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 - - - - - - - - - -
Wait
Shocking Blue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Mrs. Lovett(spoken)
It′s not much of a chair but it'll do. Was was me poor Albert′s chair. Sat in it all day long he did till half his leg give
Out with gout.
Sweeney Todd (spoken)
Why doesn't the beadle come? Before the week is out. That's what he said.
Mrs. Lovett (spoken)
He said before the week is out′. It′s only Tuesday.
Easy now,
Hush, love, hush,
Don't distress yourself,
What′s your rush?
Keep your thoughts
Nice and lush,
Wait.
Hush, love, hush,
Think it through.
Once it bubbles, then
What's to do?
Watch it close.
Let it brew.
Wait.
I′ve been thinkin' flowers,
Maybe daisies,
To brighten up the room!
Don′t you think some flowers,
Pretty daisies,
Might relieve the gloom?
Ah, wait,
Love, wait.
Sweeney Todd (spoken)
And the judge? When will I get to him?
Mrs. Lovett (spoken)
Can't you think of nothin' else?
Always broodin′ away on your wrongs
What happened heaven knows how many years ago!
(Sung)
Slow, love, slow.
Time′s so fast.
Now goes quickly, see
Now it's past!
Soon will come,
Soon will last.
Wait.
Don′t you know,
Silly man?
Half the fun is to
Plan the plan!
All good things
Come to those who can
Wait.
Gillyflowers, maybe,
'Stead of daisies...
I dunno though...
What do you think?
The lyrics of Shocking Blue's song "Wait" tell the story of Mrs. Lovett and Sweeney Todd, the fictional characters from Stephen Sondheim's musical "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street." The scene takes place in Mrs. Lovett's pie shop, where Sweeney is waiting for the beadle to arrive. Mrs. Lovett tries to calm Sweeney down and distract him by suggesting they think of happier things, like adding flowers to the gloomy room. The chorus of the song emphasizes the importance of waiting and taking things slow, and the idea that good things come to those who wait.
Throughout the song, the lyrics include a mixture of spoken dialogue between the two characters, as well as sung verses that are somewhat abstract in nature. However, the common theme is that of patience and letting things happen in their own time, rather than rushing and getting frustrated. By encouraging Sweeney to wait for the beadle, and suggesting they wait to decide on what flowers to add, Mrs. Lovett is attempting to bring some peace into the situation, rather than letting anxiety take over.
In addition to being part of the musical "Sweeney Todd," the song "Wait" was also included as the first track on Shocking Blue's final album, "Good Times." It was written by Stephen Sondheim and arranged by Charles Hansen, who also arranged much of the music for the Broadway production. The version by Shocking Blue, while faithful to the original lyrics and melody, has a more psychedelic rock sound and includes some additional instrumentation, such as a sitar.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait
The need for patience is conveyed.
It's not much of a chair but it'll do. Was was me poor Albert's chair. Sat in it all day long he did till half his leg give Out with gout.
Mrs. Lovett speaks of Albert's old chair, the one he sat in all day until it contributed to his ailments. It is not much, but it works for now.
Why doesn't the beadle come? Before the week is out. That's what he said.
Sweeney Todd wonders why the beadle has not shown up yet, as he had promised to do so before the week ends.
He said before the week is out′. It′s only Tuesday.
Mrs. Lovett reminds Sweeney that the week has just begun, and the beadle also offered to appear before it concludes.
Easy now,
Stress should be avoided, and one must remain calm.
Hush, love, hush,
Soothing words are spoken to calm an upset or worried person.
Don't distress yourself,
One should avoid experiencing worry, stress or anxiety.
What's your rush?
Someone is being asked why they are in a hurry or in moving too fast.
Keep your thoughts Nice and lush,
The idea of focusing on positive and pleasant thoughts is expressed.
Hush, love, hush, Think it through. Once it bubbles, then What's to do? Watch it close. Let it brew. Wait.
Waiting and being patient while observing and thinking over a matter carefully is suggested. It is best to avoid acting too fast and regretting later.
I've been thinkin' flowers, Maybe daisies, To brighten up the room! Don't you think some flowers, Pretty daisies, Might relieve the gloom? Ah, wait, Love, wait.
Mrs. Lovett contemplates decorating the room with flowers to make it look more cheerful. She asks Sweeney if he agrees and urges him to wait before replying.
And the judge? When will I get to him?
Sweeney Todd seems preoccupied with thoughts of meeting the judge soon.
Can't you think of nothin' else? Always broodin' away on your wrongs What happened heaven knows how many years ago!
Mrs. Lovett implies that Sweeney is affected by his past too much and should focus on other thoughts instead of dwelling on the past.
Slow, love, slow. Time's so fast. Now goes quickly, see Now it's past! Soon will come, Soon will last. Wait.
The idea of time being so fleeting and precious is expressed, and waiting for events to unfold is suggested.
Don't you know, Silly man? Half the fun is to Plan the plan! All good things Come to those who can Wait.
Impatience is frowned upon, and the pleasure that comes from planning is emphasized. Waiting can result in good things happening.
Gillyflowers, maybe, 'Stead of daisies... I dunno though... What do you think?
Choosing gillyflowers instead of daisies to decorate the room is suggested, but the final decision is left to Sweeney.
Writer(s): Nicholas Laurence Feldman, Jack Hues, Darren Costin
Contributed by Molly S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Maria Cis
Wait! I wanna talk to you.
Wait! I can't live without you.
Give me a little chance again,
I'll show you I'm worth to be a woman.
Your heart must stand still in empty place.
I can't believe that you forgot my face.
Oh baby, oh baby,
Please say you still love me.
Wait! I wanna talk to you.
Wait! I can't live without you.
It's so hard when nobody cares
And nobody shares your sorrow afraid.
Oh baby, oh baby,
Please say you still love me.
Your heart must stand still in empty place.
I can't believe that you forgot my face.
Oh baby, oh baby,
Please say you still love me
marco garcia
BEAUTIFUL, BEATIFUL..., AS SEARCHING, BEAUTIFUL SONGS ARE FOUND...
Jan Houttuin
Mooi album track
TangleF50
Another S.B. classic, imho.