Jean moved to Brooklyn, New York when he was nine, then to Northern New Jersey, where he began playing the guitar and studying jazz in his high school. In 1987, Jean, his friend (so close they told people they were cousins growing up) Prakazrel Michel (Pras) and his classmate, Lauryn Hill, formed a group called the Tranzlator Crew before becoming The Fugees. Wyclef worked as a cabdriver.
Recently he has been finding success as a collaborator - with his turn on Shakira's 2006 track 'Hips Don't Lie' hitting number one in many countries around the world.
In August of 2010, Jean announced his intent to seek the presidency of Haiti. This move came after his increasingly-high profile humanitarian work in the wake of the earthquake that devastated that nation.
Selena
Wyclef Jean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right now if you got problem with the immigration
Please report on the dance floor
True story, I got my green card in my hand right now
Let me see them lighters up in the air
As I reminisce
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Things done changed but they stay the same
You can fake that swagga but can't fake the name
'Cause I got the slang to make the chitty bang bang
Bidi bidi bom bom, bidi bidi bom bom
That's when I asked Melissa, "What's that song?"
She said, "That's Selena playing all night long."
I said "Where you from?" She said "Mexico."
We got that bidi bidi bom bom, bidi bidi bom bom
(Bidi bidi bom bom) Oh Selena
(Bidi bidi bom bom) Oh Selena
(Bidi bidi bom) She's got that fire
Americana, raised in America
I wish I had a chance to meet her
(Bidi bidi bom) Selena
I Reminisce, I reminisce
A yo Clef let me get that balia
I'm a shimmy shimmy on just like Selena
Manos arriba reppin latinas
With the bidi bidi bom bom, bidi bidi bom bom
Selena brought pride to a generation
Inspiration is the hope for the immigration
I can still hear your voice echoing through my system
With the bidi bidi bom bom, bidi bidi bom bom
(Bidi bidi bom bom) Oh Selena
(Bidi bidi bom bom) Oh Selena
(Bidi bidi bom) She's got that fire
Americana, raised in America
I wish I had a chance to meet her
(Bidi bidi bom) Selena
And when the heavens open I saw Selia Cruz
I heard her say "Asucar turn this on."
Tito Puente's dressed in white
Playing timbales while the angels sing with Selena
Ay Mama, is your carnival shoes on?
Let's go
Reggaeton breakdown
Parese que va llover
El cielo se esta nulando
Parese que va llover
Ay mamma me estoy mojando
Okay, east coast, west coast, midwest (Presente)
Dirty South Texas (Presente)
Windows stay tinted like a president (Presente)
So drop the gas price Mr.President, yeah
Where the latinos? (Presente)
Itilanos? (Presente)
Carribenos? (Presente)
Africanos? (Presente)
Centro Americanos? (Presente)
Cubanos? (Presente)
Mexicanos? (Presente)
(Bidi bidi bom bom) Oh Selena
(Bidi bidi bom bom) Oh Selena
(Bidi bidi bom) She's got that fire
Americana, raised in America
I wish I had a chance to meet her
(Bidi bidi bom) Selena
Selena forever
For all my immigrants out there
I'mma play that electric guitar, let's go
In Wyclef Jean's song Selena, he pays homage to the late Queen of Tejano music, Selena Quintanilla. The lyrics begin with Wyclef encouraging anyone who has issues with immigration to join him on the dance floor. He then reminisces about obtaining his green card, demonstrating the significance of the American dream to many immigrants. Wyclef recalls hearing Selena's music playing all night long at a party and asking a girl where she's from. She replies that she's from Mexico, and they connect over the shared love for Selena's hit song, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom."
The lyrics further highlight Selena's influence on the Latinx community, bringing pride and inspiration, especially for immigrants. Wyclef also mentions the late salsa legend Celia Cruz and Afro-Caribbean percussionist Tito Puente, both of whom have passed away, but their music continues to live on through generations. The final breakdown invites all people from various backgrounds and origins to come together, celebrating the unifying power of music.
Overall, the song Selena is a tribute to an icon of Latin music who tragically left us too soon, as well as a celebration of the diverse Latino community and their contributions to pop culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Check it out
Listen up
Right now if you got problem with the immigration
If you're having immigration issues at the moment
Please report on the dance floor
Come dance and forget about your problems
True story, I got my green card in my hand right now
I overcame my own immigration struggles
Let me see them lighters up in the air
Raise your lighters as a sign of respect
As I reminisce
As I remember the past
Things done changed but they stay the same
Change happens, but some things never change
You can fake that swagga but can't fake the name
You can pretend to be someone else, but you can't change your real identity
'Cause I got the slang to make the chitty bang bang
I have the ability to make music that people enjoy
Bidi bidi bom bom, bidi bidi bom bom
A reference to Selena's popular song
That's when I asked Melissa, "What's that song?"
When I heard Selena's music for the first time
She said, "That's Selena playing all night long."
Melissa confirmed that it was Selena's music
I said "Where you from?" She said "Mexico."
I learned where Melissa was from
We got that bidi bidi bom bom, bidi bidi bom bom
We enjoyed the music together
Oh Selena
Acknowledging Selena's presence
She's got that fire
Selena was an amazing performer
Americana, raised in America
Selena was an American raised in Texas
I wish I had a chance to meet her
Wyclef Jean wishes he could have met Selena
A yo Clef let me get that balia
Someone is asking to dance with Wyclef
I'm a shimmy shimmy on just like Selena
Wyclef wants to dance like Selena
Manos arriba reppin latinas
Acknowledging strong Latin women
Selena brought pride to a generation
Selena was an important figure for her generation
Inspiration is the hope for the immigration
Immigration can be a difficult obstacle without inspiration
I can still hear your voice echoing through my system
Selena's voice left a lasting impression
And when the heavens open I saw Selia Cruz
Wyclef saw other amazing performers when Selena passed away
I heard her say "Asucar turn this on."
Wyclef recalls hearing Celia Cruz mention sugar in a song
Ay Mama, is your carnival shoes on? Let's go
Wyclef is ready to dance with the women
Reggaeton breakdown
A request to change to a different music style
For all my immigrants out there
Wyclef is singing for all the people who made it to the US
I'mma play that electric guitar, let's go
Wyclef is ready to start playing his guitar
Dirty South Texas (Presente)
Texas is proudly represented
Windows stay tinted like a president (Presente)
A reference to Barack Obama's car
So drop the gas price Mr.President, yeah
A request to lower gas prices
Where the latinos? (Presente)
Asking if Latinos are present
Mexicanos? (Presente)
Asking if Mexicans are present
Selena forever
Selena will always be remembered
Contributed by Peyton W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.