No Me Queda Más

Single by Selena
(Redirected from No Me Queda Mas)

"No Me Queda Más" (English: There's Nothing Left For Me) is a song by Mexican-American singer Selena. It was written by Ricky Vela. Vela had fallen in love with Selena's sister, Suzette Quintanilla. He then found out she was married. Vela was angry at this and wrote down his feelings. Selena's brother and producer of her music, A.B. Quintanilla III, liked the idea of turning his words into a song. The song was then co-produced by Bebu Silvetti. It was for Selena's fourth album Amor Prohibido (1994). The song's lyrics are a reference to Vela's unreturned love.

"No Me Queda Más"
Song by Selena
from the album Amor Prohibido
Released10 November 1994 (1994-11-10)
Recorded1993-1994
Q-Productions
(Corpus Christi, Texas)
GenreBallad
Length3:16 (original version)
3:49 (re-release version)
LabelEMI Latin
Songwriter(s)Ricky Vela
Producer(s)A.B. Quintanilla III, Bebu Silvetti
Selena singles chronology
"Bidi Bidi Bom Bom"
(1994)
"No Me Queda Más"
(1994)
"Fotos y Recuerdos"
(1995)
Music video
"No me queda más" on YouTube

"No Me Queda Más" is a Spanish language ballad. It was released as a single in the United States and Mexico. The song reached number one on the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks for seven weeks. The song became Selena's third number one single from her Amor Prohibido album. In 1995, it became the number-one song on the Billboard Top Latin Songs Year-End Chart. It also became the best-selling Latin single for 1995 in the United States.

The song had positive feedback from music critics. "No Me Queda Más" was nominated for "Song of the Year" at the Broadcast Music Latin Awards. However, the music video of the song won the 1995 Billboard Latin Music Awards. The music video was shot at the Houston, Texas Amtrak station and other locations in San Antonio, Texas. Since the song was released, it has been covered by several artists. It remains one of Selena's most popular songs.

Background and inspiration

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"No Me Queda Más" was written by Ricky Vela. Vela was a keyboardist for Selena y Los Dinos. He had fallen in love with the drummer of the group, Suzette Quintanilla.[1] Suzette is Selena and A.B. Quintanilla III's sister. After finding out she was married, Vela wrote about his feelings on paper. He was going to send it to Suzette. However, Selena needed more songs on what was going to be her next album. Selena's brother and music producer, A.B., decided to ask Vela if he had written anything. Vela had written songs before and some of his works were recorded by Selena. Vela told A.B. about his feelings for her sister Suzette. He showed him the paper where he wrote about how hurt he was. A.B., liked the idea of turning it into a song. They then worked together and turned it into a ballad.[2]

Selena recorded the song at her father and manager's record studio Q-Productions. It was produced by A.B. The song was then co-produced by Bebu Silvetti. It was for Selena's fourth album, Amor Prohibido (1994).

Composition

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"No Me Queda Más" is a down-tempo[3] ballad.[4] It also has flamenco and ranchera music in the song.[3] It is written in key of B minor. The song has 95 beats per minute. Selena's vocal range in the song spans two octaves.[5] "No Me Queda Más" uses traditional musical instruments such as the violin, trumpet and the Spanish guitar.[3] Jose Behar, president of EMI Latin, asked Silvetti to mix the song. Behar believed if the song was "sweeten" it can help it's chart performance. The mixed version was then added to the re-release of Amor Prohibido. It was shown on the cover of the album as a "new version".[6] The song's lyrics explains the pain and sorrow of a woman who was betrayed by her boyfriend. In the song, the boyfriend left her to marry another female he liked. In the end, the woman hopes for the best for them and wishes them happiness while she cries.[7]

The song tells the story of unreturned love.[3][8] Carlos Meléndez, writer for El Nuevo Dia, gave a positive feedback of the song because it had an orchestra feel to it. Meléndez also enjoyed the use of the string instrument.[9] Ilan Stavans and Harold Augenbraum named the song a "mariachi bolero" in their book.[10] Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News, agreed to this statement and said that it was a "mournful mariachi-style ballad".[11]

Release and reception

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Jorge Velasquez called "No Me Queda Más" a "bonafide hit" in his book.[12] A Polish newspaper described "No Me Queda Más" as one of Selena's biggest hits.[13] Mark Schone of Newsday enjoyed the song's string arrangement and its Mexican trumpets.[14] Ramiro Burr, writer for the San Antonio Express-News, believed Selena had "over-dubbed vocals" for the song.[15] Burr later wrote that Selena used a "powerful" emotional voice when she recorded the song. He then stated that the song is a "bittersweet story".[8] Mario Tarradell of The Dallas Morning News called the song a "heartbreaking mariachi ballad".[16] According to Bob Young of the Boston Globe, "No Me Queda Más" is a "mariachi" song.[17] According to one of the writers of the Lexington Herald-Leader, "No Me Queda Más" is a "bolero-influenced" song.[18] Carmen Lopez of Novedades de México, enjoyed the song's "soulful-rich sounds".[19]

The song started at number 40 on the US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks on 12 November 1994. It reached number one for seven weeks.[20] The recording became Selena's third number-one single off of Amor Prohibido.[21] The song got off the chart on 1 April 1995. It returned two weeks later at number five. This was followed by Selena's death which happened the day before. The song then spent eleven weeks in the top 10.[22] With title , Selena became the first Latin artist to have four number-one singles on the Billboard Hot Latin Tracks chart in a single year.[20] Enrique Iglesias tied this record in 1996. He had four number-ones from his first album Enrique Iglesias.[23]

Impact and legacy

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Dominican American singer Kat DeLuna (left) and Mexican American singer Pepe Aguilar (right) have sang "No Me Queda Más" live in their concerts.

