In their early years, Whitesnake played in a hard-edged blues rock and heavy metal influenced style. By the mid-80s, the band had moved towards a more commercially friendly arena rock and pop metal ethos, garnering them major hits such as "Love Ain't No Stranger", "Now You're Gone", "Slide It In", "Still of the Night", and the iconic tune "Here I Go Again" (arguably their 'signature song'). They were named the 85th greatest hard rock band of all time by VH1.
Whitesnake were active primarily in the 80s, but they still tour, albeit with an entirely new line-up (bar Coverdale), to this day. Some of the most famous musicians who have joined the band for a time include Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Cozy Powell, Neil Murray, Bernie Marsden, Micky Moody, Rudy Sarzo, John Sykes, Adrian Vandenberg, Vivian Campbell, Tommy Aldridge, and Steve Vai.
The band's early material has been compared by critics to Deep Purple. This is not only because three past members of the band were once in Deep Purple but also because of their sound and influences. Later, the band took on a sound more in line with the hair metal style popular in the mid to late 80s, but they never truly left their heavy, blues rock roots behind
Formed in 1978 by David Coverdale after leaving Deep Purple, Whitesnake were originally a straightforwards heavy rock group with Jon Lord and Ian Paice from Deep Purple in the band. Despite a few album releases and constant touring, Whitesnake was unable to attain any significant commercial success in America, though becoming popular in the U.K., Europe, and Japan. Their critical reviews as well for their albums were somewhat mixed.
After acquaintance with Chris Cuttler, Fred Frith and most importantly, young guitarist John Sykes, David Coverdale decided to turn to a slicker, more commercially viable sound. Whitesnake made their first major splash in the States in 1984 with the album 'Slide It In', featuring the self-titled single as well as rock tracks "Slow An' Easy" and "Love Ain't No Stranger". All three of them gained major airplay and were eaten up by fans. Sykes was not involved in any of the song writing for 'Slide It In', though re-did some of Micky Moody's guitar work in the American remastering of the U.K. version of the album.
Three years later, thanks to radio-friendly, Zeppelin-ish songwriting and MTV friendly Tawny Kitaen's automobile acrobatics, Whitesnake became superstars with the album 'Whitesnake' (titled '1987' in Europe, and 'Serpens Albus' in Japan). Containing the U.S. smash hits "Here I Go Again", "Is This Love", "Still of the Night" and others, the album eventually sold over 10 million copies. Coverdale replaced the entire band for the subsequent tour, ditching Sykes for guitarists Adrian Vandenberg and Vivian Campbell. Also joining the band at this point were bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge.
Campbell left shortly after the tour (going on to replace Steve Clark in Def Leppard. Vandenberg, despite penning most of the material on the follow-up album, was unable to record due to a freak wrist injury. Guitar virtuoso Steve Vai was brought in to record all of the guitar parts for Slip of the Tongue, which was released in the spring of 1989. Despite going platinum, the album did not reach the stratospheric heights of Whitesnake (entitled 1987 in Europe, and Serpens Albus in Japan). With a divorce looming, and the alternative 'grunge' movement threatening to destroy the melodic rock movement, Coverdale dissolved Whitesnake.
In the late 90s, David Coverdale and Adrian Vandenberg finally recorded together again. Initially intended to be a Coverdale solo effort, the Whitesnake name was eventually attached (much like the Tony Iommi/Black Sabbath projects of the late 80s). The resulting products were a new studio album entitled Restless Heart, and the live acoustic set, Starkers In Tokyo.
In the early 2000's Coverdale relaunched Whitesnake fully with an entirely new lineup centred around guitarists Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich (previously of Winger and Lion/Dio). This Whitesnake embarked on tours across the globe, releasing the "Live In the Still of the Night" DVD and "Live... In the Shadow of the Blues" on CD in 2006. A new studio album, "Good to be Bad", was released in 2008 reaching the top 10 in the UK album charts.
