I.What I knew about Tejano music For me it all started out with Selena. I remember a boy in my middle school class dedicating me “Como La Flor” at one of our school dances in seventh grade. After that Tejano just sort of stuck in my head and all I ever thought of the song was that I had rejected that boy. Selena was quite a Tejana star at the time, and I was shocked with her murder two years later. She was a five star role model for Mexican-Americans to relate to and appreciate. Her songs live on in the Tejano world, as does her sprit and love for the music.Moving on to listen to bands such as La Mafia, Intenso, and Intocable; singing “Vida” by La Mafia was one of my favorite past times. Even though I could not speak Spanish well, I could always sing it well. I knew that they were regional bands and probably the only kind you could find in the Rio Grande Valley to play for a wedding, quincenera, or party. I thought Tejano could not be born anywhere else but in Texas because after all that is the meaning of Tejano-Texan in Spanish. I have lived in South Texas all my life, which means that I grew up in an isolated Hispanic community. Although I was not a Tejano music fanatic, I related to the music and understood the words well. Tejano was not popular worldwide at the time but I held my favorites. I knew that as Mexican-Americans that this music was a blend of cultures.Over time Tejano music became my favorite. I feel this music has so much feeling and love in it and at times it makes me emotional. “Corrazon”, by Intenso, always reminds me of an old heart break and I no matter what everytime I hear it I have to sing along. Every time I want to feel sad and happy all at once, I turn the radio to a Tejano station. I feel my roots in the music that our culture has created; I don’t believe Tejano music could be taken away from me now.II.What I wanted to knowTejano has been around for ...
