American singer Selena has recorded material for her five studio albums and has collaborated with other artists for duets and featured songs on their respective albums and charity singles. Her six indie label albums—Selena y Los Dinos (1984), Alpha (1986), Muñequito de Trapo (1986), And the Winner Is... (1987), Preciosa (1988), and Dulce Amor (1988)—were released prior to signing a recording contract with EMI Latin, who billed Selena as a solo artist despite her Los Dinos band's involvement in her releases. Most of these songs were written by the singer's father and manager Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. and from local Tejano music songwriters. Selena's brother, A.B. Quintanilla became her principal record producer and songwriter by 1989, though he fought to remain in this position with the release of Selena's self-titled debut album with EMI Latin. The company insisted on a Grammy Award-winning songwriter for Selena, Abraham went into an agreement that if A.B. failed to produce a successful album they would then collectively be in favor of a Grammy Award-winning producer for her next recording. Selena spawned three singles; "Contigo Quiero Estar", "Mentiras", and a Spanish-language cover of Kyu Sakamoto's 1960s Japanese song "Sukiyaki". Her Los Dinos band—newcomers Pete Astudillo, Joe Ojeda, and veteran Ricky Vela—were involved in the writing process for Selena's debut album.
EMI Latin allowed A.B. to remain the singer's producer and songwriter for Ven Conmigo (1990) after her first recording enjoyed moderate success. Six out of the ten songs on the album were written by her band. Local songwriter Johnny Herrera contributed to three tracks, including "Aunque No Salga el Sol" which was originally intended for Lisa Lopez. Vela wanted Selena to record Juan Gabriel's "Yo Me Voy" after listening to Rocío Dúrcal's version of the song. "Baila Esta Cumbia", the second single released from Ven Conmigo, was written by A.B. and Astudillo following a concert in West Texas. In 1991, Selena recorded a duet with Salvadoran singer Alvaro Torres on "Buenos Amigos", a song he wrote after attending one of her concerts. Entre a Mi Mundo (1992), Selena's third studio album, were written entirely by her band. It included the band's most innovative sound, at the time. "¿Qué Creias?", an unapologetic mariachi "kiss-off anthem", was written by A.B. and Astudillo, who co-wrote as a pair on most of the recordings on the album. Selena was credited as co-writer for "Ámame" and "Como la Flor", the latter became the singer's signature song. In Live! (1993), three out of the eleven songs were new studio recordings; "No Debes Jugar", "La Llamada", and "Tú Robaste Mi Corazón" (a duet with American singer Emilio Navaira), all of which were written by the band.
Selena was featured on the Barrio Boyzz 1994 single "Donde Quiera Que Estés", which was written by K. C. Porter, Miguel Flores, and Desmond Child. Finding it challenging to write another successful song following "Como la Flor", A.B. enlisted Vela and Astudillo with writing Amor Prohibido (1994); the singer's fourth studio album. Amor Prohibido is considered to be Selena's best work and her band's "crowning achievement". The album was supported with the title track "Amor Prohibido", "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom", "No Me Queda Más", and "Fotos y Recuerdos" as singles. The latter samples the Pretenders 1982 song "Back on the Chain Gang", while "Cobarde" was written by José Luis Borrego. On March 31, 1995, Selena was shot and killed by her friend and former manager of her boutiques. At the time of her death, Selena was working on a crossover into American pop music. Keith Thomas wrote "I Could Fall in Love", the lead single from her Dreaming of You (1995) album which were released posthumously. The titular track "Dreaming of You" was written by Franne Golde and Tom Snow, while Diane Warren wrote "I'm Getting Used to You" and Kit Hain wrote "Captive Heart". Selena's posthumous output includes the releases of the intended songs for the Don Juan DeMarco soundtrack: "Tú Sólo Tú" (a Pedro Infante cover), "El Toro Relajo", and "Siempre Hace Frio". The soundtrack album to the biopic film Selena, included songs written by her band, Norman Saleet, Pamela Phillips Oland, Frederick Perren, Dino Fekaris, Steve Greenberg, Paul Jabara, Van McCoy, Donna Summer, and Giorgio Moroder. Selena's charity effort, "A Boy Like That" was posthumously released to help raise funds for HIV/AIDS patients. "Con Tanto Amor Medley", a mash-up of "Como la Flor", "Amor Prohibido", and "Si Una Vez", was released as a single in 2002. Selena's last recording, "Puede Ser", was released in 2004 and is a duet with Nando "Guero" Dominguez, which was written by Selena's widower Chris Perez., some songs recorded by Selena remain unreleased or were unofficially digitally released by her family.
