Live Review: Aqua with Special Guest 2 Unlimited in Concert, Perth
Review by Carla Basden
Photography by Andrea Vose
Metro City in Perth Western Australia – 21st of March 2024
After date changes and a downgrade from the originally planned arena tour, Aqua’s Perth Metro City event was looking like it would be an intimate and memorable experience for fans, with the venue’s 2000-person capacity providing ample opportunities to get up close and personal with the Danish-Norwegian pop superstars. The crowd buzzed with excitement, with their commitment to reliving their 90s years represented in the form of butterfly clips, platform sneakers, and everything neon.
As the lights dimmed, special guest 2 Unlimited took the stage, taking the crowd on a journey through the golden age of Eurodance. With their pulsating beats and infectious hooks, the Belgian-Dutch duo of Ray Slijngaard and Anita Doth wasted no time in getting the party started, launching their set with ‘Let the Beat Control Your Body’.
Their high-energy techno-dance and Doth’s precision vocals continued to deliver hit after hit, from the electrifying ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Tribal Dance’ to the ‘Real Thing’. After 33 years performing together, the duo’s impeccable chemistry and undeniable stage presence still captivated the crowd; the anthemic ‘No Limits’ was almost performed exclusively as a full-venue sing-along.
As they closed out their act, the opening pulses of ‘Get Ready for This’ were met by the crowd jumping into the air, and a collective “Y’all ready for this?”. An absolute banger, the song’s high rotation in the 90s charts and feature in movies like ‘Space Jam’ and ‘Bring It On’ made the song iconic with generations. 2 Unlimited left the stage with the crowd warmed up, excited, and in high anticipation of Aqua.
As Aqua took the stage to play the first gig of their Australian comeback tour, things looked promising, with fans largely laughing off a “Hello Adelaide” faux pas on the stage screen as the Danish-Norwegian trio (Lene Nystrom, René Dif, and Soren Rasted) launched into a high-energy performance of ‘Cartoon Heroes’. Sadly, things went south from there, with lead singer Lene Nystrom pulling out her earpiece and walking off stage.
Leaving the audience confused and the rest of the band struggling through an awkward version of ‘Back to the 80s’, René advised the audience that they had sound issues and that they would return after a short 8-minute break. As the minutes ticked by, fans went from dancing and laughing to panicking, annoyed about the lack of communication. After almost an hour, the band returned to the stage, with Lene in tears, dressed casually, and recovering from what appeared to be a panic attack.
For fans hoping to be transformed by a trip back in time to the carefree days of the 90’s and bubblegum pop, it was clear that the bubble had burst; there was no chance of Aqua recovering. While René and Soren did their best to support Lene and keep the show going, she struggled through the songs from there, missing vocals and even opting to let the crowd sing the lyrics in her place.
Playing a reduced set, the band committed to their most popular hits, and the crowd tried to salvage the night, dancing and singing along to tracks including ‘Around the World’, ‘My Oh My’, ‘Good Morning Sunshine’ and ‘Turn back Time’ before the much-anticipated ‘Barbie Girl’. Sadly, the song that relaunched the band’s popularity and inspired a new generation of fans fell flat, with René carrying the song with the involvement of the crowd, whose disengagement was evident through their rapidly waning responses to “Come on Barbie…”.
After sticking out the delays, fans stayed for the rest of the main set, with the band’s performances of ‘Lollipop’ and ‘Doctor Jones’ bolstered by René’s entertaining dance moves and diverse vocals, and the background music videos forever preserved in our memories as a result of Sunday morning binge-sessions of Video Hits.
As the crowd started to steadily stream out of the doors before the encore, the reality of the night hit home. Aqua’s Perth performance was a far departure from the 90s eurodance group that inspired us with their energetic beats, playful lyrics, and infectious melodies, with fans instead left concerned about the welfare and mental health of Lene Nystrom.
Aqua are fortunate to have such dedicated fans; their loyalty to the music and the memories will undoubtedly lead them to forgive the performance and support the band on their next tour.
If only they could turn back time.
Editor’s Note:
The downsizing of the venues from the arenas to the dance clubs was attributed to the signs of the post pandemic era – accordingly, trickling onto the reduction of the super guest list that included East 17. We also believe Tom Jones and Suzi Quatro – both performing on the same night – with both sold out over two nights, may have contributed to the lesser demand. Salt was added into the wound on the night to the point of no return following the aforesaid technical issue. Yet, Lene had the courage to grace the stage, albeit the tears as she cocooned in her pyjamas – perhaps manifesting her comfort zone and mental space through the touch of familiarity. Sure, it wasn’t easy to watch, and comments on social media were quite sympathetic for Lene, while expressing their concern over her mental health. She’s human after all. And let’s acknowledge that the Danish singer saw through the heights of Aqua, a band that sold over 33 million albums and singles, making them one of the hottest European pop bands of the 90’s.
Recently, Aqua renewed their vows with fame and legacy through the movie Barbie. The night was a small blip in their illustrious career, and we have no doubt that Lene (and Aqua) will return to her zestful self of the 90’s in the next few nights across Australia. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
We would like to thank team Aqua for the exclusive accreditation.
About the Writer: Carla Basden is a lover of alternate punk music, 90s pop, indie rock, and everything that will get her dancing. While not listening and supporting music, Carla moonlights as a Manager in the energy sector, raising two kids with her husband Michael in Perth. She has a Degree in Law and Leadership, but regrets not perusing a career as a musician (Editor: Don’t we all).
About the Photographer: Andrea Vose loves to capture the raw energy and deep connection to heart and land. From concerts and commercial to the solitude of country essence, Andrea is always smiling behind the lens.
Perth based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to over 80 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay, KISS, P!NK, SLIPKNOT 2024 (Melbourne), Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Jones, and Blink 182 with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem and Toni Childs. Sheldon has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS) plus over 50 artists.
