Techno Cumbia
Encyclopedia
"Techno Cumbia" is a song by American Tejano pop
singer Selena
, released as the seventh single from her album, Amor prohibido
(1994). It was written by Selena's brother and music producer, A.B. Quintanilla III
, backup singer Pete Astudillo
, lead keyboardist
Ricky Vela
, and produced by Quintanilla and Brian "Red" Moore, who remixed
the song. It was released in the United States for the Tejano and Contemporary Latin radio stations in October 1994 and as a promotional single in the United States and Mexico on December 26, 1994. Selena performed the song at every venue on her 1994–1995 Amor Prohibido Tour
.
"Techno Cumbia" was written during the 1993–1994 Selena Live! Tour
. It was first drafted by Astudillo. Quintanilla later wanted the song to be a cumbia, which is a popular music genre among Colombia
n's, mix with techno. In the recording studio, Los Dinos
, Selena's former band, helped with backup vocals
and Quintanilla performed a rap verse in the middle of the song. "Techno Cumbia" and its music video received positive reviews from music critics. The music video was released in Latin American music channels; it was directed by Bryan Barber
and choreographed by Darrin Henson
. The video's dance moves were inspired by tango
, urban and reggae dances, and some performances of Selena singing "Techno Cumbia" were included in the video.
According to Billboard, "... Selena established one of the early templates for pop-cumbia-rap fusions with her hit 'Techno Cumbia' ..." The song was featured in "The Billboard Book of Number One Albums" in 1996. "Techno Cumbia" received six nominations and won "Tejano Crossover Song of the Year" at the 1995 Tejano Music Awards
. It was also nominated for the "Best 1990s Song" at the 2010 music awards. "Techno Cumbia" was certified Platinum for 3,000+ music download
s by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas, and certified Gold by the Productores de Música de España for selling more than 20,000 copies. In 1994, the single peaked at number-one on the US Hot Latin Tracks and Latin Regional Mexican Airplay
, becoming Selena's fourth number-one single from Amor prohibido, and in 1995, it entered music charts in Spain and Canada. "Techno Cumbia" has been covered by many artists after Selena was murdered
.
on Dreaming of You (1995). It was written by Selena's brother and music producer, A.B. Quintanilla III, backup singer Pete Astudillo
, lead keyboardist
Ricky Vela
and produced by Quintanilla and Brian "Red" Moore, a family friend, who helped with audio mixing
. "Techno Cumbia" was written during the Selena Live! Tour
(1993–94) and was inspired by Los Dinos
band member Astudillo, who wrote down the concept of the song. Quintanilla later wanted it to be a Cumbia song mixed with Techno. He also believed that Selena was the first artist to sing a "Techno-Cumbia" song mixed with R&B, blues and funk influences. While Suzette Quintanilla, Selena's sister, believed that if Selena was still alive, Los Dinos would have been performing that type of "cumbia". Selena recorded the song at Q-Productions
in Corpus Christi
, Texas, her father Abraham Quintanilla Jr
's record studio.
Recording and production of the single took under 24 hours to complete. Selena insisted that she should rap in the opening of the song, which was not planned. In the recording studio, Los Dinos performed back-up vocals while Quintanilla performed a rap verse during the bridge
.
Technopop song with cumbia
influences. Written in the key of G minor, the beat
is set in common time
and moves at a moderate 91 beats per minute. Selena's vocal range
in the song spans one octave
. The song had drew influence from the Reggae
, dancehall
, ska
, two-step
, dance-club, nortec
, drum and bass
, dancehall-rap en español
, and salsa funk
music genres.
The remixed version found on Dreaming of You (1995) has a key signature
set in C minor. The music features performances on piano, güira
, tambourine, French horn and drums. The remix version also includes keyboards, horns and a heavier beat with some scratching
, reggae fusion sounds and one drop rhythm
s performed in a fast tempo
. The song's lyrics describes Selena arriving at a club, not favored among young adults, teaching them the "Techno Cumbia" dance.
. On February 26, 1995, Selena performed "Techno Cumbia" at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas wearing a purple bodysuit. Selena performed "Techno Cumbia" in a school auditorium in 1995, which garnered interest from a student who wrote about the performance in her book, fifteen years later. Her final performance of "Techno Cumbia" was on March 19, 1995 during her concert at the Calle Ocho Festival in Miami, which attracted over 100,000 fans. During Selena's half-hour appearance on the Johnny Canales Show
in mid-1994, Selena wore an outfit from her Selena Etc.
boutique.
In some of Selena's performances of "Techno Cumbia", an extended version of the song was performed, similar to "Enamorada de Ti", "Baila Esta Cumbia
" and "Como La Flor
". On Live! The Last Concert
(2001) the performance of "Techno Cumbia" was recorded at the Houston Astrodome and was released on the posthumous live album. This version was re-released on La Leyenda
(2010). Selena performed and promoted the song during her Amor Prohibido Tour (1994–95).
on December 26, 1994 in the United States. In Mexico, the single was released as a CD single and also sold poorly. A year later a cassette version was released with a radio edit version of "Techno Cumbia" as a b-side track. On the same day, the remix version was released as a promotional single in the United States, as it served as the b-side for "Dreaming of You
". In Spain, the single was released to promote Dreaming of You (1995), sold over 20,000 copies and was certified Gold by the Productores de Música de España. In early 2005, "Techno Cumbia" was certified platinum in Mexico for 5,000 digital downloads by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
's suggestion that "...cultures are being superimposed,...", because of Selena's mixed genres that were influenced by music from Colombia and the Caribbean. Edward Morales wrote in his book Living in Spanglish: The Search for Latino Identity in America, that "Techno Cumbia" may have been an indirect influence on the fin de siècle (French for End of Century) collective of DJs from the borderlands around Tijuana
called "Nortec
". He also commented that "Selena's delivery makes tunes like "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
" and "Techno Cumbia", which would be catchy but forgettable throwaways in the hands of the average performer, stick in your gut".
