This week I chose to study “Amor Prohibido” by Selena. Selena Quintanilla Pérez is an American singer who helped Mexican-American music thrive in the United States.
This song tells the story of a Romeo & Juliet love, where two people are not allowed to be together. She sings about her love, and how only her love for him and his for her is what matters. She says “What does it matter what they say, your father and mother”. She declares her love for him, even though they are from different worlds (“societies”).
I like this song a lot because before translating, I had the perspective of a happy, joyous song. I couldn’t hear longing or crying out in her voice until the second or third listen to the song, after reading the English translation. I really enjoy the steady beat of the song, as well as the sounds of some kind of pan in the background. To me, it sounds like hand pans.
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