Aqua

Best known for their 1997 earworm “Barbie Girl,” the Norwegian-Danish dance pop band Aqua found success in the late ’90s and early 2000s with three albums and 18 singles, seven of which reached No. 1 in Denmark. • Formed in 1989 as Joyspeed, the band grew out of a collaboration among René Dif, Claus Norreen, and Søren Rastad on the soundtrack for a children’s movie. Lene Nystrøm joined the group in 1994 after Dif spotted her singing on a cruise ship, and Joyspeed soon changed their name to Aqua. • “Barbie Girl” was an international hit that reached No. 1 on charts in nine countries, including the UK, Norway, and Denmark. The song peaked at No. 7 in the US. • Mattel, the toy company behind Barbie dolls, sued Aqua for violation of trademark over “Barbie Girl.” A judge sided with Aqua and ruled: “The parties are advised to chill.” • Aqua’s first album, 1997’s Aquarium, was their biggest success, reaching the Top 10 in 20 countries and selling more than 8 million copies in the US, Europe, and Canada. • The band’s second album, Aquarius, had a respectable showing in Europe, reaching No. 1 in Denmark and Norway and No. 2 in Sweden. Aqua’s third LP, 2011’s Megalomania, only charted in Denmark, where it reached No. 2.