Over the last few years Coverdale has been involved in a remastering project which has seen all albums from 1978's Trouble, to 1989's Slip of the Tongue reissued with bonus material.
Whitesnake released Forevermore, on March 25, 2011 in Europe, and on the 29th in North America. They have released a number of scheduled 2011 tour dates on their website, with six scheduled UK tour dates and other European dates. In February 2011, Whitesnake was announced as one of the headliners to play the annual Rocklahoma festival in Pryor, Oklahoma, on Memorial Day weekend. A digital single for the song 'Love Will Set You Free' was released, along with a video for the song, on February 21.
The album Forevermore was released as a special edition 'Snakepack' through Classic Rock magazine on 25 March, a full 3 weeks before its commercial release. The fan pack includes the full, official new album Forevermore, a 132-page magazine, poster and pin badge. On 20 March 2011, Whitesnake announced that Brian Ruedy would play keyboards on the Forevermore World Tour.
The album did not chart highly upon its official release in the UK (number 33, possibly due to the copies released as part of the aforementioned Classic Rock Snakepack, which are not eligible for the charts). It did, however, show signs of Whitesnake's slow rebuild of support in the US with the album charting at number 49 - the band's highest charting album since the 80s.
Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach are Whitesnake longest standing guitar players, both being in the band 10 years by 2012.
Whitesnake are set to embark on their farewell tour in May 2022, beginning in the UK and Ireland with Foreigner and Europe. In July 2021, the group announced the addition of multi-instrumentalist Dino Jelusick to their ranks, turning Whitesnake into a septet for the first time. Later that November, Michael Devin parted ways with the band. He was replaced by Tanya O'Callaghan, marking the first female musician to join the band.
Website: http://www.whitesnake.com/
Bloody Mary
Whitesnake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Singing that sweet French perfume song;
Looking out for the boys who couldn't sing along.
Moving like a dancer on the ballroom floor;
Sweet ballerina, get me begging for more.
When you're rolling your eyes behind your Dior shades.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
I've been looking for you; looking for me.
I like sugar in my woman more than saccharine.
Too much sweet talk make a nice boy mean.
All in all, Mary, you're no good for me.
Just like a bee-sting, babe, you're a pain in my heart,
Hurting me more and more.
You get me down on my knees when you talk dirty to me.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
You know that Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters
Couldn't give a man what the doctor ordered.
Oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
You know that Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters
Couldn't give a man what the doctor ordered.
Oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
I told, oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
The song "Bloody Mary" by Whitesnake is about a woman who is captivating and alluring, but also dangerous and painful to be with. The lyrics describe a woman walking down the high street, singing a sweet French perfume song, and moving like a ballerina on the dance floor. However, she's also someone who the singer believes is not good for him, and describes her like a bee-sting that's hurting him more and more. The singer likes some sweetness in a woman, but he doesn't like too much sweetness because it makes him mean. He is ready to beg for more of her when she's moving like a dancer, but he is also brought down to his knees when she talks dirty to him.
"Bloody Mary" is metaphorically the queen of the ball who wants it all. The singer has been searching for her and they've now met, but he still can't tell whether she's good for him or not. He seems to be torn between his fascination for her and his fear of getting hurt.
The lyrics also reference "Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters," a slang term for self-pleasure (i.e., masturbation). The implication is that there's no substitute for the real thing, and even though Mary may be dangerous for the singer's heart, he's still attracted to her.
In conclusion, the lyrics of "Bloody Mary" describe a woman who is both captivating and dangerous to the singer. It's a metaphor for a relationship that is both enchanting and painful.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're waltzing down the High Street
Walking with confidence and happiness
Singing that sweet French perfume song;
Feeling joyful and content while showing off your femininity
Looking out for the boys who couldn't sing along.
Feeling above the men who cannot appreciate and join in with her joyful energy
Moving like a dancer on the ballroom floor;
Gracefully and elegantly moving through life
Sweet ballerina, get me begging for more.