Guadalupe San Miguel wrote in his book Tejano proud: Tex-Mex music in the twentieth century that "Techno Cumbia", "Como La Flor
" and "La Carcacha
" were Selena's biggest Cumbia hits. Michael Joseph Corcoran stated in his book All over the map: true heroes of Texas music that "Techno Cumbia" had Michael Jackson
-like trills, in his book about heroes in Texas music
. Herón Márquez of Latin Sensations wrote that "...the song signaled a new style of Tejano music
."
Joe Nick Patoski wrote in his book Selena: Como La Flor about "Techno Cumbia"'s different taste in music genres, had helped it to be more acceptable to the Spanish-international market: "The most compelling tunes were the ones aimed at the Spanish-international market: "Techno Cumbia", which honored the most popular rhythm coursing through the Latin music world while updating it with vocal samples, second line drumming from New Orleans, and horn charts inspired by soca
from the Caribbean". Ramiro Burr of Billboard wrote: "Songs like "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," "Como La Flor," and "Techno Cumbia," were remastered, injecting extra percussions to spice them up[...]". Norma Elia Cantú wrote in her book Chicana Traditions: Continuity and Change about Selena's fusion in Tejano music, stating that: "Songs such as "Techno-cumbia," "La Tracalera," and "La Carcacha" all became the auditory of Tejano music". James Moore of Vibe, stated that songs such as the versions of "Missing My Baby" and "Techno Cumbia", on Dreaming of You (1995), helped A.B. Quintanilla to received gold and platinum plaques for the Selena albums he helped produce. According to Billboard, "Techno Cumbia" is the earliest example of a song that fuses the Pop
and Cumbia rap
genres. After Selena's murder, her brother A.B. Quintanilla formed a reggaeton
band called "Los Kumbia Kings" in the late '90s. Two singles were released, "Shhh!" and "Boom Boom", both taken from the album Shhh!
(2001), and are thought to be the decendents of "Techno Cumbia". "Techno Cumbia" was featured on The Billboard Book of Number One Albums in 1996. "Techno Cumbia" was selected for inclusion in the Selena Forever Play
in 2000, starring Veronica Vasquez
as Selena.
. After the release of Dreaming of You in July 1995, "Techno Cumbia"'s remix on the album received extensive airplay in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Spain and won accolades. EMI Records created a posthumous music video in honor of Selena, including songs; "Dreaming of You", "I Could Fall in Love
", "I'm Getting Used To You
", "Tú Sólo Tú
", "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)" and "Missing My Baby", from the album. EMI was in partnership with Q-Productions
, who helped with the concept of the video. Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr
, did not want the video to be "...too sexual" because he knew children and young adults would view it, since Selena was popular among all age groups, especially young girls who would imitate Selena's dance moves. The video was produced by Tango Productions; casting calls were done after the music video for "I'm Getting Used To You" was completed. The dance moves performed in the video were inspired by the tango, urban and reggae dances. Selena's live performances of the song were included, and the back-up dancer
s danced either in groups or with their partners. The video was filmed in Tango Productions studios, and used visual effects such as chroma key. Darrin Henson choreographed the video.
The video opens with Selena spinning and singing "Techno Cumbiaaaaa", while two men appear in the video, stopping the song to inform everyone: "This is a serious music, you are about to hear, on some serious music" in Jamaican English
. They then leave the video, and the song begins. People are shown sitting in chairs, dancing. Selena's 1994 performance of "Techno Cumbia", is seen on the left side, while on the right side a group of people begin dancing with their partners. In the next scene, Selena's performance of "Techno Cumbia" at the Houston Astrodome on February 26, 1995 is shown in the left side of the screen, while the group dances further. Next the men are seen break dancing to Selena's melody verse, as the women watch. After this, the whole cast, dressed in white clothing, dance with their hands in the air. The next scene, showing a man moving his body in a white tank top shirt and a woman ripping it off, is censored, with Selena appearing and quickly dancing out of the video, showing the man's upper chest exposed. The video ends with a woman in a black hat in urban clothes, attempting to sit down on a chair.
wrote that the music video was one of his "...most fun to watch [music videos]" and he thanked EMI Records for showcasing Selena in the video.
Techno Cumbia
Source:
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
singer Selena
Selena
Selena Quintanilla-Pérez , known simply as Selena, was a Mexican American singer-songwriter. She was named the "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best selling Latin artist of the decade" by Billboard for her fourteen top-ten singles in the Top Latin Songs chart, including seven number-one hits...
