The singer was Shocking Blue's sultry lead singer, Mariska Veres, who passed away two days ago.
Rest in peace Mariska.
Posted on 12/04/2006 11:24:35 PM PST by bd476
The Dutch Band, Shocking Blue was the group that made "Venus" a hit in 1970.
The singer was Shocking Blue's sultry lead singer, Mariska Veres, who passed away two days ago.
Rest in peace Mariska.
The Hague (ANTARA News) - Mariska Veres, singer for the Dutch group Shocking Blue who had a worldwide hit with their song "Venus" in 1970, died Saturday aged 59, Dutch media reported.
Veres died from cancer. In 1970 "Venus" reached the top of the American music charts but Shocking Blue did not have any other success that matched their big hit. The group split up in 1974.
Their song "Venus" would go on to make it to number one in the American Billboard chart two more times: in 1981 by cover band Stars on 45 and in 1986 in a version by girlband Bananarama.
In the late 1980s Shocking Blue also served as an inspiration for grunge band Nirvana who covered the band's song "Love Buzz" on their 1989 debut album Bleach. (*)
Good catch, L.N. I always thought that I was the only one who heard it. :-)
Mariska Veres' native tongue was Dutch yet she spoke fluent English as do most people in the Netherlands.
From info I found in the mini-biographies on the fan sites, Mariska was also probably fluent in German.
You may also notice pronunciation differences in the music of other Dutch bands, such as Peter Tetteroo, lead singer of Tee Set singing "Ma Belle Amie," Golden Earring's "Radar Love" and The George Baker Selection's "Green Bag."
Also, if you are a fan of classical music, listen to André Rieu, the Flying Dutchman speaking English on his specials on PBS.
Agree completely.
I prefer Shocking Blue's version. Mariska Veres had a very powerful voice, yet while she was lead singer in Shocking Blue, she seemed very understated, almost reserved about using her voice full force.
Mariska Veres' Father was also a musician and her first public singing experiences were with him in his bands.
A Goddess on a mountain top
Was burning like a silver flame
The summit of Beauty in love
And Venus was her name
She's got it yeah, Baby, she's got it
Well, I'm your Venus, I'm your fire
At your desire
Her weapon were her crystal eyes
Making every man mad
Black as the dark night she was
Got what no-one else had
Wa!
She's got it yeah, Baby, she's got it
Well, I'm your Venus, I'm your fire
At your desire
Me too, but then I thought it was weird for a male to sing "I'm your Venus."
I thought Frankie Avalon was the original "Venus" singer.
(Ok now I've really dated myself)
bookmark for later.
May she rest in peace.
It was the Sixties. We were accustomed to songs that made no sense.
LOL, after all Jimi sang "'scuse me while I kiss this guy."
Not often does the subject of Dutch 70s groups come up so I have to chime in about "Mouth and McNeil" (sp) who had a one-hit wonder called "How Do You Do". It's the most schizophrenic pop hit of all time, combining pounding rock music with interludes of vocal and strings. Worth a listen.
The original "Una Paloma Blanca" (not the Slim Whitman version Rush plays) was also done by a Dutch group.
Yes, it really is sad. She was still singing in public performances earlier this year.
Mariska Veres was a powerful natural singer with a good range. During the time she was lead singer in Shocking Blue, she did not push her voice to the maximum yaowling/screaming level as do so many female pop singers.
Still it is a bit ironic that some would think that Mariska Veres was a man because Shocking Blue's management and record company had pushed very hard to market Miss Veres as a sultry sex symbol.
From everything I've read thus far, the last thing Mariska Veres wanted was to be promoted as a sex symbol.
One report says that she was very straight in her personal life and in business dealings.
According to some reports, Mariska didn't use any drugs, smoke cigarettes, nor drink any alcohol.
Before she accepted Shocking Blue's invitation to become lead singer, Mariska Veres insisted that all band members agree that each individual's relationship with her would remain strictly business and non-romantic.
