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 - - - - - - - - - -
Fix your hair darling
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Be ready, we′re gonna make some fun.
Come on down baby,
Get steady, don't care ′bout mom.
Rock'n'roll boogaloo
And a locomotion make you feel alright.
Fix your hair darling,
Come on downstairs
And boot on your high-heel shoes.
Come on downstairs,
We has got no more time to lose.
Lots of crazy feelings
Suddenly coming out from deep inside.
Fix your hair darling,
We′ll go out tonight.
Fix your hair darling,
We'll go out tonight.
Fix your hair darling,
We′ll go out tonight.
Come on down baby,
Be ready, we're gonna make some fun.
Come on down baby,
Get steady, don′t care 'bout mom.
Rock′n'roll boogaloo
And a locomotion make you feel alright.
Fix your hair darling,
We'll go out tonight.
Fix your hair darling,
We′ll go out tonight.
Fix your hair darling,
We′ll go out tonight.
The song "Fix your hair darling" by Shocking Blue is a classic rock and roll song with upbeat music and lyrics that encourage a good time. The song is about the excitement of going out for the night and dancing to some rock and roll music. The lyrics encourage the listener to let loose and have fun, even to the point of not caring about what their Mom might think.
The opening lyrics, "Come on down baby, be ready, we're gonna make some fun" is an invitation to let loose and enjoy the moment. The second verse, "Lots of crazy feelings suddenly coming out from deep inside," alludes to the idea of letting go of inhibitions and embracing the moment. The chorus, "Fix your hair darling, we'll go out tonight," reinforces the idea of getting ready and going out to have a good time.
The song has a strong rock and roll boogaloo beat and a locomotion that makes you feel good. The upbeat rhythm of the song is perfect for dancing, and the lyrics convey a sense of excitement and joy. Overall, the song captures the spirit of the era of rock and roll music and the desire to have fun and let loose.
Line by Line Meaning
Come on down baby,
Addressing the beloved, asking them to come closer.
Be ready, we're gonna make some fun.
Asking the beloved to be ready for a fun time, indicating they will be enjoying themselves.
Get steady, don't care ′bout mom.
Asking the beloved to calm down and not worry about familial responsibility, indicating a temporary escape.
Rock'n'roll boogaloo
Musical genre suggestive of dance and excitement.
And a locomotion make you feel alright.
Assuring that the music and dancing has a positive effect on wellbeing.
Fix your hair darling,
Suggesting that the beloved improve their appearance for the night out.
We'll go out tonight.
Confirming that the outing will happen.
Come on downstairs
Asking the beloved to move to a different location.
And boot on your high-heel shoes.
Asking the beloved to wear high heels, indicating glamor and desire to impress.
We has got no more time to lose.
Emphasizing the importance of the outing and that it needs to happen soon.
Lots of crazy feelings
Describing the sudden intensity of emotions felt by both parties.
Suddenly coming out from deep inside.
Suggesting that the emotions felt were repressed and are now being expressed.
Fix your hair darling,
Reiterating the request to improve appearance for the night out.
We′ll go out tonight.
Confirming the plan to go out again.
Come on down baby,
Repeating the request to the beloved to approach.
Get steady, don′t care 'bout mom.
Reiterating the desire to ignore familial responsibility and enjoy the moment without worries.
We'll go out tonight.
Ending the song with a confirmation of the plan to go out and have fun.
Writer(s): Robert Van Leeuwen
Contributed by Sophia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.