, released as the seventh single from her album, Amor prohibido
Amor Prohibido
Amor Prohibido is the fifth studio album by American Tejano pop singer Selena. The album was released on March 13, 1994 by EMI Latin. It was re-released on September 24, 2002, as part of the Selena: 20 Years of Music collection, and included music videos and spoken liner notes by her family,...
(1994). It was written by Selena's brother and music producer, A.B. Quintanilla III
A.B. Quintanilla
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla III better known as A.B. Quintanilla III or simply A.B. Quintanilla, is an American songwriter, record producer and musician. He is the older brother of "The Queen of Tejano music" Selena...
, backup singer Pete Astudillo
Pete Astudillo
Pedro "Pete" Astudillo is a Mexican American songwriter.-Life:Astudillo was one of the leaders of the Tejano music scene, and from an early age followed mariachi and conjunto music. He began his musical career as a backup vocalist for the queen of Tejano, Selena, as a member of Selena y Los Dinos...
, lead keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Ricky Vela
Ricky Vela
Ricardo "Ricky" Vela is an award-winning song-writer and keyboards for the band Selena y Los Dinos. Ricky Vela joined the band as the bands keyboard player...
, and produced by Quintanilla and Brian "Red" Moore, who remixed
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
the song. It was released in the United States for the Tejano and Contemporary Latin radio stations in October 1994 and as a promotional single in the United States and Mexico on December 26, 1994. Selena performed the song at every venue on her 1994–1995 Amor Prohibido Tour
Amor Prohibido Tour
The Amor Prohibido Tour was the final concert tour by popular Latin-American singer, Selena, before she was shot and killed on March 31, 1995. After her "Amor Prohibido" tour she would be getting ready for her "Crossover"-tour that would be from late April 1995- until June 1995 in Texas, then...
.
"Techno Cumbia" was written during the 1993–1994 Selena Live! Tour
Selena Live! Tour
The Selena Live! Tour was the second concert tour by the late popular Latin-American singer, Selena.-About the tour:The Selena Live! Tour was the second concert tour from Selena and her band "The Dinos". The tour was the more successful than their previous "Entre A Mi Mundo Tour". They performed in...
. It was first drafted by Astudillo. Quintanilla later wanted the song to be a cumbia, which is a popular music genre among Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n's, mix with techno. In the recording studio, Los Dinos
Selena y Los Dinos
Selena y Los Dinos was the band in which Grammy-Award-winning Tejano music singer Selena performed, until her death on March 31, 1995. Selena fronted the band since 1980, started by her father Abraham Quintanilla, Jr....
, Selena's former band, helped with backup vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
and Quintanilla performed a rap verse in the middle of the song. "Techno Cumbia" and its music video received positive reviews from music critics. The music video was released in Latin American music channels; it was directed by Bryan Barber
Bryan Barber
Bryan Barber is a music video and motion picture director. He has directed many music videos for popular artists.-Personal:Barber graduated from Sacramento, CA Hiram Johnson High School in 1988...
and choreographed by Darrin Henson
Darrin Henson
Darrin Dewitt Henson in The Bronx, New York City, New York is an American choreographer, dancer, actor, director and producer.-Career:...
. The video's dance moves were inspired by tango
Tango (dance)
Tango dance originated in the area of the Rio de la Plata , and spread to the rest of the world soon after....
, urban and reggae dances, and some performances of Selena singing "Techno Cumbia" were included in the video.
According to Billboard, "... Selena established one of the early templates for pop-cumbia-rap fusions with her hit 'Techno Cumbia' ..." The song was featured in "The Billboard Book of Number One Albums" in 1996. "Techno Cumbia" received six nominations and won "Tejano Crossover Song of the Year" at the 1995 Tejano Music Awards
1995 Tejano Music Awards
The 15th Tejano Music Awards were held in 1995. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. The Tejano Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony recognizing Tejano music musicians.- Vocalists of The Year :*Male Vocalist of The Year...
. It was also nominated for the "Best 1990s Song" at the 2010 music awards. "Techno Cumbia" was certified Platinum for 3,000+ music download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
s by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas, and certified Gold by the Productores de Música de España for selling more than 20,000 copies. In 1994, the single peaked at number-one on the US Hot Latin Tracks and Latin Regional Mexican Airplay
Latin Regional Mexican Airplay
Regional Mexican Songs is a record chart published on Billboard magazine. It was established by the magazine on October 8, 1994 with La Niña Fresa by Banda Z being the first song to reach number-one. It features Latin music information from different genres like Mariachi, Norteño, Banda and...
, becoming Selena's fourth number-one single from Amor prohibido, and in 1995, it entered music charts in Spain and Canada. "Techno Cumbia" has been covered by many artists after Selena was murdered
Murder of Selena
Selena, a Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter who gained worldwide fame as the lead vocalist of her family-oriented band Selena y Los Dinos and for her community involvement, was murdered by Yolanda Saldívar. Saldívar, Selena's former fan club president and clothing boutique manager,...
.
Background and production
"Techno Cumbia" was one of the first songs composed for Selena's fifth studio album, Amor prohibido (1994), and was included in the crossover attemptCrossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
on Dreaming of You (1995). It was written by Selena's brother and music producer, A.B. Quintanilla III, backup singer Pete Astudillo
Pete Astudillo
Pedro "Pete" Astudillo is a Mexican American songwriter.-Life:Astudillo was one of the leaders of the Tejano music scene, and from an early age followed mariachi and conjunto music. He began his musical career as a backup vocalist for the queen of Tejano, Selena, as a member of Selena y Los Dinos...
