Turn Back Time

"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, starting with the United States in January. 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" was successful on the charts on several countries, becoming Aqua's third consecutive number one on the UK Singles Chart. 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." 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". Dayton Daily Newss reviewer noted the "mellow, trip-hoppy beats" of the song. 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." 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." 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.