Scandinavian pop group Aqua, best known for their 1997 hit “Barbie Girl,” have broken up.
On Instagram, they posted a message to fans explaining their decision, writing, “After many incredible years, we have decided to close the chapter of AQUA as a live band. AQUA has been such a huge part of our lives, and together we’ve had the chance to experience more than we ever dared to dream of.”
“When you’ve been together for this long, you also learn when it’s time to protect what you’ve created together,” they continued. “For us, this feels like the right moment to say goodbye, while the memories are still strong, and while the love for the music, the story, and each other remains intact.”
“From the bottom of our hearts: thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey over the past 30 years. Thank you for the love, the energy, the support, and for all the moments we’ve shared together. Nothing but love and gratitude from here on. Endless love ❤️Lene, René & Søren."
Aqua was formed in 1995 in Copenhagen, Denmark by Danish producers Claus Norreen, René Dif, and Søren Rasted, along with Norwegian vocalist Lene Nystrøm.
They quickly shot to fame in 1997 with their debut album, Aquarium, which spawned the massive, global hit “Barbie Girl.” That song was followed up by singles “Doctor Jones” and “Lollipop (Candyman),” however, neither matched the success of “Barbie Girl.”
Aqua and their label MCA were sued in 2000 by Mattel, which claimed “Barbie Girl” violated the their copyrights and trademarks of Barbie, and that the lyrics had tarnished the reputation of their trademark in calling her a “blonde bimbo.”
The suit was later dismissed by a judge, who concluded by saying, “The parties are advised to chill.”
Aqua would break up in 2001, then reunite in both 2007 and 2016. In 2023, they had a resurgence thanks to it’s use in the Barbie movie; the song was sampled by Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj for their song “Barbie World.”
Last year, the group announced Aqua the Musical, a stage production based on the music and history of the group, set to premiere at Copenhagen’s Royal Opera House in 2028.