, lead keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
Ricky Vela
Ricky Vela
Ricardo "Ricky" Vela is an award-winning song-writer and keyboards for the band Selena y Los Dinos. Ricky Vela joined the band as the bands keyboard player...
and produced by Quintanilla and Brian "Red" Moore, a family friend, who helped with audio mixing
Audio mixing (recorded music)
In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
. "Techno Cumbia" was written during the Selena Live! Tour
Selena Live! Tour
The Selena Live! Tour was the second concert tour by the late popular Latin-American singer, Selena.-About the tour:The Selena Live! Tour was the second concert tour from Selena and her band "The Dinos". The tour was the more successful than their previous "Entre A Mi Mundo Tour". They performed in...
(1993–94) and was inspired by Los Dinos
Selena y Los Dinos
Selena y Los Dinos was the band in which Grammy-Award-winning Tejano music singer Selena performed, until her death on March 31, 1995. Selena fronted the band since 1980, started by her father Abraham Quintanilla, Jr....
band member Astudillo, who wrote down the concept of the song. Quintanilla later wanted it to be a Cumbia song mixed with Techno. He also believed that Selena was the first artist to sing a "Techno-Cumbia" song mixed with R&B, blues and funk influences. While Suzette Quintanilla, Selena's sister, believed that if Selena was still alive, Los Dinos would have been performing that type of "cumbia". Selena recorded the song at Q-Productions
Q-Productions
Q-Productions is a record company owned and operated by Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Founded in 1993, Q Productions or also known as Q, or Q-Zone specializes within the Latin music industry, and it is located in Texas. The company's most recognized contributing artists are Selena , Los Tres Reyes, and...
in Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, Texas, her father Abraham Quintanilla Jr
Abraham Quintanilla Jr
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the father of singer Selena, who was murdered in 1995.-Early life:...
's record studio.
Recording and production of the single took under 24 hours to complete. Selena insisted that she should rap in the opening of the song, which was not planned. In the recording studio, Los Dinos performed back-up vocals while Quintanilla performed a rap verse during the bridge
Bridge (music)
In music, especially western popular music, a bridge is a contrasting section which also prepares for the return of the original material section...
.
Music, theme and lyrics
"Techno Cumbia" is a mid-tempoTempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
Technopop song with cumbia
Cumbia
Cumbia is a music genre popular across Latin America. The cumbia originated in the Caribbean coast of Colombia, where it is associated with an eponymous dance and has since spread as far as Mexico and Argentina...
influences. Written in the key of G minor, the beat
Beat (music)
The beat is the basic unit of time in music, the pulse of the mensural level . In popular use, the beat can refer to a variety of related concepts including: tempo, meter, rhythm and groove...
is set in common time
Common Time
"Common Time" is a science fiction short story written by James Blish. It first appeared in the August 1953 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly and has been reprinted several times: in the 1959 short-story collection Galactic Cluster; in The Testament of Andros ; in The Penguin Science Fiction...
and moves at a moderate 91 beats per minute. Selena's vocal range
Vocal range
Vocal range is the measure of the breadth of pitches that a human voice can phonate. Although the study of vocal range has little practical application in terms of speech, it is a topic of study within linguistics, phonetics, and speech and language pathology, particularly in relation to the study...
in the song spans one octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
. The song had drew influence from the Reggae
Reggae en Español
Reggae en Español is reggae and dancehall music recorded in the Spanish language by artists of Latin American origin. It originated in the mid-1970s in Panama and 1980s in Puerto Rico, but today reggae en Español is well dominated by Puerto Rican reggae bands...
, dancehall
Dancehall
Dancehall is a genre of Jamaican popular music that originated in the late 1970s. Initially dancehall was a more sparse version of reggae than the roots style, which had dominated much of the 1970s. In the mid-1980s, digital instrumentation became more prevalent, changing the sound considerably,...
, ska
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
, two-step
2-step garage
2-step garage, or simply 2-step, is a typically English style of modern electronic dance music, and a relatively popular subgenre of UK garage.A transcription of this article is available as a PDF file.-Characteristics:...
, dance-club, nortec
Nortec
Nortec is an electronic musical genre from Tijuana that first gained popularity in 2001...
, drum and bass
Drum and bass
Drum and bass is a type of electronic music which emerged in the late 1980s. The genre is characterized by fast breakbeats , with heavy bass and sub-bass lines...
, dancehall-rap en español
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
, and salsa funk
Salsa music
Salsa music is a genre of music, generally defined as a modern style of playing Cuban Son, Son Montuno, and Guaracha with touches from other genres of music...
music genres.
The remixed version found on Dreaming of You (1995) has a key signature
Key signature
In musical notation, a key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating notes that are to be consistently played one semitone higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes unless otherwise altered with an accidental...
set in C minor. The music features performances on piano, güira
Güira
A güira is a percussion instrument from the Dominican Republic, generally used in merengue, bachata, and its subgenres, that sounds like a maraca or hi-hat but in fact is a sheet of metal—in practice, often from a five gallon oil can—evenly perforated with a nail, shaped into a cylinder or...
