Music critic Joey Guerra reflects on the lasting impact of Selena's final RodeoHouston performance, which took place at the Astrodome in February 1995.
Selena’s final Rodeo Houston performance is the stuff of music legend, a culture-shifting moment that has earned its place alongside such legendary shows as Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison , Diana Ross at Central Park and Beyoncé at Coachella .
But on the day it happened — Feb. 26, 1995 — it was just a lucky break for a longtime fan. I had attended Selena’s previous RodeoHouston concerts in 1993 and 1994, two of the more than a dozen times I saw her perform in Houston. Tejano singers are road dogs, returning to the same cities and venues multiple times a year. It helped Selena cultivate a robust grassroots following. One weekend, she was at a small club that held 300 people. The next time, it was an outdoor festival. RodeoHouston was the pinnacle, a stage fit for a star that showcased her full potential and star power. I’d been unable to secure a ticket for the '95 Rodeo show. I can’t remember exactly why. Luckily, my high school friend Norma had an extra ticket. Several of us, including her cousins, piled into a van and were on our way. Go Tejano Day at RodeoHouston is always a family affair, a daylong event that attracts multiple generations, from grandparents to couples to kids. That’s why seven of the 10 most-attended shows in history have been Go Tejano Days. When I think back on that day, what comes to mind most vividly are the feelings — anticipation, excitement, euphoria. It wasn’t just me. The emotions surged throughout the Astrodome like an electric charge. I remember looking at the crowd on either side of me just after we got to our seats. Everyone was beaming. The show was about to begin, but it was more than that. There was a sense of pride in seeing one of our own onstage, a young Mexican-American who grew up listening to Madonna, Jody Watley and Debbie Gibson, but who still embraced her culture and heritage. Selena helped me do that, too. Before her, I rejected the Tejano music my dad blared throughout the house from the small stereo atop the washing machine in the kitchen. My preferred playlists included Mariah Carey, U2 and En Vogue. My dad, a U.S. resident born in Mexico, would get into heated arguments with me over our contrasting musical tastes. He couldn’t understand why I shunned the music he loved so passionately. MORE SELENA: Designing a dream: Martin Gomez says Selena was ‘not of this world’ Selena changed that. My dad was a fan from the beginning, and his record collection included her ambitious early recordings on the Freddie and Manny labels. I’d always known who she was and appreciated her talent . But something about her 1992 album “Entre a Mi Mundo” was different. The sound of songs “Como la Flor” and “La Carcacha” was polished and elevated, with a modern pop sensibility. It was hip and fun and young. I asked my dad to buy me a copy of “Entre a Mi Mundo,” whose title translates, appropriately enough, to “Enter My World,” during one of his routine weekend trips to a nearby record store. The cover photo featured her in a jacket with black-and-white striped sleeves and a sheer top. Her hands lifted her hair above her head. It reminded me of Paula Abdul and Janet Jackson. But there was a relatability in her eyes. She looked like the girls I was friends with in school. I remember sitting on the living room floor, excitedly tearing off the plastic wrap and absorbing every song. I was hooked. Selena ignited something in me that was always there. It just needed the right push. It was pride in culture, in being Mexican and American and celebrating both equally. In feeling fully comfortable speaking English with my parents and Spanish with my grandparents and both with my friends. In watching sitcoms and novelas. Embracing every aspect of who I was. Tejano music didn’t have the same separation between performer and fan as pop music. But I saw Selena on the same level. I went to see her perform every time I had the chance, with my parents, with friends, with my cousins. I danced , sometimes coming within inches of Selena on the floor. EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE: Take a look at this never-before-seen photo of Tejano icon Selena At one show, during a break, I asked my cousin to go with me to get Selena’s autograph. She was right next to the small stage, joking with a security guard. I had the CD cover and a pen in my jacket pocket. I was no more than three feet away from her, and I froze. I asked my cousin to do it for me. “You do it!” she replied. “No, you do it!” I pleaded. The back and forth went on for several minutes. Neither of us moved. The show eventually started back up, and we returned to our table. I still regret it to this day. The '95 Rodeo show felt like the culmination of all those club dates and festivals. The crowd erupted into a deafening roar when the lights dimmed inside the Astrodome. Selena rode into the stadium on a white carriage with maroon velvet seats. She flashed the superstar smile that so many people single out today. Seeing it in person was a whole different experience. It radiated directly to each fan as if she was sharing something special with the crowd. “How you doin' Houston, Texas?!” she asked as she walked onstage. Mentally, I made guesses on what she’d start with. “Como la Flor?” “Baila Esta Cumbia?” When she launched into “I Will Survive,” the first of five songs in a disco medley, my heart went bidi-bidi-bom-bom. My worlds were merging. Her throaty, yearning vocals added new layers of emotion to each lyric. She fumbled the lyrics to “I Will Survive,” skipping the first verse and repeating the pre-chorus twice. But I, and the other 66,993 people, didn’t care. We were witnessing a star at the peak of her powers. “Why is she singing so much English?” my friend asked. “I want to hear her Spanish songs.” LEGACY REMEMBERED: Selena Quintanilla-Perez at 50: Where would she be today? They