Aqua (band)
| Company type | Group or band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 in Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Headquarters | Copenhagen , Denmark |
| Products | Music albums, singles |
Number of employees | 4 (members) |
Aqua is a Danish-Norwegian eurodance group primarily recognized for their 1997 worldwide hit "Barbie Girl". Established in Copenhagen in 1995, the ensemble gained international acclaim during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their discography includes three studio albums: Aquarium (1997), Aquarius (2000), and Megalomania (2011). With estimated sales totaling 33 million units across albums and singles, Aqua holds the distinction of being Denmark’s most commercially successful band.
The group achieved three number-one hits on the UK Singles Chart and stirred controversy due to the provocative lyrics of "Barbie Girl", which led to legal action by Mattel. The lawsuit was ultimately dismissed in 2002, with the presiding judge advising both parties to "chill".
The lineup features vocalists René Dif and Lene Nystrøm, keyboardist Søren Rasted, and guitarist Claus Norreen. During their break, Nystrøm, Dif, and Rasted each pursued solo chart endeavors, while Norreen concentrated on remix projects. Aqua reunited in 2007 for a tour and issued a compilation album including new tracks. Their third studio album, Megalomania, was released on 3 October 2011.
1995: Formation
In 1993, Søren Rasted and Claus Norreen won a competition to create the soundtrack for the film Frække Frida og de frygtløse spioner. René Dif, then working as a club DJ, was brought on to perform vocals for several songs. After the film’s debut, Dif encountered Lene Nystrøm, who was singing aboard the Norway–Denmark ferry M/S Peter Wessel. They began a relationship, and Nystrøm was recruited as lead vocalist for Joyspeed. Production duties fell to Norreen and Rasted; Dif contributed rap vocals, while Nystrøm provided singing. The band signed with a Swedish label in 1995; however, their initial single "Itzy Bitzy Spider" did not perform well commercially, resulting in termination of their contract.
1996–1998: Aquarium and international breakthrough
After parting ways with their label and acquiring new management, the group revamped their musical approach, catching the attention of Universal Music Denmark. They adopted the name Aqua, inspired by a poster found in a dressing room, and secured a deal with Universal in 1996. Aqua’s debut release under this name was "Roses Are Red", a bubblegum pop dance tune launched in Denmark in September 1996. The single remained on the charts for over two months, earned platinum certification, and garnered them a nomination for "Best Danish Dance Act."
Their next single "My Oh My" broke Danish sales records by achieving gold status within six days and reaching number one. The debut album Aquarium, released on 26 March 1997, included these tracks along with the forthcoming hit "Barbie Girl". Universal widened their distribution by releasing "Roses Are Red" across Japan and Europe.
In May 1997, "Barbie Girl" became an international sensation despite controversies surrounding its provocative lyrics. It dominated charts for four weeks in the UK, three weeks in Australia, and entered the top ten of the US Billboard Hot 100—a notable achievement for European artists.
Subsequent singles saw regional variations: "Doctor Jones" reached number one in both the UK and Australia; "Lollipop (Candyman)" peaked at No. 23 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 3 in Australia; both were issued as a double A-side single in Japan with moderate success.
Following "Doctor Jones", "Turn Back Time", featured on the soundtrack of Sliding Doors, received substantial airplay and became their third UK chart-topper, also peaking at No. 10 in Australia.
In August 1998, "My Oh My" was re-released throughout Europe. After limited impact from "Good Morning Sunshine", Aqua concentrated on producing their second album while touring Australia. Additionally, they issued a documentary in December 1998 showcasing live performances alongside interviews.
In recognition of her contributions to Aqua’s achievements in 1997, Lene Nystrøm was honored with the "Special Price of the Jury" at Norway’s Spellemannprisen awards in 1998.
1999–2006: Aquarius, legal dispute, and disbandment
For the Aquarius album, the group produced more than 30 tracks, ultimately selecting twelve for release in February 2000. This record showcased a variety of musical genres. The lead single, "Cartoon Heroes", enjoyed considerable commercial success throughout Europe and Australia, reaching the top position in Denmark, peaking at number seven in the UK, and climbing to number sixteen in Australia. The subsequent single, "Around the World", achieved a peak of number twenty-six in the UK and number thirty-five in Australia, while securing the number one spot in Denmark. This marked Aqua's final single released in the UK market.
In December 2000, Mattel initiated legal action against the band's record label concerning "Barbie Girl," alleging trademark infringement. The court determined that the song's use of Mattel's trademark was non-commercial and thus safeguarded under the Federal Trademark Dilution Act.
Later singles such as "Bumble Bees" and "We Belong to the Sea" attained only modest or limited chart positions. Aqua embarked on an international tour in early 2001 and appeared at the Eurovision Song Contest 2001, collaborating with Safri Duo. However, controversy emerged due to inappropriate gestures made during a performance of "Barbie Girl." Although new material intended for a third album was previewed, the band ultimately disbanded in 2001.
2007–2015: Reunion and release of Megalomania
On 26 October 2007, Aqua reunited, announcing a Danish tour scheduled for 2008 and performing at the Grøn Koncert festival that July. A greatest hits compilation was issued on 15 June 2009, containing sixteen remastered tracks alongside three new songs including "Back to the 80s," which debuted at number one in Denmark for six consecutive weeks and received platinum certification from IFPI for sales exceeding 30,000 copies. The band toured throughout Scandinavia and also performed in Germany, the UK, and France. Later that year, the compilation was distributed across North America and Europe.
