30 years after her death, Selena's legacy is stronger than ever.
In the 30 years since her tragic death, the Tejano queen's star has never shone brighter. Selena has all but become a saint for millions of Latinos, a totem for modern American Latinidad. Her music — a mixture of genres that ranged from Tejano, música Mexicana, pop and dance — inspired a new generation of artists to embrace biculturalism
'She broke barriers,' pop singer Becky G told De Los. 'She took our music to places we never thought in our wildest dreams it would reach. She showed younger generations, including myself, that we could be onstage one day too.'
In celebration of the Tejano queen, the De Los team looks back at Selena's ongoing impact and legacy.
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Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
For some, Latinos will never be truly American
A month ago, my colleague Brittny Mejia reported on the growing fear many U.S.-born Latino Angelenos feel due to the endless barrage of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids being carried out in their neighborhoods. 'You're scared to be brown,' said Jackie Ramirez, a radio host for 'The Cruz Show' on Real 92.3. 'You're scared to look a certain way right now.' On Wednesday, The Times published a story by staff writer Jack Flemming that certainly validates that fear. At the heart of it is a Latino family who is suing their former landlord and a real estate agent over what they claim was an illegal eviction from their Baldwin Park home last year. In a letter emailed June 25 to Sarah McCracken — a tenants' rights lawyer representing the family — urging her clients to drop the suit, Rod Fehlman, who appeared to represent the real estate agent, wrote the following: 'It is also interesting to note that your clients are likely to be picked up by ICE and deported prior to trial thanks to all the good work the Trump administration has done in regards to immigration in California.' The kicker? Every person in that family is a U.S. citizen. The story struck a chord online, with many X and Bluesky users accusing Fehlman of being racist. Some of that anger was even directed at Cal Poly Pomona — on his site, Fehlman states that he is an adjunct professor at the university. In a statement to The Times, a spokesperson for the university said that Fehlman's temporary contract ended in 2013. Yicenia Morales, McCracken's client, told The Times that she felt racially profiled because of her last name. 'It's not fair for him to take advantage of that. I was born here. I have a birth certificate. I pay taxes,' she said. 'I was already depressed over the eviction. Now I'm hurt, embarrassed and nervous as well. Will he really call ICE on us?' Fehlman did not respond to Jack's request for comment, but did speak with the Independent, telling the outlet that his words were misinterpreted. 'My email mentions nothing about Ms. McCracken's client's citizenship,' he said. 'This is an ongoing problem in Southern California and a sad reality that litigants have been picked randomly at Courthouses. It is unfortunate that this comment has been taken out of context intentionally by Ms. McCracken's firm and used to defame my office.' I reached out to Fehlman via email, asking him to clarify the context and provide any evidence he had to prove that Morales and her family were 'likely to be picked up by ICE and deported,' but he did not respond. Although it's unclear whether Fehlman's response was illegal — the State Bar of California bans lawyers from threatening to present criminal, administrative or disciplinary charges to obtain an advantage in a civil dispute — the incident is certainly a sobering reminder that there are plenty of people who will always see Latinos as un-American, and have been emboldened by the Trump administration's attack on immigrant communities to start saying the quiet part out loud. It doesn't matter that the majority of us were born here and primarily speak English. These people don't care that you served your country or that you wave its flag at protests. To them, we will always be Josés or Marias. Join the De Los team Aug. 2 from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m. as we co-present a free Grand Performances concert headlined by Adrian Quesada, the Grammy-winning multi-instrumentalist and one of the bandleaders of Black Pumas. Last month, Quesada put out 'Boleros Psícodelicos II, ' a follow-up to his critically acclaimed 2022 album of the same name that features vocalists Mireya Ramos, Gaby Moreno, Cuco and others. The record, which fuses psychadelia with traditional Latin sounds, has been on repeat at my household ever since its release — 