Essential Album Era Milestones: 30 years with “Dreaming of You”

Essential Album Era Milestones: 30 years with “Dreaming of You”

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Released in 1994, “Dreaming of You” debuted when artists presented new music as a 40-50 minute collection of songs on Vinyl, Cassette, or CD (now commonly referred to as the “Album Era”). In these pre-streaming years, the artist's focus was on delivering an album with as much “single-worthy” music as possible. The most well-loved and standout works from this era are known for being packed with “no-filler” tracks from beginning to end.  Outstanding examples, such as “Dreaming of You,” are commonly referred to as a “Desert Island Disc,” reflecting the essential and irreplaceable listener experience. 

Landmark albums like these are always highly influential, with a lasting impact that defines or redefines genres, transcends musical boundaries, sets chart and sales records, and represents the pinnacle of an artist's creative prowess. 

“Dreaming of You” debuted to a fury of sales and acclaim. Within 24 hours of arriving in stores, most of the available copies were sold out. The Album shot to #1, spawned six hit singles, remained on Billboard’s (mainstream) “Top 200” for 44 consecutive weeks, and held the top spot on the Latin charts for an incredible 42 weeks. Among many accolades, it was the fastest-selling album of 1995 and the #1 best-selling debut by a female artist. Dreaming of You joined Selena's earlier solo albums on the Top 200, making her the first artist to have five albums in the Top 200 simultaneously.                           

Now, after 30 years and millions of copies sold around the world, “Dreaming of You” remains one of the most enjoyable, influential, significant, and rare gems of the entire Album Era. 

Selena, captivating a crowd of 61,000 fans

Outstanding performance, inventive genre mixing, mass appeal, awards, and raw talent notwithstanding, “Dreaming of You” is an unfinished diamond, offering only a glimpse of the artist's potential future highs.

Selena’s life was senselessly cut short only months before the release of the release of “Dreaming of You.” It’s difficult to dissociate triumph from tragedy. Because of this, this retrospective will not include any somber details that aren’t necessary to focus on Selena’s unique style, lasting legacy, and breakthrough album, “Dreaming of You.” Like the artist herself, the music Selena left behind is upbeat and joyful. It’s not difficult to imagine that Selena would have wanted it this way.  

A Star is Born (Again and Again): Selena’s Early Years.

The immediate and powerful effect of “Dreaming of You” launched Selena to international stardom overnight. Still, Selena was already a Superstar in the Latin music community.  Long before recording sessions for the “crossover” smash, Selena had been sharpening her skills as a singer and performer from the age of 9. Under the musical direction of her father, alongside her brother and sister, the band “Selena y Los Dinos” (Selena and the Guys) has always been a family affair. The South Texas-based family band performed at restaurants, weddings, and even on street corners, singing Spanish-language songs in the locally popular Tejano style. After relentless touring throughout Texas and Northern Mexico, Selena’s star was on the rise. Between 1984 and 1988, Selena and her family wrote and recorded seven progressively more successful albums, culminating with 1988’s “Dulce Amor” (her last independent label album). As her fame grew, Selena earned the Tejano Music Award for “Best Female Vocalist” starting in 1986, an award she would receive for the next 11 consecutive years. In the male-dominated world of Tejano music, the then-17-year-old Selena Quintanilla was already overcoming obstacles and becoming the genre’s brightest star. 

Based on her tremendous local fame and popularity, as well as her undeniably original style, it didn’t take long for major record labels to come calling. After her show-stopping performance at the 1989 Tejano Music Awards, Sony Latin and the newly formed Latin Music division of EMI offered Selena a recording contract on the spot. Along with her father and manager, Abraham Quintella Jr., Selena chose to sign with EMI based on the promise of an upcoming “crossover” Album. Now, on a major label, with promotional support and financing, Selena’s star is poised to rise even higher. 

