What you never knew about Aqua
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Aqua, left to right: Claus Norreen, Lene Nystrom, Rene Dif and Soren Rasted.
Source: News Limited
IT’S only a few days until 90s pop stars Aqua kick off their greatest hits tour in Australia.
To celebrate this momentous news, Alice Clarke has mined her knowledge of the Aqua Diaries VHS, and chatted to lead singer Lene Nystrøm, to bring you a few facts you might not know about the Scandinavian band who brought us hits such as Barbie Girl and Doctor Jones. Here they are, folks — 10 things you never knew about Aqua.
”Come on Barbie let’s go party!”
Source: Supplied
The band originally formed in 1988.
But Lene says that, despite spending a lot of time together over 26 years, they still get along well.
“It’s easy to get along now because you’ve grown up and you have other anchors. You try not to be annoyed by each other in the same way that you were before, ‘Claus is wearing sunglasses, Rene’s chewing gum,’ and you know, all those really tiny things that used to annoy you big time. We’re more relaxed with each other, and enjoying each other.”
The band was originally called Joy Speed and got the name Aqua from a poster.
“Listen to ‘Joy Speed’, it’s not the best of names, is it? There was a poster in the studio for a Danish Aquarium and we had been discussing it for weeks, then Rene suddenly said Aqua, Aquarium. We already were in the cartoonish world, and we thought it brought up good pictures for people. It’s a good world to live in and easy to remember,” says Lene.
Their shows attract a wider audience than just nostalgic teeny-boppers.
“It’s quite exciting, actually. We didn’t know what to expect when we were there [in Australia] the first time. It’s such a good mixture, we have the fans from when we first came out, and then they had some children and they brought them. We have a tendency to gather everyone from skaters to heavy metal fans to drag queens, because we do have a lot of energy when we play our songs.”
Note Lene’s famous arm tattoo — a fake!
Source: News Corp Australia
Lene’s famous tattoo was fake.
In the 90s, Lene was well known for having a large bird tattoo on her right arm. What most people don’t know was that it was a temporary tattoo that she put on most mornings. Although she’s thought about getting it put on permanently many times, the guys in the band advise her against it.
“Because I’m not that big they thought it would be way over the top for me. I always came back to thinking about that tattoo. The last tattoo I got I got in Australia, maybe I’ll get something similar to it. I’d love to have that on my arm.”
The whole band got matching tattoos the first time they were in Australia.
“The Aqua eye. I got it done on my lower back. That’s the first tattoo we got, the whole band. We call it the end of chapter one.”
Lane and bandmate Søren are married.
Although Lene briefly dated Rene Dif (the bald rapper), she has been married to keyboard playing Søren Rasted for 13 years. They have two children, but never take them on tour.
“India is turning 10 now and Billy is 8. We tell them where we’re going and what we’re doing, and that we’re famous and stuff like that. But when we tour it’s pure rock and roll, to be honest, and I don’t feel the kids should be involved in that yet. It’s not a life from them on the road. They stay with their grandparents and keep going to school and go on with their normal day.”
Barbie Girl: More than just a novelty song.
Source: Supplied
Their kids are embarrassed about their famous parents.
“India is quite embarrassed by everything. She’s at the stage now where she wants a normal mum and dad.
“There was a time when they were younger that they thought all parents were on TV and this was normal stuff. Now they understand this is something different. I have to say I really appreciate the long periods when I’m not working and I can stay home and pick them up early and be a really good mummy.”
Lene got the audition for Joy Speed after being the letter turner on Norwegian Wheel of Fortune.
“That was weird, actually, because I come from the countryside, grew up in a normal working family. I just knew early on that I wanted to do something different and get away from that place, even though it’s a lovely place. And I entered this nationwide competition about being a hostess for a couple of months on this TV show. I went to Oslo, and I wasn’t allowed to speak, it was a silent part. It was quite cool, I got to see how things worked in the TV business and everything. On the last show I got to sing, and that was kind of my opening for entering Aqua.
When I went to audition and sing for the boys it was kind of frightening, actually. We were at Søren’s parents’ summer house and just sat at the piano and I knew that this was make it or break it. I really wanted to join them. I remember I thought Søren was a little bit scary and a little bit strict. He made me really nervous. But, here we are, it turned out really well.”
The band’s debut album, Aquarium, was a huge worldwide hit.
Source: Supplied
Barbie Girl was more than just a novelty song.
“It was both [a novelty song and a comment on society]. Of course, when the record company was sued by Mattel, back in those days we claimed full on that it was just a fun cheeky pop song. But it is also a statement on the kind of perfect girl that the society is trying to turn us into. There’s irony in there as well, and in all our other songs.”
Rene doesn’t wear any underwear, ladies.
“Rene doesn’t wear any underwear. He’s going to kill me now!”
Aqua’s Greatest Hits tour starts next week:
Friday, 31st October 2014
Saturday, 1st November 2014
Sunday, 2nd November 2014
Monday, 3rd November 2014
Wednesday, 5th November 2014