'Bravo,' recorded with iLe from Calle 13, is a top tier hater track sung from the perspective of a spurned lover. Kicking off the night will be El Marchante (6 p.m.), a dynamic project that pays tribute to Latin American and Caribbean music through live events, and will be followed by Explorare (7 p.m.), a musical collective that got its start at a monthly residency at the Chinatown bar Melody Lounge. Quesada will hit the stage at 8:30 p.m. Since 1987, Grand Performances has hosted free outdoor performances. The organization's focus is on giving a platform to global and local acts. Previously, acts such as Stevie Wonder, Aloe Blacc and Ana Tijoux have participated in its programming. Last year, we co-presented a free concert featuring jazz and pop singer Daymé Arocena. The De Los team will be there starting at 5 p.m., and we'll be giving out free posters and other goodies to Latinx Files subscribers. You can RSVP for the event here. Alex Evans, co-executive director and head puppeteer at the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, guides a dragon as Juanita y Juan — the duo formed by legendary Chicano punk rockers Alice Bag and Kid Congo Powers — perform their 'loud lounge' sounds for children and their parents at The Ford Theater in Los Angeles, on Sunday July 20, 2025. De Los editor Suzy Exposito spoke to Bag and Powers about introducing punk to kids, their 2025 album, 'Jungle Cruise,' and how to find comfort in such challenging, dark times. 'It's very easy to become despondent and overwhelmed. But you don't have to feel like you're lifting this whole weight by yourself,' Bag said. 'It's important to know that you do have a community that stands with you. We're all working in different ways. We're all a band. We're going to make it through this together.' Unless otherwise noted, all stories in this section are from the L.A. Times.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Jennifer Lopez Celebrates 56th Birthday In Turkey With Glamorous Affair
Jennifer Lopez celebrated her birthday while in Turkey with a lavish affair and a confetti cake. In a social media upload, the now 56-year-old shared a selfie, a throwback photo, aesthetic shots from her time on the road, and a glimpse at her glamorous birthday party. 'What a gift you all are! Thank you so much for all your beautiful birthday wishes,' exclaimed the New York native in the caption. In the festive clip, the Marry Me star danced to her new song 'Birthday,' released to coincide with her special day. 'Name on top of the cake, it's my birthday/ I'ma make this famous a** shake, it's my birthday,' she sang in the party-ready song. 'Throwin' all this money in they face, it's my birthday/ Everyday is my birthday, bi**h!' Comments rang in from actresses, musicians, and even her own brand page. 'Happy Birthday beautiful legend,' wrote R&B star Ari Lennox. 'thank you for Selena, Enough, Maid in Manhattan and Wedding Planner. Thank you for all your beautiful music too. Especially 'get right' and 'all I have'. And thank you for sending me to Hollywood in American idol when I was like 17. Hope your bday is incredible and loving.' 'The QUEEN!!!' commented on-screen talent Jurnee Smollett. 'happy birthday!!! 'Happy birthday, queen!' added the Jlo Beauty account. The pop star is currently overseas as she finishes her Up All Night tour. Following the sold-out show in Antalya, Turkey, the 'Get Right' performer lists remaining concerts in Warsaw, Bucharest, Abu Dhabi, Kazakhstan, Istanbul, and Sardinia. Later this year, she will take residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. More from Jennifer Lopez Announces Upcoming Las Vegas Residency While Hosting 2025 AMAs Ben Affleck Reveals His Personal Hip-Hop Mount Rushmore Ben Affleck Reveals What Led To Jennifer Lopez Divorce Solve the daily Crossword
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Dareyes de la Sierra gets his redemption
In the world of música Mexicana, few artists have been able to successfully evolve their sound and image after decades without rattling their base of dedicated listeners — let alone entice a new demographic of supporters. But this rare occurrence seems to be the case for José Darey Castro, the L.A.