"El Chico del Apartamento 512" | |
---|---|
Promotional single by Selena | |
from the album Amor Prohibido | |
A-side | "Fotos y Recuerdos" |
Released | January 1995 |
Genre | Mexican cumbia |
Length | 3:29 |
Label | EMI Latin |
Songwriter(s) | Ricky Vela, A.B. Quintanilla, Samuel "Sammy" Morales |
Producer(s) | A.B., Bebu Silvetti |
Live video | |
"El Chico del Apartamento 512" on YouTube |
"El Chico del Apartamento 512" (English: The boy from Apartment 512) is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido (1994). It was released along with "Fotos y Recuerdos" in January 1995, serving as its B-side track. Written by Ricky Vela, "El Chico del Apartamento 512" is a cumbia song with influences of Colombian and South American music. Lyrically, the song describes a female protagonist who knocks on her love interest's apartment door (number 512) and is heartbroken when his sister (who she initially mistakes for his girlfriend) answers it. Justino Aguilar of Billboard magazine, called "El Chico del Apartamento 512" as one of Selena's "most memorable songs". The track posthumously peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard Regional Mexican Digital Songs chart in 2011.
"El Chico del Apartamento 512" was written by Ricky Vela, the keyboardist of Selena y Los Dinos. [1] The song was co-written by Selena's brother-producer A.B. Quintanilla who, along with Argentine musician Bebu Silvetti, served as producers. [1] Musicologist Howard Blumenthal called the song's production "perfect" in his book The World Music CD Listener's Guide (1998). [2]
"El Chico del Apartamento 512" is a Spanish-language cumbia with influences of Colombian and South American music. [3] [1] Vela said in a 2002 interview that the track was "the least Tejano music song" because of its musically diverse sounds. [1] Musicologists Ilan Stavans and Harold Augenbraum called the song "brassy" and noticed how the lyrics are constructed in story-song form. [3] The "512" in the song's title is a reference to Corpus Christi, Texas' former area code. [3] The recording is written in the key of C major and is played in a moderate groove of 102 beats per minute. [4] It incorporates music from several musical instruments, including the French horn, violin and piano. [4]
"El Chico del Apartamento 512" is musically similar to Selena's 1994 single "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"; author James E. Perone called them recurring themes where the protagonist is "attracted to a young man". [5] Lyrically, Selena is heartbroken after knocking on her love interest's apartment door (number 512) and mistaking his sister for his girlfriend, before the sister asks "are you looking for my brother?". [2] Italian essayists Gaetano Prampolini and Annamaria Pinazzi called the song a "funny love reversal". [6]
Justino Aguilar of Billboard magazine, called "El Chico del Apartamento 512" as one of her "most memorable songs". [7] "El Chico del Apartamento 512" was later reworked and included on Selena's posthumously released remix/duet album Enamorada de Ti (2012). [8] Writer Joey Guerra of the San Antonio Express-News , called it a "bouncy cumbia" that was "taken down a few notches to a chirpy midtempo." and wrote that the new sound is "not bad, but it loses a lot of the melody's force." [8] Guerra believed American entertainer Selena Gomez (who was featured on "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" for the album) should have been used on "El Chico del Apartamento 512" instead. [8] Domingo Banda of the Semana News called "El Chico del Apartamento 512" a "relaxed reggae" track. [9] Brian Galindo of BuzzFeed called "El Chico del Apartamento 512" danceable and "catchy". [10]
Selena performed the song on her final performance on March 19, 1995 during the Calle Ocho Festival in Miami, which attracted over 100,000 fans. [11] Selena was shot and killed by Yolanda Saldívar, her friend and former manager of the singer's Selena Etc. clothing boutiques, on March 31, 1995. [12] The song is still played at events throughout Texas. [13] Since its release, the song has been included on music critics "best of Selena songs" list including BuzzFeed (at number ten), [10] and Latina magazine (at number six). [14] American singer Kris Melody and Mexican group Los Tigrillos recorded the song for the tribute album Mexico Recuerda a Selena (2005). [15] Mexican singer Graciela Beltrán performed and recorded "El Chico del Apartamento 512" for the live televised tribute concert Selena ¡VIVE! in April 2005. [16] Dominican bachata singer Antony Santos recorded the song for his album Ay! Ven (2006). [17]
Chart (1995) | Peak position |
---|---|
Mexico Grupera Songs ( El Siglo de Torreón ) [18] | 11 |
Chart (2011) | Peak position |
US Regional Mexican Digital Song Sales [19] | 1 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA) [20] | 2× Platinum (Latin) | 120,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Credits adapted from Amor Prohibido liner notes. [1]
|
|
Amor Prohibido is the fourth studio album by American singer Selena, released on March 22, 1994, by EMI Latin. Having reached a core fan base, the label aimed to broaden her appeal with the next studio release. Finding it challenging to write a follow-up hit after "Como la Flor" (1992), Selena's brother A. B. Quintanilla enlisted the assistance from band members Ricky Vela and Pete Astudillo with writing the album's songs. The resulting album has a more mature sound featuring experimental production that blends diverse musical styles from ranchera to hip-hop music. Amor Prohibido is a Tejano cumbia album modernized with a synthesizer-rich delivery using a minimalist style that was quintessential in early 1990s Tejano music.
