No Debes Jugar
{{good article}}
{{Infobox song
| name = No Debes Jugar
| cover = nodebesjugarsingle.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Selena
| album = Selena Live!
| released = April 29, 1993
| recorded = 1993
| studio = Q-Productions (Corpus Christi, TX)
| venue =
| genre = {{hlist|Tejano|Mexican cumbia}}
| length = {{duration|m=3|s=49}}
| label = EMI Latin
| writer = {{hlist|Ricky Vela|A.B. Quintanilla III}}
| producer = {{hlist|A.B. Quintanilla III|Bebu Silvetti}}
| prev_title = Amame
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = La Llamada
| next_year = 1993
}}
"No Debes Jugar" ({{langx|en|"You Shouldn't Play Around"}}){{cite news|last=George|first=Ron|title=Selena's legacy: A 12-year-old could follow Tejano star's footsteps|url=http://www.caller.com/news/1995/Nov/04/selenas-legacy-12-year-old-could-follow-tejano-sta/?preventMobileRedirect=1|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Corpus Christi Caller-Times|date=4 November 1995}} is a song recorded by American recording artist Selena and released as the lead single from her first live album Live! (1993). It was composed by Selena y Los Dinos keyboardist Ricky Vela and Selena's brother and principal record producer A.B. Quintanilla III and produced by Quintanilla III and Argentine music producer Bebu Silvetti. It is an uptempo Mexican cumbia song with influences of Rock en Español which is centered on female empowerment. Lyrically, the song describes a woman who threatens to leave her unappreciative boyfriend.
The song received generally positive reviews from music critics who praised its originality and mixing of music genres. It peaked at number 3 on the US Hot Latin Tracks on the week ending 14 August 1993. On the week ending 9 April 2011, "No Debes Jugar" entered the Regional Mexican Digital Songs chart. "No Debes Jugar" received a "Song of the Year" nomination from the 1994 Tejano Music Awards and the 1994 Lo Nuestro Awards. The song has been covered by Mexican American singer Jennifer Peña, Puerto Rican salsa singer La India, Mexican contestant Érika Alcocer Luna, and Mexican band Banda El Grullo.
Background and composition
"No Debes Jugar" was written by Selena y Los Dinos keyboardist Ricky Vela and Selena's brother, principle record producer and songwriter A.B. Quintanilla III.{{cite magazine|title=Premios Latinos de BMI Latin Awards|magazine=Billboard|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=23 December 1993|volume=107|issue=51|pages=100|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nQ0EAAAAMBAJ&q=No+Debes+Jugar+Ricky+Vela&pg=PA29|access-date=29 June 2012}} It was produced by Quintanilla III and Argentine music producer Bebu Silvetti. The song was intended to be one of three studio tracks for Selena's Live! (1993) album. Vela had written most of the lyrics while touring with Los Dinos in the 1992-93 period. Quintanilla III later co-wrote the song after Vela finished the lyrics. Quintanilla III only made a few adjustments to the song and began adding music notes for pre-production. "No Debes Jugar" was recorded in Corpus Christi, Texas at Selena's father and manager Abraham Quintanilla, Jr.'s recording studio Q-Productions. After recording sessions were done, EMI Latin argued that the song should be the lead single from Live!. Before the album was released, the song was mixed by Brian "Red" Moore, a family friend.{{cite AV media notes |title=Live! |others=Selena |year=2002 |type=CD |publisher=EMI Latin |id=724354084027 }}
"No Debes Jugar" is an uptempo Mexican cumbia song with influences of Rock en Español.{{cite book|title=La época|year=1994|publisher=University of Texas|location=Epoca de México|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mMULAAAAYAAJ&q=No+Debes+Jugar+Selena}} Written in the key of E-flat major, the beat is set in common time and moves at a moderate 89 beats per minute.{{cite journal|first1=Selena |last1=Quintanilla-Perez |first2=A.B. |last2=Quintanilla III |author-link1=Selena |author-link2=A.B. Quintanilla III |title=Live!: Selena Digital Sheet Music |year=1993 |website=Musicnotes.com |publisher=Alfred Music Publishing|at=MN090674 (Product Number)}} It centers the organ as its musical instrument foundation.{{cite book|last=Blumenthal|first=Howard J.|title=The world music CD listener's guide|year=1997|publisher=Billboard Books|location=New York|isbn=0-8230-7663-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uCc5AQAAIAAJ&q=No+Debes+Jugar,+La+Llamada,+Tu+Robaste+Mi+Corazon|edition=1st print.