ARTIST

Aqua

Denmark and Norway are not well-known for their musical contributions. While it's pretty much accepted that France can't rock and England does funny, often intriguing, things with it, there's no precedent for northern Europe. Aqua have started to change that with their hit, "Barbie Girl," a track that went to No. 7 in America and No. 1 in Norway.

Aqua began taking steps as early as 1989 when Claus and Soren wrote music together. Upon meeting Rene they recorded the soundtrack to the movie Fraekke Frida. Rene recruited Lene and the four-piece recorded under the name Joyspeed and recorded a single ("Itzy Bitzy") that spent one week in the Swedish charts.

They changed their name to Aqua and things started happening. They were signed to Universal Music in Denmark and released their first single, "Roses Are Red," an observation that is both obvious and very true. Their second single "My Oh My," while less insightful than the initial release, still provided them with a decent-sized hit in Denmark.

Will Aqua change the world we live in? Will we eventually all speak Danish? Will they redefine the definition of "Norwegian Wood"? All the questions will be answered over time. Aqua-time.

Written by Rob O'Connor