"Barbie Girl" is one of those inexplicable pop culture phenomena -- a bouncy, slightly warped Euro-dance song that simultaneously sends up femininity and Barbie dolls. Mattel wasn't too amused, but the public was, making it a huge hit in Europe and America. Like many Europop acts, Aqua isn't capable of delivering another song as insanely catchy as "Barbie Girl," but there's plenty of infectious filler that keeps the album moving along at a nice pace. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
Per Adebratt (Arranger), Per Adebratt (Producer), Per Adebratt (Mixing), Douglas Carr (Guitar), Bee (Vocals (Background)), Aqua (Main Performer), Aqua (Stylist), Björn Engelmann (Mastering), Bjarne Lindgreen (Stylist), Robin Skjoldborg (Photography), René Dif (Arranger), René Dif (Vocals), René Dif (Producer), René Dif (Mixing), Johnny Jam (Arranger), Johnny Jam (Producer), Johnny Jam (Mixing), Claus Norreen (Arranger), Claus Norreen (Multi Instruments), Claus Norreen (Producer), Claus Norreen (Mixing), Lene Grawford Nystrøm (Vocals), Lene Grawford Nystrøm (Vocals (Background)), Fjordor Øxenhave (Make-Up), Fjordor Øxenhave (Hair Stylist), Jan Langhoff (Guitar), Jan Langhoff (Arranger), Jan Langhoff (Producer), Jan Langhoff (Mixing), Claus Hvass (Guitar), Søren Rasted (Arranger), Søren Rasted (Vocals (Background)), Søren Rasted (Multi Instruments), Søren Rasted (Producer), Søren Rasted (Mixing), Peter Stenbæk (Art Direction), Peter Stenbæk (Design), Hartmann (Arranger), Hartmann (Producer), Hartmann (Mixing), Kati ? (Vocals (Background)), Marian Binderup (Vocals (Background)), Mogens Binderup (Vocals (Background)), Vivian Cardinal (Vocals (Background)), K. Delgado (Arranger), K. Delgado (Producer), K. Delgado (Mixing), Jon Gjetting (Artwork), Tommy Ekman (Arranger), Tommy Ekman (Producer), Tommy Ekman (Mixing)
Aquarium is the debut album of Scandinavian dance-pop group Aqua. Although the group had been together for three years under their original name Joyspeed, their only release up to Aquarium was a single called "Itzy Bitsy Spider". The album is best known for including three UK number ones in "Barbie Girl", "Doctor Jones" and "Turn Back Time", the first of those being a huge hit across the globe and a platinum seller Stateside.
The release of "Barbie Girl" took the four-piece group onto the A-List of Europeanmusic, meaning that when the album was released a month later in November 1997 pop fans everywhere went out to buy it. The album would peak at number 6 in the UK charts. While not a million seller like "Barbie Girl", the album's second single "Doctor Jones" was released in 1998 and became a UK number one, staying at the top for two weeks in February. The third release "Turn Back Time" would give the group another week at Number One, and further releases "My Oh My" and "Good Morning Sunshine" would peak at number 6 and number 18, respectively, in the UK charts.
The version of Aquarium released in the United Kingdom and in most countries featured 11 tracks, although some versions (such as the vinyl release and Deluxe Version) featured a 12th track called "Didn't I", which is included as track 12 on this listing.
Dr. Jones (Molella & Phil Jay Mix) - Doctor was abbreviated for this track, but was typed in full for track number 5.
Denmark
Barbie Girl (Extended Version) (5:16)
My Oh My (Extended Version) (5:06)
Roses Are Red (Club Version) (7:00)
Lollipop (Go Lick It Mix) (12:19)
Barbie Girl (Dirty Rotten Scoundrel Mix) (4:12)
Europe
Didn't I (3:17)
My Oh My (Spike, Clyde 'n' Eightball Club Mix) (5:02)
Lollipop (Candyman) (Extended Version) (5:28)
Turn Back Time (Love To Infinity's Classic Radio Mix) (3:20)
Doctor Jones (Metro's 7" Edit) (3:36)
The Official Megamix (11:16)
Limited Christmas Edition (Alternate Cover Art Slip Case)
Didn't I
My Oh My (Spike, Clyde 'n' Eightball Club Mix)
Lollipop (Candyman) (Extended Version)
Turn Back Time (Love To Infinity's Classic Radio Mix)
The Official Megamix
Aquarium Megamixes
Aquarium was a successful album and several Megamixes of its tracks were made. The official ones are:
The Official Megamix – 11:14
Twisted Megamix – 9:14
In October 1998, a compilation of Aqua remixes was released in several countries where the Aquarium album had sold well, including the United Kingdom, Sweden, Australia and Denmark. Titled Bubble Mix, it featured 11 remixes of tracks such as "Barbie Girl" and "Doctor Jones", although the only 'big name' remixer on the album was Love to Infinity's, who remixed the UK Number One "Turn Back Time". The aforementioned "Twisted Megamix" was also on the album.
Charts
The album debuted at #15 on the US Billboard 200, it later peaked at #7. It would spend a total of 50 weeks on the album sales chart. The album would go on to sell 4 million units in the US alone. This is significant as this has become the most successful euro-dance album in the US since Ace of Base's The Sign. To date, the album has shipped approximately 12 million copies worldwide.