, tambourine, French horn and drums. The remix version also includes keyboards, horns and a heavier beat with some scratching
Scratching
Scratching is a DJ or turntablist technique used to produce distinctive sounds by moving a vinyl record back and forth on a turntable while optionally manipulating the crossfader on a DJ mixer. While scratching is most commonly associated with hip hop music, since the late 1980s, it has been used...
, reggae fusion sounds and one drop rhythm
One drop rhythm
One drop rhythm is a drumset playing style of reggae, popularized by Carlton Barrett, long-time drummer of Bob Marley and the Wailers, created by Winston Grennan, in which the backbeat is characterized by the dominant snare drum stroke and bass drum both sounding on the third beat of every measure...
s performed in a fast tempo
Tempo
In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece. Tempo is a crucial element of any musical composition, as it can affect the mood and difficulty of a piece.-Measuring tempo:...
. The song's lyrics describes Selena arriving at a club, not favored among young adults, teaching them the "Techno Cumbia" dance.
Live performances
"Techno Cumbia" has been performed in every concert of the Amor Prohibido TourAmor Prohibido Tour
The Amor Prohibido Tour was the final concert tour by popular Latin-American singer, Selena, before she was shot and killed on March 31, 1995. After her "Amor Prohibido" tour she would be getting ready for her "Crossover"-tour that would be from late April 1995- until June 1995 in Texas, then...
. On February 26, 1995, Selena performed "Techno Cumbia" at the Houston Astrodome in Houston, Texas wearing a purple bodysuit. Selena performed "Techno Cumbia" in a school auditorium in 1995, which garnered interest from a student who wrote about the performance in her book, fifteen years later. Her final performance of "Techno Cumbia" was on March 19, 1995 during her concert at the Calle Ocho Festival in Miami, which attracted over 100,000 fans. During Selena's half-hour appearance on the Johnny Canales Show
Johnny Canales
Johnny Canales is a former Tejano singer, and was host of the popular show titled "The Johnny Canales Show". Canales is credited with one of the first live performances of Selena by her thirteenth birthday. He took Selena y Los Dinos for their first concerts in Mexico...
in mid-1994, Selena wore an outfit from her Selena Etc.
Selena Etc.
Selena Etc. was a South Texas-based boutique, salon, and clothing store, which was built by Latin Superstar, Selena. Selena Etc. was built and finished on January 27, 1993 in Corpus Christi, Texas which was the headquarters building...
boutique.
In some of Selena's performances of "Techno Cumbia", an extended version of the song was performed, similar to "Enamorada de Ti", "Baila Esta Cumbia
Baila Esta Cumbia (song)
"Baila Esta Cumbia" is a single released by Selena in 1990 from the album Ven Conmigo. The song is what brought Selena y Los Dinos more fame then they ever imagined. It was the first number-one song in Mexico for Selena. In 2005, Kumbia Kings remixed the song from the album Duetos under the title...
" and "Como La Flor
Como La Flor (song)
"Como La Flor" is a song by Mexican-American singer Selena, from her third studio album, Entre a Mi Mundo . Written and produced by Selena, Abraham Quintanilla III, and Ricky Vela, the song was also produced by Abraham Quintanilla Jr, the track was released as the album's second single. It was...
". On Live! The Last Concert
Live! The Last Concert
-Miscellaneous:* This concert was featured in the film based upon the life of Selena.* The opening scene in Selena is a recreation of the actual "Disco Medley" performance. However, the version of the song used in the film is much shorter....
(2001) the performance of "Techno Cumbia" was recorded at the Houston Astrodome and was released on the posthumous live album. This version was re-released on La Leyenda
La Leyenda
La Leyenda is the name of the 66th posthumous release and 3rd 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...
(2010). Selena performed and promoted the song during her Amor Prohibido Tour (1994–95).
Release
"Techno Cumbia" was released to radio stations in late October 1994 and as a promotional single and cassette singleCassette single
A cassette single is a music single in the form of a Compact Cassette.- History :...
on December 26, 1994 in the United States. In Mexico, the single was released as a CD single and also sold poorly. A year later a cassette version was released with a radio edit version of "Techno Cumbia" as a b-side track. On the same day, the remix version was released as a promotional single in the United States, as it served as the b-side for "Dreaming of You
Dreaming of You (Selena song)
"Dreaming of You" is the name of a Selena love song written by Franne Golde and Tom Snow. It was Selena's biggest single, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was released at the end of the first quarter of 1995, after Selena's murder...
". In Spain, the single was released to promote Dreaming of You (1995), sold over 20,000 copies and was certified Gold by the Productores de Música de España. In early 2005, "Techno Cumbia" was certified platinum in Mexico for 5,000 digital downloads by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas.
Critical reception
Sara M. Misemer and Walter Aaron Clark, wrote in their book Secular saints: performing Frida Kahlo, Carlos Gardel, Eva Perón, and Selena that "Techno Cumbia" reminded them of Guillermo Gómez-PeñaGuillermo Gómez-Peña
Guillermo Gómez-Peña was born in Mexico City and moved to the US in 1978, where he established himself as a performance artist, writer, activist, and educator. He has pioneered multiple media, including performance art, experimental radio, video, performance photography and installation art...
