Selena Quintanilla Essay

Covers of songs have existed for decades, and have exceptionally increased in popularity throughout the years. In result, many classics have been manipulated and transformed to create a new perspective of a song using the artist’s musical styles and abilities. However, for many the original piece from the legendary icons are much more preferred. Selena Quintanilla, who goes by “Selena,” only completed four LP’s before her death, but has sold well over 60 million albums worldwide since her passing. In addition, Billboard named her the “Artist of the Decade” in the 1990s, despite her passing in 1995. Specifically for "Si Una Vez,” Selena won the BMI Pop Music Award in 1994 for "Song of The Year", and considered a signature Selena Song. It is evident that Selena was a true legend, who opened many doors for other

artists and continues to inspire others to this day. Although Play-N-Skillz’s ft.

Wisin, Frankie J, and Leslie Grace produced an up beat modern version of the song “Si Una Vez”, Selena’s original climactic version with its’ lively instrumentation, grand vocals, and heartbreaking tone reigns as the ultimate classic.The instrumentation in the original “Si Una Vez” by Selena, gives a strong opening due to the use of the traditional instruments in Mexican Cumbia

music. For example, in this particular song the predominant use of brass, percussion, and string instruments are heard throughout. The effect of these instruments is a cinematic introduction caused by brass and percussion instruments, which creates a spirited element producing an open curtain effect to the piece. As the song continues, the piano is introduced and the brass instruments are eliminated giving the song a different layer, generating a more sentimental effect on the listener. Towards the end of the song, there is a dramatic pause from the music where then all instruments are combined creating a mighty, curtain close ending.
As for the instrumentation of Play-N-Skillz’s version, the element of cumbia music is eliminated completely.

Instead, sound effects such as whistling, snapping, and drumming machines/software are used throughout the song. Typical to the genre of Reggaeton, these modern instruments create a rhythmic dance element to the song. To add on, this version has lively instrumentation but exhibited in different manners. While the original has a strong opening and ending, Play-N-Skillz’s version has a more crescendo effect, but then leading to a mellowed ending. This is created by the simple use of whistling in the beginning but then progressing to increase the addition of other “instruments,” until ending in a dramatic pause, with just whistling once

again.