Always Mine (Selena song)

"Always Mine"
Single by Selena
from the album Dulce Amor
Released 1988
Format 12"
Recorded 1987
G.P. Productions
(San Antonio, Texas)
Genre Latin pop;
Freestyle, electronic dance (remix)
Length 3:50
Label G.P. Productions
Writer(s) A.B. Quintanilla III
Producer(s) Quintanilla III
Selena singles chronology
"Qué"
(1988)		 "Always Mine"
(1988)		 "Cariño, Cariño Mio"
(1988)

"Always Mine" is a song by American Tejano pop recording artist Selena. Her brother and music producer A.B. Quintanilla III wrote the song for her sixth LP record Dulce Amor (1988). The song's lyrics are about teenage love while dealing with negative peer pressure from friends. "Always Mine" was the third single from the album. The original version found on Dulce Amor is more Latin pop. It was released as a maxi single for Anthology (1998). The version found on Anthology was remixed with freestyle music and electronic dance music. The song received generally positive reviews from music critics. Josh Kunn of Salon positively criticized "Always Mine" as being similar with songs recorded by freestyle artists Debbie Deb and Lisa Lisa.

Background

"Always Mine" was written by Selena's brother and music producer A.B. Quintanilla III. Quintanilla III had written "Always Mine" while he was in his home in Corpus Christi, Texas. His girlfriend, at the time, told Quintanilla III that she wanted to be with him forever. She told him: "I want you to be always mine 'till the end of time". After Quintanilla III had finished his conversation on the phone, he then started to write down lyrics of what his girlfriend had told him.[1][2] It took Quintanilla III several hours to complete the song and presented it to Selena, who liked the lyrics of the song and had wanted to record it.[2] Selena recorded the song in San Antonio, Texas, where most of the songs on Dulce Amor were recorded. During the recording sessions, Roger Garcia, a guitarist from Selena y Los Dinos, had helped Quintanilla III with writing the melody part of the song. At the time of recording, Selena was only 17 years old.[1][3]

Release and composition

"Always Mine" was released as a 12" single, becoming the third single from Dulce Amor in 1988.[2] "Always Mine" is an uptempo Latin pop song that has influences of freestyle and electronic dance music. It is written in the key of B minor with 100 beats per minute.[4] "Always Mine"'s lyrics are about teenage love and facing negative peer pressure from friends who taunt Selena on ending her happy relationship.[2]

The song opens with the hi-hat and drums playing at the same time to make an uptempo beat. When Selena sings the first verse of the song, the electric piano begins playing. In the opening part of "Always Mine", Selena sings that all her friends are telling her that she is a fool for liking a guy, and that she should give up on him. She then sings that many times she have indeed tried, however, because she is in love she can't go through with it. After the first melody of "Always Mine", Selena sings the second verse of the song. She sings that she had spent some time trying to think of her relationship and her friends' comments towards the relationship. However, she continues to sing that she always ends up wanting to be with him. After this, Selena sings in Spanish "Como una flor que necisita el agua/sin tu amor/se marchita mi alma" (English: Just like a flower that needs water, without your love, I have an empty soul).[5] After the second melody part, Selena sings the chorus: "You will always be/ always mine/ be mine 'till the end of time/ always mine". Selena sings the first and second verse and the chorus once more before the song concludes.[4]

Critical reception

Josh Kuun of Salon believed the song was "'80s synth-happy freestyle" and added that the song recalls Debbie Deb and Lisa Lisa.[6] Richard Torres of Newsday believed "Always Mine" was the "best choice" for Anthology. He further commented on the song, praising its "modern" touch and Selena's "teen-like" vocalization.[7] An editor from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote that "Always Mine" is a "fun freestyle" song.[8] Gwen Diaz of the San Antonio Express-News praised Quintanilla III's choice for including the song on Anthology while also stating that the song is relatable to teens in America who faces what the lyrical content is telling.[9]

Remixing

Jose Behar, president of EMI Latin, had wanted to release an Anthology box-set. An Anthology is an album that contains a mixture of unknown songs and popular/famous songs in an artists career.[10] Quintanilla III had remixed most of the songs included in Anthology and gave them a modern beat to them. "Always Mine" was chosen for the first disc entitled "Pop/English" and was chosen as an "unknown song". Quintanilla III had used electronic dance and freestyle music to mix the song. After the release of Anthology in 1998, Behar released a maxi single to promote the album. "Always Mine" as well as four other remixes of songs on Anthology were included in the maxi single.[11]

Track listing

US Maxi Single (1998)[12]
  1. "Always Mine (Anthology remix)" - (4:00)
  2. "La Bamba (Anthology remix)" - (4:00)
  3. "Amame" (Club remix) - (3:37)
  4. "Don't Throw Away My Love (unreleased remixed track)" - (3:37)
  5. "I'm Getting Used To You (Def Club Remix)" - (8:37)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Anthology (Media notes). Selena. EMI Latin. 1998. 724354099403.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Christensen, Thor (21 March 1997). "Selena's dad digs up early material for anthology". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  3. ↑ "Selena Style Singer's fashions now for sale". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 5 May 1998. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Quintanilla-Perez, Selena; Quintanilla III, A.B. (1998). "Anthology: Selena Digital Sheet Music". Sheetmusicplus.com. EMI Music Publishing. MN02909172 (Product Number).
  5. ↑ Rodriguez, Lori Beth (2008). Mapping Tejana epistemologies: Contemporary (re)constructions of Tejana identity in literature, film and popular culture. ProQuest. p. 284. ISBN 0549510613. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
  6. ↑ Kun, Josh (21 May 1998). ""Anthology" memorializes the slain Tejano pop star". Salon. Retrieved 4 January 2012.
  7. ↑ Torres, Richard (2 May 1999). "The Best of Selena Lives On". Newday. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Release of Selena CDs postponed Extra week added to fully stock music stores following third anniversary of singer's death". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 1 April 1995. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  9. ↑ Diaz, Gwen (12 April 1998). "Say yes to colorful anthology of Latina poetry". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
  10. ↑ Roden, Timothy (2010). Anthology for music in western civilization. Boston: Schirmer Cengage Learning. ISBN 0495572748.
  11. ↑ John Lannert and Edward James Olmos (1997). "Selena Remembered". 127 minutes in. Q-Productions. Her Life... Her Music... Her Dream Missing or empty |title= (help)
  12. ↑ Anthology Pop (Maxi single). Selena. EMI Latin. 1998. DPRO13320.

External links