| < | -- Do not remove the dagger; this is a requirement per Wikipedia's guidelines on colour. --> | Indicates songs written or co-written by Selena |
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| < | -- Do not remove the hash; this is a requirement per Wikipedia's guidelines on colour. --> | Indicates songs covered by Selena |
| < | -- Do not remove the hash; this is a requirement per Wikipedia's guidelines on colour. --> | Indicates songs released as singles |
| Writer(s) | Album | Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row | "Acuerdate de Mi" | A.B. Quintanilla | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row | "Always Mine" | A.B. Quintanilla | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Ámame" | Selena Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row | "Ámame, Quiéreme" | A.B. Quintanilla | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Amor Prohibido" | Selena Quintanilla A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row | "Are You Ready to Be Loved?" | A.B. Quintanilla Pamela Phillips Oland | 2015 | |||
| scope=row | "Aunque No Salga el Sol" | Johnny Herrera | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Besitos" | A.B. Quintanilla | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "A Boy Like That" | Leonard Bernstein Stephen Sondheim | Songs of West Side Story | 1996 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Baila Esta Cumbia" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" | Selena Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row | "Brindis de Amor" | Juan H. Barrón | Muñequito de Trapo | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Buenos Amigos" | Alvaro Torres | Nada Se Compara Contigo | 1991 | ||
| scope=row | "Call Me" | A.B. Quintanilla | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row | "Captive Heart" | Kit Hain Mark Goldenberg | Dreaming of You | 1995 | ||
| scope=row | "Cariño, Cariño Mio" | A.B. Quintanilla | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Cariño Mio" | Ricky Vela | Preciosa | 1988 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Cien Años" | Fuentes Cervantes | Preciosa | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Cobarde" | José Luis Borrego | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Como la Flor" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo Selena Quintanilla | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Con Tanto Amor Medley" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Ones | 2002 | ||
| scope=row | "Cómo Quisiera" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Preciosa | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Como Te Quiero" | Ricky Vela | Preciosa | 1988 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "Con Esta Copa" | Johnny Herrera | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Contigo Quiero Estar" | Alejandro Montealegre | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row | "Corazón Abandonado" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row | "Corazóncito" | A.B. Quintanilla Manny Guerra | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Costumbres" | Juan Gabriel | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Cruzare La Montaña" | Juan H. Barrón | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row | "Cuando Nadie Te Quiera" | José Alfredo Jiménez | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row | "Dame Tu Amor" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Dame Un Beso" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Después de Enero" | Johnny Herrera | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Diferentes" | Juan Gabriel | Muñequito de Trapo | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Dime" | A.B. Quintanilla | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Disco Medley: I Will Survive/Funkytown/Last Dance/The Hustle/On the Radio" | Frederick Perren Dino Fekaris Steve Greenberg Paul Jabara Van McCoy Donna Summer Giorgio Moroder | Selena: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | 1997 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Donde Quiera Que Estés" | K. C. Porter Miguel Flores Desmond Child | Donde Quiera Que Estés | 1994 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Dreaming of You" | Dreaming of You | 1995 | |||
| scope=row | "Dulce Amor" | A.B. Quintanilla | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "El Chico del Apartamento 512" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row | "El Ramalazo" | Tomás Méndez | Muñequito de Trapo | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "El Toro Relajo" | Felipe Bermejo | Dreaming of You | 1995 | ||
| scope=row | "Enamorada de Ti" (Daniela Romo Cover) (1986 Song) | Daniela Romo Danilo Vaona | Muñequito de Trapo | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Enamorada de Ti" (1990 Song) | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Estoy Contigo" | A.B. Quintanilla | Mis Primeros Exitos | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Feelings" | Morris Albert Louis Gasté | Through the Years / A Traves de los Años | 2007 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Fotos y Recuerdos" | Chrissie Hynde Ricky Vela | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "Give Me One More Chance" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row | "God's Child (Baila Conmigo)" | David Byrne Selena Quintanilla | Dreaming of You | 1995 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "I Could Fall in Love" | Keith Thomas | Dreaming of You | 1995 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "I'm Getting Used to You" | Diane Warren | Dreaming of You | 1995 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Is It the Beat?" | Pamela Phillips Oland A.B. Quintanilla | Selena: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | 1997 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "La Bamba" | Beau Ryan | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "La Carcacha" | A.B. Quintanilla | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "La Llamada" | A.B. Quintanilla | Selena Live! | 1993 | ||
