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 - - - - - - - - - -
Give My Love to the Sunrise
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
After I cross the line.
I am not a millionaire
But don′t need money over there.
Wasn't born as a queen
But I′m happy that I can sing.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Tell the other generation
Because wasn't day's light soft a way,
Get a peace of mind ev′ry day,
Live unseen and live unknown
Still from the world and not of stone.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Give my love to the sunrise
After I cross the line.
I am not a millionaire
But don′t need money over there.
Wasn't born as a queen
But I′m happy that I can't sing.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
The song "Give My Love to the Sunrise" by Shocking Blue is a reflective and somewhat philosophical piece about life and death. The opening verse declares the desire to send love to the sunrise after the singer crosses the line, a metaphor for passing away. The singer acknowledges that they are not wealthy, but that money is of no importance in the afterlife. This sentiment is continued in the second verse, where the singer asks that if the listener survives, they tell the next generation that finding peace of mind should be a priority in life. They also advise living unseen and unknown, but to remain connected to the world and not become detached like a stone.
The chorus repeats the opening verse, emphasizing the idea that love is eternal and persists beyond death. The singer again acknowledges their lack of riches, but expresses gratitude for their ability to sing - perhaps as a symbol for finding joy and meaning in life despite its challenges. Overall, the lyrics suggest that a good life is not measured by material wealth or status, but by the simple pleasures of love and expression.
Line by Line Meaning
Give my love to the sunrise
As I depart from this life, pass my love and gratitude to the beauty of the sunrise - a symbol of hope and new beginnings.
After I cross the line.
Once I have reached the end of my journey, after my passing.
I am not a millionaire
I may not have amassed great wealth and material possessions.
But don't need money over there.
However, they hold no significance in the afterlife, where only love and inner happiness matter.
Wasn't born as a queen
My status at birth may not have been that of royalty or power.
But I'm happy that I can sing.
Yet, I am content with my ability to express myself through music and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Repeated chanting of affirmation and embracing contentment.
When you survive, do me a favour,
Those who outlive me, please do me a kindness.
Tell the other generation
Pass on the message and wisdom to future generations.
Because wasn't day's light soft a way,
Reminding future generations of the beauty and comfort found in the soft light of day.
Get a peace of mind ev'ry day,
Encourage others to seek peace of mind every day.
Live unseen and live unknown
It is not necessary to seek fame or recognition during your lifetime.
Still from the world and not of stone.
Be part of the world and its quandaries, but remain human and empathetic.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Affirmation that the message is true and meaningful.
Give my love to the sunrise
Reiteration of the message to pass on love to the beauty of the sunrise.
After I cross the line.
Repeated from the first verse to emphasize the importance of this action.
I am not a millionaire
Repeated from the second verse to remind that material possessions hold no importance in the afterlife.
But I'm happy that I can't sing.
Repeated from the first verse as a joyful affirmation of the simple pleasures in life.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Repeated from previous verses as a resounding positive message.
Writer(s): Robert Van Leeuwen
Contributed by Alexander M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.