I first came across Aquero from the French musical Bernadette de Lourdes when I saw its trailer at my local cinema a few weeks ago. The moment I heard Eyma (pictured above), who plays Bernadette Soubirous, sing the chorus, it sent chills up my spine. I instantly knew I had to track it down – despite the fact it was in French and the song’s title wasn’t revealed in the trailer. After some extensive searching – and very much worth the effort – I can now share with you today: Aquero.
Aquero is the opening song from the French musical “Bernadette de Lourdes,” which recounts the story of Bernadette Soubirous and her reported visions of the Virgin Mary at the grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes. Aquero is not a standard French word rather it’s a specific term – notably related to the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. In this context, “aquero” (often spelled “Aquerò” in Italian or “Aquero” in Spanish) is the term Bernadette used to refer to the apparition she saw. It translates to “that thing“ or “that“ in English.
The musical premiered on July 1, 2019, at the Espace Robert Hossein in Lourdes, near the actual site of the apparitions. As aforementioned Aquero opens the show which depicts the moment when the young Bernadette is questioned by the commissaire Jacomet about her vision, which she describes as Aquero. The production was created by Éléonore de Galard and her husband, composer Grégoire de Galard, with the aim of presenting a historically grounded and non-proselytizing portrayal of Bernadette’s story. The song was first released on the album “Bernadette de Lourdes (Deluxe)” in 2020 and was written by Lionel Florence and Patrice Guirao.
Below is the English translation of Aquero:
When the sky is revealed
And the earth comes alive
Like a shower of stars
A glimmer illuminates
When beautiful ignorance
Is no longer the night of men
But what is innocence
The one that forgets no one
Aquero
A-quero
A-que-ro
A-que-ro
When we know that love
Does not have a name…
Because it is all around
And knows every first name…
When the gentle breath comes…
So that hearts can breathe
And that the desire for a smile slips into us…
Aquero…
A-quero
A-que-ro
Aquero
While the drums beat…
So that men awaken
on Earth
So that they finally say that forever
She will be the one who enlighten…
Aquero..
A-quero
A-quero
Aquero
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
The blending of chords and notes is rich and lush. the melody evokes a sense of deep emotion, longing or memory. Such a beautiful piece of music!
I’m glad it resonated so strongly with you as well. It’s amazing how such a simple piano melody can sound so beautiful — and my golly, her voice is divine!
very interesting, nice
Wow, this is beautiful. I never knew this existed or the musical or anything. St. Bernadette & the vision of Our Lady at Lourdes has been one of my favorite stories since I was a very small child. My older sister had a book about Bernadette that I stole & had until just a few years ago, when I finally returned it. (I was always stealing her books & reading them. She was 4 years older than me).
Wow, the Bernadette’s story certainly made an indelible impression on you from when you were a wee-tacker.
So, until recently, your poor sister was ignorant of who was in possession of her missing books? Hehe.
I had barely heard about Bernadette apparitions and the Lourdes peregrination site, but upon hearing the gorgeous ‘Aquero’ I felt compelled to dig a little deeper. What I liked most was how she never felt compelled to convince the naysayers, rather just tell them what she saw.
No, I’m pretty sure my sister knew that I was taking her books. She told me recently that if I needed to possess them that badly, then she didn’t have a problem with me taking them. She is probably the sweetest woman in the world. She didn’t even want to take them back from me.
I was raised Catholic, so I was raised knowing about the saints. My grandmother’s church had a beautiful stone shrine outside of the church with steps going up to a belfry & all these statues & one of them was St. Bernadette kneeing at a grotto looking up at a statue of Our Lady. You could climb the steps to the statue of Her. Inside the shrine, there was another grotto where there was a replica of the Pieta. They still hold Mass there on summer Sundays. The shrine itself is somewhat decrepit, you can’t climb the stairs anymore ~ insurance regulations won’t allow it. But you can walk around the ground & view the statues.
So your sister didn’t ransack your room or beat you up to find her books. Now that’s who I call a true pacifist and mature beyond her years. I can see why you sing her praises.
I was a raised in a quasi protestant household where our only connection with religion was via our dedicated Anglican church organist grandmother. Now I live in a very steeped Catholic country where ironically ‘Violence’ features prominently. Your grandmother’s church and the St Bernadette’s stature (and the walk-to) sounds beautiful. What a bummer that the shrine and stairs weren’t repaired / upgraded.
Well, she did read my diary & report to my mother. She wasn’t totally cool. LOL
No one’s perfect lol