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 - - - - - - - - - -
My Life
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is my life,
I can do anything in my life.
My song,
This is my song,
I can play what I like in my song.
Higher and higher,
Never, no, never
Take it away from my life,
Take it away from my life,
Take it away from my life.
My world,
You are my world,
I can sing what I like in my world.
My life,
This is my life,
I can do anything in my life.
In Shocking Blue's song "My Life," the lyrics convey a powerful message of self-empowerment and the ability to take control of one's own destiny. The repeated phrase "This is my life" is a mantra to remind the listener that they have the power to make their own choices and create the life they want. The line "I can do anything in my life" emphasizes that there are no limits to what one can achieve if they put their mind to it.
The second stanza emphasizes the power of music as a source of inspiration and joy. The singer's own song is their personal expression, and they can play whatever they like without fear of judgment or criticism. The line "Your voice takes me higher" reinforces the idea that music has the ability to lift spirits and bring people together.
The chorus takes on a more urgent tone, with the singer pleading "Never, no, never, take it away from my life." The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the importance of holding onto one's passions and not letting anyone or anything stand in the way of achieving one's dreams.
Overall, "My Life" is a powerful anthem of self-empowerment and the importance of living life on one's own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
My life,
The life that I have is the most important thing to me.
This is my life,
I am in control of my own life and no one can tell me what to do with it.
I can do anything in my life.
The possibilities in my life are unlimited and I have the power to make my own choices.
My song,
Just like my life, my song is my own creation and I can express myself through it however I want.
This is my song,
I don't have to conform to anyone else's expectations for my music, it is uniquely mine.
I can play what I like in my song.
I have the freedom to make my music in my own style and I don't have to compromise my vision for anyone else's.
Higher and higher,
As I continue to pursue my passion, I am constantly pushing myself to new heights.
Your voice takes me higher.
The positive and encouraging words of those around me help inspire and motivate me to keep going.
Never, no, never
Under no circumstances will I ever let anyone take away the things that are most important to me in life.
Take it away from my life,
If someone were to try and take away my freedom, creativity, or autonomy, I would be devastated.
My world,
The things that I have created and the people that I love make up my world.
You are my world,
The people who support and care about me are an essential part of my life.
I can sing what I like in my world.
In my world, I am free to express myself in any way that I choose.
My life,
Once again, my life is my most valuable asset above everything else.
This is my life,
I am the one who is responsible for my own happiness and fulfillment in life.
I can do anything in my life.
The sky is the limit and I am capable of achieving anything that I set my mind to.
Writer(s): Sean Combs, Carl Thompson, Roy Ayers, Arlene Delvalle, Mary J Blige
Contributed by Kaelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@almalauragaliciadavila1721
Por que apenas vengo conociendo esta música tan hermosa caray, amo sus canciones de esta mujer
@manoelmedeiros809
MARISKA FENOMENALE.
@ananiasaraujo7551
Voz linda! Shocking Blue é demais!
@joseremis2671
voz realmente encantadora,sin duda una de la mas excelsa diafana y nitida voz del rock,amen de sus letras prodigiosas y que expresan sentimiento profundo y enaltecedor del alma y el espiritu,poesia pura y dura,inmortal sin duda!!!!!!
@MrGoldenthroat
Lovely tune!
@veronicasalazar9252
Gracias Charlotte por subir los subtitulos y la canción my life de mariska verdes hace años lo pedía. Gracias!
@user-mg2qo9yn1b
Классная композиция. Полюбил с детства на всю жизнь
@vladimirfateev9048
И Ее так же! She's a Goddess
@joseremis2671
los shoking blue,inmortales,unicos e irrepetibles!!!!!!!!
@andrewpeacock7584
Amazing ❤ Mariska should have made a solo album with songs like this . x