Shocking Blue's by far biggest hit was Venus, which went to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. 'Venus' returned to the top of the U.S. charts in 1981 as part of the Stars on 45 Medley and was also successfully covered by artists such as Greece's Olympians (1970), Bananarama (1986), Japanese singer Yoko Nagayama (1986).
Nirvana covered the song Love Buzz for their debut album Bleach in 1989, and it was released as their first single. The British Group The Prodigy also sampled Love Buzz for their song 'Phoenix' on their 2004 album Always Outnumbered, Never Outgunned.
Before 'Venus' the group had only had two minor Dutch hits in 1969: Long Lonesome Road and Send Me A Postcard. In 1970 two more hits followed: Mighty Joe and Never Marry A Railroad Man, the latter almost provoking a strike by workers on the London Underground when posters advertising the single in the Underground stations were put on display.
Shocking Blue had several more hits in The Netherlands and beyond. The group started to dissolve in 1973 when Van Leeuwen called it quits. Singer Mariska Veres left the group to start a solo-career in 1974 and Shocking Blue folded.
Mariska Veres died on December 2nd, 2006, after a short battle with cancer. She was just 59 years old.
Members
The initial line-up consisted of
Robbie van Leeuwen (guitar, sitar and backing vocals) (1967–1973)
Fred de Wilde (vocals, 1967–1968)
Klaasje van der Wal (bass guitar, 1967–1972, deceased in 2018)
Cor van der Beek (drums) (1967–1974, deceased in 1998)
Later members were
Mariska Veres (vocals, 1968–1974, deceased in 2006)
Leo van de Ketterij (nl) (guitar, 1970–1971)
Martin van Wijk (guitar, 1973–1974)
Henk Smitskamp (nl) (bass guitar, 1972–1974)
Also
Wim Voermans
Jan Pijnenburg (nl)
Michael Eschauzier
André van Geldorp (nl)
Charles Pesch
Discography
Albums
1967 Shocking Blue (Polydor) also known as Beat with Us (German title) #31 US
1969 At Home (Pink Elephant)
1970 Scorpio's Dance (Pink Elephant) also known as Sally Was A Good Old Girl (Japanese title)
1971 Third Album (AKA Shocking You, Pink Elephant)
1972 Inkpot (Pink Elephant) – The official music of Mark Six
1972 Live in Japan (Pink Elephant)
1972 Attila (Pink Elephant) also known as Rock in the Sea (Japanese title)
1972 Eve and the Apple (Same as Attila with one different track, Polydor)
1973 Ham (Pink Elephant)
1974 Dream on Dreamer (Same as Ham, but with 3 different songs and 6 alternate versions, Polydor)
1974 Good Times (Pink Elephant)
Singles
Year Title US UK AUS NED NOR GER FRA NZ BEL JPN
1967 Love is in The Air / Fix Your Hair Darling - - - - - - - - - -
1968 Lucy Brown is Back in Town / Fix Your Hair Darling - - - 21 - - - - - -
1968 Send Me a Postcard / Harley Davidson - - - 10 4 - 4 - - -
1969 Long and Lonesome Road / Fireball of Love 75 - - 17 - - 6 - - -
1969 Venus / Hot Sand 1 3 1 3 1 2 1 1 - 15
1969 Mighty Joe / Wild Wind 43 45 43 2 - 6 8 - - -
1970 Never Marry a Railroad Man / Roll Engine Roll 102 - 40 1 5 10 1 4 19
1970 Hello Darkness / Pickin' Tomatoes - - - 4 - - - - 12 -
1971 Shocking You / Waterloo - - - 10 - - 1 - 21 -
1971 Serenade / Sleepless at Midnight 110 - - - - - - - - -
1971 Blossom Lady / Is This a Dream - - - 2 - - - - 3 -
1971 Out of Sight, Out of Mind / I Like You - - - 6 6 - - - 5 -
1972 Inkpot / Give My Love to The Sunrise - - - 5 - 21 1 - 4 -
1972 Rock in the Sea / Broken Heart - - - 14 - - 3 - 21 -
1972 Eve and the Apple / When I was a Girl - - - 15 - - 1 - 18 -
1973 Let Me Carry Your Bag / I Saw You in June - - - - - - 2 - - -
1973 Oh Lord / In My Time of Dying - - - 14 - - - - 6 -
1974 This America / I Won't be Lonely Long - - - - - - - - 16 -
1974 Dream on Dreamer / Where The Pick-Nick Was - - - - - - 4 - - -
1974 Good Times / Come My Way - - - - - - - - - -
1975 Gonna Sing My Song / Get It On - - - - - - - - - -
1980 Louise / Venus - - - - - - - - - -
1986 The Jury and The Judge / I am Hanging on to Love - - - - - - - - - -
1990 Venus '90 (UK Only) - 75 - - - - - - - -
1994 Body and Soul / Angel - - - - - - - - - -
Boll Weevil
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He was a-sittin' on a square
Well the next time that I saw him
He had his whole family there
Just a lookin' for a home
Well the farmer took the Bool Weevil
And pulled him on the red hot sand
But I take it like a man
Just a lookin' for a home
Well, the Weevil said to the farmer:
"Sell your old machine
When we fill your cup
You can buy gasolino"
Just a lookin' for a home
Well if somebody should ask you
Who it was who sang this song
Say you set a beating from Oklahoma city
Just a lookin' for a home
The lyrics to "Boll Weevil" by Shocking Blue tell the tale of the titular insect's search for a home. The singer first encounters the boll weevil sitting on a square, but in subsequent sightings, the weevil has gathered his family and is searching for a place to settle down. Despite being subjected to red hot sand by the farmer, the weevil maintains his resolve and accepts his fate "like a man", even going so far as to offer a trade of cotton for gasoline. The song ends with the instruction to credit the origins of the tune to "beatin' from Oklahoma city".
