Unforgettable [Digipak] (CD - 2005)

In the early 1990s, Selena was the leading star of the rising Tejano musical movement, poised to become a huge pop star after scoring hit after hit on the Latin music charts. Years after her 1995 murder, Selena's fans still carried a torch for the passionate performer, who packed a lifetime of singing into her nearly 24 years. UNFORGETTABLE: THE STUDIO ALBUM is one of a pair of 2005 collections (along with UNFORGETTABLE: THE LIVE ALBUM) documenting her rise to glory, collecting the original versions of her many hit songs.

THE STUDIO ALBUM opens on a pitch-perfect note with the winsome "Como la Flor," a song that shows off the music's balance of Mexican rhythms with American pop sensibilities. Occasionally interspersed with banter from the incomparable Don Francisco, the tracks on UNFORGETTABLE masterfully showcase the many sides of Selena, from the pure Latin pop of "Fotos y Recuerdos" (a clever take on the Pretenders' "Back on the Chain Gang") to her posthumously released crossover pop hit "Dreaming of You." While there have been many compilations of Selena's singles, UNFORGETTABLE provides a definitive collection of her greatest hits.

While Selena was a stirring singer when captured on record, her biggest appeal lay in her passionate, fiery concert appearances. During her ascendance to the heights of the Tejano music world, which was cut short by her 1995 murder, Selena became a seasoned live performer. UNFORGETTABLE: THE LIVE ALBUM, the counterpart to 2005's UNFORGETTABLE: THE STUDIO ALBUM, marks the 10th anniversary of her death, but it proves her spirit shines on.

Unlike the studio record, the live disc of UNFORGETTABLE concentrates solely on Selena's Spanish-language songs, opening with a moving rendition of "Como la Flor" in front of a responsive Corpus Christi, Texas crowd. The record maintains a swift pace, running from up-tempo ballads such as "Amor Prohibido" to the near-fever pitch of "Cobarde" and the rapturously fun "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom." The gait only slows near the end, on the torch song "Que Crias" and the bolero "No Me Queda Mas," which underscore both the sweet charm and remarkable grit in her potent voice. "No Debes Jugar" nimbly sums up Selena's skills, with its undeniable pop melody bolstered by insistent Mexican instrumentation, while the exceptional singer is neither overpowering nor overshadowed.

In the early 1990s, Selena was the leading star of the rising Tejano musical movement, poised to become a huge pop star after scoring hit after hit on the Latin music charts. Years after her 1995 murder, Selena's fans still carried a torch for the passionate performer, who packed a lifetime of singing into her nearly 24 years. UNFORGETTABLE: THE ULTIMATE EDITION consists of two 2005 collections: UNFORGETTABLE: THE STUDIO ALBUM and UNFORGETTABLE: THE LIVE ALBUM (also available separately).

THE STUDIO ALBUM opens on a pitch-perfect note with the winsome "Como la Flor," a song that shows off the music's balance of Mexican rhythms with American pop sensibilities. The tracks here masterfully showcase the many sides of Selena, from the pure Latin pop of "Fotos y Recuerdos" (a clever take on the Pretenders' "Back on the Chain Gang") to her posthumously released crossover pop hit "Dreaming of You." Unlike the studio record, THE LIVE ALBUM concentrates solely on Selena's Spanish-language songs. The disc maintains a swift pace, running from up-tempo ballads such as "Amor Prohibido" to the near-fever pitch of "Cobarde." The gait only slows near the end, on the torch song "Que Crias" and the bolero "No Me Queda Mas," which underscore both the sweet charm and remarkable grit in Selena's potent voice. minimize