Work on their third studio album Megalomania commenced in early 2010, with an initial release date set for spring 2011 but postponed multiple times until October 2011 due to strategic timing decisions by their label. The lead single "How R U Doin?", co-written by Thomas Troelsen, reached number four on Danish charts and earned gold status with sales of 15,000 units.
On 7 September 2011, Aqua previewed the track "Playmate to Jesus", which was officially released on 12 September alongside another single titled "Like a Robot," both charting moderately in Denmark. Following modest domestic success of Megalomania, Aqua expanded their live ensemble for an Australian tour in March 2012. Originally planned for six concerts, three additional shows were added due to high demand. Despite lead vocalist Lene Nystrøm suffering from pneumonia, all scheduled performances proceeded as planned. The band also appeared on Australian television programs Sunrise and The Morning Show. After completing this tour, Aqua disbanded once more but later announced a new tour covering Australia and New Zealand in 2014.
2016–present: Second reunion and "Barbie World"
In September 2016, Aqua revealed plans for at least ten concerts as part of the Vi Elsker 90'erne ("We Love the '90s") festival series, marking their first live Danish appearance since 2011. Claus Norreen opted not to rejoin the group due to a change in his musical direction but maintained close ties with his former bandmates.
On 29 May 2018, Aqua launched "The Rewind Tour" across Canada alongside fellow 1990s acts Prozzäk and Whigfield. They released a new single titled "Rookie" in June of that year. In July 2021, Aqua issued a cover version of "I Am What I Am" to coincide with Copenhagen Pride celebrations.
During an April 2022 concert at Tivoli Gardens, Aqua announced plans for a tour extending into 2023.
In 2023, Aqua’s music was sampled by Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice on "Barbie World," featured on the soundtrack of the Barbie film. This track debuted at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, marking Aqua’s second entry into the Top Ten following "Barbie Girl." Simultaneously, it reached the Top Five on the UK Singles Chart while "Barbie Girl" re-entered the UK Top Forty after a quarter-century hiatus.
"Barbie World" achieved top ten rankings across numerous international markets including Australia, Canada, Germany, and Sweden, earning Aqua their inaugural Grammy nominations.
It was announced that in 2025 Aqua the Musical, incorporating the band’s music and narrative, will premiere in 2028 at Copenhagen’s Royal Opera House. Directed by Thomas Agerholm with a script by Claus Reenberg alongside Mads Æbeløe and Nikolaj Tarp, this production underscores Aqua’s lasting brand strength and commercial viability.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award Ceremony | Work | Category | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | IFPI Platinum Europe Awards | Aquarium | Level 1 Certification | ||
| Billboard Music Video Awards | "Barbie Girl" | Best New Artist Clip (Pop/Rock) | |||
| GAFFA Awards (Denmark) | Best Danish Hit | ||||
| "Doctor Jones" | |||||
| Aquarium | Best Danish Album | ||||
| Lene Nystrøm | Best Danish Female Artist | ||||
| Themselves | Best Danish Group | ||||
| Best Danish Newcomer | |||||
| Mest håbløse danske | |||||
| 1998 | "Turn Back Time" | Best Danish Video | |||
| Themselves | Best Danish Group | ||||
| Danish Music Awards | Årets Danske Gruppe | ||||
| Årets Nye Danske Navn | |||||
| Grøn Pris | |||||
| P3's Lytterpris | |||||
| "Barbie Girl" | Årets Danske Hit | ||||
| Årets Danske Musikvideo | |||||
| Aquarium | Årets Danske Pop Udgivelse | ||||
| IFPI Platinum Europe Awards | Level 4 Certification | ||||
| Juno Awards | Best Selling Album (Foreign or Domestic) | ||||
| NME Awards | "Barbie Girl" | Worst Single | |||
| TMF Awards | Best International Video | ||||
| Themselves | Best International Newcomer | ||||
| 1998 MTV Europe Music Awards | Best New Act | ||||
| Best Pop Act | |||||
| Music Television Awards | |||||
| Best Breakthrough Artist | |||||
| World Music Awards | World's Top-Selling Scandinavian Artist | ||||
| 1999 | ECHO Awards | Best International Group | |||
| Hungarian Music Awards | Aquarium | Best Foreign Pop Album | |||
| 2000 | TMF Awards | "Cartoon Heroes" | Best International Video | ||
| IFPI Platinum Europe Awards | Aquarius | Level 1 Certification | |||
| 2001 | World Music Awards | Themselves | World's Top-Selling Scandinavian Artist | ||
| Danish Music Awards | Export Prize (Eksportprisen) | ||||
| Aquarius | Årets Danske Pop Udgivelse (Danish Pop Release of the Year) | ||||
Members
Present members
- René Dif – lead vocals (1995–2001, 2007–2012, 2016–present)
- Søren Rasted – keyboards, piano, guitar, bongos, backing vocals (1995–2001, 2007–2012, 2016–present)
- Lene Nystrøm – vocals (1995–2001, 2007–2012, 2016–present)
Previous members
- Claus Norreen – keyboards, piano, guitar, bongos, backing vocals (1995–2001, 2007–2012, 2016)
Touring musicians
- Steffen Drak Andersen – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals (2016–present)
Discography
- Aquarium (1997)
- Aquarius (2000)
- Megalomania (2011)
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Aqua (band)
- Danish Eurodance groups
- Musical groups established in 1995
- Musical groups disestablished in 2001
- Musical groups reestablished in 2007
- Musical groups disestablished in 2012
- Musical groups reestablished in 2016
- Danish musical quartets
- Danish pop music groups
- Europop groups
- MCA Records artists
- World Music Awards winners
- Co-ed groups
- Female-fronted musical groups