With "No Me Queda Más" and thirteen other of Selena's top 10 singles, she was named "top Latin artist of the '90s" and "Best Selling Latin Artist of the Decade" by Billboard magazine.[24] In March 2010, "No Me Queda Más" and a few other Selena music videos were selected for a Selena tribute. It was available to watch on Music Choice and was serviced to 42 million people in the United States.[25] "No Me Queda Más" became the most successful Latin single of 1995 in the United States.[26][27] According to Orlando Sentinel, "No Me Queda Más" was the second "Top 10 Spanish Hits of 1994".[28][29] The song was nominated for "Song of the Year" at the Broadcast Latin Music Awards.[30] However, the music video won "Video of the Year" at the 1995 Billboard Latin Music Awards.[31][32]

Kat DeLuna sang the song during a children's singing competition. She won first place.[33] In 1998, Los Tres Reyes recorded the song. They turned the song into a duet with Selena.[34] In 1995, salsa singer Tito Nieves recorded "No Me Queda Más" for his album Un Tipo Comun. His version reached number seven on the Billboard Latin Tropical Airplay chart.[35] Pepe Aguilar sang the song at the Selena ¡VIVE! (2005) tribute concert. Michael Clark of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Aguilar's version reminded him of R&B singer Aaron Neville.[36] In the same year, Mexican group Paloma also covered the song. They included it on their live album En Concierto-en Vivo Desde L.A. (2005). Their version reached number 19 on the Hot Latin Tracks chart and number six on the Latin Regional Mexican Airplay chart.[37] In 2006, Puerto Rican singer José Feliciano recorded the song. It was for his album José Feliciano Y Amigos (2006).[38] Ramiro Burr for the Chicago Tribune called Felicanio's version a "bittersweet ranchera".[39]

Cuban-American singer Toñita also recorded a version of the song. It was for her album Desafiando al Destino (2007).[40] In 2008, Mexican American singer Maria Williams recorded an English language version. It was called "Nothing Left for Me". It was for her first album Hybrid.[41] American singer David Archuleta sang the song several times on his tour. He was asked to perform "No Me Queda Más" at the 2010 Tejano Music Awards.[42] Karen Rodriguez performed the song on the tenth season of American Idol in 2011.[43][44] Dominican singer Prince Roye has performed "No Me Queda Más" while touring.[45] Mexican singer Graciela Beltran performed the song during one of her concerts in Houston, Texas.[46]

Track listing

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Credits

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Charts

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Weekly charts

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Awards and nominations

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Year Awards ceremony Award Results
1995 Latin Music Awards Video of the Year[32] Won
1997 Broadcast Music Incorporated Latin Awards Song of the Year[30][31] Nominated

