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 (1997). The song was also included on the soundtrack for the 1998 film Sliding Doors, starring Gwyneth Paltrow, and was released across the world throughout 1998. Sampling the Pet Shop Boys' 1988 single "Heart",^{[2][better source needed]} the track possesses less of a bubble pop sound than Aqua's other releases; it is slow-paced and shows the full range of Lene Nystrøm's vocals but maintains the Aqua sound. In Japan, "Turn Back Time" was released along with "My Oh My".

"Turn Back Time"
Single by Aqua
from the album Aquarium and Sliding Doors: Music from the Motion Picture
Released	13 January 1998 (1998-01-13)^[1]
Genre	Pop Europop
Length	4:09
Label	Universal
Songwriter(s)	Søren Rasted Claus Norreen
Producer(s)	Johnny Jam Delgado Søren Rasted Claus Norreen
Aqua singles chronology
"Lollipop (Candyman)" (1997) "Turn Back Time" (1998) "Good Morning Sunshine" (1998)
Music video
"Turn Back Time" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard concluded that "here's what will likely be the third successful single from the Euro-dance act's massive album, "Aquarium"." He added, "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."^[3] An editor from Daily Record 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".^[4]

Dayton Daily News's reviewer noted the "mellow, trip-hoppy beats" of the song.^[5] 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 cliches than their previous two singles, it shows that Aqua can write songs which move beyond the cartoon world of their stylists."^[6] Dave Sholin from the Gavin Report felt 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."^[7]

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.^[8] In Hungary, it reached number two, being held off the top spot by Ákos's "Ikon". "Turn Back Time" made it to 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 in May 1998. Outside Europe, it peaked at number two in New Zealand, number ten in Australia, number 14 on the RPM Top Singles chart in Canada and number 18 on the US Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart. 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.

Retrospective response

Can't Stop the Pop 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."^[9] Alex Young from Consequence of Sound said that the "slower paced song allows Lene's vocal range to shine."^[10] Tom Ewing of 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."^[11] Bob Waliszewski of Plugged In opined that it deal with "regrets over unfaithfulness with a desire for reconciliation".^[12] 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."^[13] 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."^[14]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Turn Back Time" 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 later published on Aqua's official YouTube channel in February 2011. By September 2020, it has amassed more than 12,6 million views.^[15]

Track listings

Scandinavian and European CD single, UK cassette single^[16]^[17]^[18] "Turn Back Time" (original version) – 4:10 "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) – 3:17 Scandinavian maxi-CD single^[19] "Turn Back Time" (original version) – 4:08 "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) – 3:17 "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic Paradise mix) – 7:25 UK CD1^[20] "Turn Back Time" (original version) – 4:08 "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) – 3:20 "Turn Back Time" (Metro Scuba club mix) – 6:34 "Turn Back Time" (Master mix) – 5:13 "Turn Back Time" (Thunderball mix) – 6:59 UK CD2^[21]^[22] "Turn Back Time" (original version) – 4:08 "Turn Back Time" (Metro radio edit) – 3:22 "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic Paradise mix) – 7:29 "Turn Back Time" (CD-ROM video)

UK 12-inch single^[23] A1. "Turn Back Time" (album version) A2. "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic Paradise mix) B1. "Turn Back Time" (Thunderball mix) B2. "Turn Back Time" (Master mix) Australian CD single^[24] "Turn Back Time" (album version) – 4:09 "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) – 3:20 "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic Paradise mix) – 7:25 "Turn Back Time" (Metro Scuba club mix) – 6:34 Japanese CD single^[25] "Turn Back Time" (original version) "Turn Back Time" (Love to Infinity's classic radio mix) "My Oh My" (radio edit) "My Oh My" (Spike, Clyde'N'Eightball club mix)

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Turn Back Time" Chart (1998) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[26] 10 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[27] 19 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[28] 42 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[29] 14 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[30] 14 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[31] 41 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[32] 12 Germany (Official German Charts)^[33] 42 Hungary (Mahasz)^[34] 2 Ireland (IRMA)^[35] 4 Italy (FIMI)^[36] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[37] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[38] 26 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[39] 2 Scotland (OCC)^[40] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[41] 4 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[42] 26 UK Singles (OCC)^[43] 1 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[44] 18

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Turn Back Time" Chart (1998) Position Australia (ARIA)^[45] 50 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[46] 90 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[47] 76 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[48] 39 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[49] 95 UK Singles (OCC)^[50]^[51] 68 Certifications Certifications and sales for "Turn Back Time" Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)^[52] Gold 35,000^^ New Zealand (RMNZ)^[53] Gold 5,000^* Sweden (GLF)^[54] Gold 15,000^^ United Kingdom (BPI)^[55] Silver 200,000^^ ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1230. 9 January 1998. p. 40.
2. "Did Aqua Just Go Britney Spears On Us? - WelcheMusic.com At the Heart of Songwriting". WelcheMusic.com. 10 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
3. Flick, Larry (24 January 1998). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 57. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
4. "Chart Slot". Daily Record. 29 May 1998.
5. "RECORDINGS IN BRIEF". Dayton Daily News. 5 June 1998.
6. Davis, Sarah (6 April 1998). . Dotmusic. Archived from the original on 1 September 2000. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
7. Sholin, Dave (23 January 1998). "Gavin Picks > Singles" (PDF). Gavin Report. No. 2189. p. 62. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
8. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 10 May 1998 - 16 May 1998". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
9. "Aqua – Turn Back Time". Can't Stop the Pop. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
10. Young, Alex (21 June 2009). "Guilty Pleasure: Aqua – Aquarium". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
11. Ewing, Tom (13 May 2014). "AQUA – "Turn Back Time"". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
12. Waliszewski, Bob. "Aquarium". Plugged In. Focus on the Family. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
13. "Review: "Aquarium" By Aqua (CD, 1997)". Pop Rescue. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
14. Fawbert, Dave (23 October 2018). "30 classic songs that are somehow 20 years old this year". ShortList. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
15. "Aqua - Turn Back Time". YouTube. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
16. Turn Back Time (Scandinavian CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMD 85042.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. Turn Back Time (European CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMD 85061.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. Turn Back Time (UK cassette single sleeve). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMC 80490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
19. Turn Back Time (Scandinavian maxi-CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMD 85043.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
20. Turn Back Time (UK CD1 liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMD 80490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
21. "Turn Back Time [UK] - Aqua | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
22. Turn Back Time (UK CD2 liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMDX 80490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
23. Turn Back Time (UK 12-inch single vinyl disc). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMT 80490.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
24. Turn Back Time (Australian CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. UMD 85054.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
25. Turn Back Time (Japanese CD single liner notes). Aqua. Universal Music Group. 1998. MVCE-9008.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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31. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3506." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
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34. "Top National Sllers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 33. 15 August 1998. p. 21. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
35. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Turn Back Time". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
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50. "Best Sellers of 1998 – Singles Top 100". Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7.
51. (in Polish). Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
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53. "New Zealand single certifications – Aqua – Turn Back Time". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
54. (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17.
55. "British single certifications – Aqua – Turn Back Time". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2021.