The Road to Mainstream Superstardom 

Although she was signed and billed as a solo artist, Selena continued to collaborate with her family band, “Los Dinos,” during recording sessions and increasingly grand live performances. Her brother, A.B. Quintanilla III, a talented bassist, played a critical role in Selena’s sound and her rise to fame as a major-label artist. As the leader of Los Dinos, he served as a songwriter and producer, helping Selena to expand her musical styles while modernizing and preserving her traditional Tex-Mex borderland and Cumbia rhythms.

Released in 1989, her first major-label solo album, titled “Selena,” reached #7 on the Billboard Regional Mexican Albums chart, making her the biggest name in Tejano music —male or female. Outselling all her previous early albums combined, Selena later became the regional spokesperson for Coca-Cola that same year, recording commercials for the drink with music penned by her brother Quintilla III. 

With each successive solo album, Selena’s fans and influence continued to multiply. Her 1990 “Ven Conmigo” record is the first Tejano recording by a female musician to achieve gold status in the United States, and its follow-up studio effort “Entre a Mi Mundo” became the best-selling “Regional” album of 1993. However, EMI did not yet want to commit to a big-budget “Crossover” album just yet…. 

1994 was a banner year for the up-and-coming superstar. On the strength of her celebrity and personal style, Selena opened two fashion boutiques—one in San Antonio and one in her hometown of Corpus Christi. Her 1993 album “Selena Live” earned the Grammy for Mexican/American album of the year, as her new studio album “Amor Prohibido” was well on its way to becoming her best-selling album to date. With all the exposure, even Hollywood took notice, casting Selena as the Mariachi singer in Don Juan DeMarco, starring Marlon Brando and Johnny Depp. If ever the time seemed ripe for Selena’s rise to international sensation.  

Would Selena’s Cumbia, Tejano, and Corridos-infused Latin music find a broader audience in the mainstream market? Can Selena deliver the same profoundly emotive performance in English as she has in her well-loved Spanish-language catalog?

Despite being renowned for her deeply emotive vocal style and lyrical delivery, Selena grew up speaking only English and did not initially speak Spanish. With some coaching from her father, she learned to sing Spanish lyrics phonetically. Eventually, Selena became fluent enough to express a preference for singing in Spanish over her native English by the time sessions for “Dreaming of You” began. Selena also expressed feeling nervous about her ability to transition from a local phenomenon to success in the much larger pop market she was poised to enter. Thankfully, EMI had faith. Recording sessions for the long-awaited and well-deserved English-language crossover album begin on March 5, with an expected wrap-up by October ’95. Unfortunately for the world, Selena died on March 31, 1995, just shy of one month into tracking. 

Completing an Unfinished Masterpiece

Selena completed only four new songs of what was planned to be an entire album of English-language songs. Instead, the Album is a mix of intended (and successful) crossover songs, plus unreleased and remixed songs from Selena’s earlier recording sessions and solo records. Although nobody doubts that the album would have been even greater had Selena lived to complete it, as it stands, “Dreaming of You” offers a broader range of Selena’s creative stylings. Along with branching out into contemporary R&B and urban styles, the album also showcases Selena's innovative blending of Tejano and Cumbia, infused with Latin Pop- in one remarkable collection of English and Spanish language material. .

Dreaming of You: Songs and Styles (Part 1)

The four opening tracks offer a glimpse at what would have been Selena’s new direction and first collection of mainstream English language songs. Each has a different writer and producer, hand-picked by EMI and brother A.B. Quintanilla to showcase the Superstar on the rise. 

Track 1. I Could Fall in Love”

Written and produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Keith Tommas, “I Could Fall in Love” features a powerful and memorable melody that Selena brought to life with passion. According to A.B. Quintanilla, Selena became “obsessed” with the song, listening to it for 24 hours straight in preparation for recording her stylized vocal track. Although not released as a single in the United States (due to concerns that it might outsell the album), the pop ballad has become one of Selena’s most highly regarded tracks. 

