AQUA TONIC ---------- Last year, a new band emerged that left us all reeling. Aqua first blasted our eardrums with Barbie Girl and no one was quite sure what to make of this bizzare-looking foursome from Denmark. Were they actually serious? Or just a manufactured, brightly coloured marketing ploy? After all, who sings about a plastic doll, seriously? Well, the answer to these ponderously important questions are yes they were serious, no they weren't manufactured and no, they were being serious with Barbie Girl, thier tounges were placed firmly in their cheeks. And now, to prove they are great musicians Lene, Rene, Claus and Soren have just heaved All Saints off the top of the charts with their first ballady romantic song, Turn Back Time. It's the theme tune from the romantic comedy Sliding Doors, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and it's a bit of a change from the usual mania that Aqua are famous for. There's no silly behaviour, no screaming or jumping around. It's just a tuneful weepy number. For Aqua though, it's a bit of a relief from the madness. It also proves that as well as having fun, if required they are actually top musicians and songwriters. So, is this the new grown-up image the way forward for Aqua? "Barbie Girl did become annoying because it was played so much," admitted Lene. "People just couldn't get it out of their heads." Dr Jones, their next single, was another mad pop caper, a bit like Barbie Girl but there is more to them than plastic pop. "When people come and see us live they expect us to be like Barbie and Ken on stage but we are totally different," said Soren. "We're just like a band 'cos we just don't do dance routines." As for the future, well, they're open for suggestions. Lene would like to duet with Liam Gallagher. "He's got an attitude problem and I love it," she laughed. "I'm sure I could tame him. It would be an Aqua and Oasis mix." Rene wouldn't mind doing a duet with Janet Jackson or Natalie Imbruglia. "I like Madonna's music but I don't think I'd like to sing with her," he said. "I'd hook up with Janet 'cos I listen to a lot of R&B and Natalie 'cos I like her voice." As for Soren, he would love to do a cover version of the Take That classic Back For Good. "If you do a cover thought," he said, "you have to do it really differently from the original or there's no point." And Aqua singing vintage Take That would certainly be something completely different. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------*Special thanx to Tiara for this article* source : Aqua Tonic (Number One!)