Selena Gomez tries to live up to her namesake; fails
I’m not in middle school nor a pedophile, so today I had to Google Selena Gomez. Apparently, the 17-year-old Disney Channel star was named after LA MISMÍSIMA Selena Quintanilla, the famous Tex-Mex singer who went on a vacation with Jesus far too early.
Dear Selenita (the chiquita, not the original one) tried to live up to her namesake by singing her own version of Bidi Bidi Bom Bom this weekend at the San Antonio Rodeo. And by “her own version” I mean the music sounded similar, but when it came to the singing, she took the Spanish language and butchered it so hard that even Italian and Portuguese felt the blows.
I’m in hyperbolic mode, I admit, but then again, I’ve always been protective about Spanish — I’m the anal retentive kind who types acentos, full words, interrogation and admiration signs even when using Gmail Chat. And so, when someone attempts to sing one of my childhood anthems by not rolling her R’s properly or saying “emaciona” instead of emociona, I die a little inside. Because Selenita, at least your namesake learned Spanish in order to publicly say she was actually singing in Spanish. There’s little wrong with machacar your español if you’re a first-generation American, but if celebrities want to take advantage of the Hispanic market (don’t kid yourself, Ms. Gomez, that’s exactly what you’re doing), they should at least be respectful about linguistics. You can’t have your empanada and eat it, too. Because dear girl, every time a self-professed Hispanic celebrity rolls an improper R, an angel loses his wings. And Rush Limbaugh wins.
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Comments (6)
i say give the 17 year old kid a break for trying. it beats changing her last name to green or smith
by no mames on February 8, 2010 at 4:00pmHaters (like me) are always going to hate. But from a marketing point of view, again, she can’t have her empanada and eat it, too.
by rmessina on February 8, 2010 at 4:02pmBefore having spent a year in San Antonio, TX, I would have totally agreed! Pero, para serte completamente honesto, that’s how Texans talk! Everything always sounds a little off, not by much, but just enough for someone like us to notice. But, once to look at the larger picture, you are almost impressed. These Mexicanos have been in Gringolandia so long, (some like to mention that they had the border cross them) and yet still preserve Spanish. Tal vez no sea el castellano de nuestra madre partria, but it’s Spanish nonetheless. And if Selenita can inspire other pochitas to be proud of their language, more power to her I say. Aunque no sepa decir “razona”.
by kararikue on February 10, 2010 at 12:53amYo soy igual. I’m all obsessed with acentos and signos de interrogación. “Because dear girl, every time a self-professed Hispanic celebrity rolls an improper R, an angel loses his wings.” Jajaja, me dio MUCHA risa!
I’m a born and raised Mexican living in Texas for a while and yes, a lot of people roll R’s and stuff. For me, for my standard, they talk a little off. But that’s me and the way I was educated and I learned Spanish.
Yes, Selenita should have double-checked her Spanish. Maybe she will if she tries to get into Latin American market. Just like Selena did! Because THE Selena also talked a little off too, at least for Mexicans, and as far as I know she started to sing in Spanish without knowing what she was saying. And it’s fine, it wasn’t her native language.
Bottom line, for know, I think Tex-Mex/Pocho Spanish will work for Selena Gomez. And I’m fine with that because I don’t hear her music at all.
by Melissa on February 13, 2010 at 1:25pmAy perdon, se me fue una K!
by Melissa on February 13, 2010 at 1:27pm“I’m not in middle school nor a pedophile”, or for that matter, a guy…..
by Anonymous on March 17, 2010 at 12:25am