Amor Prohibido (song)

Amor Prohibido (song)

"Amor prohibido" (Forbidden Love) is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena from her fifth studio album of the same name (1994). It was released by EMI Latin on February 11, 1994, as the album's lead single alongside "Bidi bidi bom bom". "Amor prohibido" was inspired by the true story of Selena's grandparents, and was first drafted when Selena began to hum a tune in her tour bus. A.B. Quintanilla III Selena's brother and music producer, and Pete Astudillo, formerly a backup singer with Selena y Los Dinos, wrote down the melody.

"Amor prohibido" is a Spanish-language mid-tempo corrido composed by Selena, Quintanilla III and Astudillo, and has influences of dance-pop. The song's central theme and lyrical content convey a Romeo and Juliet-based narrative about two lovers who are given negative criticism by society because they come from two different socio-economic groups; they ignore everyone and continue on with their relationship, while overcoming parental disapproval and poverty. "Amor prohibido" was released as the album's lead single in the United States, while it was released outside the US as the third single. As of 2005, the single has sold more than 500,000 copies in the US. "Amor prohibido" peaked at number one on the US Hot Latin Tracks and number five on the Latin Regional Mexican Airplay charts.

"Amor prohibido" received positive criticism from music critics who claimed that it is Selena's most famous song. It was nominated for a Grammy Award during the 37th Grammy Awards, won the "Pop Ballad of the Year" award at the 1994 Premio Lo Nuestro, and beginning in 1994 won the "Single of the Year" at the Tejano Music Awards for three consecutive years. "Amor prohibido" won a prestigious award at the 1995 BMI Music Awards, and was posthumously nominated for "Best 1990s songs" at the 2010 Tejano Music Awards.

The single's accompanying music video was directed by Cecilia Miniucchi and was premiered on St. Valentines Day on all Spanish-language music channels. A number of cover versions of "Amor prohibido" have been recorded; some artists were non-Hispanic. It has been used in the media several times, mostly for Mexican telenovelas. The single was certified Gold by the Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (AMPROFON) in 1995, and in 2005, the digital track was certified Platinum.