-based singer and accordionist who performs under the name Dareyes de la Sierra. His gritty vocals and revamped sound have elevated him as one of this year's most popular singers of corridos tumbados. In May, Darey released his latest album, 'Redención.' A collection of 14 thunderous songs, the album has taken hold of corrido fanatics old and new for its brazen lyrics and turbulent rhythms, perfectly suited for a drop-top evening cruise. The LP debuted at No. 3 on Spotify's Top Albums Debut Global chart. After expanding the track list with a deluxe album in June, the singer will soon embark on his first-ever U.S. tour. Come Aug. 1, Darey and his band will kick off a 20-date run at the Belasco in Los Angeles. He will make stops in major cities including Las Vegas, San Diego, Chicago, Houston and more before wrapping up in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 21. '[My tour] will expose a new facet musically speaking, but I will not forget the songs I've sung before,' says Darey during a video call with The Times. His first release in seven years, 'Redención,' which translates to 'Redemption,' is a fitting self-assessment for the legacy act, who kicked off his career over 20 years ago in Mexico. Norteño aficionados may already be familiar with the power of Dareyes de la Sierra, the band from Navojoa, Sonora, that specialized in sentimental corridos, like early 2000s Billboard hits 'Sufre' and 'Enséñame a Olvidar' — for which the music video bears a close resemblance to the theme found in the 2004 film 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.' Their scorching breakup song, 'Hasta El Día De Hoy,' remained 11 weeks on the Regional Mexican Airplay in 2008. Currently, the song's official YouTube video (re-uploaded in 2018) has reached over 35 million views. But most listeners might have overlooked Darey's early attempts to trek into the world of 'corridos verdes': a marijuana-inspired subgenre that has now become widely acceptable as the drug has been decriminalized in a handful of U.S. states. His 2007 release 'Los En-Kush-ados,' which underscored the blissful state of a smoke session, failed to resonate with audiences at the time — perhaps due to stigma surrounding use of the substance. 'I've always been ahead of the wave,' Darey says. 'When people started singing corridos verdes, I had done so years before. People did not accept it.' Now as this new era of corridos tumbados begins to normalize marijuana use, and the resulting euphoria, Darey seems to have found the momentum for his redemption arc. 'Things happen when they need to, you know?' he says. 'It wasn't a change that happened overnight, because the public has to accept you. We took notice of the musical evolution and the public was more accepting.' Yet music is the main medicine for the singer, who received his first guitar from his father when he was 10 years old — although he later ended up breaking the guitar in a childish fit. Five years later, he picked up the instrument again and never let go. And while there have been moments that would dissuade any aspiring musician from following their passion — including a deadly attack he miraculously survived in 2004 — Darey holds his head high, embracing the tumultuous twists and turns of life and, humbly, his long-awaited flowers. The new LP features guest appearances by the crème de la crème of the genre, such as Tito Double P, Peso Pluma, Neton Vega and Gabito Ballesteros. It's a mastermind move by Darey, who recognizes that most of his new listeners are part of a younger generation, but he also makes clear he is not riding the coattails of younger talent — Darey owns his spotlight. 'I don't do this [type of music] out of obligation, it comes organically from me,' says Darey. His opening track, Italian-folk-inspired 'Vita Fer,' alludes to a sexual enhancement drink. Featuring Tito Double P, the frisky song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Mexico Songs chart. The album is altogether an intoxicated romp that illustrates the chaotic rock star lifestyle. Darey's strong, rugged voice and tongue-twisting lyrics break through the purple haze, especially in standout tracks like 'Polvo de Hadas' featuring Luis R Conriquez and 'Boneless' alongside Neton Vega. There's also 'Supreme,' Darey's collaboration with Peso Pluma, which boasts of material luxuries, including iced-out Cartier watches. While he is thankful for the outpouring of support he's received surrounding the release of 'Redención,' he's also aware of the dangers such fame could bring to one's psyche. 'There's a fine line where [you have to be careful] not to get sick,' says Darey. Currently trending at No. 3 on Mexico's Billboard 100 chart is 'Frecuencia,' a cut from his deluxe album. The upbeat jingle calls back to Ice Cube's 1993 hit 'It Was a Good Day.' Although paranoid at times, Darey's opening lines are almost hymn-like: 'I know that I will die, that's why I live life crazy,' he sings, 'I pray that my God guides me down the right path.' 'If you think about the future, it'll cause anxiety. [If you think] of the past, [it'll cause] depression,' says Darey of this empowering new chapter of his life. 'Let's live in the moment.'
