'Based on the 1975 ABBA song 'Fernando', the story of 'Guillermo' takes the lyrics and plot from the ABBA song and tells the story of two friends (Guillermo and Fernando) fighting for liberty in the Mexican-American war.
Full Description:
This was my favourite piece that I wrote in 2021. The task was to create ‘your own ‘original’ piece that uses intertextuality as a key component to its creation of meaning. … Existing texts you draw from may be prose, music, artwork, poetry, film, or dramatic work. … As a part of the submission, extracts from the original text should be included’. I am a massive ABBA fan and for me, it was only natural to use one of their songs and create more of a backstory. I’ve always thought the song ‘Fernando’ (1975) has a lot of potential as to who the characters were, their relationship and what war they were fighting in. Before I started writing, I researched into the song to see if the writers had commented on what it was about. I discovered it was loosely based on the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Revolution (1910). To support this setting, I inserted Spanish such as “You’re my major amigo ”. This helps the reader understand that they were Mexican and fighting for Mexico’s freedom. Throughout the story I used lines from the song such as “shining there for liberty”, “the sound of bugle calls and drums” and “fight for freedom in this land.” By slipping these into the story, it helps the reader connect the story with the song. Additionally, these lyrics strengthens the backstory regarding the “fateful night” they crossed the Rio Grande. Now whenever I hear the song Fernando, I always think of the characters I created and their story.
Bibliography: Andersson, B, Ulvaeus, B, Anderson, S, ABBA 1975, ‘ABBA Greatest Hits’, Fernando, Record, Polar Music, Stockholm
Jay, M 2018, The Mexican Revolution Meaning of ABBA’s 'Fernando', Spinditty, viewed 3 October 2021,
Photo Bibliography: A musician playing guitar outside, sitting next to a fire n.d., Photograph, iStockphotos, viewed 9 October 2022, https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/a-female-musician-playing-guitar-outside-sitting-next-to-a-fire-relaxation-gm1134790252-301665985
