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 - - - - - - - - - -
The Butterfly and I
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The butterfly and I a message from the dark
Love was burst through the air
Love was burst through the air
Just look around and help yourself
Now
The butterfly and I have heard a very strange sound
The butterfly and I have heard a very strange sound
Think it out before it's too late
Have it now you're bound to look short
Don't wait
The Shocking Blue's "The Butterfly and I" is a song about two entities - the beautiful and delicate butterfly, and the human narrator. The song opens with the line "The butterfly and I, a message from the dark", alluding to the idea that both the butterfly and the singer are messengers from a mysterious, unknown place. The use of the word "dark" here could be interpreted as something ominous or dangerous, which is contrasted with the next line "Love was burst through the air". This highlights the idea that even in a world that can be dark and uncertain, love can bring light and hope.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "Just look around and help yourself now", which could be a statement about self-reliance and the need to take control of one's own life. The butterfly and the singer have "heard a very strange sound" and feel a sense of urgency to "get up before it's too late" and "think it out before it's too late". The repetition of "before it's too late" emphasizes the importance of taking action and seizing opportunities while you still can.
Overall, "The Butterfly and I" is a song about the importance of seizing opportunities, finding love in a sometimes dark and uncertain world, and the need to take control of one's own life. It's a message of hope and empowerment that encourages listeners to take action and not wait for things to happen to them.
Line by Line Meaning
The butterfly and I a message from the dark
The singer and a butterfly bring a message from the unknown or mysterious realm
Love was burst through the air
Love was clearly present and apparent
Just look around and help yourself Now
Opportunities are available all around, take advantage of them
The butterfly and I have heard a very strange sound
They have noticed something unusual or unsettling
Hey get up before it's too late
Act quickly before it's too late
Think it out before it's too late
Consider your decisions carefully before it's too late
Have it now you're bound to look short
Taking something immediately may cause long-term negative effects
Don't wait
Take action now, don't delay
Contributed by Alexis B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Bubu
The butterfly and I a message from the dark
The butterfly and I a message from the dark
Love was burst through the air
Love was burst through the air
Just look around and help yourself
Now
The butterfly and I have heard a very strange sound
The butterfly and I have heard a very strange sound
Hey get up before it's too late
Think it out before it's too late
Have it now you're bound to look short
Don't wait
dawalt009
They had at least 6 albums and many of the tunes are fantastic, listen
to the Butterfly and I, be patient up till about the 13/4 minute mark
where the tempo changes and goes straight into brassy blues. This
section of music is of such epic proportions I dare anyone to name a
tune that can even come close in pushing the brass sound with such
delight, it will sit in the centre of your mind for the rest of time.
Dan W
Yes indeed colossal band my favourite of all time
Albert Jan Kreuz
I thought exactly the same thing, the second part of the song is absolutely epic. That song could've been the theme of a James Bond movie or something like that!
Ron Killgore
This came up in a Spotify random mix for me because I have been listening to other late '60s rock. I'm halfway listening because I'm doing other things, but the belting horns section catches my attention. So, I make note of the track so I can return to it later. Going back to it later, starting from the beginning, I'm expecting those horns, but I get sitar infused hippy-trippy lyrics. Did I get something mixed up? Then, around 1:50, I get what I wanted. What an odd mix.
Lisa Lindsey
Yep the brassy blues is so 60s. Love it! Shocking Blue had a wide musical range. Very few songs sound alike.
jack jc
eight studio albums and one one live in japan album,although 'dream on dreamer' and 'ham' are supposedly
the same album,there are so many differences between these two that you could consider them different albums.
Jgm De Wilde
Her voice was so powerfull a dream to listen
Bubu
The butterfly and I a message from the dark
The butterfly and I a message from the dark
Love was burst through the air
Love was burst through the air
Just look around and help yourself
Now
The butterfly and I have heard a very strange sound
The butterfly and I have heard a very strange sound
Hey get up before it's too late
Think it out before it's too late
Have it now you're bound to look short
Don't wait
raymond lang
Best track on the album..classic.
juan carlos ballesteros gomez
@Otter bot nothing to see ,your comments