came soon enough. Selena tossed aside her cropped bolero jacket and launched into “Amor Prohibido,” the title track from her most recent album. She looked like a pop diva in her form-fitting purple jumpsuit. It had a criss-crossing bodice that revealed her midriff and flowed into high-waisted bell-bottom pants. The sparkle and movement was perfect for the flurry of cumbias that anchored the setlist. One of the hallmarks of a great performer is their ability to transform songs into something new from record to stage. Selena was one of the best at it. “La Carcacha” morphed from a four-minute jam into an almost seven-minute opus with a countdown and extended instrumental break. She peppered it with vocal improvisations that became a playful dialogue with the band and crowd. “Miren, muchachas!” she repeated at the top of the final verse. “Miren, muchachas!” She infused “Si Una Vez,” a mariachi-cumbia fusion that expresses remorse for loving someone who betrayed her, with resolve and poignancy. She repeated the phrase “ese error” three times, adding a bitter punch to the declaration. Selena dedicated “Como la Flor” to the crowd for making it “the first hit for us, here in the United States, just like in Mexico.” “I hope you remember this song,” she said. It was clearly a joke. She started the song slowly, drawing out the intro for more than a minute. The tinkling keys kicked in, and every voice in the stadium sang along, reaching fever pitch during the final, “A-aaa-yyy, como me duele.” “Cuidense muchisimo y nos vemos muy pronto,” she said just before riding away in her carriage. “Take care of yourselves, and we’ll see each other very soon.' But we wouldn’t. A month later, Selena was gone at just 23 years old. Her death came a week into a new relationship, and it bonded us together. I had just made him a Selena mixtape a week earlier. It felt like a cruel joke. A house party we attended that weekend became an impromptu Selena tribute, her music soundtracking the night. Since then, Selena has remained a big part of our relationship. Singalongs in the car. Grocery store hunts for special-edition magazines. Drag shows, movie screenings and MAC makeup. Five years after her death, I visited Q Productions, the Corpus Christi compound that includes the Selena Museum, for a story. Selena’s father, Abraham Quintanilla, welcomed me into a small recording studio. “Come and take a mental trip to the Astrodome,” he said. Brian “Red” Moore, a producer and recording engineer who frequently worked with Selena, flicked a few switches. The sound of Selena’s voice filled the room, followed by the deafening roars of a crowd. I’m in there somewhere. It was the recording of her final Rodeo show, at the time being edited for a formal release that finally happened in 2001. For a few minutes, I’m transported back to the Astrodome with Norma and her family, before Selena became a legend, goddess, larger-than life presence. When she was that talented Tejana who made me fall in love with music and myself.
95 Rodeo En Vogue U2 Enter My World Selena Quintanilla-Perez Norma Joey Guerra American Paula Abdul Martin Gomez Johnny Cash Diana Ross Beyoncé Tejana Brian ``Red'' Moore Abraham Quintanilla Tejano Mariah Carey Debbie Gibson Jody Watley Madonna Tejano Janet Jackson Freddie Manny Astrodome Mexico Folsom Prison Central Park Houston Mexican U.S. Spanish Texas Miren Selena Museum Corpus Christi Coachella Tejano Day A-Aaa-Yyy English Muñequito De Trapo Como Me Duele Alpha MAC Entre A Mi Mundo Como La Flor Si Una Vez LEGACY La Carcacha Go Tejano Days Amor Prohibido Baila Esta Cumbia Mis Primeras Grabaciones I Will Survive Cuidense Muchisimo Y Nos Vemos Muy Q Productions
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Goodwill Houston Offers Affordable Rodeo Style and Career Development ProgramsGoodwill Houston offers a treasure trove of affordable rodeo styles for the upcoming 2025 season. The organization also provides free career development programs, including Skilled Trades, Clean Tech and digital literacy training, thanks to donations from the community.
Read more »
2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: Dates, Events, and SpecialsThe 2025 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is set to be a memorable event with exciting performances, special days dedicated to various communities, and exclusive deals. The article highlights key dates, including the opening day parade, Black Heritage Day, First Responders Day, and Value Wednesdays, along with details about performances, meet-and-greets, and volunteer benefits.
Read more »
New rodeo eats: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo unveils must-try carnival foodThe Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo runs from March 4 through March 23, 2025, bringing weeks of rodeo action, live entertainment, and exciting new carnival foods.
Read more »
Rodeo Houston Parade Kicks Off in Downtown HoustonThe annual Rodeo Houston Parade has begun, marking the start of Houston's beloved rodeo season. ABC13 joined the festivities, broadcasting the parade live for viewers across southeast Texas. The event, a cherished tradition dating back to 1938, showcases Western heritage and community pride with floats, marching bands, horses, and trail riders.
Read more »
Bun B Announces Jagged Edge for Birthday Bonanza at Houston RodeoHouston rapper Bun B continues to reveal the lineup for his sold-out Birthday Bonanza at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Following the announcement of Keith Sweat and Coco Jones, R&B group Jagged Edge is the latest addition to the show. More artists are expected to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Read more »
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's final Houston rodeo concert was 30 years ago todayThirty years ago today, Tejano star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez performed a record-breaking, sold-out rodeo concert at the Houston Astrodome. Here's look back at the iconic concert.
Read more »