aquarium (album)

Aquarium was the debut album from Scandinavian dance-pop group Aqua. Although the group had been together for three years, albeit under their original name Joyspeed, they had never released an album and up until the release of Aquarium only one release of any kind had occured, being a single called "Itzy Bitsy Spider". The album is best known as including three UK number ones in "Barbie Girl", "Doctor Jones" and "Turn Back Time", the first of those being a huge hit across the globe and a platinum seller Stateside. The release of "Barbie Girl" took the unknown four-piece group onto the A-List of European Music, meaning that when the album was released a month later in November 1997 pop fans everywhere gone out to buy out. The album would peak at Number 6 in the UK charts, which wasn't a bad achievement for a group who most would assume to be a 'huge one-hit wonder' (and, to some, they still are). The album's second single release came in 1998 and was a UK number one, "Doctor Jones" not becoming a million seller like "Barbie Girl" but still staying at the top for two weeks in February. The third release "Turn Back Time" would give the group another week at Number One, and further releases "My Oh My" and "Good Morning Sunshine" would peak at Number 6 and Number 18 respectively in the UK charts.

Track Listing

The version of "Aquarium" released in the United Kingdom and in most countries featured 11 tracks, although some versions (such as the vinyl release and Deluxe Version) featured a 12th track which is included as Track 12 on this listing.

1. Happy Boys & Girls (03:37)
2. My Oh My (03:22)
3. Barbie Girl (03:16)
4. Good Morning Sunshine (04:05)
5. Doctor Jones (03:22)
6. Heat Of The Night (03:33)
7. Be A Man (04:22)
8. Lollipop (Candyman) (03:35)
9. Roses Are Red (03:43)
10. Turn Back Time (04:10)
11. Calling You (03:33)
12. Didn't I (03:22)

Tarzan And Jane: The Common Mistake

It is a common dis-illusion that "Aquarium" included a track called "Tarzan And Jane". This mistake is common due to file-sharing networks including the track as by Aqua when it is infact by an Aqua-esque group called Toy-Box. Toy-Box released the track as a single in 1999 but due to the mistake those illegally downloading Aquarium often get the file and then wonder why track listing's don't include it.

Aquarium Megamixes

"Aquarium" was a successful album and several Megamixes of its tracks were made. The official ones are:

1. The Official Megamix (11:14)
2. Twisted Megamix (09:14)

In October of 1998 a compilation of Aqua remixes was released in several countries where the Aquarium album had sold well, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Denmark. It featured 11 remixes of tracks such as "Barbie Girl" and "Doctor Jones", although the only 'big name' remixer on the album was Love to Infinity's, who remixed the UK Number One "Turn Back Time". The aforementioned "Twisted Megamix" was also on the album.

Track-by-Track Information

Happy Boys & Girls

Happy Boys & Girls was the first track on Aquarium and was one of the most upbeat on the album. With songwriting input from all four members, inparticular Sren and Claus, the track was about being happy and not wasting your time on problems. With its bright outlook and highly optimistic beat reviews described the track as 'so happy it is emotional'. Although no music video was shot for the track a live performance at a concert in Bangkok, Thailand during 1997 is readily available on the internet.

My Oh My

My Oh My is the first track that, if the album is played from the beginning, would be recognised by the typical music enthusiast. Released as a single on the 5th of October 1998 in the UK and as their second single in Denmark in February 1997, the track is written by the three male members of Aqua. The video features Lene as a princess who is kidnapped by three pirates, who are the other members of the group. At the end of the day she turns the tables around and they go on to discover treasure together. The track was the fourth single released in the UK from Aquarium, and the first non-number one. It peaked at number 6.

Barbie Girl

Barbie Girl is the track that everyone remembers Aqua for. Their first release in most countries, and a huge number one in the UK and platinum seller in the US, the track captured the imagination of many children and adults, the latter because of its double meanings and sexual overtones. The track was written, again, by Sren, Claus and Ren and featured seemingly innocent lyrics at first. A further review of lines such as "You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere" and and "Dress me up, make it tight, i'm your dolly" would show a second side to the song strong enough for Barbie doll makers Mattel to sue the group in late 1997 (the case would only be dismissed in 2003). More information on Barbie Girl can be found here.

Good Morning Sunshine

Good Morning Sunshine was one of the slower tracks on the album. Less upbeat than tracks such as "Happy Boys & Girls", less dancey than tracks such as "Calling You" and less memorable than "Doctor Jones" and "Barbie Girl" this track was released in countries where Aqua's releases had been successful throughout. Countries such as the US and Switzerland where follow-ups to Barbie Girl had performed poorly did not see this release but Scandinavia, Germany and the UK would. The track in its own right was not that bad, a mix of the slow "Turn Back Time" and more upbeat tracks to good effect. It also featured a rap from Ren Dif, something not seen since the days of Joyspeed (the original name for Aqua). The track was again written by the three males in Aqua, and it made number 18 in the UK, mostly due to most fans now owning Aquarium and the fact that the video had been a disappointing live performance of the song, unlike the imaginative previous videos put together for previous releases.

Doctor Jones

Doctor Jones was Aqua's second UK single release and was the follow-up to "Barbie Girl" all over the world. This time the topic is Indiana Jones, and the video features Ren as Indiana saving Lene from a tribe of natives. The track was very similiar to Barbie Girl in the style of its beat and, like Barbie Girl, was a UK number one. The track was mostly written by an individual called A. land, aswell as the three Aqua males.

Heat Of The Night

Heat Of The Night was the first typical album track on album, unknown to most and without the general qualities to be released as a single. The track was written by Sren and Claus, and is about having a fiesta on a hot Summer's night.

Be A Man

Be A Man is another album track and is written by Sren and Claus, aswell as Lene. The track is the first on the album to not feature any vocals of Ren's. It is a slow track and is the only track which resembles "Turn Back Time", which is later on in the album. The lyrics are about a man leaving Lene for another girl.

Lollipop (Candyman)

Lollipop (Candyman) was the follow-up to "Barbie Girl" in the USA and was also released in several other countries. It is a pop-dance track written by all four members, aswell as production duo Hartmann & Langhoff, who produced several of the tracks on Aquarium.

Roses Are Red

Roses Are Red was Aqua's debut in Denmark and was the first track on Aquarium to be completed. Released in several countries, including Japan, it is a more dancey track which is clearly earlier than the others due to the younger look of the members in the cheaply-produced video. The track is a strong, quick track written by the same duo as "Lollipop (Candyman)".

Turn Back Time

Turn Back Time surprised everybody when it was released in 1998. A UK number one and taken off the Sliding Doors soundtrack, it had little in common with the helium-induced previous singles "Barbie Girl" and "Doctor Jones". Almost the odd one out on the album it shows Lene's true vocal skills, and received a large amount of radio airplay. Ren again doesn't perform vocals on the track, or infact any part of the production as the writing is by Sren and Claus.

Calling You

Calling You is a dance track which finishes off the album well, providing an alternative to some of the more ballady and cheesy tracks. It has an infectious beat and was written by Sren, Claus, Ren, Hartmann and Langhoff.

Didn't I

Didn't I is featured on the vinyl version of Aquarium, aswell as the Deluxe CD and Cassette Versions. Several limited edition versions of the album also feature the track. It is similiar to Calling You in that it is a dancey track with a fast-paced beat and strong vocals by Lene. It is written by Sren and Claus, and was the last track to be completed.