AQUA
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Aqua is a Danish-Norwegian eurodance band, best known for their 1997 single "Barbie Girl". The group formed in 1995 in Copenhagen and achieved international success around the globe in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The band's members are vocalists René Dif and Lene Nystrøm, keyboardist Søren Rasted, and guitarist Claus Norreen. Lene Grawford Nystrøm is a Norwegian musician, singer-songwriter and actress who is the female lead vocalist, while René Dif is a Danish musician, singer-songwriter, DJ and actor, best known as the male lead vocalist. Aqua was formed in 1994, though the production and writing nucleus of Claus and Søren had been together since 1989 as members of Joyspeed. They renamed themselves Aqua, choosing the name seen on a poster in their dressing room, and accepted Universal Music Denmark's offer of a recording contract in 1996. The band released three albums: "Aquarium" in 1997, "Aquarius" in 2000 and "Megalomania" in 2011. The group sold an estimated 33 million albums and singles, making them the most profitable Danish band ever. The group managed to top the UK Singles Chart with three of their singles. The group also caused controversy with the double entendres in their "Barbie Girl" single, with Mattel filing a lawsuit against the group. The lawsuit was finally dismissed by a judge in 2002. The band split in 2001 but reunited on 26 October 2007, and announced a Danish tour would commence in 2008. Aqua's catchy eurodance sound and memorable music videos made them one of the defining acts of 1990s pop music.