Aqua

Aqua is a Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group formed in 1989 under the name Joyspeed, before adopting the name Aqua in 1994. The group consists of singers Lene Nystrøm Rasted and Rene Dif, keyboardist Søren Rasted, and guitarist Claus Norreen.

They achieved international fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s with hits such as Barbie Girl. Their first three singles reached number one on the UK Singles Chart. Their debut album, “Aquarium”, was released in 1997, followed by “Aquarius” in 2000. The group has sold around 33 million albums and singles, making them one of the most successful Danish and Norwegian acts. Their music also found success in countries where European pop artists did not typically break through, such as the United States, Australia, and Japan.

The single Barbie Girl drew legal attention from doll manufacturer Mattel, but the lawsuit was dismissed. The group split in 2001, with the members pursuing solo careers or other roles in the music industry.

Aqua reunited in 2007 for a tour and released a “Greatest Hits” album in 2009, featuring remastered tracks and new songs such as Back to the 80s. In 2011, they released their third studio album, “Megalomania”, accompanied by singles including How R U Doin?, Like A Robot, and Playmate To Jesus, which saw moderate success mainly in their home countries. The album marks a shift toward a more mature electropop and dance-pop style, moving away from the bubblegum pop and eurodance of their early years.

In 2018, Aqua returned as a trio (without Claus Norreen) with the single Rookie and have toured extensively since.