's suggestion that "...cultures are being superimposed,...", because of Selena's mixed genres that were influenced by music from Colombia and the Caribbean. Edward Morales wrote in his book Living in Spanglish: The Search for Latino Identity in America, that "Techno Cumbia" may have been an indirect influence on the fin de siècle (French for End of Century) collective of DJs from the borderlands around Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
called "Nortec
Nortec
Nortec is an electronic musical genre from Tijuana that first gained popularity in 2001...
". He also commented that "Selena's delivery makes tunes like "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
Bidi Bidi Bom Bom
"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" is a song by Mexican-American Tejano pop singer Selena from her album Amor Prohibido . The album's second single, "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" was written by Selena and Pete Astudillo. It was produced by A.B. Quintanilla III – Selena's brother – and Bebu Silvetti. The song was...
" and "Techno Cumbia", which would be catchy but forgettable throwaways in the hands of the average performer, stick in your gut".
Guadalupe San Miguel wrote in his book Tejano proud: Tex-Mex music in the twentieth century that "Techno Cumbia", "Como La Flor
Como La Flor (song)
"Como La Flor" is a song by Mexican-American singer Selena, from her third studio album, Entre a Mi Mundo . Written and produced by Selena, Abraham Quintanilla III, and Ricky Vela, the song was also produced by Abraham Quintanilla Jr, the track was released as the album's second single. It was...
" and "La Carcacha
La Carcacha
-Song information:The song was a huge success in the U.S. and Mexico, reaching out to more fans of Tejano music. This song is also featured in the 1997 film.-Music video:...
" were Selena's biggest Cumbia hits. Michael Joseph Corcoran stated in his book All over the map: true heroes of Texas music that "Techno Cumbia" had Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
-like trills, in his book about heroes in Texas music
Texas Music
Texas Music is a quarterly entertainment magazine published in Austin, Texas. Since its launch in January 2000, Texas Music has covered hundreds of the state’s musicians and bands, regardless of the style of music, in addition to writing about the venues and events that contribute to the state’s...
. Herón Márquez of Latin Sensations wrote that "...the song signaled a new style of Tejano music
Tejano music
Tejano music or Tex-Mex music is the name given to various forms of folk and popular music originating among the Mexican-American populations of Central and Southern Texas...
."
Joe Nick Patoski wrote in his book Selena: Como La Flor about "Techno Cumbia"'s different taste in music genres, had helped it to be more acceptable to the Spanish-international market: "The most compelling tunes were the ones aimed at the Spanish-international market: "Techno Cumbia", which honored the most popular rhythm coursing through the Latin music world while updating it with vocal samples, second line drumming from New Orleans, and horn charts inspired by soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
from the Caribbean". Ramiro Burr of Billboard wrote: "Songs like "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom," "Como La Flor," and "Techno Cumbia," were remastered, injecting extra percussions to spice them up[...]". Norma Elia Cantú wrote in her book Chicana Traditions: Continuity and Change about Selena's fusion in Tejano music, stating that: "Songs such as "Techno-cumbia," "La Tracalera," and "La Carcacha" all became the auditory of Tejano music". James Moore of Vibe, stated that songs such as the versions of "Missing My Baby" and "Techno Cumbia", on Dreaming of You (1995), helped A.B. Quintanilla to received gold and platinum plaques for the Selena albums he helped produce. According to Billboard, "Techno Cumbia" is the earliest example of a song that fuses the Pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and Cumbia rap
Cumbia rap
Cumbia rap is a spin off of the original cumbia genre. It consists of a more traditional Colombian rhythm, as well as some hip hop and reggae type additions...
genres. After Selena's murder, her brother A.B. Quintanilla formed a reggaeton
Reggaeton
Reggaeton is a form of Puerto Rican and Latin American urban and Caribbean music. After its mainstream exposure in 2004, it spread to North American, European and Asian audiences. Reggaeton originated in Puerto Rico but is also has roots from Reggae en Español from Panama and Puerto Rico and...
band called "Los Kumbia Kings" in the late '90s. Two singles were released, "Shhh!" and "Boom Boom", both taken from the album Shhh!
Shhh!
-Credits:This information from Allmusic.Personnel*A.B. Quintanilla III: Arranger, vocals, producer, executive producer, mixing*Cruz Martínez: Arranger, programming, producer, engineer, mixing...
(2001), and are thought to be the decendents of "Techno Cumbia". "Techno Cumbia" was featured on The Billboard Book of Number One Albums in 1996. "Techno Cumbia" was selected for inclusion in the Selena Forever Play
Selena Forever
Selena Forever is an American stage musical, based on the film Selena , that tells the life of the famous Tejano singer Selena. The musical has been staged under two titles. The first - Selena Forever was conceived with book and original lyrics by Edward Gallardo and original music by Fernando...
in 2000, starring Veronica Vasquez
Veronica (singer)
Veronica is a dance music singer and theatrical actress. Along with singers Ultra Nate, Deborah Cox, she is considered to be one of the divas of the 1990s club music scene...
as Selena.
Music video
The music video for "Techno Cumbia" was filmed from August 3–5, 1995, and was directed by Bryan BarberBryan Barber
Bryan Barber is a music video and motion picture director. He has directed many music videos for popular artists.-Personal:Barber graduated from Sacramento, CA Hiram Johnson High School in 1988...