Her grace and beauty makes others want more of her presence and attention
When you're rolling your eyes behind your Dior shades.
Being pretentious, judging others, and hiding true feelings behind a facade
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Referencing a powerful and desired drink, comparing it to a powerful and desired woman
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
Acknowledging the woman's selfish and ambitious nature
I've been looking for you; looking for me.
Searching for something or someone that is a match for oneself
I like sugar in my woman more than saccharine.
Prefering a genuine, natural sweetness over a fake and manipulative one
Too much sweet talk make a nice boy mean.
Being aware of the power dynamic in relationships and how manipulative tactics can turn a nice person into a bad one
All in all, Mary, you're no good for me.
Coming to an unfortuante realization that this powerful and desired woman is not a suitable match
Just like a bee-sting, babe, you're a pain in my heart,
Acknowledging the painful and toxic impact this woman has on one's heart and emotional wellbeing
Hurting me more and more.
Feeling the destructive pattern of this toxic relationship
You get me down on my knees when you talk dirty to me.
Being completely submissive and under the woman's control when she uses manipulative language
You know that Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters
Referencing the euphemism for masturbation, suggesting that self-gratification is a better option than dealing with this toxic woman and her actions
Couldn't give a man what the doctor ordered.
Implying that this woman is unfulfilling in all aspects
Oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
Despite the pain and toxicity, the man is still drawn to this powerful and desired woman
I told, oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
Reaffirming his attraction to her despite the destructive nature of the relationship
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID COVERDALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
When you're waltzing down the High Street
Singing that sweet French perfume song;
Looking out for the boys who couldn't sing along.
Moving like a dancer on the ballroom floor;
Sweet ballerina, get me begging for more.
When you're rolling your eyes behind your Dior shades.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you; looking for me.
I like sugar in my woman more than saccharine.
Too much sweet talk make a nice boy mean.
All in all, Mary, you're no good for me.
Just like a bee-sting, babe, you're a pain in my heart,
Hurting me more and more.
You get me down on my knees when you talk dirty to me.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
You know that Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters
Couldn't give a man what the doctor ordered.
Oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
You know that Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters
Couldn't give a man what the doctor ordered.
Oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
I told, oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
musashihumar
This is the era of Whitesnake I love best.
Mikky Whalan
Agreed
Ramon Wjido
Genial está canción la era Whitesnake anterior insuperable
Gjorgji Tasevski
Pure boogie...I love this ..! This is what rock and roll is supposed to sound like!
Marianne Sanchez
Som de estrada!!!!!!!!!
MARCOLINO MR. BLUE SKY
GREAT ROCK'N'ROLL I LOVE THEM!WHITESNAKE FOREVER!!
johnny zell
When you're waltzing down the High Street
Singing that sweet French perfume song;
Looking out for the boys who couldn't sing along.
Moving like a dancer on the ballroom floor;
Sweet ballerina, get me begging for more.
When you're rolling your eyes behind your Dior shades.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you; looking for me.
I like sugar in my woman more than saccharine.
Too much sweet talk make a nice boy mean.
All in all, Mary, you're no good for me.
Just like a bee-sting, babe, you're a pain in my heart,
Hurting me more and more.
You get me down on my knees when you talk dirty to me.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
You know that Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters
Couldn't give a man what the doctor ordered.
Oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
Bloody Mary, the queen of the ball.
Bloody Mary, you want it all.
I've been looking for you.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary.
You know that Madame Palm and her five sweet daughters
Couldn't give a man what the doctor ordered.
Oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
I told, oh, Mary, I love the way you turn it on.
ThatOddBloke
Got the EP & a load of other Whitesnake merch & autographs when it was released; my Mum was the PA to the head of EMI at the time & I got tonnes of goodies in the 70s.
太田和成
これは貴重❗ブラディマリー、お酒の名前なんだけど当時のホワイトスネイクのメロディが聴ける貴重な音源です。
Jorn41
Exactly .....!