"Si Una Vez" is a mariachi fusion song and draws influence from cumbia and Latin dance music.
"Si Una Vez" received positive reviews from music critics who found the song to have showcase the singer's vocal abilities.
[1] Keyboardist of the group, Ricky Vela retold in a 2002 interview how the band hired a professional trumpeter to record parts of the song.
In the live version performed at the Astrodome for Selena’s last concert in 1995, the trumpet intro was mostly replaced with a bell synth playing the background melodies.
spoke on how Amor Prohibido was experimental music-heavy and commented on how "Si Una Vez" was an example of his ideas of keeping the band's image modern.
[4] Lyrically, Selena reminiscences her failed relationship and wonders why she ever fell in love with an abusive partner who betrayed and left her, vowing to never allow a man like that back into her life.
[6] Writing for the Latin Times, Maria Valdez called the song "fun" especially when running into your former partner at a karaoke party and found the track to showcases a singer's vocal abilities.
[7] Entertainment Weekly contributor David Browne, commented on Selena's vocals as being "full-throated, warbling" and that it "recalls Lydia Mendoza, conjunto's leading lady.
[13] Terra named "Si Una Vez" as one of Selena's "most famous works" along with her other songs "El Chico del Apartamento 512", "Amor Prohibido" and "Fotos y Recuerdos".
[16] Mexican mariachi singer Alicia Villareal performed and recorded "Si Una Vez" for the live televised tribute concert Selena ¡VIVE!
[18] Ivy Queen chose to cover "Si Una Vez" finding it to be identifiable to her and because of the song's message which the singer stood for.
American merengue musician Manny Manuel covered the song on his debut album, El Rey de Corazones (1995).
[40] Spanglish and English versions of the song, with Becky G and Kap G in place of Grace and Wisin, were released on February and March 2017 and are included in the soundtrack of the 2017 video game Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands.