So you know that band that you were crazy about when growing up? Well mine was Aqua, and as you can imagine I went a little crazy when I heard they announced an Australian tour.
I was however, a little worried that Aqua wouldn’t be able to reach the expectations that the 90s me had set for them, but I am glad to say that they defiantly did.
The atmosphere waiting for Aqua to come on stage was one of the most intense I have ever experience. You could feel the anxiousness of the surrounding crowd, everyone just silent and waiting for the moment they could relive their 90s dream.
Oddly enough, Aqua opened with a brand new song off their album Megalomania. Although the tour was for this album, I dare say most of the crowd was hearing their new material for the first time. But this didn’t stop Aqua from pumping up the crowd, I’ve never seen a room of people screaming and dancing so much at songs they didn’t know the words to.
I’d like to take this moment this try explain, that to me, Aqua looked like they’d hardly aged at all; and René (The guy who was Ken in the Barbie Girl video) well did he ever make the girls go wild. I can distinctly remember the girls at the front clawing at his chest as he walked past; it was just so crazy and unexpected.
For their second song, they chose Cartoon Heroe’s, this really got the crowd going, bringing back that unique dance-pop vibe we all knew and loved. A wave of nostalgia was pushed over the crowd - we were all transported back to our 90s glory. They mixed their set up with a good combination of old and new material and played Barbie Girl somewhere around the middle of the set. Lene could have gotten away with not singing a single line during the performance, as the crowd was so loud it was hard to hear her over their screaming.
For being for the most part, around 40 years old, Aqua didn’t disappoint with the amount of energy the brought onto the stage. Being cheekily dirty and a little naughty with their dance moves and actions, they really got the crowd going. It wasn’t what I expected from a band that had dominated my childhood, however the gestures and dancing made the crowd go wild, and at least made me feel like I was at a concert for adults, rather than reliving my childhood by watching something like Hi-5.
It was an amazing night and I only hope some of the other 90s groups that are doing the rounds of come back tours can live up to the standards that Aqua has now set.
Setlist:
Playmate to Jesus
Cartoon Heroes
Doctor Jones
Like a Robot
Happy Boys & Girls
My Mamma Said
Aquarius
How R U Doin?
Sucker For A Superstar
My Oh My
Viva Las Vegas
No Party Patrol
Turn Back Time
Barbie Girl
Lollipop (Candyman)
Around the World
We Belong to the Sea
Encore:
Back To The 80′s
Roses Are Red
By Carla Zappia
