Aqua: 'Back To The 80s'

Released on Monday, Sep 21 2009

Published Saturday, Sep 19 2009, 07:50 BST | By David Balls | 13 comments

Oh yes, they really are back! If you thought the purveyors of such cheesy mid-90s favourites as 'Barbie Girl' and 'Doctor Jones' had disappeared into some far off fantasy land, prepare for a blast from the past. Eight years since they split up, and fresh from topping the charts in their native Denmark, Aqua are here to administer another dose of chirpy throwaway pop.

Not unsurprisingly, 'Back To The 80s' isn't an attempt by the group to go all La Roux on us. Instead it's a faintly ridiculous novelty record laden with references to their favourite decade. Rhyming "7-Up" with "Breakfast Club" and "Rubik's Cube" with "moon boots", the great Danes show they haven't lost that golden songwriting touch. With an irresistible chorus hook to boot, this is unashamedly cheesy and positively trashy pop music, but what more could you possibly want from Aqua?

> Click here to watch the 'Back To The 80s' video

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Jonboy, Manchester, on October 12th, 2009
wHY IS THIS SONG NOT IN THE CHARTS????? WELCOME BACK AQUA

Noel Spijk, on October 2nd, 2009
Love this song! Great lyrics well done. Hope the radio stations will pick this one up!

Chris, Suffolk, on October 2nd, 2009
I absolutely love "Back To The 80s", such a catchy tune and really do hope it charts in the UK

jay canada, on October 1st, 2009
just heard it on the radio and said ..yep aqua is back... and i enjoyed it alot..

Andrew West Lothian, on September 28th, 2009
Sure its a bit cheesy but then that's what aqua do and you can't expect much more. It's not innovative, its not anything that new but for me its bringing back whats been missing for years and that's a band you can call a proper (cheesy) pop band but not in a bad way

Neil Tennant, London, on September 24th, 2009
After the release of 'turn back time', I really thought aqua could have become an amazing smart pop band. This just harks back to the appalling novelty pop that sadly defined them.

Paadz, Cambridge, on September 22nd, 2009
Aqua are back :(

Sade, Essex, on September 22nd, 2009
Accomplishes what it sets out to do - cheesy and enjoyable pop song. That's not really a bad thing at all. It's not innovative but it's memorable.

Thom, Pompey, on September 22nd, 2009
did you seriously give this more than 1 star? oh DEAR...

Nick B, Bournemouth, on September 20th, 2009
It's as if time had stood still and nothing changed...No development or attempt to create something a little more up to date. But this is harmless cheese that is all about nostalgia. And it manages to serve that up with 80's themed lyrics, and a 90's styled-sound.

Amy, Manchester, on September 20th, 2009
Very disappointing and the lyrics are way too cheesy.

miles pearce basingstoke , on September 19th, 2009
It's good but no where near as good as doctor jones (my personal fav from aqua and like my fav song ever) but this is still good containting some of the best lyrics ever. when eneiem was just a snack, and micheal jackson's skin was black. loool. but they to chage them cause he died, bummer. overall good, fingers crosssed for top ten.

Andy Essex, on September 19th, 2009
A really poor effort. I don't think they will ever reach the heights of "turn back time" which was one of the defining songs of the 1990's. If I were them I would have left this song in the attic.