Released 25 May 2009 Length 3:46 | Recorded Elektron Studio Label Universal | |
Format CD single
digital download Genre Pop rock
dance-pop
Europop | ||
"Back to the 80s" is a song by Norwegian/Danish band Aqua. The song was written by members Søren Rasted, Claus Norreen, and produced by Rasted, for their second greatest hits album (2009). "Back to the 80s" was Aqua's first single in eight years, following the release of the 2001 single "We Belong to the Sea".
Contents
"Back to the 80s" was released on 25 May 2009 as the lead single from Greatest Hits.
Background and composition
The track name checks a number of 1980s icons, such as Ronald Reagan, orbital satellites, skinny leather ties, Don Johnson, Miami Vice, M&M's, Michael Jackson, Commodore 64s, Soap, Rocky, Cherry Coke, Mr. T, Twisted Sister, MTV, Iron Maiden, 7 Up, Bananarama, The Breakfast Club, Huey Lewis, Top Gun, shoulder pads, David Hasselhoff, glam metal, Bill Cosby, the Rubik's Cube, Dynasty, Moon Boots, Devo, Bubble Curls, Poltergeist, Barbie (alluding to Aqua's signature song "Barbie Girl" from 1997), and Ferris Bueller's Day Off.
Upon international release of the single, the group decided to change the line "When M&M was just a snack and Michael Jackson's skin was black" from the original Danish release to "When M&M was just a snack and Arnie told us I'll be back". They decided on this, out of respect to Jackson, who died only a month after the single was released.
The song was released as a CD single in France on 9 November 2009. France is the only country receiving a CD release of "Back to the 80s", including the original song and two additional remixes.
Music video
In mid-May it was announced that a video was being made. Due to a lengthy post-production process, the video didn't hit the internet until 10 June 2009. The video features the group in front of a variety of green screen created backgrounds, dressed in 1980s rocker fashions. The video is presented in "Aquascope", returning to the Aquarium-era tradition.
Chart performance
"Back to the 80s" debuted on 5 June 2009 at number one on both the Danish Singles Chart and Airplay Chart. It claimed the mark for most weekly plays on Danish radio with 585. In Norway it debuted at number 8 on the official Norwegian Singles Chart. The single spent six weeks at No. 1 in Denmark and peaked at No. 3 in Norway and at No. 25 in Sweden.