. After the release of Dreaming of You in July 1995, "Techno Cumbia"'s remix on the album received extensive airplay in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Spain and won accolades. EMI Records created a posthumous music video in honor of Selena, including songs; "Dreaming of You", "I Could Fall in Love
I Could Fall in Love
"I Could Fall in Love" is the first single by American singer Selena from her last studio album Dreaming of You, released in October 1995 by EMI International.-Song information:...
", "I'm Getting Used To You
I'm Getting Used To You
"I'm Getting Used to You" is the title of the fourth single released by Selena from the album Dreaming of You.-Song information:The track was written by superstar songwriter Diane Warren and was chosen to be the fourth release...
", "Tú Sólo Tú
Tú Sólo Tú
"Tú Sólo Tú" is the title of the second single released from the album Dreaming of You, recorded by Selena. The track was written by Felipe Valdés Leal and was the first Spanish single to be released posthumously after Selena's death in 1995...
", "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)" and "Missing My Baby", from the album. EMI was in partnership with Q-Productions
Q-Productions
Q-Productions is a record company owned and operated by Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Founded in 1993, Q Productions or also known as Q, or Q-Zone specializes within the Latin music industry, and it is located in Texas. The company's most recognized contributing artists are Selena , Los Tres Reyes, and...
, who helped with the concept of the video. Selena's father, Abraham Quintanilla Jr
Abraham Quintanilla Jr
Abraham Isaac Quintanilla, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the father of singer Selena, who was murdered in 1995.-Early life:...
, did not want the video to be "...too sexual" because he knew children and young adults would view it, since Selena was popular among all age groups, especially young girls who would imitate Selena's dance moves. The video was produced by Tango Productions; casting calls were done after the music video for "I'm Getting Used To You" was completed. The dance moves performed in the video were inspired by the tango, urban and reggae dances. Selena's live performances of the song were included, and the back-up dancer
Backup dancer
A backup dancer is a performer who dances with or behind the lead performers in a live musical act or in a music video. Their movements provide a visual symmetry and rhythm to accompany the music....
s danced either in groups or with their partners. The video was filmed in Tango Productions studios, and used visual effects such as chroma key. Darrin Henson choreographed the video.
The video opens with Selena spinning and singing "Techno Cumbiaaaaa", while two men appear in the video, stopping the song to inform everyone: "This is a serious music, you are about to hear, on some serious music" in Jamaican English
Jamaican English
Jamaican English or Jamaican Standard English is a dialect of English spoken in Jamaica. It melds parts of both American English and British English dialects, along with many aspects of Irish intonation...
. They then leave the video, and the song begins. People are shown sitting in chairs, dancing. Selena's 1994 performance of "Techno Cumbia", is seen on the left side, while on the right side a group of people begin dancing with their partners. In the next scene, Selena's performance of "Techno Cumbia" at the Houston Astrodome on February 26, 1995 is shown in the left side of the screen, while the group dances further. Next the men are seen break dancing to Selena's melody verse, as the women watch. After this, the whole cast, dressed in white clothing, dance with their hands in the air. The next scene, showing a man moving his body in a white tank top shirt and a woman ripping it off, is censored, with Selena appearing and quickly dancing out of the video, showing the man's upper chest exposed. The video ends with a woman in a black hat in urban clothes, attempting to sit down on a chair.
Reception
The music video attracted positive reviews from music critics. Raúl Manuel Rodríguez of El Dictamen wrote, that: "Techno Cumbia, a reggae-inflected groove, is one of Selena's best produced music video, the concept and the dances, captures the audiences". In Rodríguez's "Top 10 Selena music videos", "Techno Cumbia" was placed at number four. Xavier Figueroa of TVyNovelasTVyNovelas
TVyNovelas is a Mexican magazine published by .Four international editions are also published: USA, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile and Colombia. It is considered the leader among showbusiness publications in Mexico, especially on the subject of telenovelas...
wrote that the music video was one of his "...most fun to watch [music videos]" and he thanked EMI Records for showcasing Selena in the video.
Awards
| Year | Awards ceremony | Award | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Tejano Music Awards Tejano Music Awards The Tejano Music Awards had been launched in 1980 by former art teacher and music veteran Rudy Trevino and the leader of the Latin Breed Band, Gilbert Escobedo. Only 1,500 fans turned out for the first Tejano Music Awards. Over the years, San Antonio evolved into the Nashville of Tejano music... |
Single of the Year | |
| Tejano Music Awards | Song of the Year | ||
| Tejano Music Awards | Tejano Crossover Song of the Year | ||
| 1996 | Tejano Music Awards | Song of the Year | |
| 1997 | Tejano Music Awards | Tejano Music Video of the Year | |
| 2010 | Tejano Music Awards | Best 1990s Songs |
Charts and certifications
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Latin Regional Mexican Airplay (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Hot Latin Tracks (Billboard) | 1 |
| Chart (1995) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Latin Pop Songs | 13 |
| US Hot Latin Track | 4 |
| US Latin Regional Mexican Airplay | 4 |
| Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007... |
97 |
| Spanish Top 50 Songs | 35 |
| Chart (1996) | Position |
|---|---|
| Spanish Top 50 Songs | 40 |
| Country | Format | Certifications (sales thresholds) |
Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico (AMPROFON) | Digital Track Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
Platinum | 3,000+ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Single | Gold | 20,000+ |
Track listing
- U.S. Promo Single (1994)
- "Techno Cumbia" – 3:47
- Mexico EP Single (1994)
- "Techno Cumbia" – 3:47
- Mexico Promo Cassette (1995)
- "Techno Cumbia" – 3:47
- "Techno Cumbia (Radio Edit)" – 2:27
- U.S. 12" Vinyl (1994)
- "Techno Cumbia" – 3:47
- "Techno Cumbia (Radio Edit)" – 2:27
- U.S. Promo Single (1995)
- "Techno Cumbia (Album Version)" – 4:45
- "Techno Cumbia (Full Force Remix)" – 5:17
- "Techno Cumbia (Brazilian Nut-Remix)" – 6:02
- "Dreaming of YouDreaming of You (Selena song)"Dreaming of You" is the name of a Selena love song written by Franne Golde and Tom Snow. It was Selena's biggest single, peaking at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100.The song was released at the end of the first quarter of 1995, after Selena's murder...
