一聽音樂網

Maverick Danish pop quartet Aqua could hardly have earned a higher profile than that achieved by their third UK single, 'Barbie Girl'. A tribute-cum-pastiche of the American toy favoured by pre-adolescent girls, it received extensive television and radio airplay as it climbed and eventually topped the UK charts. Conversely, their debut, 'Roses Are Red', did not possess the same novelty value and caused barely a ripple of attention, although it had been a huge success in Denmark (topping the charts, achieving platinum sales and earning a Danish Grammy nomination). The follow-up, 'My Oh My', also went straight to number 1 in Denmark. Part of the reason for the success of 'Barbie Girl' was its amusing video, which featured lead singer Lene G. Nystrom (b. 2 October 1973, T?nsberg, Norway) dressed in a succession of Barbie outfits, with band member René Dif (b. 17 October 1967, Copenhagen, Denmark) playing male doll Ken. The group was formed in 1994, though the production and writing nucleus of Claus Norreen (b. 5 June 1970, Charlottenlund, Denmark) and Soren Rasted (b. 13 June 1969, Blovstr?d, Denmark) had been together since 1989 as members of Joyspeed. In this incarnation they enjoyed a solitary success in the Danish charts with 'Itsy Blitzy'. 'Barbie Girl' successfully prepared the international market for 1997's Aquarium, a more stylistically varied album than might have been expected. The group enjoyed further success in 1998 when 'Doctor Jones' and 'Turn Back Time' both debuted at number 1 in the UK charts.