It worked for Tupac, so why not Selena?
The late queen of Tejano music, who was murdered 20 years ago, will release a new record and go on tour in the form of a hologram, it was announced via her official Facebook page this week.
“Acrovirt, LLC announces the launch of Selena The One, the development of a walking, talking, singing, and dancing, digital embodiment of iconic singer, Selena,” the post said. “Acrovirt is working in collaboration with Selena’s immediate family and cutting-edge scientists to enable new productions for her many fans. ‘Selena The One’ will release new songs and videos, will collaborate with current hit artists, and aims to go on tour in 2018.”
The ambitious musical venture will be funded by an Indiegogo campaign which launches on April 16 and aims to raise $500,000, according to the website SelenaTheOne.com. Acrovirt, which specializes in a technology called “Digitized Human Essence,” will run the campaign in collaboration with the Quintanilla family.
A rep for Selena The One did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
Grammy winner Selena, who took home the award for Best Mexican/American Album in 1994, had a string of hits including “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” and “Dreaming of You.” She was even the subject of the 1997 film “Selena” starring Jennifer Lopez.
The news of Selena’s virtual comeback sparked mixed reactions from fans, with some Twitter users slamming the move. “People are just trying to profit off of Selena with that hologram,” one fan wrote, while another called it “crazy.”
https://twitter.com/salviprince/status/586309404556857344
Crazy! They are going to have a hologram Selena tour in 2018! #SelenaHologram
— Rudy Leyvas (@rudypictures) April 10, 2015
Hologram tour of Selena. Please no!
— Mezcal Mayhem (@DocHoliday1stx) April 9, 2015
the Selena hologram is gonna be a fail
— Aalexis ♓️ (@aalexisimani) April 10, 2015
Ok this needs to stop! Love Selena but really?? http://t.co/h6QtRGYaFB
— єℓѕєα (@SwiftNSoaps) April 10, 2015
Selena was shot and killed on March 31, 1995 at age 23 by Yolanda Saldívar, her friend and the founder of Selena’s fan club. Some of the singer’s fans took to Twitter to say they can’t wait to see her likeness on stage.
https://twitter.com/MichaelAlvarez_/status/586362580001808385
their making a "Selena" hologram, looks like I better save up for the tour
— Nestor (@nestorsgarcia_) April 10, 2015
Selena should've got a hologram a long time ago.
— kimmy (@_kimmyeatworld) April 9, 2015
https://twitter.com/_RocketMan93/status/586317437467025408
https://twitter.com/LilDangus/status/586365867170095106
Watch the video of Selena’s hit song “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” here.