Live! or Selena Live! is a live album by American Tejano pop singer Selena, which was released on May 4, 1993, by EMI Latin. The album was re-released on September 22, 2002, as being part of the Selena: 20 Years of Music collection; which included spoken liner notes by her family, friends and her former band members Selena y Los Dinos. Live! includes three cumbia-influenced studio tracks, while the rest of the album consists of live versions of previously released songs. The album was recorded during a free concert at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas, on February 7, 1993. It was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in its first year, double platinum in 1995, and 8× platinum in 2017.
All My Hits: Todos Mis Éxitos is a greatest hits album by American singer Selena. It was released posthumously on March 9, 1999, through EMI Latin to commemorate its ten-year anniversary since entering the music industry. The album coincided with the fourth anniversary of Selena's death, though then-president Jose Behar rebuffed the idea that the album was an exploitive ploy by the company. Following Selena's death on March 31, 1995, Abraham Quintanilla expressed his interest in preserving his daughter's memory through her works. Selena's family has been criticized by fans and the media for exploiting the singer and cannibalizing her murder by commercializing her repertoire. According to the singer's brother, A.B. Quintanilla, one of Selena's wishes was for her to "never go away", citing a conversation he shared with Selena and their sister Suzette Quintanilla, that if anything were to happen to any one of them, their wish would be to continue on with their music.
All My Hits: Todos Mis Éxitos Vol. 2 is a greatest hits album by American singer Selena that was released on February 29, 2000, through EMI Latin. After Selena's murder in 1995, her father Abraham Quintanilla stated his commitment to preserving her music and EMI Latin pledged ongoing support for her releases. In 1999, the label's president José Behar acknowledged Selena, who remained the label's top-selling artist, for her contributions to establishing EMI Latin as "the house that Selena built". In March 1999, to commemorate the label's tenth anniversary, it released All My Hits: Todos Mis Éxitos; it achieved commercial success and a sequel was announced. All My Hits: Todos Mis Éxitos Vol. 2 contains 16 songs ranging from tracks featured on Selena's Muñequito de Trapo (1987) to the posthumous 1997 club remix of "Enamorada de Ti" (1990).
Momentos Intimos is a compilation album by American singer Selena and released posthumously on March 23, 2004, through EMI Latin. The album contains 24 tracks, though the last eight are spoken liner notes provided by the singer's family, friends, and her Los Dinos band. The songs on the album range from "Como Te Quiero Yo A Ti" (1988), a re-recorded version modernized and remixed on the album, to "Puede Ser", an unreleased duet with Nando "Guero" Dominguez, recorded two weeks before Selena was shot and killed in March 1995. Following Selena's death, her father Abraham Quintanilla expressed his interest in persevering his daughter's memory through her works. Selena's family has been criticized by fans and the media for exploiting the singer and cannibalizing her murder by commercializing her repertoire.
Selena ¡Vive! was a benefit concert which was held on the tenth anniversary of the death of Tejano superstar Selena Quintanilla-Pérez. The concert was held on April 7, 2005 at the Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas with over 70,000 attendees. The special was produced and filmed by the Spanish language network, Univision, and was the most-watched special in the Spanish language in the history of American television. Event host Univision announced that proceeds from "¡Selena Vive!" will go toward 10 scholarships for students looking to pursue higher education at Texas universities.
"No Me Queda Más" is a song by American singer Selena on her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido. It was released as the third single from the album in October 1994 by EMI Latin. "No Me Queda Más" was written by Ricky Vela, and production was handled by Selena's brother A.B. Quintanilla. A downtempo mariachi and pop ballad, "No Me Queda Más" portrays the ranchera storyline of a woman in agony after the end of a relationship. Its lyrics express an unrequited love, the singer wishing the best for her former lover and his new partner.
"Fotos y Recuerdos" is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido (1994). It was released by EMI Latin in January 1995, as the fourth single. A cover version of the Pretenders' 1983 single "Back on the Chain Gang", "Fotos y Recuerdos" was written by Chrissie Hynde with Spanish-language lyrics by Ricky Vela. Lyrically, the song describes a lonely female protagonist who "kisses the photo of her [lover] each night before falling asleep."
"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" is a song recorded by American Tejano singer Selena. It was released as the second single from her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido (1994). Originally written about a cheerful fish swimming freely in the ocean, the song's title is an onomatopoeic phrase suggesting the palpitating heartbeat of a person lovestruck by the object of their affection. "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" was written by Selena and her backup vocalist and dancer Pete Astudillo.
