Aqua

Biography

Aqua is a Danish-Norwegian Europop group that gained international fame in the late 1990s. The group formed in 1995, its members being vocalists Lene Nystrøm and René Dif, keyboardist Søren Rasted, and guitarist Claus Norreen. They are best known for their 1997 hit single "Barbie Girl."

Career Breakthrough

The band's debut album, Aquarium, was released in 1997 and featured a bubblegum pop and Eurodance style. It included the hit single "Barbie Girl," which topped the charts in the UK and brought the group global recognition. The album also spawned other successful singles like "Doctor Jones" and "Turn Back Time," with three of their singles reaching the top of the UK Singles Chart. The controversial and double-entendre-filled lyrics of "Barbie Girl" led to a lawsuit from Mattel, which was ultimately dismissed in 2002.

Studio Albums

Following the success of their debut, Aqua released their second album, Aquarius, in 2000. This album showcased a more varied musical style and included the successful single "Cartoon Heroes." After a hiatus, the band released their third studio album, Megalomania, in 2011.

Hiatus and Reunions

The group disbanded in 2001, and the members pursued solo projects. In 2007, they announced a reunion tour and released a compilation album with new material. The band has had several reunion tours since, including one in 2017 to mark the 20th anniversary of "Barbie Girl." In 2016, it was announced that Claus Norreen would be leaving the band. The remaining members have continued to tour and release new music, including the 2018 single "Rookie."

Legacy and Recent Work

Aqua is considered the most profitable Danish band, having sold an estimated 33 million albums and singles. In 2023, the group collaborated with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice on the song "Barbie World" for the soundtrack of the movie Barbie.