Amaia Montero received overwhelming backing from La Oreja de Van Gogh fans in Barcelona as the singer performed two comeback concerts at the Palau Sant Jordi.
Attendees at the first of the band's two consecutive nights at the Catalan arena on Friday 6 November and Saturday 7 November told Spanish radio station Cadena 100 that their loyalty to the frontwoman remained intact after six months of heated online debate.
One concertgoer arriving for the Barcelona stop of the Tantas cosas que contar Tour told the broadcaster that they would not even care if Montero mimed her vocals on stage, explaining that they had come simply to see her in person and feel the songs.
The Barcelona dates came just over a year after La Oreja de Van Gogh issued an official statement announcing Montero's return as the band's lead vocalist. While longtime followers welcomed the reunion as an opportunity to revisit the nostalgia of the group's early years, critics have focused since the opening concert of the tour on the condition of Montero's voice and the stage outfits she selects from her wardrobe.
Fan expectations before the Palau Sant Jordi concerts
Speaking to Cadena 100 outside the Palau Sant Jordi before the doors opened, ticket holders pushed back against the wave of anonymous social media criticism directed at the singer over the past half year. One supporter explained that longtime listeners who attended because of what Montero had meant in their lives did not expect anything from her in the best sense, adding that she had nothing left to prove to them.
A second attendee expressed hope that Montero would perform well, reasoning that if she was staging the concerts, she must be in a fit condition to do so, and added that they trusted her completely. Another fan urged the singer to be brave, pay no attention to outside commentary, and keep moving forward with everything.
A fourth concertgoer remarked before the gig that critics had been very harsh with Montero and noted that making such a return was far from easy. Another supporter observed that the years pass for everyone and that aging is normal, saying Montero should keep singing for as long as she wants, though they added that from their point of view the outfits chosen for her on tour did her no favours at all.
Emotional reactions and vocal recovery on stage
Inside the arena, the Barcelona crowd sang along to generational number-one hits including Rosas, Muñeca de trapo, and 20 de enero. Leaving the venue after the show, fans described a whirlwind of emotions that shifted from pre-concert nerves to relief and affection as the night unfolded.
One concertgoer noted after the performance that Montero had appeared somewhat nervous and slightly dazed early on, while another attendee stressed that the public needed to take mental health into account in situations like hers. A third fan admitted that the vocalist had suffered a few voice cracks during the set, but pointed out that she recovered afterwards and hit several notes cleanly and in tune.
Other concertgoers focused on the emotional bond between the performer and her audience. One fan called Montero the best and said they loved her dearly, noting that while she looked a little nervous at the start, she was great later on and the concert turned out very well. Another attendee thanked the singer for all the years of music and the many songs and beautiful moments she had given her followers.
A woman who was six months pregnant told Cadena 100 after exiting the Palau Sant Jordi that she could not miss the concert, adding that she had spent the entire show crying her eyes out and wanted Montero to know she had her full support and love. Reflecting on the Barcelona concerts and recent videos circulating around the singer, another fan observed that supporting Montero was not about idealising anyone, but about basic empathy.
Background on La Oreja de Van Gogh and the tour debate
Formed in San Sebastian in 1996, La Oreja de Van Gogh rose to become one of Spain's biggest pop groups with Montero as original lead vocalist alongside guitarist Pablo Benegas, keyboardist Xabi San Martin, bassist Alvaro Fuentes, and drummer Haritz Garde. Montero fronted the band for more than a decade on bestselling albums including Dile al sol, El viaje de Copperpot, and Guapa before leaving in 2007 to pursue a solo career.
The sustained online scrutiny surrounding her return has weighed heavily on both the singer and the group over recent months. In earlier reports referenced by Cadena 100, Montero responded to social media attacks by admitting that she was suffering deeply, while her bandmates closed ranks around her and warned of the toll the criticism was taking. At the Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona's premier indoor arena on Montjuic hill originally built for the 1992 Summer Olympics, the response from paying fans made clear that her core audience remains firmly behind her.
