By Lina Khireddine, updated on 19/05/2026 at 14:09, Last updated on 19/05/2026 at 14:11
Known for “Barbie Girl,” the huge hit of the 1990s, the Danish group Aqua has announced its separation. The end of a cotton candy pink world in Copenhagen.
It’s a discreet announcement for a trajectory that has never been stable. The Danish group Aqua has confirmed its separation on Instagram, putting an end to a pop adventure that began over thirty years ago in Copenhagen. “After many incredible years, we have decided to close the chapter of AQUA as a live group,” write the four members. No press conference, no record label statement. Just a post, a logo, and a few lines. They clarify that their love for music and their mutual affection remain intact.
Born in 1993 under the name Joyspeed, the group reinvented itself in 1996. The arrival of Norwegian singer Lene Nystrøm gave it its definitive identity: energy, dance, and tongue-in-cheek attitude. A year later, “Barbie Girl” turned the group into a global phenomenon. The song dominated European charts and reached France, the UK, and Germany. Millions of records were sold. Mattel sued the group, but without success.
In 2002, the court recognized the song as a protected parody. More than twenty years later, the song experienced an unexpected renaissance. In Greta Gerwig’s film “Barbie,” it is remixed with Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, symbolically reconciling with Mattel. “It’s just nice that Mattel came to us and said, ‘Hey, that’s cool’,” René Dif told “The Guardian.” While the 90s are making a comeback in fashion and on TikTok, Aqua prefers to bid farewell. “Barbie Girl,” however, will continue to dance.
