The Aqua group is one of the brightest representatives of the so-called “bubblegum pop” variety of pop music. A feature of the musical genre is the repetition of meaningless or ambiguous words and sound combinations.
The Scandinavian group included four members, namely:
- Lene Nyström;
- Rene Dif;
- Soren Rasted;
- Klaus Norren.
Over the years of its existence, the Aqua group has released three full-length albums. The musicians survived the times of disintegration and reunification of the collective. During the forced break, members of the Aqua group implemented solo projects.
The history of the creation and composition of the Aqua group
The Aqua band was popular back in the early 1990s. It all started with the fact that the duo of Søren Rasted and Klaus Norren, who performed under the name Joyspeed, and their compatriot, DJ Rene Dief, were invited to write a song for the movie Naughty Frida and the Fearless Spies.
It was so easy for the musicians to work together that after recording the track, they decided to unite in a trio. The fourth member, Lene Nyström, was found by a trio of musicians on a ferry between her homeland and Denmark.
Lene made a living by showing mini-sketches of a humorous nature. The girl attracted the guys with her model appearance.
Rene Dif was the oldest member of the new team. Already at that time, he began to noticeably lose hair on his head. Today he is bald. Rene sang the part of Ken in the track Aqua Barbie Girl and created the image of Barbie's friend in the video.
The peers Rasted and Norren did not perform vocal parts in the group. On their shoulders were the composition of tracks and the production of the band. In addition, Klaus played the guitar and Søren played keyboards. Rasted had white hair and Norren had red hair. It was the original hairstyles that were considered the distinctive "chip" of the musicians.
It is known that Lene Nyström dated Dif for a long time. But in the early 2000s, she married Rasted. The family had two children - daughter India and son Billy. After 16 years of marriage, the couple divorced. Divorce did not prevent celebrities from performing on stage together.
The Aqua group broke up twice (in 2001 and 2012) and "resurrected" (in 2008 and 2016). Klaus Norren is the only member who did not return to the team. Thus, from a quartet, the team was transformed into a trio.
Aqua group music
In 1997, the band's discography was replenished with a debut album. The collection was called Aquarium. The pearls of the disc were the compositions Roses are Red, Barbie Girl and My Oh My. The record was positively received by music lovers and music critics. Aquarium has sold over 14 million copies.
The track about the Barbie doll had a "double" meaning. The doll manufacturer even filed a lawsuit against the collective. The court refused to consider the case, considering the claim not worthy of attention.
The ballad of the first collection Turn Back Time was included in the soundtrack of the British film Beware the Doors Are Closing. The debut album helped the musicians secure the status of "originals". A bright entry into the world of pop music provided the musicians of the group with their place in the sun.
In the early 2000s, the band's discography was replenished with the second studio album Aquarius. The tracks on this record were more musically diverse. So, in the songs there is not only bubble-gum-pop, but also notes of europop and country styles are heard. The hit of the second album can be called the track Cartoon Heroes.
The musicians presented their third studio album Megalomania in 2011. Fans especially noted the songs: My Mamma Said, Live Fast, Die and Young and Back to the 80's.
After the release of the third album Megalomania at the end of 2011 and a tour in 2012 in the cities of Scandinavia and Australia, the Aqua team, unexpectedly for many fans, disappeared from view. Journalists began to spread rumors that the group had broken up again.
The musicians were in no hurry to refute the information. This only increased interest in the group. Unexpectedly for fans, PMI Corporation in 2014 on the official page announced the participation of the Aqua team in the 1990s discotheque "Diskach 90s" in St. Petersburg as the headliner of the show.
The concert took place. The performance of the group took place on the site of the Sports and Concert Hall "Peterburgsky" on March 7, 2014. The Aqua group appeared in Russia not in full force. Klaus Norren was unable to visit Peter due to health problems. Russian fans warmly welcomed their favorite musicians and did not want to let them leave the stage.
Aqua Group today
2018 began for fans of the Aqua group with pleasant events. The fact is that this year the musicians released a new track, which was called Rookie (“Newbie”). Later, the band members also presented a video clip, which was based on an imitation filming of behind-the-scenes life.
The next year the team spent on tour. In July, Aqua performed in Canada. And in August, concerts took place in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and in November - in Poland.
In 2020, the band members spoke in an interview with the TMZ YouTube channel that they were going to perform at the Coachella festival. Some of the concerts the guys still had to cancel due to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
