tejano fans in Latin communities throughout the United States and in Mexico. Numerous vigils and memorials were held in the singer's honor. That summer her album 'Dreaming of You', a combination of Spanish language hits and new English language tracks, debuted at #1 on the Billboard music charts in the US.

In October of 1995 a Houston jury convicted Saldívar of murder and sentenced her to life in prison, with parole eligibility in thirty years.

There is a museum to honor Selena's memory and a bronze life-sized statue of her on Ocean Drive in Corpus Christi. In 1997, Jennifer Lopez played Selena in the movie of the same name. The movie became the basis in which Lopez rose to superstardom.

In December 2020, Netflix released "Selena: The Series", together with Selena's family in production, based on her life in childhood, before fame, her space in the music industry and her importance for the Latin scenary, played by Christian Serratos. The series contains 2 parts with 18 episodes in total. The second and final part was released in May 2021.

Dame Un Beso
Selena Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Esa sonrisita que viene
Sin motivo y sin explicación
Y es que habrás un tiempo callado
Cuando yo más necesito amor
Estas son las cosas y estos son los tiempos que guardo yo

Esa florecita del campo
Enviada con cariño y amor

Tu dulce verso con tu cartita
Dicen más y más que soy tu amor
Es todo lo que pido, ya tengo mi tesoro en nuestro amor

Dame un beso
Demuestra tu amor con un beso
Y enseña que todo lo nuestro
Es todo en tu corazón

Dame un beso
Demuestra tu amor con un beso
Y enseña que todo lo nuestro
Es todo en tu corazón

Esa florecita del campo
Enviada con cariño y amor
Tu dulce verso con tu cartita
Dicen más y más que soy tu amor
Es todo lo que pido, ya tengo mi tesoro en nuestro amor

Dame un beso
Demuestra tu amor con un beso
Y enseña que todo lo nuestro
Es todo en tu corazón

Dame un beso
Demuestra tu amor con un beso

Y enseña que todo lo nuestro
Es todo en tu corazón

Overall Meaning

The song "Dame Un Beso" by Selena is a beautiful love song that expresses the feelings of a person who wants their lover to show their love through a kiss. In the first verse, the lyrics talks about how the person's lover's smile can brighten up their day and how they would have been quiet for some time, but they need love now. The things that have been said and the time that has been spent with each other are remembered and treasured.

In the second verse, the lyrics talk about some of the romantic things that they have done for each other, such as sending flowers and letters. These small gestures show the depth of love they have for each other. The chorus of the song is a repetition of the word "Dame Un Beso," which means 'give me a kiss.' The singer requests a kiss from their lover, as it would assure them that their love is true and that they are the only one in their heart.

Overall, the song is about expressing the desire for love and affection from one's partner. The singer wishes for physical intimacy to reassure them of their love, and small gestures and things they have done throughout their relationship are remembered and cherished.

Line by Line Meaning

Esa sonrisita que viene
That smile that appears

Sin motivo y sin explicación
Without reason or explanation

Y es que habrás un tiempo callado
And maybe you've been quiet for a while

Cuando yo más necesito amor
When I need love the most

Estas son las cosas y estos son los tiempos que guardo yo
These are the things and times that I cherish

Esa florecita del campo
That little flower from the countryside

Enviada con cariño y amor
Sent with love and affection

Tu dulce verso con tu cartita
Your sweet verse with your letter

Dicen más y más que soy tu amor
Say more and more that I am your love

Es todo lo que pido, ya tengo mi tesoro en nuestro amor
It's all I ask for, I already have my treasure in our love

Dame un beso
Give me a kiss