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Aqua is a Danish-Norwegian dance-pop group that achieved massive global success in the late 1990s, particularly known for their infectious bubblegum pop and Eurodance hits.Formed in Denmark in 1989 initially as Joyspeed, the band renamed itself Aqua in 1996. The lineup consists of vocalists Lene Nystrøm (Norwegian) and René Dif (Danish), and keyboardists Søren Rasted and Claus Norreen (both Danish). Their debut album, 'Aquarium' (1997), propelled them to international stardom, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. The band experienced a hiatus from 2001 to 2008, followed by reunions and new music releases.

• Their breakout single 'Barbie Girl' (1997) became a global phenomenon but also sparked a major controversy and lawsuit from Mattel, the makers of Barbie, who claimed the song turned Barbie into a sex object. The band countersued for defamation. The lawsuits were eventually settled out of court in 2002.
• Despite massive commercial success, the band faced significant criticism for their novelty style and perceived lack of depth, often labeled a 'one-hit wonder' despite having multiple hits.
• Internal tensions and exhaustion from relentless touring contributed to their initial split in 2001. Members pursued solo projects during the hiatus.
• They reunited in 2008, releasing the comeback album 'Megalomania' in 2011, which had moderate success compared to their 90s peak. They continue to perform live internationally.