A noughties pop star, Matt Hales, also known as Aqualung, has undergone a significant transformation over the years since his smash hit car song advert and appearance in Gossip Girl. Now in his 50s, the singer shared on Instagram that he has turned 52, surprising fans who couldn’t believe his age. Known for his hit song “Strange and Beautiful,” which featured in a Volkswagen Beetle advert, Matt revealed that he only got paid £400 for scoring the iconic ad. Despite this, the song became a massive hit, propelling his music career forward and leading to further success, including having his music featured in popular noughties TV shows like Gossip Girl. The show, which followed the lives of privileged students on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, recently found new life on HBO Max but was ultimately canceled after the second season.
Noughties pop star looks unrecognisable 22 years after smash hit car song ad and appearing in Gossip Girl
A NOUGHTIES pop star looks unrecognisable, 22 years after his smash hit car song advert and appearing in Gossip Girl.
The singer – who shot to fame in 2002 – shared that he had turned 52, and fans could believe it.
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Pop star Matt Hales, aka Aqualung shot to fame in the early noughtiesCredit: Marilyn Kingwill
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The star’s music featured in Gossip GirlCredit: Getty
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A Volkswagen Beetle advert helped launch the singer’s careerCredit: Alamy
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The singer posted that he has turned 52Credit: Instagram
Matt Hales, aka Aqualung, is best known for his hit early noughties song Strange and Beautiful, which he released when he was 30.
Now in his 50s, the star likes to keep fans up-to-date with his life.
Posting on Instagram he wrote: “Hello. seems i’m 52 now. 52% in (quick maths). what have i learned? Nothing’s Everything. Be Kind. Music is Magic x”
Matt’s music was used on a number of high profile shows in the noughties, which included the iconic Gossip Girl, as well as The O.C, One Tree Hill and Scrubs.
But he is perhaps best known for his song Strange and Beautiful which featured in a famous Volkswagen Beetle advert.
Matt previously revealed how he only got paid £400 for doing the score to the iconic ad.
Speaking to The Guardian last year, he said: “In those days you’d get paid just for pitching songs for adverts, so I called everyone I could asking if they knew of any opportunities.
“Someone told me about a new Volkswagen Beetle advert saying, ‘You won’t get it, but you will get £400’.
“Someone biked over the advert, which had an Eels song on it to demonstrate what they wanted – slow and atmospheric.
“I’d just done a slo-mo score for a contemporary dance group, so I decided to have a go.”
The song was used on the advert and proved a massive hit for singer.
He said: “After 10 years in the music business, I suddenly had something everybody wanted.
It set me up for a career in music and hopefully shows any struggling musician that magical things do happen.
Matt Hale
“We had a brilliant time playing all the record companies against each other, then it went Top 10 and I went on Top of the Pops.
“It set me up for a career in music and hopefully shows any struggling musician that magical things do happen.”
After the advert, fans couldn’t get Strange and Beautiful and the singer released it as a single which went into the Top ten.
After this in demand Matt’s music was often featured in the iconic noughties TV show like Gossip Girl.
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Matt often had songs played on Gossip GirlCredit: Warner Brothers
The show followed the lives of privileged students on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
The series ran from 2007 until 2012 and made stars out Blake Lively, Ed Westwick and Chace Crawford.
In July 2021, a new generation of fans were able to fall in love with the franchise after the show found new life on HBO Max.
Sadly, the streaming service opted not to renew it after the second season, and the reboot was canceled in 2023.
Showrunner Joshua Safran released a statement that read: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that I have to announce Gossip Girl will not be continuing on HBO Max.
“Thank you for watching, and I hope you’ll tune into the finale next Thursday to see how it all comes together. xoxo.”
An exact reason for the cancellation has not been provided.
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Gossip Girl ran from 2007 until 2012Credit: Alamy
Read the full story on www.thesun.co.uk
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/30502318/noughties-matt-hale-aqualung-unrecognisable/