| scope=row | "La Mirada" | Juan H. Barrón | Muñequito de Trapo | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "La Tracalera" | Johnny Herrera | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "La Puerta Se Cerró" | A.B. Quintanilla | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Las Cadenas" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row | "Lo Tanto Que Te Quiero" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row | "Lo Dejo Solo" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | Classic Series, Vol. 1 | 2007 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Mentiras" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row | "Missing My Baby" | A.B. Quintanilla | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row | "Muñequito de Trapo" | A.B. Quintanilla | Muñequito de Trapo | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#ced343" | "My Love" | Selena Quintanilla | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "No Debes Jugar" | A.B. Quintanilla | Selena Live! | 1993 | ||
| scope=row | "No Lloras Más Corazón" | A.B. Quintanilla | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "No Puedo Estar Sin Ti" | Rick Longoria | 1983 | |||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "No Me Queda Más" | Ricky Vela A.B. Quintanilla | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "No Quiero Saber" | A.B. Quintanilla | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "No Te Vayas" | A.B. Quintanilla | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "Only Love" | Robbie Buchanan Mark Spiro | Siempre Selena | 1996 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#ced343" | "Oh No (I'll Never Fall in Love Again)" | Selena Quintanilla A.B. Quintanilla | 2015 | |||
| scope=row | "Pa' Qué Me Sirve La Vida" | Jesús Monge | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Pensando En Ti" | Ricky Vela | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Pero Como Te Ha Ido" | Johnny Herrera | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Puede Ser" | Ricky Vela Chris Perez | Momentos Intimos | 2004 | ||
| scope=row | "Qué" | A.B. Quintanilla | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "¿Qué Creias?" | A.B. Quintanilla | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row | "Quiero Ser" | A.B. Quintanilla | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row | "Quisiera Darte" | Ricky Vela | Dulce Amor | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Rama Caida" | Juan H. Barrón | Muñequito de Trapo | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Sabes" | Ricky Vela | Preciosa | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Salta La Ranita" | Victor H. Garza | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row | "Sentimientos" | Al Hurricane | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row | "Se Acabo Aquel Amor" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row | "Si La Quieres" | Ricky Vela | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row | "Si Una Vez" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row | "Siempre Estoy Pensando en Ti" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Siempre Hace Frio" | Cuco Sanchez | Siempre Selena | 1996 | ||
| scope=row | "Soy Amiga" | Ricky Vela | Alpha | 1986 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Sukiyaki" | Rokusuke Ei Hachidai Nakamura Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. Pete Astudillo | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row | "Te Amo Solo A Ti" | E.J. Ledesma | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Techno Cumbia" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row | "Tengo Ganas de Llorar" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row | "Terco Corazon" | A.B. Quintanilla | Preciosa | 1988 | ||
| scope=row | "Tres Dias" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row | "Tu Eres" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Selena | 1989 | ||
| scope=row | "Tus Desprecios" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row | "Tu No Sabes" | Ricky Vela | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row | "Tú Robaste Mi Corazón" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Selena Live! | 1993 | ||
| scope=row | "Tú Solamente Tú" | Pending | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Tú Sólo Tú" | Felipe Valdés Leal | Dreaming of You | 1995 | ||
| scope=row | "Ven Conmigo" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Ven A Verme" | Ricky Vela | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row | "Vuelve a Mi" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Where Did the Feeling Go?" | Norman Saleet | Selena: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | 1997 | ||
| scope=row | "Wherever You Are (Donde Quiera Que Estés)" | K. C. Porter Miguel Flores Desmond Child | Dreaming of You | 1995 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "Ya Lo Se Que Tu Te Vas" | Juan Gabriel | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row | "Ya No" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Amor Prohibido | 1994 | ||
| scope=row | "Ya Se Va" | Jorge Antonio Ramírez | Selena y Los Dinos | 1984 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#D8BFD8" | "Ya Ves" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Yo Fui Aquella" | A.B. Quintanilla | Preciosa | 1988 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "Yo Me Voy" | Juan Gabriel | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Yo Te Amo" | A.B. Quintanilla Pete Astudillo | Ven Conmigo | 1990 | ||
| scope=row | "Yo Te Dare" | A.B. Quintanilla | And the Winner Is... | 1987 | ||
| scope=row | "Yo Te Sigo Queriendo" | A.B. Quintanilla Ricky Vela | Entre a Mi Mundo | 1992 |
| Writer(s) | Intended Album | Year | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| scope=row | "Cien Libras de Arcilla" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. | 1983 | |||
| scope=row | "No Me Quieres Tanto" | Rafael Hernández | Don Juan DeMarco: The Original Motion Picture | 1994 | ||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "Si Quieres Verme Llorar" | Johnny Herrera | 1983 | |||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "Sweet Dreams" | Don Gibson | 1983 | |||
| scope=row | "Tomorrow's Rains Fall Today (In the Twilight of My Sorrow)" | Abraham Quintanilla, Jr. Johnny Herrera | 1983 | |||
| scope=row style="background-color:#bbddff" | "You Needed Me" | Randy Goodrum | 1983 |