Aquarium

Aqua | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 1997)
• Original Release Date: September 9, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002P7Z
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (229 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,549 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > World Music > Europe > Continental Europe > Denmark
  • #12 in Music > Pop > Dance Pop > Euro Dance
  • #18 in Music > Pop > Euro Pop > General

Editorial Reviews

AQUA AQUARIUM

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Silly but fun to listen to, June 16, 2004

By 

Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aquarium (Audio CD)

I have to admit I caught the "Barbie Girl" fever when the song was a huge hit back in '97. That was when I was a big fan of hi-nrg dance music. I listenined to "Aquarium" day in and day out. I think I annoyed the living daylights out of at least one of my roommates in college with the highly addictive pop album. As I am listening to the album for the first time in a few years, I can't help myself enjoy the irresistably infectious pop melodies. The only thing that has changed is my tolerance for Lene's helium-pitched vocals. Her vocals can be rather annoying but I can't imagine someone like caterwauler Celine Dion singing this type of dance-pop music. Another flaw with the album is the ballads are so syrupy and indigestable to my ears. I have to skip them. I prefer the more upbeat songs like "Doctor Jones" and "Lollipop (Candyman)", my two favorite Aqua songs on the cd. "Doctor Jones" and "Lollipop (Candyman)" are so addictively catchy, I never got tired of those songs. I still haven't after all this time I have gone so long without listening to this album. Unfortunately I had my fill of "Barbie Girl". That song got played into the ground just like that obnoxious "Macarena" (worst song ever). Although I am not a fan of this type of music anymore, Aqua put out some of the catchiest music known to mankind. You either liked it or you did. I rank "Aquarium" as one of my biggest guilty pleasures next to some of Cher's dance music.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, yet catchy mix of Eurodance and teen pop, October 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Aquarium (Audio CD)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great All-Around Album!, October 21, 2002

By 

Benny Yau "smileydude66" (Vancouver, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aquarium (Audio CD)

Aqua, the funky-looking foursome from Denmark ( actually, they're originally from Sweden ), graced the music scene in 1997 with their first single, the controversal "Barbie Girl". The happy beat of most of their songs led a lot of listeners ( myself, included ) to buy their début album, "Aquarium". Here is the track-by-track review:-

1) Happy Boys & Girls ( 2nd Single ):- Great opening to the album with this joyous song depicting happy people! Pretty much sets the mood for most of this album.

2) My Oh My:- The arrangement of this tune makes it seem like a song from a fairy tale in the medieval times. A creative arrangement carries out this strange melody nicely.

3) Barbie Girl ( 1st Single ):- The song that started it all. This club favourite has a catchy melody, funny premise, plus a funny, albeit squeaky female lead voice ( Lene Nystrøm ) playing Barbie, and a sexy male voice ( Réné Dif ) playing Ken.

4) Good Morning Sunshine:- A moderate ballad with a good beat that sounds plain in the verses but livens up promisingly in the chorus.

5) Doctor Jones ( 3rd Single ):- Another fast song with a nice beat, catchy melody that appeals to the young crowd. A very lively song that makes you want to dance.

6) Heat Of The Night:- A dance tune with a latin touch in the arrangement. The melody is so-so but is still very listenable with the attractive musical background.

7) Be A Man:- One of the two ballads in the album. This song is sometimes forgotten by listeners as they look forward to the fast songs from Aqua rather than slow ballads. Well, they are missing out! This is actually a very solid ballad with a melody that suits quite well with the touching lyrics. Definitely, one of my recommendations in this album.

8) Lollipop ( Candyman ) ( 4th Single ):- Another song that anyone can dance and sing along to with funny lyrics, and a good dancy beat.

9) Roses Are Red:- One of the more weird fast songs in the album that might turn some listeners off due to its strange arrangement as well as its irregular melody. However, still okay to listen to.

10) Turn Back Time ( 5th Single ):- Featured in the film "Sliding Doors", this is the other ballad in the album. Once again, Aqua not only excels in fast songs, but also in this slow song about someone regretting the decisions in life she's made and wishes she could turn back the hands of time to make some changes.

11) Calling You:- One of the weaker fast songs in the album with a bland melody and an okay arrangement. However, it is still above-average compared to songs from other artists.

This is a must-buy for any music fan due to versatile musical skills of the group, both in composing and in singing. Highly recommended for any pop music library.