“Can you hear the drums, Fernando?” Until that moment, with the opening notes of the song, I hadn’t realized that I had a favorite ABBA song. The lights in the church were dimmed but thousands of candles were casting a warm light on the alter. The congregation was made up of several hundred strangers, many who (like me) had never set foot in the building before that night. The music was instrumental, played on a violin, viola, and cello but every lyric was racing through my head, keeping time with the the trio of local musicians.
Unexpectedly, I knew every word of the catchy tune.
Unable to refrain, I realized I was quietly humming. The crowd was lucky I didn’t turn this candlelit night into proper a sing-along – like that time in the 2010s when we saw Grease on the big screen back home. That night was rowdy, crowded, wine-infused, and so much fun. I looked left and right, checking to see if others were swaying, tapping their feet, or quietly clapping along. I realized this was more of a chamber music crowd. Most sat quietly and respectfully, engaged in polite applause between every song.
And it was a lovely evening! The music was stirring, the musicians talented, the atmosphere was stunning, and I’d definitely do it again. Tickets were reasonably priced. The staff handing logistics was top notch. We couldn’t have chosen a more convenient location. Yet it was a puzzling experience because I wanted to dance and sing! Had I entered the Twilight Zone? I couldn’t fathom that I could be the only one with the urge to shimmy along to the music of ABBA.
Do you know (really know) the music?
So, it turns out that my favorite ABBA song, as revealed by my excitement when I heard the first eerie notes played on the trio of strings, is Fernando. The instrumental version is especially likely to tug at your heart. There’s a romantic feel to the music, but is it a romantic love song? The internet is abuzz. “The song was originally recorded by Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad for her 1975 solo album Frida ensam. Those original Swedish lyrics were a standard heartbreak song about a man comforting a friend named Fernando who had lost his love.” (Wikipedia)
What happened when the song was rerecorded (after a rewritten) in English?
Björn Ulvaeus explains: “I knew that the title ‘Fernando’ had to be there, and after pondering a while, I had this vivid image in my mind of two old and scarred revolutionaries in Mexico sitting outside at night talking about old memories”. It’s a vision of nostalgia. It’s about freedom-fighters and a long-ago battle. (Wikipedia)
The song elicits an emotional response, whatever the lyrics. It reminds me of Madonna’s rendition of Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, the emotional Le Miserable solo I Dreamed a Dream, or Candle in the Wind (aka Goodbye Norma Jean) by Elton John. These songs are moving, the music deeply emotional. It’s easy to misunderstand the message if you don’t listen, really listen, to the lyrics or don’t know much about the story embedded in the music.
Do you have a favorite ABBA song? Consider the following:
- Dancing Queen
- SOS
- Money, Money, Money
- Waterloo
- Super Trouper
- Mamma Mia
Ah, Mama Mia! Have I mentioned this memory in another blog post? How could I not? A favorite travel memory, while still in transit, involves a flight home from Edinburgh, Scotland. You see, I have a longstanding, unexplained, deep-rooted love of free movies on long flights, to the detriment of my wellbeing and ability to fend off jetlag. Deep into one of the action-packet ultra-violent John Wick movies, made famous by Keanu Reeves, I glanced over to see my husband watching Mama Mia! Here We Go Again staring Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, and Julie Walters. I had to chuckle. It’s heartwarming, really, and not “off brand” for the two of us. We laugh about it to this day!
Are you familiar with the venue? As it turns out, these concerts take place in hotels, bars, restaurants, special event spaces, and – in our case – in churches. Lumos organizes the concerts, bringing in local musicians, and takes care of all logistics. They promote the event, take care of staffing, and decorate the space beautifully with candles. Private events are also offered, including weddings and even elaborate proposals.
Of course the candles aren’t real! Imagine the fire hazard that would present itself if there were flames putting off heat, wax melting all over the floor, and soot that accumulated when the candles were blown out. The color temperature of the warm glow gives the illusion of real candles. It’s convincing enough that about half the audience stuck around after to have their picture taken with the display.
We slid into the church pew, settling in for the concert. Our seatmates explained that this was their 3rd concert with Lumos, telling us about an event at a sort of antique auction house, with cozy pillow-decorated seating and candles lining pianos, trunks, pathways, and the architectural details. I almost lost my seat when they arrived, with my sister having to reserve a space for me. “Oh, we’re used to choosing our own seats,” they said.