Yer busted dude!
And what are you doing on THIS thread? (me too!)
It can't be all Gators all the time, you know. :)
Thanks Liberty Valance, and yes, hopefully she's resting in peace and/or singing in a rocking heavenly choir.
Just FYI, I've updated the thread with more info about her life.
Yeah heard it at work.
Thanks for posting the lyrics, Nully.
When I first heard the song, I thought that the line
"...Making every man mad" was actually
"Making every man lament"
Her weapon were her crystal eyes
Making every man mad
Black as the dark night she was
Got what no-one else had
Wa!
Translation: Crazy cat lady
Hey, I liked Bananarama. I liked their video "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it" with FunBoy3.
First of all Tall_Texan, I love that song and I don't recall having heard that Mouth and MacNeal were from the Netherlands.
Secondly, thank you so very much (/sarcasm) for implanting that song's melody in my head today. I will be humming it all day and probably hearing it in my dreams tonight, lol!
Biography
Big Mouth (born Willem Duyn in 1936) and Maggie MacNeal (born Sjoukje van 't Spijker in 1950) formed the duo Mouth & MacNeal in 1971. Before the two members got together they had already released some singles on their own.
Willem Duyn was a drummer with the Jay Jays for a short time during 1969, shortly afterwards forming the group Speedway with whom he recorded some singles.
Maggie MacNeal released a solo single in early 1971, I Heard It Through The Grapevine.
Willem and Maggie were brought together by Hans van Hemert, who also composed this year's Dutch entry. Where they failed separately, they were a success together, scoring with their first single Hey You Love a big top 5 hit in the Netherlands.
But the next single fared far better, being a number one in the Netherlands and going top 10 in America in 1972. The song was How Do You Do?.
The next single Hello-A was a number one in the Netherlands again, also scoring big in the rest of Europe.
More hits followed, but after Ik Zie Een Ster, the Dutch version of their Eurovision entry I See A Star, meant another top 3 hit in the Netherlands for the duo as well as a top 10 hit in the UK, Hans van Hemert thought it was time to change tactics.
He dropped Maggie from the duo, replacing her by Ingrid Kup. The duo, renamed Big Mouth and Little Eve, did manage to score some hits..." Eurovision Square ESC Today
After suffering a heart attack, Willem Duyn was on his way to the hospital when he passed away on December 4, 2004 at the age of 67.
How Do You Do?
Once I said I wanted you
I don't remember why
I often wonder if it's true
That you could make me cry
I only know it's long ago
You said I love you too
But I got one solution that
We're gonna start anew
How do you do
Mm Mm
I thought
Wa-na Na-na Na-na
Just me and you
And then we can
Na-na Na-na
Just like before
And you will say
Na-na Na-na
Please give me more
And you will think
Na-na Na-na
Hey that's what I'm living for
How do you do
Uh huh
I thought
Why na Na-na
Just me and you
And then we can
Na-na Na-na
Just like before
And you will say
Na-na Na-na
Please give me more
And you will think
Na-na Na-na
Hey that's what I'm living for
Once I said I wanted you
And I remember why
I often wonder if it's true
You still can make me cry
And now it's not so long ago
You said I love you true
'Cause I had one solution left
And that's we start anew
How do you do
Uh huh
I thought
Wa-na Na-na
Just me and you
And then we can
Na-na Na-na
Just like before
And you will say
Na-na Na-na
Please give me more
And you will think
Na-na Na-na
Hey that's what I'm living for
How do you do
Uh huh
I thought
By na Na-na
Just me and you
And then we can
Na-na Na-na
Just like before
And you will say
Na-na Na-na
Please give me more
And you will think
Na-na Na-na
Hey that's what I'm living for
How do you do
Uh-huh
La-la-la-la...
Hey that's what I'm living for
How do you do
La-la
La-la La-la-la-la-la...
Oldie Lyrics.com
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