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 - - - - - - - - - -
Oh Lord
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of Shocking Blue's song "Oh Lord" depict a person who is seeking love and companionship. They are tired of feeling the cold wind of loneliness and yearn for warmth and affection. The lyrics are simple but convey a deep emotional need that many people can relate to. The use of phrases like "crazy arms to hold me tight" and "sweetie pie" add a playful and wistful tone to the song. The repetition of the plea to "make it alright" emphasizes the urgency and longing behind the lyrics.
Overall, the lyrics of "Oh Lord" are a heartfelt expression of the human desire for love and connection. They are universal in their appeal and capture a moment of vulnerability and hope. The song is an example of how music can be used as a way to express complex emotions that are often hard to put into words.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Lord, blow the cold wind out of my life.
Asking for the negative forces and difficulties that have been present in their life to disappear and make way for positivity.
I need love, love sweet love, I need just a little bit now.
Expressing a strong desire for love in their life, just a small amount to start with.
Hard legs and stormy eyes, [...] lips to ease my pain, Rough me through that lonesome night, Don't let me hope in vain.
Describing the physical attributes they desire in a partner, and asking for them to be there for them through difficult times without false hope.
Make it alright, alright, alright, Make it alright, alright, alright, Make it alright, alright, alright, Make it alright, alright, alright.
Repeating the desire for things to be okay and positive, possibly as a form of affirmation.
Crazy arms to hold me tight Is what I want to get me by. I wait for a baby in jeans, Let me have my sweety pie.
Expressing a desire for comfort and affection from a partner, and potentially hoping to start a family.
Oh Lord, blow the cold wind out of my life.
Reiterating the need for negativity to leave their life in order to make room for positivity.
Oh Lord, blow the cold wind out of my life.
Reiterating the need for negativity to leave their life in order to make room for positivity.
Oh Lord, blow the cold wind out of my life.
Reiterating the need for negativity to leave their life in order to make room for positivity.
Contributed by Elliot J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@custodioguimaraes9981
Eletrizante Presente Iridescente
(POEMARISKaVEREsSHOCKINgRAINBOw)
Mariska Veres - todas as mulheres
em uma: quinta-essência do Uno,
silhueta e cabeleira celestes,
olhar turquesa de aurora boreal.
Caras, looks e kohl* em caleidoscópio.
Voz de arrepio no encanto de sereia.
Vênus - a deusa: o amor e a beleza em verbos.
Paixão à primeira audiovisão.
* kohl: pó cosmético negro usado pelas mulheres do Oriente para delinear olhos e sobrancelhas
@user-gz6ls6fy6s
Маришка бесподобна!! Какой голос, это улёт и какая-то магия!!
@0Didimis0
Лучшая группа всех времен и народов!
@MrGoldenthroat
Another sparkling jewel by one of the top bands in Rock history!
@trippinout2515
Criminally underrated band.
@Rafaelrgui
Linda de rosto e de voz…💖
@user-tx5iy1nj2f
Любимая группа
@custodioguimaraes9981
Eletrizante Presente Iridescente
(POEMARISKaVEREsSHOCKINgRAINBOw)
Mariska Veres - todas as mulheres
em uma: quinta-essência do Uno,
silhueta e cabeleira celestes,
olhar turquesa de aurora boreal.
Caras, looks e kohl* em caleidoscópio.
Voz de arrepio no encanto de sereia.
Vênus - a deusa: o amor e a beleza em verbos.
Paixão à primeira audiovisão.
* kohl: pó cosmético negro usado pelas mulheres do Oriente para delinear olhos e sobrancelhas
@ferm7099
el mundo pre profesional, tenía cámaras que ponchaban al bajo cuando la guitarra hacía el solo (1.22), que linda época!!!
@sharanpal
This is excellence.
@mcarrillom4920
Mariska sigue siendo única