Aqua bows out.
Nearly three decades later Barbie Girl made the Danish pop group a global sensation, the band announced they were officially ending their live career. The trio – Lene Nystrøm, René Dif, Søren Rasted – shared the news with fans in an emotional Instagram post on Monday, May 18, alongside a photo of their iconic logo.
“After many incredible years, we have decided to close the chapter on AQUA as a live band,” they wrote. “AQUA has played a very important role in our lives and together we have been blessed to experience so much more than we ever dared to dream.”
The band added: “When you’ve been together for so long, you also learn when it’s time to protect what you’ve created together. For us, this seems like the right time to say goodbye, while the memories are still strong and the love for music, history and each other remains intact.”
After thanking fans for 30 years of “the love, the energy, the support and for all the moments,” they signed off with “nothing but love and gratitude.”
Aqua exploded onto the music scene in 1997 with Barbie Girlthe bubblegum pop anthem that topped charts around the world and sparked controversy with its cheeky lyrics. The track even prompted Barbie’s parent company, Mattel, to sue the group’s label in 2000, although the case was ultimately dismissed.
The group first broke up in 2001 before reuniting in 2007. They then experienced a major revival in 2023 when Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice sampled their biggest hit for Barbie World on the blockbuster barbie soundtrack.
