Selena’s Widow Reacts to Beyoncé’s “Como La Flor” Sample on ‘B’Day’ 20th Anniversary Album: “
Beyoncé is not only ringing in her birthday today, but also celebrating the 20th anniversary of her 2006 album, B'Day , with a re-release featuring all new songs. One of those songs is "Irreemplazable," the Spanish version of "Irreplaceable," which Bey mashed up with Selena's iconic 1992 track, "Como La Flor."
As she honored the legacy of the late Texas icon, fans of the late singer had mixed feelings about the sample.
"Girl bye. We did not need this. Leave Selena alone," one person wrote , while another added , "This mix is a mess let's be real… I feel disrespected just for listening to it. How u gonna do Selena like that with this trash."
Others praised Beyoncé, with someone writing , "Bey did give props to Selena in an interview so this is very wholesome." Another chimed in , "Selena's influence continues to shine decades later.....Hearing Beyoncé pay homage to her is a special moment for music history."
Someone else commending Bey for her performance is Selena's widow, Chris Pérez, who shared an Instagram post celebrating the sample.
"One of my top favorite singers @beyonce just sang along with my absolute favorite singer @selenaqofficial," he wrote, in part, before coming to Queen Bey's defense.
In a comment underneath his post, Chris slammed the criticism about her creative choice, writing, "Say what you want. Shout out to Beyoncé for showing respect to an ICON. Some of you can be a bit much at times. I understand your opinion. BUT, you're used to hearing the original version of 'Como La Flor' performed by the original, baddest, most iconic singer/performer…Selena."
Chris continued, "In my opinion, nobody will ever, CAN ever, top Selena's performance. But, dammit…can't you just appreciate that another iconic/amazing artist (Beyoncé) chose to highlight Selena in this way? ESPECIALLY in today's musical climate? All love."
Beyoncé has yet to respond to the critics—and, let's be real, she probably won't—but it's important to note that she's been a longtime fan of the late singer, who tragically passed in 1995.
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In the 2000s, Bey told MTV Tr3s about a brief encounter she had with the "Dreaming of You" singer before she and her Destiny's Child bandmates made it in the biz.
"I did actually meet Selena in The Galleria mall in Houston, but I didn't say much to Selena because I wasn't a celebrity and I just saw her and said, 'Hello' and kept it moving," she said of the moment, which was later immortalized on Netflix's 2021 series, Selena .
At the time, she added, "I think she is a legend and I admire her. And she was so talented, so I'm very happy that even though she didn't know who I was, I'm still so excited that I got that opportunity."
Listen to the full mashup, featured on Beyoncé's 20th anniversary deluxe edition of B'Day , here:
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