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 - - - - - - - - - -
Is This a Dream
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
I'm gonna tell you what I see,
I see love giving itself.
No voice, no sound betrays
Is this a dream?
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
I'm gonna tell you what I feel,
Kissing, caressing with fingers pressing.
Does nearly treat in by my heart
Will tell you we'll never be apart.
Is this a dream?
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
I'm gonna tell you what I see,
I see love giving itself.
No voice, no sound betrays
My depression gaze.
Is this a dream?
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
The lyrics to Shocking Blue's song "Is This a Dream?" express a desire to stay in a dream-like state, where the singer can continue to see and feel the love that surrounds them without interruption. The first stanza starts with a question, asking whether or not the singer is dreaming, and if they are, they do not want the dream to end.
The second stanza describes what the singer sees in their dream: love giving itself without any sound or voice betraying its presence. The third stanza shifts to what the singer feels in their dream: kissing and caressing, and the sensation of their heart nearly bursting with love. The singer declares that such love will keep them and their lover together always.
The repetition of the chorus throughout the song emphasizes the singer's desire to stay in this dream, showcasing the importance of this love in their life. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a dream state where love is the only focus, free from distractions and disruptions.
Line by Line Meaning
Is this a dream?
Expressing uncertainty about whether reality is real or not.
Or if it's a dream,
Considering the possibility that what is being experienced may not be real.
Let me sleep on and on
A desire to remain in the current state of bliss, even if it is not real.
And don't wake me yet.
A plea to continue the current experience and delay any potential negative outcomes.
I'm gonna tell you what I see,
Sharing a personal experience with another person.
I see love giving itself.
Observing an expression of love without any ulterior motives or expectations.
No voice, no sound betrays
There is no indication or sign that the experience is not real.
My depression gaze.
Despite the potential happiness of the experience, there is still underlying sadness or negativity present.
I'm gonna tell you what I feel,
Sharing personal emotions and sensations with another person.
Kissing, caressing with fingers pressing.
Intimate physical experiences with another person, likely a romantic partner.
Does nearly treat in by my heart
The overwhelming emotions being experienced are affecting the physical body, specifically the heart.
Will tell you we'll never be apart.
Expressing a desire for the current positive experience to continue indefinitely.
Contributed by Allison G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Moustafa El Haguine
What a great voice
RIP Mariska
Pingoleon Fernandez
A great song that brings many memories to my mind. From Argentina, thanks for upload this.
Pedro Avila
Is this a dream?
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
I'm gonna tell you what I see,
I see love giving itself.
No voice, no sound betrays
My depression gaze.
Is this a dream?
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
I'm gonna tell you what I feel,
Kissing, caressing with fingers pressing.
Does nearly treat in by my heart
Will tell you we'll never be apart.
Is this a dream?
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
I'm gonna tell you what I see,
I see love giving itself.
No voice, no sound betrays
My depression gaze.
Is this a dream?
Or if it's a dream,
Let me sleep on and on
And don't wake me yet.
Jerry haas
Duidelijk geïnspireerd door Jefferson Airplane's White Rabbit. Maar what the fuck... Mariska maakt er haar eigen song van.
jean françois Coolens
So many souvenirs ...
Mira P.
<3
Daniel Cejudo
Wow
crimsonsamuraiftw
<3<3<3