Amor Prohibido - Critical Reception

Critical Reception

John Lannert, of Billboard, wrote that Amor Prohibido "firmly established as the preeminent female star in the U.S. Latin market". According to Mario Tarradell, of The Dallas Morning News, "Selena had conquered the Latin pop landscape and was poised to cross over to mainstream" after the release of Amor prohibido. Stephen Thomas Erlewine, of Allmusic, wrote: "hile the album is slightly uneven, she was a dynamic, charismatic singer and is able to pull across the weaker material. Indeed, the record is her strongest album and shows why she was the biggest Tejano star of the '90s." Erlewine wrote that Amor Prohibido was a more consistent release than the later Dreaming of You, and was an "effective introduction and showed why she was so beloved by Tejano fans".

Ed Morales, in The Latin Beat: The Rhythms and Roots of Latin Music from Bossa Nova to Salsa and Beyond, wrote that much of the album was recorded in the minimalist Tejano style, and that that there were "hints of a subtle evolution in her music". Morales felt that the only disappointment in the album was that it led to Selena's best works, which she did not get to do. Herón Márquez called Amor Prohibido a landmark success. Spin magazine considered Amor prohibido to be her "most interesting" album, in comparison to Dreaming of You and 12 Super Exitos. Ramiro Burr, in The Billboard guide to Tejano and Regional Mexican Music called Amor Prohibido Selena's and Los Dinos' "crowning achievement". Kristine Helen Burns wrote in her 2002 book Women and Music in America Since 1900, that "No Me Queda Más" and "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" aided the growth in Selena's fan base.

Antonio Morales, of Gringo Gazette, called "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" one of his favorite songs. "Selena was having fun with this track. You could really hear her excitement, enthusiasm and lovely voice in this gem". He particularly enjoyed her laughter during the guitar solo. Fellow Gringo Gazette writer Aaron Sebastian Cruz felt that "Selena's passion and conveying abilities, helped her with recording 'Bidi Bidi Bom Bom'". For Cruz, the "fun reggae track" fits any social gathering. Polish newspaper Onet.pl, on the 16th anniversary of Selena's death, described "No Me Queda Más" as one of the biggest hits that Selena produced for Amor Prohibido. Burr praised "No Me Queda Más" as a "lovely and stoic song facing the end, yet keeping a sense of dignity and self-worth". Raúl Manuel Rodríguez described it as a lovely ballad. Michael Joseph Corcoran, in his book about heroes in Texas music, wrote that "Techno Cumbia" had Michael Jackson-like trills. Nathan Cone, from Texas Public Radio, said the song resonates best with South Texas. Paul Verna, of Billboard magazine, called Amor Prohibido Selena's "blockbuster album".

Amor prohibido received a number of awards and nominations. At it won "Album of the Year (Orchestra)" and "Record of the Year" at the 1995 Tejano Music Awards, and "Regional/Mexican Album of the Year" at the 1995 Lo Nuestro Awards. The album was nominated as "Best Mexican-American Album" at the 37th Grammy Awards.