Pop band Aqua – who were huge in the Nineties and spawned hits like Barbie Girl and Doctor Jones – have announced they have split after three decades together
Pop band Aqua – most famous for their 1997 hit Barbie Girl – have announced they are splitting up after 30 years together. The Danish-Norwegian band announced the news on Instagram on Monday afternoon much to the dismay of some of their loyal fans.
In a post alongside a pic of the Aqua band logo, they wrote: “Dear everyone. After many incredible years, we have decided to close the chapter of AQUA as a live band. AQUA has been such a huge part of our lives, and together we’ve had the chance to experience more than we ever dared to dream of.”
The post continued: “We’ve travelled the world countless times, met so many wonderful people, sung together with millions of you, and shared memories that we will carry with us forever. When you’ve been together for this long, you also learn when it’s time to protect what you’ve created together. For us, this feels like the right moment to say goodbye, while the memories are still strong, and while the love for the music, the story, and each other remains intact.
“From the bottom of our hearts: thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey over the past 30 years. Thank you for the love, the energy, the support, and for all the moments we’ve shared together.” The band ended the post by saying: “Nothing but love and gratitude from here on. Endless love, Lene, René & Søren.”
Aqua got together in 1995 and went on to sell more than 33 million singles and albums worldwide. But though they had other hits with Doctor Jones and Turn Back Time, their most famous hit is still the much-loved Barbie Girl song, which reached Number 1 in the UK singles chart when it was released back in 1997.
More recently, the band reached Number 4 in the UK singles charts when Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice released a revamped version of Barbie Girl to coincide with the release of the hit Barbie film, starring and produced by Margot Robbie.
Fellow Danish singer Whigfield – who also scored a UK number 1 with her 1994 hit Saturday Night – was one of the first to comment on the band’s break up. Writing in her native tongue in the comments, she said: “Thank you for the music and the good times.”
Fans also thanked the band for their music over the years. One wrote: “This news breaks our hearts.. Thank you Aqua for the emotions you gave us.. We will continue to love you forever.” Another said: “Love you guys! The one band I never got round to seeing live. Always loved your music. We need music like this in the world and nobody does it like you guys. Thank you for everything!”
A third penned: “Thank you for being part of my life since childhood. Your music has been with me through so many moments, memories, and emotions over the years. Meeting you in person years ago was something truly special that I will always carry in my heart.”
The fan continued: “Thank you for the music, the inspiration, and all the beautiful moments your art has given me. No matter how much time passes, you will always be part of my life. I wish you all the best in this life.”
Comparing them to other bands of their era, a fourth fan commented: “You guys, along with the Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, Marilyn Manson, TLC, No Doubt, Garbage, Alanis Morrisette and Hanson make us 90’s kids fly high in the sky, thank for the music guys, you will always be alive and present in our heart and our ears.”
In a nod to their most famous hit, a fifth cheekily added: “So happy to have seen you in Vegas in 2023. It was a dream come true! Aqua forever. See ya Barbie, bye Ken.”
The group was been made up of lead female singer Lene Nystrøm, now 52, René Dif, 58, – who was also a vocalist and it’s his voice you hear in Barbie Girl – and producer Søren Rasted, 56. Claus Norreen, 55, was also part of the group but left to pursue other projects in 2016.
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