}} Ramiro Burr of the Houston Chronicle stated that Selena blended Mexican polka rhythms with melodic, synth-driven pop hooks in "No Debes Jugar" and "La Llamada".{{cite news|last=Burr|first=Ramiro|title=Selena in English/With new contract, Tejano star is poised for crossover success|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl/1993_1170202/selena-in-english-with-new-contract-tejano-star-is.html|access-date=November 6, 2011|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=December 5, 1993}} Lyrically, the song describes a woman whose life is centered on being unappreciated by her boyfriend. She finally stands up for herself announcing that she is done playing around and threatens to leave. The central theme explored in the song suggests female empowerment.{{cite news|title=Tejano music celebrates its best|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF8EEED5AF80A6&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Fort Worth Star Telegram|date=13 March 1993}}
Critical reception and covers
File:Jennifer Peña cropped.jpg]]
Jim Beal Jr. of the San Antonio Express-News wrote that "No Debes Jugar" "outshines" the rest of the songs on Live! including the two other studio tracks.{{cite news|last=Beal|first=Jim|title=Selena wins a Grammy for 'Live' recording|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=SAEC&p_theme=saec&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0F223221A2A7D5A7&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=San Antonio Express-News|date=2 March 1994}} An editor from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram praised Selena's usage of different genres when recording "No Debes Jugar", which the editor believed helped the song to be distinguished when played on radio.{{cite news|title=A life cut short, potential unmet|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=ST&s_site=dfw&p_multi=ST&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAF8FF3B0400920&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Fort Worth Star Telegram|date=7 April 1995}} Sally Jacobs of the Boston Globe noted the originality of "No Debes Jugar" as being Selena's trademark. Jacobs also believed that it is one of her cumbia signature songs and most popular cumbia song.{{cite news|last=Jacobs|first=Sally|title=The canonization of Selena The slain Tejano singer looms larger than life as her alleged killer stands trial|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/21394961.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+19%2C+1995&author=Sally+Jacobs%2C+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=The+canonization+of+Selena+The+slain+Tejano+singer+looms+larger+than+life+as+her+alleged+killer+stands+trial&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131154228/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/21394961.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Oct+19,+1995&author=Sally+Jacobs,+Globe+Staff&pub=Boston+Globe+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=The+canonization+of+Selena+The+slain+Tejano+singer+looms+larger+than+life+as+her+alleged+killer+stands+trial&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Boston Globe|date=19 October 1995}} "No Debes Jugar" received a "Song of the Year" nomination at the 1994 Tejano Music Awards,{{cite news|title=Arts Beat|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D448B9CC7BBC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=21 February 1994}} and "Regional Mexican Song of the Year" at the 1994 Lo Nuestro Awards Awards.{{Cite news | last1 = González| first1 = Fernando | title = Lo Nuestro, Billboard Honor Latin Singers | newspaper = The Miami Herald |publisher=The McClatchy Company | date = May 16, 1994 }} It was among the "Top 10 Spanish Hits of 1993" according to the Orlando Sentinel.{{cite news|title=Music Top 10 Hits of 1993|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/77453804.html?dids=77453804:77453804&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+30%2C+1993&author=&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=MUSIC+TOP+10+HITS&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131185612/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/orlandosentinel/access/77453804.html?dids=77453804:77453804&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=Jul+30,+1993&author=&pub=Orlando+Sentinel&desc=MUSIC+TOP+10+HITS&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Orlando Sentinel|date=30 July 1993}} According to the Austin American-Statesman, "No Debes Jugar" was the best Tejano single of 1993.{{cite news|title=On the Charts|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD91D8D1511C95&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Austin American-Statesman|date=22 July 1993}}
