While Selena was a stirring singer when captured on record, her biggest appeal lay in her passionate, fiery concert appearances. During her ascendance to the heights of the Tejano music world, which was cut short by her 1995 murder, Selena became a seasoned live performer. UNFORGETTABLE: THE LIVE ALBUM, the counterpart to 2005's UNFORGETTABLE: THE STUDIO ALBUM, marks the 10th anniversary of her death, but it proves her spirit shines on.
Unlike the studio record, the live disc of UNFORGETTABLE concentrates solely on Selena's Spanish-language songs, opening with a moving rendition of "Como la Flor" in front of a responsive Corpus Christi, Texas crowd. The record maintains a swift pace, running from up-tempo ballads such as "Amor Prohibido" to the near-fever pitch of "Cobarde" and the rapturously fun "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom." The gait only slows near the end, on the torch song "Que Crias" and the bolero "No Me Queda Mas," which underscore both the sweet charm and remarkable grit in her potent voice. "No Debes Jugar" nimbly sums up Selena's skills, with its undeniable pop melody bolstered by insistent Mexican instrumentation, while the exceptional singer is neither overpowering nor overshadowed.