(Album Version)" – 5:15 - "Dreaming of You (Radio Edit)" – 4:12
- Spain Promo Single (1995)
- "Dreaming of You (Radio Edit)" – 4:12
- "Techno Cumbia (Album Version)" – 4:45
Credits and personnel
Music video- Directed by: Bryan BarberBryan BarberBryan Barber is a music video and motion picture director. He has directed many music videos for popular artists.-Personal:Barber graduated from Sacramento, CA Hiram Johnson High School in 1988...
- Produced by: Jose Behar (EMI LatinEMI LatinEMI Televisa Music, also known as EMI Latin and EMI International, is a subsidiary of EMI which focuses on Latin American music....
), Abraham Quintanilla JrAbraham Quintanilla JrAbraham Isaac Quintanilla, Jr. is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. He is the father of singer Selena, who was murdered in 1995.-Early life:...
(Q-ProductionsQ-ProductionsQ-Productions is a record company owned and operated by Abraham Quintanilla Jr. Founded in 1993, Q Productions or also known as Q, or Q-Zone specializes within the Latin music industry, and it is located in Texas. The company's most recognized contributing artists are Selena , Los Tres Reyes, and...
), Desmond Charles (Tango Productions) - Written by: Bryan Barber
- Starring: Selena, Los DinosSelena y Los DinosSelena y Los Dinos was the band in which Grammy-Award-winning Tejano music singer Selena performed, until her death on March 31, 1995. Selena fronted the band since 1980, started by her father Abraham Quintanilla, Jr....
, back-up dancers - Costume Designed by: Selena, Martin Gomez
- Production Manager: Abraham Quintanilla Jr
Techno Cumbia
- Selena – vocals
- Joe Ojeda – keyboards
- Ricky VelaRicky VelaRicardo "Ricky" Vela is an award-winning song-writer and keyboards for the band Selena y Los Dinos. Ricky Vela joined the band as the bands keyboard player...
– keyboards, writer - Chris PérezChris PerezChristopher Gilbert "Chris" Pérez is a American guitarist and the widower of "The Queen of Tejano music" Selena. He is currently a guitarist for A.B. Quintanilla III y Los Kumbia All Starz since he joined in 2006. Prior to that, Pérez was the lead guitarist for his wife's band Selena y Los Dinos...
– guitar - Suzette Quintanilla – drums
- Los DinosSelena y Los DinosSelena y Los Dinos was the band in which Grammy-Award-winning Tejano music singer Selena performed, until her death on March 31, 1995. Selena fronted the band since 1980, started by her father Abraham Quintanilla, Jr....
– bajo sextoBajo sextoA bajo sexto is a musical instrument with 12 strings in 6 double courses, used in Mexican music. It is used primarily in norteño music of northern Mexico and across the border in the music of south Texas known as "Tex-Mex", "conjunto, or "música mexicana-tejana".A similar instrument with five... - A.B. Quintanilla III – writer
- Pete AstudilloPete AstudilloPedro "Pete" Astudillo is a Mexican American songwriter.-Life:Astudillo was one of the leaders of the Tejano music scene, and from an early age followed mariachi and conjunto music. He began his musical career as a backup vocalist for the queen of Tejano, Selena, as a member of Selena y Los Dinos...
– writer - Lisette Lorenzo – art direction
Source:
Covers
| Artist | Album | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Angelica Y La Tribu | Selena vs. Bukis | 1995 |
| Richard Clay | Balada Para Selena | 1995 |
| Yarumba | El Baile de la Mariposa | 1996 |
| Liberación | Mexico Recuerda a Selena | 2004 |
| El Grupo Santa Clara | Tributo a Los Grandes: Selena | 2004 |
| Banda El Recodo Banda el Recodo Banda Sinaloense el Recodo de Don Cruz Lizárraga, often referred to as Banda el Recodo is a Mexican Banda sinaloense group. Since its founding in 1938, it has been under the direction of the Lizárraga family... |
Selena ¡VIVE! | 2005 |
| Graham Blvd | 90s Pop Hits Vol.10 | 2008 |
| Fitnessbeat | Reggaeton Vol. 2 | 2011 |