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Aqua Album: “Aquarium”
 Description :
Aqua: Lene Grawford Nystrom, Rene Dif (vocals); Soren Rasted (various instruments, background vocals); Claus Noreen (various instruments).
<p>Additional personnel: Douglas Carr, Claus Hvass, Jan Langhoff (guitar); Bee, Kati, Vivian Cardinal, Marian Binderup, Mogens Binderup (background vocals).
<p>Producers: Johnny Jam, Delgado, Soren Rasted, Claus Norreen, Hartmann & Langhoff, Tommy Ekman, Per Aderbratt, Rene Dif.
<p>AQUARIUM isn't the place to turn if you're looking for introspective, soul-searching meditiations on the meaning of life and the universe. But if you like techno bubble gum this might just be a little slice of heaven. They love it in Denmark, where the album went quintuple platinum, and they love it in the clubs, because the mechanical, boppy, sing-songiness makes for the perfect dance music. "Happy Boys and Girls," the disc's opening track, is a perfect representation of the Aqua sound: "Be happy" squeal the little-girl backup singers. The drum machine kicks in, mechanical high-hat hissing away, and you can just see those European dance floors filling up with happy Danish boys and girls. This disc has a tongue-in-cheek feel to it, as if Aqua is almost satirizing the techno-dance genre, but it's basically harmless, good-natured fun.
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Track Listing :
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Album Information :
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UPC:008811170523
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Format:CD
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Type:Performer
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Genre:Electronic
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Artist:Aqua
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Label:MCA Records (USA)
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Distributed:Universal Distribution
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Release Date:1997/09/09
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Original Release Year:1997
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Discs:1
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Mono / Stereo:Stereo
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Studio / Live:Studio
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Customer review - October 17, 1999
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
- Interesting, yet catchy mix of Eurodance and teen pop
Aqua's debut release, AQUARIUM, fights the music scene with Eurodance beats and childish, almost nursery rhyhme lyrics and topics. The record's standout tracks are the group's hugely popular debut single, "Barbie Girl", and the follow up single, "Lollipop (Candy Man)". Both songs are a sugary (except "Barbie Girl", with the whole "bimbo" personification) and catchy. Part of this attribute is the girlie, tongue in cheek voice of lead vocalist Lene Grawford Nystrom, and the "macho" (notice how the word macho is in quotes) raps of Rene Dif. The lyrics are, in their own right, just a mix of plain corniness that adds up to the fun, whismical feel of the album. Although a few tracks, such as "Happy Boys & Girls", "Heat of the Night", and "Be a Man", can be taken off the cd, it is an overall good record. The nursery farce of AQUARIUM has a both good and bad effect on the album. When you listen to the first four or five tracks, you think to yourself 'what a funny cd this is- I love it!'. But by the time you reach track 9 (which happens to be one of my favorites), you start saying "why the h*** am I listening to this crap?!" Aqua delivers a fresh and fun spirit that sometimes makes you feel like, believe it or not, that the world isn't so bad after all. The music may be stupid, it may be cute, but most importantly, it's by Aqua. And that is the bottom line. 11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
- Aqua - Better than you think
Hi all,
I bought this album over a year ago (back in 1998). I was hooked after listening to the album at a store and some encouragement from a DJ friend who found one of the songs ("Roses are Red") club-friendly.
My opinion? A very solid album. I just like the songs. I find them upbeat and I've recently started listening to the album after not listening for a while. I rarely do this for old albums (even if I liked them before).
Note, I'm a eurodance/dance, etc fan and also slow songs. Thus the faster songs (Roses are Red, Calling You, etc.) are good along with "Turn Back Time". I'm glad Aqua can branch out and not be a "dance" act.
My favorites songs are: Lollipop, Roses are Red, Calling You, Turn Back Time, Happy People, and My Oh My. The others are decent. One song I don't listen to much is: Barbie Girl. A lot of people liked it and it's ok, but it's not a favorite of mine.
Check this album out! Also can't wait for the new album, hopefully coming soon!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
- Barbie girl...
My favorite tunes on the CD are (of course!) Barbie Girl and Lollipop (Candyman). The beats are very good on this disc. As a Pop and R&B fan, I didn't know what to expect when I purchased this disc, but I was pleasantly surprised. If you are in a "blue" mood, I'd recommend this disc as a "pick-me-up!" Definitely a good deal (if you can get a good price!) Three stars! junkie (Denmark) - February 03, 2000
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
- aquarius not out in america before the 28th of March
according to BILLBOARD the release of the album is set to be in march
that means a month after the release of it in europe
Customer review - January 09, 2006
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
- bubblegum but guilty pleasure
europop was a big craze in the 90's and since the music industry was catering to kids to buy albums from spice girls, hanson and other teeny boppers, aqua did the same by making cutesy lyrics and funky videos accompanied by europop beats. The formula worked and it was an occasional fun thing to play and poke fun at but in all honesty, I was mostly listening to Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey and Mary J Blige when all of this was going on. |