Track 2. “Captive Heart” 

“Captive Heart” switches gears, style, and tempo. With its modern R&B groove and techno-pop sound, Selena’s vocal talents are showcased in an early EDM setting. Nashville-based Producer Guy Roach was tapped to capture Selena’s charm, after his notable work with Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, and Cher.

Track 3. “I’m Getting Used to You.”

After his work with Mariah Carey and Paula Abdul, EMI and A.B. III enlisted  Rhett Lawrence to produce the “I’m Getting Used to You.” The song is arranged in the mid-90s “new jack swing” style Selena loved. 

Track 4 "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)"

Written and produced by former Talking Heads frontman and founder David Byrne, "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)" employs elements of Pop, Gospel, Latin, and Dance music. Byrne wrote the bilingual duet especially with Selena in mind, making great use of her chameleon-like style and mezzo-soprano vocal range. Initially intended for the 1995 “Blue in the Face" soundtrack, Selena’s smooth and passionate voice shines over this gentle groove. 

Track 5 “Dreaming of You” 

As the only “crossover” track on the album hand-picked by Selena personally, “Dreaming of You” was Selena’s top choice. The melodically powerful pop ballad showcases both Selena’s English and Spanish vocal delivery and mastery of balladeering. Also produced by Guy Roach, but recorded closer to home at her brother's studio, the outstanding vocal track is reportedly done in just one flawless take. Along with “I could fall in love,” no other songs are more popularly associated with Selena. As a single, “Dreaming of You” took and held the number 1 spot on Billboard Latin top 200 for an astounding 44 weeks. 

On March 31st, 1995, Selena lost her life.

The decision to complete and release the unfinished “Dreaming of You” ultimately was made by her family. Not only the people who knew and loved her most, but also the group that accompanied her as her Star ascended.

Dreaming of You: Songs and Styles (Part 2)

After 30 years, it's hard to imagine this album any other way than it is. With one half showcasing a Star on the rise and the other half exploring her origins, “Dreaming of You” is unfinished- yet complete. 

Consisting of mainly previously released and remixed material, the 2nd part of the album is anything but a filler track. Each carefully selected song on the album is a gem that might not have been discovered by mainstream audiences otherwise. Under the musical direction of her brother A.B. Quintanilla, Selena’s “Los Dinos” and Spanish language songs are every bit (and sometimes more) enjoyable and well produced than her “Crossover” tracks. 

“Missing My Baby” (written by A.B.) was initially released in 1992 on Selena’s Entre a Mi Mundo album. The fantastic remix on this album features Selena’s voice accompanied by perfectly arranged harmony vocals from “Full-Force,” adding a contemporary R&B flavor. Full Force joined forces with A.B. again for the fan favorite dance pop Re-Mix of 'Techno Cumbia.” "Wherever You Are" (featuring the Barrio Boyzz) and "El Toro Relajo" (both from the 1995 film Don Juan DeMarco) showcase Selena’s effortless stylistic adaptability, ranging from traditional Mariachi to Urban/Hip-Hop.

Also from Selena’s “Entre a Mi Mundo” album, and written, produced, and remixed by A.B III, "Como la Flor" went on to be ranked 19th on Rolling Stone’s 50 Greatest Latin Pop Songs. 

From “Amour Prohibido”, Selena and Los Dinos' “warm-up song” turned fan anthem and dance hall favorite, “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom,” and “Amour Prohibido” showcase Selena’s modernized Tejano-Cumbia sound and personal songwriting skills.

Original to “Dreaming of you” "Tú Sólo Tú" is Selana’s take on a traditional Mexican Ranchero song. Along with being difficult to sing, and her first Spanish-language single from “Dreaming of You”, the song joined Selena’s "I Could Fall In Love" on the charts, making Selena the first artist to have the #1 and #2 spot in the top ten.   

It’s well-known that Selena was scheduled to record "So Emotional" (that became the title track for the Christina Aguilera Smash), but wondering about what Selena’s future musical direction and future greatness is not necessary. At only 23, Selena left behind a body of work and a musical and personal style that will continue to inspire generations. 

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