"Techno Cumbia" is a song recorded by American singer Selena for her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido (1994). It was posthumously released as the b-side track to "Dreaming of You" through EMI Latin on August 14, 1995. Techno Cumbia would be put on her fifth and final studio album Dreaming of You (1995) and would be the fourth single for Dreaming Of You. "Techno Cumbia" was written by Pete Astudillo and co-written and produced by Selena's brother-producer A.B. Quintanilla. The song is a dance-pop and tecnocumbia recording with influences of dancehall, rap, Latin dance, and club music. Lyrically, Selena calls on people to dance her new style the "techno cumbia" and calls out those who cannot dance.
"Amor Prohibido" is the title song of American Tejano singer Selena's fourth studio album of the same name (1994). Released as the lead single through EMI Latin on April 13, 1994, it was written by Selena, her brother and music producer A.B. Quintanilla III, and her band's backup vocalist Pete Astudillo. A popular interpretation compares it to Romeo and Juliet.
Unforgettable is a four-piece set celebrating the life of the late Tejano singer Selena, released in promotion for the tribute concert Selena ¡VIVE! The set consisted of two albums, which were released on the same day as separate discs: Unforgettable: The Live Album and Unforgettable: The Studio Album.
"Si Una Vez" is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena for her fourth studio album, Amor Prohibido (1994). It was written by Pete Astudillo and produced by Selena's brother-producer A.B. Quintanilla. "Si Una Vez" is a mariachi fusion song and draws influence from cumbia and Latin dance music. Lyrically, Selena questions why she ever fell in love with an abusive partner, saying she will never repeat her mistakes. The lyrics suggest unrequited love and female empowerment.
La Leyenda is the name of the third box set from the Tejano pop singer Selena that was released by Capitol Latin/EMI and Q-Productions labels. The album was released on March 9, 2010. This box set was released in three formats: a four-disc box set, a two-disc special-edition album, and a single-disc album. According to Suzette Quintanilla's YouTube video, EMI teamed up with Q-Productions to release this box set, and Quintanilla asks Selena fans around the world to contribute a special message to Selena that may or may not be included in the new box set. The Box-sets will contain an exclusive "Selena" charm and four booklets that include messages from Selena's family, friends, and fans from around the world. Selena fans around the world were told to collaborate pictures of themselves to be part of the La Leyenda bound books, but in early February 2010, Q-Productions and Capitol Latin decided to cancel the transaction due to legal actions with copyrighted images from fans.
Performances is a live DVD that features previously unreleased footages of Selena during the Johnny Canales Show, a live coverage music television show, from the periods of 1993 to 1994.
American singer Selena released twenty-four official singles, seven promotional singles. Her career began as the lead vocalist of Los Dinos in 1980. Her albums with Los Dinos on indie labels failed to achieve any chart success. In 1987, her remake of Ritchie Valens' "La Bamba" peaked at number 19 on the United States Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, her first entry. She signed with EMI Latin nine years later as a solo artist though her band continued to tour with her. Selena appeared on "Buenos Amigos" with Salvadoran singer Álvaro Torres. The track peaked at number one on the U.S. Hot Latin Songs chart in 1991, the singer's first number one song. Subsequent singles, "Baila Esta Cumbia" and "Como la Flor", became popular songs on Mexican radio, with "Como la Flor" launching the singer's career in that country. "Como la Flor" peaked at number six on the Hot Latin Songs chart, despite popular culture claims that it was the singer's first number one single. The track has charted on the U.S. Regional Mexican Digital Songs list since its inception in 2010 and remains the singer's signature number and most popular recording.
The 15th Annual Tejano Music Awards were held on February 11, 1995, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing the accomplishments of Tejano musicians from the previous year.
Enamorada de Ti is the second remix album by American Tejano singer Selena. It was released posthumously on 3 April 2012 through Capitol Latin and Q-Productions. Enamorada de Ti was produced by Sergio Lopes, Leslie Ahrens, Andres Castro, Moggie Canazio, Cesar Lemons and Chilean record producer Humberto Gatica. Gatica had the idea of modernizing songs recorded by Selena into today's popular music genres. Selena's family had already been working on a similar idea, but they set it aside in favor of Enamorada de Ti, which had gained the approval of Capitol Latin. The selection of artists to sing duets with Selena began in late summer 2011. Gatica and Selena's family chose American singer and actress Selena Gomez, Puerto Rican singer Don Omar, Samuel "Samo" Parra from the Mexican rock band Camila, Mexican singer Cristian Castro, Spanish DJ mixer Juan Magan, and the Carlos Santana band, while the remaining songs selected were remixed.
Lo Mejor de...Selena is a double disc compilation album by American singer Selena. It was released posthumously in the United States on March 31, 2015, by Capitol Latin and Universal Music Latin Entertainment. The album was released after the commercial and chart success of Enamorada de Ti (2012), which featured several Latin music acts lending their voices for the remix album. The recording features six number one United States Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart singles by the singer—"Buenos Amigos", "Donde Quiera Que Estés", "Amor Prohibido", "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", "No Me Queda Más", "Fotos y Recuerdos", and the US Billboard Latin Pop Airplay chart single "I Could Fall in Love".
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)