Wizovision 2021: Spain’s “Aguamenti”

 

Reporting from Rotterdam, I’m Marijke van der Meer, and I’ve been speaking with Fénix y las Flamas, the group representing Spain in the Wizovision finals. Their song “Aguamenti” has been getting a lot of airplay on the Wizarding Wireless Network across Europe and even around the world due to its catchy danceability. But what makes a song about the Water-Making Spell so popular, and what is it really about? I talked to lead singer and songwriter Isabel García, the “Fénix” of the band:

I just want to make clear, since there seem to be some rumors going around, that I have never had an affair with a merperson. It’s a metaphor, okay? It’s about desire, lust, and passion – the search for satisfaction. And most importantly, it’s fun! We set out to write something upbeat and memorable. Not every song needs to try to change the world. Sometimes you just want to sing and dance in the rain, waving your hands and your wands in the air. We expect to get a lot of people doing that.

It is admittedly easy to get lost in the song and start singing along, whether in Spanish or English and whether one actually knows either of those languages or not. The flamenco dancing and water effects in the performance make the number visually pleasing as well as an earworm. It is one of the lighter songs in this year’s competition, but only time will tell if that will help or hurt them. Sometimes audiences and juries respond to songs that shine a light on an important issue or express a deep emotional struggle, but such songs also run the risk of being too serious or divisive. Other times, there’s a craving for something simpler that can unite everyone. Could that be “Aguamenti”?

I am annoyed to report that as I was watching Fénix y las Flamas rehearse, we were interrupted by Gilderoy Lockhart, the British wizard who has no part in this year’s competition and barely has a grasp on his own identity but keeps trying to hog the spotlight. “Hydration is indeed important when one is doing a lot of singing or public speaking,” he called out. “I used to make a lot of public appearances so I’m told. You must take good care of those vocal cords. Someone get these people a glass of water! And by the way, I have this lovely blue cape that I could wave around like your dancers’ skirts – what do you think? It would really add some pop to your performance!” A member of security coaxed Lockhart out of the area by assuring him that the choreographer was in the next room and eager to hear his tips.

Spain has managed to do quite well for themselves without his assistance. Stay tuned to see if they’ll be able to blow the competition out of the water.

 

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Laurie Beckoff

My Harry Potter journey began in 2000 when I was six and continued through a bachelor's thesis and master's dissertation on medievalism in the series. I'm a Gryffindor from New York City with a passion for theatre, fantasy, Arthurian legend, and science fiction.