Turn Back Time (Aqua song)

"Turn Back Time" is a song by Danish dance-pop group Aqua, released as their seventh single overall, and the sixth from their debut album Aquarium. The song became another worldwide hit for the group, and was included on the Sliding Doors soundtrack. It featured on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Sliding Doors, and was released across the world the same year. In Japan, "Turn Back Time" was released along with "My Oh My". The song subsequently gained far more radio airplay than their other releases. It possesses less of a bubble pop sound than Aqua's other releases; it is slow-paced and shows the full range of Lene Nystrøm Rasted's vocals but maintains the Aqua sound. The song samples the Pet Shop Boys' 1988 single "Heart".[1]

"Turn Back Time"
Single by Aqua
from the album Aquarium and Sliding Doors: Music from the Motion Picture
Released18 May 1998
Recorded1996
Genre
Length4:09
LabelUniversal
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Johnny Jam
  • Delgado
  • Søren Rasted
  • Claus Norreen
Aqua singles chronology
"Doctor Jones"
(1997)		 "Turn Back Time"
(1998)		 "Good Morning Sunshine"
(1998)
Music video
"Turn Back Time" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "here's what will likely be the third successful single from the Euro-dance act's massive album, "Aquarium". It is, by far, the most credible pop offering from the set, with its shuffling faux-funk beat and sax lines. Everything about this track is surprisingly reserved-including the lead vocals, which are dramatically toned down from a kewpie-doll squeak to a quasi-soulful belt."[2] CantStopThePop declared it to be "their finest song by a country mile – and one of the best pop ballads of the ‘90s to boot." They also added it as "one of the biggest surprises of the ‘90s."[3] Alex Young from Consequence of Sound said that the "slower paced song allows Lene's vocal range to shine."[4]

Daily Record's reviewer wrote, "At first I couldn't believe this was Aqua - a mature, soul-searching ballad from the makers of Barbie Girl and Doctor Jones. No plastic pop and twee lyrics. They can pluck guitars and the singer has a beautiful voice".[5] Dayton Daily News noted the "mellow, trip-hoppy beats" of the song.[6] Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger described it as a "cryptic, self-hating ballad about choices and dire consequences." He noted that Nystrøm "has a strong, torchy voice" and "can set a mood." He also added that "in half a verse she's established a lonely, withdrawn, guilty feeling she might push against in the rest of the song."[7] Sarah Davis from Dotmusic said that the singer's tones on the song "bear an uncanny resemblance" to the "Material Girl" by Madonna. She added that the ballad is "relying less on Euro-pop clich?s than their previous two singles, it shows that Aqua can write songs which move beyond the cartoon world of their stylists."[8]

Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report commented that it was "time to take it downtempo, and this standout track from Aquarium contains all the elements necessary to quickly float to the top. More than a handful of PDs and MDs consider this ballad to have Number One potential. This is an impressive display of the Danish group's versatility."[9] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In noted that it deal with "regrets over unfaithfulness with a desire for reconciliation".[10] Pop Rescue said "Turn Back Time" is the best song of their career, adding that "here, Lene shows off her vocal range beautifully, and it's great to hear her pitched against the soft beats, piano, and gentle synths without some randomly thrown in 'eye-pee-eye-ohs. Perfect."[11] Dave Fawbert from ShortList described it as "one of the all-time great lost pop classics. No ifs, no buts, no irony, just a glorious, timeless piece of songwriting."[12]

Chart performance

"Turn Back Time" was successful on the charts on several continents, although it didn't reach the same level of success as "Barbie Girl" and "Doctor Jones". However, in Europe, it peaked at number-one in both Scotland and the United Kingdom. In the latter, the single, as their third number-one single, went straight to the top in its first week at the UK Singles Chart, on May 10, 1998.[13] In Hungary, it reached number 2, being held off the top spot by Akon's "Ikon". "Turn Back Time" managed to climb into the Top 10 also in Ireland and Sweden, and was a Top 20 hit in Austria, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it hit number 12. Outside Europe, it peaked at number 2 in New Zealand, number 10 in Australia, number 14 on the RPM Singles Chart in Canada and number 18 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40. Therefore it was their second highest charting hit in the US. The single earned a gold record in Australia, New Zealand and Sweden, and a silver record in the UK.

Music video

The music video for the release contained footage from Sliding Doors, and was therefore a departure from the campy and humorous style by the group. There are two different edits of this video, one contains more clips from the film. In the video, the doppelgänger of the lead singer Lene Nystrøm is chasing her in the London Underground. Much of the video was filmed on the abandoned platform 5 at Holborn tube station. It was uploaded to YouTube in February 2011. By September 2020, it had more than 12,6 million views.[14]

Track listing

Charts and certifications

References
  1. "Did Aqua Just Go Britney Spears On Us? - WelcheMusic.com At the Heart of Songwriting". WelcheMusic.com. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  2. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 24 January 1998. p. 57. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  3. "Aqua – Turn Back Time". CantStopThePop. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  4. Young, Alex (21 June 2009). "Guilty Pleasure: Aqua – Aquarium". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  5. "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 29 May 1998. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  6. "RECORDINGS IN BRIEF". Dayton Daily News. 5 June 1998. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  7. "AQUA – "Turn Back Time"". Freaky Trigger. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  8. Davis, Sarah (6 April 1998). "AQUA - TURN BACK TIME (UNIVERSAL)". Dotmusic. Archived from the original on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  9. Sholin, Dave (23 January 1998). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2189. p. 62. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  10. Waliszewski, Bob. "Aquarium". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  11. "REVIEW: "AQUARIUM" BY AQUA (CD, 1997)". Pop Rescue. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  12. Fawbert, Dave (23 October 2018). "30 classic songs that are somehow 20 years old this year". ShortList. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  13. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 10 May 1998 - 16 May 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  14. "Aqua - Turn Back Time". YouTube. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  15. "Turn Back Time [UK] - Aqua | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  16. "Australian-charts.com – Aqua – Turn Back Time". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  17. "Austriancharts.at – Aqua – Turn Back Time" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  18. "Ultratop.be – Aqua – Turn Back Time" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  19. "Ultratop.be – Aqua – Turn Back Time" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  20. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3544." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  21. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3506." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  22. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  23. "Offiziellecharts.de – Aqua – Turn Back Time". GfK Entertainment Charts.
  24. "Top 10 Hungary" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Turn Back Time". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  26. "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110 no. 26. 27 June 1998. p. 64. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 26, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  28. "Dutchcharts.nl – Aqua – Turn Back Time" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  29. "Charts.nz – Aqua – Turn Back Time". Top 40 Singles.
  30. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 June 2018.
  31. "Swedishcharts.com – Aqua – Turn Back Time". Singles Top 100.
  32. "Swisscharts.com – Aqua – Turn Back Time". Swiss Singles Chart.
  33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  34. "Aqua Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  35. "ARIA Charts - End Of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 1998". ARIA. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  36. "Rapports annuels 1998" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  37. "RPM's Top 100 Hit Tracks of '98" (PDF). RPM. Vol. 63 no. 12. 14 December 1998. p. 20. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  38. "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 4 December 2017.
  39. "Årslista Singlar - År 1998" (in Swedish). Hitlistan. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  40. "Najlepsze single na UK Top 40-1998 wg sprzedaży" (in Polish). Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  41. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1998 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020.
  42. "New Zealand single certifications – Aqua – Turn Back Time". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  43. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  44. "British single certifications – Aqua – Turn Back Time". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type Turn Back Time in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
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