References

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  1. Patoski, Joe Nick (1996). Como La Flor (1st ed.). Boulevard Books. ISBN 1-57297-246-7.
  2. Selena (2002). Amor Prohibido (CD). EMI Latin. 724354099403.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Beth Rodriguez, Lori (2008). Mapping Tejana epistemologies: Contemporary (re)constructions of Tejana identity in literature, film and popular culture. ProQues. p. 284. ISBN 978-0-549-51061-1.[permanent dead link]
  4. Hoffmann, Frank (2005). Encyclopedia of recorded sound (2nd ed.). Routledge. ISBN 0-415-93835-X.
  5. Quintanilla-Perez, Selena; Astudillo, Pete (1994). "Amor prohibido: Selena Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. EMI Music Publishing. MN092893 (Product Number).
  6. "The Chart Toppers". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 2. 8 January 2000. p. 116. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  7. Blumenthal, Howard J. (1997). The world music CD listener's guide (1st ed.). Billboard Books. ISBN 0-8230-7663-6.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Burr, Ramiro (14 April 2005). "Selena: ¡Vive!, Celebrates A Musical Legacy". San Antonio Express-News. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 21 December 2011.(subscription required)
  9. Meléndez, Carlos (30 July 1997). "¿Las Canciones De Una Reina?". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish).
  10. Augenbraum, Harold; Ilan Stavans (2005). Encyclopedia Latina : history, culture, and society in the United States. Grolier Academic Reference. ISBN 0-7172-5815-7.
  11. Tarradell, Mario (11 February 1995). "Selena clip named top video Early Tejano Music Awards hint at those to be named". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2011.(subscription required)
  12. Velasquez, Jorge (2010). Meditaciones Para Lograr Su Primer Millon Meditations for Making Your First Million. Iuniverse Inc. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-4502-3731-4.
  13. "16. rocznica śmierci Seleny". Onet.pl (in Polish). 31 March 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  14. Schone, Mark (20 April 1995). "A Postmortem Star In death, Selena is a crossover success". Newsday. Retrieved 21 December 2011.[permanent dead link] (subscription required)
  15. Burr, Ramiro (30 March 2001). "Buzz: 'Selena' reopens as benefit show". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 21 December 2011. (subscription required)
  16. Tarradell, Mario (16 July 1995). "Dreaming of Selena A new album celebrates what she was but only hints at what she could have become". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 21 December 2011. (subscription required)
  17. Young, Bob (27 March 1997). "Music Star crossed Selena's dream of mainstream acceptance is alive and well". Boston Globe. Retrieved 21 December 2011.[permanent dead link] (subscription required)
  18. "Selena's Last Performance On New DVD". Lexington Herald-Leader. 31 August 2003. Retrieved 21 December 2011. (subscription required)
  19. Lopez, Carmen (26 November 1994). "Un Dia Mas (notas)". Novedades de México.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 "No me queda más > Chart archives > Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  21. Negrón-Muntaner, Frances (2004). Boricua pop : Puerto Ricans and the latinization of American culture. New York University Press. ISBN 0-8147-5818-5.
  22. Bronson, Fred (15 April 1995). "Selena's Tragedy Echoed On Charts". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 15. p. 96. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  23. Bogdanov, Vladimir (2001). All music guide : the definitive guide to popular music (4th ed.). Backbeat Books. p. 1491. ISBN 0-87930-627-0.
  24. Mayfield, Geoff (25 December 1999). "Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 52. p. YE-16–18. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  25. "This Week In Arts". Hamptons.com. Hamptons Online. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  26. "Topping The Charts Year By Year". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 48. 28 November 1998. p. LMQ3. Retrieved 3 March 2010.
  27. Rivas, Jorge (31 March 2011). "Remembering Selena's Trailblazing Music". Colorlines. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  28. "Top 10 Hits". Orlando Sentinel. 2 December 1994. Retrieved 24 November 2011.[permanent dead link] (subscription required)
  29. "Music Top 10 Hits". Orlando Sentinel. 5 January 1996. Retrieved 24 November 2011.[permanent dead link] (subscription required)
  30. 30.0 30.1 "Billboard Latin Awards". Billboard. 1997. p. 138. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  31. 31.0 31.1 "Billboard, Univision present awards". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 9 June 1995. Retrieved 21 December 2011. (subscription required)
  32. 32.0 32.1 "And The Latin Music Awards Goes To ..." Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 23. 1995. p. 112. Retrieved 14 April 2011.
  33. "I Want To Become A Singer". Latina. 12 (4). Latina Publications. April 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  34. Burr, Ramiro (12 May 1998). "Los Tres Reyes rekindle romantic classics for Mother's Day crowd". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 21 December 2011. (subscription required)
  35. "Latin Tropical/Salsa Airplay 1995-09-09". 9 September 1996. Retrieved 7 September 2012.[permanent dead link]
  36. Clark, Michael (8 April 2005). "Modern, traditional mix in vibrant Selena tribute". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  37. "No Me Queda Más - Palomo". Billboard. Promtheus Global Media. Archived from the original on 2015-07-08. Retrieved 2013-12-02.
  38. "Gilbertito, Ana Isabelle y José Feliciano colaboran en su nuevo disco". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 15 August 2010. Archived from the original on 19 January 2015. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  39. Burr, Ramiro (17 January 2007). "Jose Feliciano teams up with friends on 'Amigos'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 21 December 2011.[permanent dead link] (subscription required)
  40. "iTunes > Music > Desafinado al destino". iTunes Store. January 2006. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  41. "iTunes > Music > Hybrid". iTunes Store. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  42. 2010 Tejano Music Awards (in Spanish). 20 July 2010. 60 minutes in. Telemundo.
  43. Cruz Tejada, Miguel. "La dominicana Karen Rodríguez a un paso de ser la nueva estrella de American Idol". El Nuevo Diario. Archived from the original on 21 April 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  44. de Moraes, Lisa (25 February 2010). "'American Idol' 2011: Top 24 survive the Trail of Tears". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  45. "Prince Royce No Me Queda Mas in Houston Texas". Retrieved 21 December 2011 – via YouTube.
  46. "The People's Queen' at the fair". The Merced Sun-Star. 14 July 2003. Retrieved 21 December 2011. (subscription required)
  47. Luis Muñoz - GM Summit Productions and Puro Tejano
  48. "Year-End Charts, Billboard". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 48. 28 November 1998. p. 104. Retrieved 21 December 2011.

Other websites

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Preceded by
"La Media Vuelta" by Luis Miguel
Billboard Hot Latin Tracks number-one single
17 December 1994 - 14 January 1995
28 January 1995 – 4 February 1995
Succeeded by
"Me Duele Estar Solo" by La Mafia