Well, yes, to an extent. We were in the silver (or was it bronze?) section, during the second seating of the night, so we were confined to that part of the church. It was first come, first served from there. I’d snuck up to the alter to take some photos and returned just in time to sneak back into my seat.
How do they do it? It takes a mighty crew of greeters, ticket takers, traffic controllers, musician handlers, and professional sound engineers to pull this off. A relationship has to be maintained with the venue. There’s a marketing and social media team, ticket sales platform, and a cleaning crew. This is a classic pop-up, so they are in and out before you know it.
Why do they do it? “We’re here to remind people of the power of live music, to connect, to heal, to bring joy. Because in the glow of candlelight, every note feels just a little more special.” (Lumos website)
I was pleased to learn that Lumos takes steps to give back to the community. This is a ‘nice-to-have’ effort, but it’s appreciated. “Each month, we support a charity whose work makes the world brighter, from protecting animals to tackling global challenges.” (Lumos website) Here’s some of the community-focused work they have done:
- Global Health & Research: Worldwide Cancer Research, Breast Cancer Now, and the Movember Foundation
- Mental Health & Support: Mind Charity and the Alzheimer’s Society
- Humanitarian Aid: Unicef and the World Food Programme (WFP)
- Creativity & Education: Playing For Change Foundation
- Animal Welfare: Dogs Trust
What else do you need to know? You must be over 8 years old to attend. I searched all over the internet and couldn’t quite discover the reasoning, other than wanting to create a particularly serene environment. (Does an opera house have the same restrictions? Maybe the ticket price takes care of that.) I do believe the age restriction contributed to driving the average age of audience members up and up. Well, that and the fact that the music was ABBA. At my age, I was bringing the average down!
Headquartered in London, Lumos is showing up all over the US. So, they’re hiring! A stand-out qualification is “A genuine love for live events and creating positive experiences.” I like that. I must admit that there’s nothing like “positivity” in my job description. What a wonderful aspiration, in life and in work. Let’s talk about hanger though. If you’re likely to arrive hungry, you’ll want to look ahead to see if your venue offers food and drink, which was not offered in the church we were attending.
The topic of photography became a point of contention. A joyful, recorded male voice came over the speaker system to welcome us and set the stage for the evening, figuratively. He welcomed us to capture the event “on film” and encouraged us to feature them in our social media. The musicians then cautioned us not to take video or photos until the last song of the night. Cameras were up in the air anyway, sometimes for the full duration of a song. Welcome to the year 2026!
At the end of the evening I heard some patrons complaining that others were holding phones high the entire concert. It wasn’t me, I swear! I was too busy dancing in my seat and ensuring I wasn’t humming while someone nearby was filming. Once I got home I had to investigate further and found this: “Yes, you’re more than welcome to film and tag us on social media! We just ask that you be respectful of other customers and our musicians. Please film only during the last song of the performance. After the show, feel free to stay and take pictures with the setup or with our musicians.” (Lumos website) Well, okay then.
You’re likely to have your image captured, however: “Yes, we may film or take photos during some concerts. By attending, you consent to being included in promotional or archival content. If you prefer not to be filmed or photographed, please inform our staff upon entry, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Please note, we cannot guarantee complete avoidance of crowd shots.” (Lumos website)
If you’re still with me, after all those logistics, do attend. It was, as I said earlier, a lovely evening. I’ve always been fond of candles, for better or worse, but that’s another story altogether, for another day. There’s an app you can download to discover more ways to experience Lumos. It’s a one stop shop, they say.
So, I’ve been humming Fernando for weeks, on the heels of the concert. I can’t help it! The last few evenings I gave in and played ABBA while working on this blog post. My music algorithm is going to be skewed for the next little bit. Sing along!
Fernando by ABBA (1976)
Can you hear the drums Fernando?
I remember long ago another starry night like this
In the firelight Fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums
And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar
They were closer now Fernando
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid Fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And I’m not ashamed to say
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There’s no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Now we’re old and grey Fernando
And since many years I haven’t seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums Fernando?
Do you still recall the frightful night we crossed the Rio Grande?
I can see it in your eyes
How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, Fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, Fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
There’s no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando
Yes, if I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, Fernando…
Join me on my next adventure,
~ Kat
Related Links:
ABBA – Fernando (Official Music Video)
Grease – You’re The One That I Want [HQ+Lyrics]
Madonna – Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (Official Video)
3 Songs That Make Us Cry Every Time | Les Misérables
Candle In The Wind – Sir Elton John (1973)
Accidental Wanderlust 