Though the lyrics may seem comical, there is an underlying sense of perseverance and perhaps even empathy for the boll weevil's struggle to find a home. The symbolic weight of the boll weevil as a pest that ravages crops further complicates the song's meaning, suggesting a possible commentary on the cyclical nature of life, and the way that even seemingly insignificant creatures can have a profound impact on their environment.
Interestingly, "Boll Weevil" actually originated as a folk song in the Southern United States in the late 1800s, with the first recorded version dating back to 1909. The song was originally sung by African American tenant farmers as a way of expressing their frustration with the boll weevil's invasion of the cotton fields they relied on for their livelihoods. Shocking Blue's cover of the song in 1971 gave it new life as a psychedelic rock hit, with lead singer Mariska Veres belting out the lyrics with her signature soulful growl.
Line by Line Meaning
Well the first time I saw Bool Weevil
I recall the instance I spotted Bool Weevil.
He was a-sittin' on a square
On that occasion, I discovered him perched on a square-shaped object.
Well the next time that I saw him
Later on, when I glimpsed him again
He had his whole family there
I observed that he was accompanied by his entire family.
Just a lookin' for a home
It seemed as though they were searching for a place to stay.
Well the farmer took the Bool Weevil
The farmer captured Bool Weevil for his own purposes.
And pulled him on the red hot sand
He dragged him across the extremely warm sand.
Well the Weevil said: "It is mighty hot"
Bool Weevil commented that it was exceptionally hot.
But I take it like a man
However, he dealt with the situation bravely.
Just a lookin' for a home
Despite being in distress, they were still searching for a place to reside.
Well, the Weevil said to the farmer:
Bool Weevil then spoke to the farmer again.
"Sell your old machine
"If you sell your outdated device
When we fill your cup
And when we supply you with what you need,
You can buy gasolino"
You will be able to purchase some gasolino".
Just a lookin' for a home
They are just searching for a new abode.
Well if somebody should ask you
If by chance, anyone inquires
Who it was who sang this song
As to who the singer of this song was
Say you set a beating from Oklahoma city
Inform them that it was Shocking Blue from Oklahoma City.
Just a lookin' for a home
That's all they're doing is searching for a place to belong.
Contributed by Ryan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sylvain Morel Jean
MARISKA est encore impressionnante dans ce morceau !!!
Cette femme était un phénomène unique au monde !!!!
Je t'aime pour toujours MARISKA ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🙏
ANALUCIAYMATEO
"Boll Weevil" is a traditional blues song, also known by similar titles such as "Boweavil" or "Boll Weevil Blues." Although many songs about the boll weevil were recorded by blues musicians during the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, this one has become well known, thanks to Lead Belly's rendition of it as recorded by folklorist Alan Lomax in 1934.
ANALUCIAYMATEO
A 1961 adaptation by Brook Benton became a pop hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100. There is also a monument in Enterprise, Alabama dedicated to this famous bug. Some Later versions Eddie Cochran - 1959 Shocking Blue - 1969 Jimmy Page - 1984 etc (Wikipedia)
DRKru matters
More GREAT style and personality from Mariska and the guys!!!
Warrington Minge
Been looking for this one for 40-odd years. My own stupid fault for forgetting it was Shocking Blue.
Marcio Fernando
Adoro está banda!! Vocalista e instrumentistas de primeira classico
Tan Coyer
Cracking Little Song! by one of the most underated bands ever, they should of been mega! they are to me!
D K
So true.. Best band ever
Warrington Minge
Definitely underrated. Possibly the best Dutch band ever apart from Focus though Within Temptation give them a run for their money. Definitely the top three, they can arm wrestle for the top spot, I don"t care, love 'em all.
ANALUCIAYMATEO
Gracias por subirlo!!! Lo busqué muchísimo !!! Gracias nuevamente !!! (Thanks x uploading - I searched a lot - Thanks again )