Recorded - circa Spring 1969
Released - July 1969 (NL), November, 1969 (US)
#1 for week of February 7, 1970.
Once in a while on this blog, I review a song that could best be described as a buried gem. These are songs that, for whatever reason or another, have remained a bit lesser-known in the modern era. In spite of this obscurity, the song itself is of high quality and deserves "Digging Up". In this case, I'm referring to "Venus" by the Dutch band, "Shocking Blue".
Some of you may be thinking to yourself, "Hey, Dr. Rock! that's not an unknown song, I've heard it numerous times!". Well, this is partially true. There is a very well known cover version of "Venus" by 80's dance-pop group Bananarama. It is a cover that is full of synthesizeritis, and sounds tailor-made for a fitness workout video. No, today I'm here to talk about the guitar-rich original.
Shocking Blue was formed in 1967. The group's founder, Robbie Van Leeuwen, had previously been a member of another Dutch group, "The Motions". In 1968, Shocking Blue gained the addition of vocalist Mariska Veres, and their sound changed from standard rock, to something a bit more mystical. This new sound was best exemplified in Robbie's composition "Venus". When the song found its way over to the States in late 1969, it slowly worked its way to the top of the US charts.
One interesting fact about "Venus" is that Mariska, who sings lead on the recording, couldn't speak fluent English when the song was recorded. As a result, she sang her vocal parts phonetically. When listening to the song, her Dutch accent is certainly prevalent, but she also stands out, in a good way. Mariska's alto singing voice, had a unique mystical quality to it. Compare the original "Venus" vocals to the Bananarama version, which sounds like it's being sung by run-of-the-mill pop singers.
Instrumentally, "Venus" is a guitar lover's paradise. There's acoustic, electric, and even slide guitars. On top of these numerous 6-string parts is a pulsating organ line that repeats the song's riff throughout the piece. The song has a dancable rhythm, but it's worlds away from being labeled as mere "Dance Music".
It's a shame that Shocking Blue are permanently labeled as a one hit wonder in the U.S. In spite of this label, other musical groups over the years have dug up the band's discography and brought their songs to a wider audience. In 1989, grunge rock pioneers Nirvana released a version of Shocking Blue's "Love Buzz" as their first single. As much as I love the remake, I'd highly recommend checking out the original. Especially if you want an example of just how mysterious and unique Shocking Blue could sound,
Final Verdict - The original, and best version in my eyes. Shocking Blue's "Venus", features a delightful variation of guitars, and features the highly underrated Mariska Veres on vocals. This version may have been eclipsed by the more popular remake (Which I'll review when we get to 1986), but I feel a bit of pride that I'm bringing the original back to the public eye. The original "Venus" is certainly worth a listen, and Shocking Blue are worth more than a glance over.
Coming Up Next - "Everybody Is A Star" and "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" by Sly & The Family Stone.
Until Next Time, I'm Dr. Rock, and I'm shockingly blue -
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