Mexican American Latin pop artist Jennifer Peña covered "No Debes Jugar" when she was 12 at the Jim Wells County Fair in Corpus Christi, Texas. Puerto Rican salsa singer La India covered the song during the Selena ¡VIVE! concert.{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Marisara|title=Univision's 'Selena ¡Vive!' Breaks Audience Records|url=http://www.hispanicprwire.com/News/in/4006/7/univisions-selena-vive-breaks-audience-records/|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Hispanic PR Wire|date=11 April 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421114720/http://www.hispanicprwire.com/News/in/4006/7/univisions-selena-vive-breaks-audience-records/|archive-date=21 April 2012}} Michael Clark of the Houston Chronicle wrote that "India belted effortless notes that wafted to the rafters on "No Debes Jugar"".{{cite news|last=Clark|first=Michael|title=Modern, traditional mix in vibrant Selena tribute|url=http://www.chron.com/entertainment/music/article/Modern-traditional-mix-in-vibrant-Selena-tribute-1930189.php|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=8 April 2005}} On the second season of La Academia, contestant Érika Alcocer Luna covered "No Debes Jugar".{{cite news|title=Lerner se une a los alumnos de La Academia|url=http://www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx/noticia/24019.lerner-se-une-a-los-alumnos-de-la-academia.html|access-date=21 June 2012|newspaper=El Siglo de Torreón|date=18 March 2003}} Mexican band Banda El Grullo recorded the song for their album 30 Numeros 1 en Banda.{{cite web|title=iTunes > Music > 30 Numeros 1 en Banda|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/30-numeros-1-en-banda/307207998|work=iTunes Store|date=28 January 2009 |publisher=Apple Inc|access-date=21 June 2012}}
Track listing
Credits and personnel
All credits were taken from the Live! album notes.
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
- Selena – vocals
- Ricky Vela – writer, keyboardist
- Joe Ojeda – keyboards
- Chris Pérez – guitar
{{col-2}}
- A.B. Quintanilla III – co-writer, producer, arranger
- Brian "Red" Moore – audio mixer
- Bebu Silvetti – producer
{{col-end}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
= Weekly charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!style="width: 22em"|Chart (2011) !Peak |
| scope=row|US Billboard Regional Mexican Digital Songs{{cite magazine|last1=Cobo|first1=Leila|author1-link=Leila Cobo|title=En Breve|magazine=Billboard|date=April 9, 2011|volume=123|issue=12|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2011/BB-2011-04-09.pdf|access-date=23 May 2023}}
| style="text-align:center;"|13 |
|---|
{{col-2}}
= Year-end charts =
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (1993)
!Peak |
|---|
| scope=row|US Billboard Hot Latin Tracks{{cite magazine|title=1993: The Year in Music|volume=105|issue=52|page=YE-58|magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media|date=25 December 1993|issn=0006-2510|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Music/Billboard-Index/IDX/1993/1993-12-25-Billboard-Page-0120.pdf|accessdate=12 January 2021}}
| style="text-align:center;"|13 |
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|title=No Debes Jugar|artist=Selena|type=single|award=Platinum|Spanish=yes|certyear=2017}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=yes|noshipments=yes|streaming=true}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" | |||
| style="text-align:center; width:30px;"|Year
! style="text-align:center;"|Awards ceremony ! style="text-align:center;"|Award ! style="text-align:center;"|Results | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Tejano Music Awards | Song of the Year | {{nom}} |
| 1994 | Lo Nuestro Awards | Song of the Year | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Selena singles}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Songs written by A.B. Quintanilla
Category:Songs written by Ricky Vela
Category:Song recordings produced by A.B. Quintanilla