San Antonio, Texas — In a surprising turn of events during the popular Tejano Explosion 2024 on Saturday night (April 27), A.B. Quintanilla, the Grammy-winning musician and former member of Selena y Los Dinos, took the stage to address a matter close to his heart: the lack of engagement from certain fans.
The Rant Heard ‘Round the Tejano World
A video clip of Quintanilla’s impassioned speech has gone viral on social media, capturing the artist’s raw emotions as he confronted non-participating fans. With the crowd hushed in anticipation, Quintanilla’s words about the attendees echoed through the venue:
“(It’s) like somebody put a gun to your head and forced you to be here tonight,” Quintanilla said in the video shared by TikTok user eat_teach_reapeat. “And that feels horrible as a musician to work so f***ing hard over all these years to bring you hits, and you guys come here, and you can’t even f***ing raise your hands to f***ing clap or be happy, man.”
The audience erupted into a mix of cheers and jeers. Quintanilla’s frustration was palpable, and his message hit home for many attendees who had witnessed the lackluster response from certain sections of the crowd.
“Y’all could boo me all y’all want, I don’t care, it doesn’t affect me. Boo yourselves for not participating at the show,” Quintanilla said. “I’m trying to show y’all love through music, man […] Y’all are sitting there like y’all don’t even want to party or nothing man. You know what, whatever y’all want to do. That’s all good on me, man.”
Final Tejano Explosion Performance
Quintanilla, who performed at the Latin American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Thursday (April 25), continued, his voice rising:
“This is my last performance for you, I’ll ever do,” he said. “I’m just being truthful with you. I traveled all the way from Las Vegas, received love all the way from over there. I come to my hometown in Texas, San Antonio, and I got no f***ing love over here, man. That’s not cool.”
As the crowd absorbed his words, Quintanilla’s band, Los Kumbia King All Starz, played a soulful melody, underscoring the urgency of his plea. Fans exchanged glances, some nodding in agreement, while others shifted uncomfortably.
The Impact
The impact of Quintanilla’s rant reverberated beyond the concert grounds. Fans took to social media, sharing their thoughts and feelings. Some defended the non-participating fans, citing the older “lawnchair crowd is chill” at outdoor events. Others rallied behind Quintanilla, emphasizing the importance of active engagement during live performances.
Tejano music enthusiasts worldwide engaged in spirited debates, discussing whether fans have a responsibility to participate actively or if they should be allowed to enjoy the music in their own way.
Quintanilla’s Legacy
AB Quintanilla’s passionate outburst will undoubtedly become a defining moment in Tejano music history. As an artist who has dedicated his life to the genre, he has earned the right to express his frustrations openly. Whether fans heed his call to action remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the Tejano community will continue to discuss this incident long after the echoes of Tejano Explosion 2024 fade away.
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Tejano Nation 
THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SELL YOUR TALENT OUT TO THE MEXICANS US TEJANOS ARE REALLY PICKE ABOUT OUR MUSIC A.B. IS JUST MAD BECAUSE HE DOES NOT SEE THE TYPE OF AUDANCE HE’S USED TO “THE ONE’S FROM MEXICO” THAT IS WHAT IT IS!!!
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A.B – WAS SETUP BY FAMILY MEMBERS OF OTHER JEALOUS GROUPS. They INITIATED THE BOOING, And Started Giving Him The Finger. They Started It Deliberately. I WAS THERE With A Friend Of Mine Danny Moreno Of The Rio Grande Valley. A.B. & His Family Put Tejano Music On The Map. A.B. Was Just Saying, Come On Guys, Let’s Build Up Tejano Music Again.
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