I first heard Selena’s Bidi Bidi Bom Bom before I had ever heard of her. It was a good, dancy number and I delved into more. Now, I absolutely love Amor Prohibido [Forbidden Love] as much as Bidi Bidi – she has a way with feel-good music.

The song was released in 1994 [that’s 30 years ago – I’m sorry for the reality check, 90s kids], and it has bee one of her best hits of all time. Or so I think, considering how much I enjoy it.

Anyhoo, let’s do this. Latina pop queen Selena and su encanto musical. 🎵

Appendix:
1. Normal: Original Spanish lyric
2. Italics: Translated English lyric
3. –Italics nestled within hyphens–: Random comments that you can safely ignore

Amor prohibido, Selena – line-by-line translation of lyrics [Spanish to English] [Español a Inglés]

La letra
Lyrics

Con unas ansias locas, quiero verte hoy
With some crazy desires, I want to see you today
Espero ese momento en que escuche tu voz
I wait for the moment in which I can hear your voice
Y cuando al fin estemos juntos los dos
And when finally we are together
¿Qué importa qué dirán / Tu padre y tu mamá?
How does it matter what your dad or mom will say?
Aquí solo importa nuestro amor
Here the only thing that matters is our love
Te quiero
I love you

“Amor prohibido”, murmuran por las calles
“Forbidden love”, they murmur through the streets
Porque somos de distintas sociedades
Because we are from different societies
–most likely means ‘communities’ here instead of ‘societies’
“Amor prohibido”, nos dice todo el mundo
“Forbidden love”, the entire world tells us
El dinero no importa en ti y en mí
Money doesn’t matter to you nor me
Ni en el corazón
Not in the heart
Oh, uh-oh, baby
Oh, uh-oh, baby
–nothing to translate in that one, really

Aunque soy pobre, todo esto que te doy
Although I am poor, I give you all this
Vale más que el dinero, porque sí es amor
It is worth more than money, because it is love
Y, cuando al fin estemos juntos los dos
And, when finally we are together
¿Qué importa que dirá / También la sociedad?
How does it matter what society also says?
Aquí solo importa nuestro amor
Here only what matters is our love
Te quiero
I love you

[“Amor prohibido”, murmuran por las calles
“Forbidden love”, they murmur through the streets
Porque somos de distintas sociedades
Because we are from different societies
–most likely means ‘communities’ here instead of ‘societies’
“Amor prohibido”, nos dice todo el mundo
“Forbidden love”, the entire world tells us
El dinero no importa en ti y en mí
Money doesn’t matter to you nor me
Ni en el corazón
Not in the heart
Oh, uh-oh, baby
Oh, uh-oh, baby]
X2

“Amor prohibido”, murmuran por las calles
“Forbidden love”, they murmur through the streets
Porque somos de distintas sociedades
Because we are from different societies
–most likely means ‘communities’ here instead of ‘societies’
“Amor prohibido”, nos dice todo el mundo
“Forbidden love”, the entire world tells us
El dinero no importa en ti y en mí
Money doesn’t matter to you nor me

—

Mandatory warning: This may not be 100% accurate, buut as songs go I think this one was pretty straightforward. Love songs usually are, love usually isn’t.

But good news – if you are trying to learn Spanish and have hit a rut, or don’t know where to start, reach out to me!

Just drop an email at effietrumpet19@gmail.com with the subject “Teach me Spanish”, and I will use proven ways to help you learn.