Three decades after Selena Quintanilla-Pérez’s tragic murder, her haunting ballad “Dreaming of You” remains a cornerstone of Latin pop history, but newly revealed details about its origins expose a parallel story of cultural preservation.
The song was initially written for the Tongan-American sibling group the Jets, but their father-manager, Maikeli Wolfgramm, rejected it.
Francine Vicki Golde, the song’s writer, revealed something this week that had not been made public since her 1989 ballad was released.
“We thought it would be perfect for them,” Golde said on her website, recalling how she and collaborator Tom Snow composed the song in a Laurel Canyon studio, imagining The Jets’ harmonies over its yearning lyrics, Golde reportedly said.
However, she said their father “didn’t think it was right for them”.
After the Jets turned down the song, Golde visited a friend, publisher and A&R exec extraordinaire Nancy Brennan, who introduced her to Selena in 1993.
“She told me about a young girl she was really excited about, who would soon be recording her first English album and needed songs. She then played me a video of The Barrio Boys featuring this young singer, Selena Quintanilla”, Golde reportedly said.
Dreaming of You, Selena’s fifth and final studio album, is a triumphant milestone and a haunting farewell.
EMI Latin and EMI Records released the album posthumously on July 18, 1995. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, becoming the first predominantly Spanish-language record to achieve this feat.
Its success cemented Selena’s crossover legacy, blending Tejano soul with pop ambition.
The track was recorded just weeks before Selena’s tragic death at the age of 23, following her shooting by her former fan club president and manager, Yolanda Saldívar, in a motel room in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Saldívar, who was convicted of first-degree murder later that year, remains imprisoned at the Mountain View Unit in Gatesville, Texas, where she was denied parole this week after serving 30 years of her life sentence.
Editor’s comment:
During the Jets’ 1989 homecoming to Tonga, the Tonga Broadcasting Commission interviewed Maikeli. He shared what he said were the challenges encountered by the band as they sought to balance their burgeoning success in the United States with preserving their Tongan cultural values.
At the height of their success, with popular songs such as “Crush on You,” Maikeli declined career-defining opportunities to uphold the veitapui cultural practice. The band’s promoters wanted to change the singers’ performances and styles by using edgier outfits and more provocative lyrics to attract a broader audience.
Nevertheless, he adhered to the cultural standards and said they should not be compromised.
The veitapui practice prohibits physical contact between siblings and cousins of the opposite sex, which may appear culturally unnecessary to some. Additionally, it restricts discussions to topics deemed appropriate solely for romantic partners.
This week, as we observe the 30th anniversary of Selena’s death, I analyzed the song “Dreaming of You” to understand why the Jets declined it, apart from their father’s statement that it was not suitable for them.
When I read all the lyrics, I immediately remembered Maikeli’s interview.
The lyrics may seem harmless in English, but from a Tongan perspective, the siblings’ intended performance could be viewed as contrary to the veitapui practice.
This may explain why Maikeli declined the song, reflecting Tongan cultural values.
Lyrics – Dreaming of You
Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you
And I wish on a star
That somewhere you are thinking of me too
‘Cause I’m dreaming of you tonight
‘Til tomorrow, I’ll be holding you tight
And there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be
Than here in my room dreaming about you and me
Wonder if you ever see (see me) me, and I
Wonder if you know I’m there (am I there? Am I?)
If you looked in my eyes
Would you see what’s inside?
Would you even care?
I just wanna hold you close
But so far, all I have are dreams of you
So I wait for the day (wait for the day)
And the courage to say
How much I love you
(Yes I do)
I’ll be dreaming of you tonight
‘Til tomorrow (’til tomorrow) I’ll be holding you tight
And there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be
Than here in my room dreaming about you and me
Corazón, I can’t stop dreaming of you
No puedo dejar de pensar en ti
I can’t stop dreaming
Cómo te necesito
I can’t stop dreaming of you
Mi amor cómo te extraño
Late at night when all the world is sleeping
I stay up and think of you
And I still can’t believe
That you came up to me and said I love you
I love you too
Now I’m dreaming with you tonight
‘Til tomorrow and for all of our lives (’til tomorrow)
And there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be
Than here in my room dreaming with you endlessly
Dreaming with you tonight
‘Til tomorrow, I’ll be holding you tight (’til tomorrow)
And there’s nowhere in the world I’d rather be
Than here in my room dreaming with you endlessly (I’ll be dreaming)
Dreaming of you tonight
Endlessly
And I’ll be holding you tight (’til tomorrow)
Dreaming with you tonight (endlessly)
Endlessly
Endlessly
Dreaming
