Héroes de La Antártida

The song "Héroes de La Antártida" by the Spanish band Mecano recounts the harrowing and ultimately tragic journey of British explorer Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his team during their Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole. The lyrics serve as a historical narrative, detailing the dates and events that led to the demise of Scott and his companions—Evans, Wilson, Bowers, and Oates—in their quest to be the first to reach the South Pole, only to find that the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen had beaten them to it.

The song's verses poignantly describe the harsh conditions the explorers faced, such as the freezing temperatures that turned Oates' feet into 'two blades of crystal.' The refrain 'No hubo lápida, sí hubo plática' (There was no gravestone, but there was talk) suggests that while the men did not receive a proper burial, their story was told and remembered. The line 'Que Dios salve a la reina, Gloria eterna a los Héroes de la Antártida' (God save the queen, eternal glory to the Heroes of Antarctica) reflects the patriotic sentiment and the honor bestowed upon them posthumously.

The song ends with a rhetorical question, asking who remembers these men, emphasizing the fleeting nature of memory and the way history can sometimes forget its heroes. Mecano's tribute to these explorers serves as a reminder of their sacrifice and the human cost of exploration. The haunting melody and evocative lyrics capture the desolation and heroism of Scott's ill-fated expedition, ensuring that the memory of these 'Heroes of Antarctica' endures through music.