Aqua are breaking up. The Danish-Norwegian Eurodance band best known for the 1997 hit "Barbie Girl" announced today that they're calling it quits. Their last performance was in November of last year at the Shillong Cherry Blossom Festival in India, and their final album was 2011's Megalomania.
"After many fantastic years we have decided to close the chapter with AQUA as a live band," their statement began, continuing:
AQUA has been a huge part of our lives and together we have been able to experience more than we ever dared to dream of.
We have travelled the world many times, met countless wonderful people, sung with millions of you and shared memories that we will carry with us forever.
When you've been together for so long, you also know when it's time to take care of what you created together. For us, it feels right to stop here while the memories are strong and while the love for the music, history and for each other is still intact.
From the bottom of our hearts: thank you to all of you who have been part of the journey over the last 30 years. Thank you for the love, energy, support and all the moments we shared together.
We're only sending love and gratitude from here.
Aqua formed in 1995 in Copenhagen and took off with "Barbie Girl," the third single from their debut album Aquarium. In 2000, Mattel launched a lawsuit against the band claiming they damaged the reputation of the Barbie brand with the salacious suggestions in their lyrics. The judge dismissed the lawsuit, saying, "The parties are advised to chill."
Aquarius, their sophomore effort, arrived in 2000, and the group broke up the following year. They reunited in 2007 and shared a greatest hits album in 2009, followed by Megalomania a couple years later. They ended up splitting again, then reunited again. Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice sampled "Barbie Girl" on their song "Barbie World" for the soundtrack of the 2023 Greta Gerwig blockbuster Barbie, causing "Barbie Girl" to return to the UK Top 40 for the first time in 25 years.
UPDATE: Aqua have now announced a musical...
Earlier this week, we shared the news that we are stepping off the international music stage after more than 30 incredible years. But while that chapter is closing, our story is far from over. Our creative, colorful, and vibrant universe is set to live on in a brand-new format.
In 2028, the spectacular new production AQUA THE MUSICAL will premiere at the Royal Danish Opera House in Copenhagen, before making waves on stages around the world.
At its core, AQUA has always been about celebrating diversity and having the courage to be yourself - we value bringing people closer together. We are so proud that this exact spirit will be the heartbeat of the musical, welcoming both our amazing fans and theatre lovers worldwide into the world of our music.
A wonderful team is pouring their hearts into bringing this universe to life in a new way, and we cannot wait to share 2028 with all of you.
