Venus

Hey there, Zoo Freaks, it’s your hippie DJs from The Zoo Crew spinning the groovy vibes of Venus by Shocking Blue! This 1969 banger is packed with far-out trivia. Did you know the song’s opening lyric, “A goddess on a mountain top,” was meant to be just that, but a typo in the lyrics had it written as “godness”? Lead singer Mariska Veres, not fluent in English at the time, sang it as written, and that quirky mistake became part of the song’s charm. Later versions fixed it, but the “godness” cut is the one that soared to number one in nine countries, including the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in February 1970. The track’s infectious guitar riff? It’s got a wild history—Robbie van Leeuwen, the band’s guitarist and songwriter, admitted in an interview years later that he “lifted” it from The Beatles’ Get Back, specifically John Lennon’s lap steel part. And get this: the song’s melody draws from The Banjo Song by The Big 3, which itself riffs on Stephen Foster’s 19th-century classic Oh! Susanna. Talk about a cosmic mash-up!

Here’s another tidbit to blow your mind: the keyboard groove in Venus isn’t an organ, as many think, but a Hohner Pianet, played by studio musician Michael Eschauzier, who never got proper credit for his killer contribution. Fans on platforms like Harmony Central have geeked out over this, with some pointing out the song’s video was filmed in the ape house of the Wassenaar Zoo near The Hague, where Mariska’s sister worked—hence those funky apes in the background! Posts on X also remind us that Venus got a revival boost when it was featured in The Queen’s Gambit, with users like @chryslap shouting out its Dutch roots in The Hague. The song’s been covered tons, most famously by Bananarama in 1986, who turned it into a hi-NRG dance hit, but as fan Karen T raved on Songfacts, Shocking Blue’s original is the raw, soulful classic that still gets Zoo Freaks dancing.

Now, let’s rewind to how Shocking Blue got their start. Formed in 1967 in The Hague, Netherlands, the band was the brainchild of Robbie van Leeuwen, a guitarist from the Nederbeat group The Motions. Robbie wanted to create something fresh, blending psychedelic rock, R&B, and pop with a nod to the counterculture vibes of the era. The original lineup included drummer Cor van der Beek, bassist Klaasje van der Wal, and singer Fred de Wilde, but things didn’t fully click until 1968. That’s when Robbie caught a performance by the Bumble Bees, fronted by the magnetic Mariska Veres, whose soulful voice and striking look—think kohl-rimmed eyes and a jet-black wig—were a game-changer. Mariska, born in 1947 to a Hungarian-Roma violinist father and a French-Russian mother, had been singing since 1963 with bands like Les Mystères. Robbie convinced her to join, replacing Fred, and the band’s chemistry exploded. Their first single with Mariska, Lucy Brown Is Back In Town, hit number 21 on the Dutch charts, but it was Venus, released in 1969, that launched them into the stratosphere, selling over five million copies worldwide.

While Shocking Blue disbanded in 1974, their legacy lives on, and fans can still connect with their vibe. Unfortunately, there’s no official band website anymore, but you can dive into their world through social media and fan communities. Check out the Shocking Blue Official Facebook for updates and throwback photos, or follow fan-driven accounts like shockingbluefans on Instagram for retro visuals and rare clips. On X, search for posts under #ShockingBlue or follow users like @60sPsychJukebox, who regularly celebrate the band’s Nederbeat roots. For deeper fan vibes, join the Shocking Blue Fan Club on Facebook, where Zoo Freaks share memories, rare vinyl finds, and love for Mariska’s unforgettable voice. There’s also shockingblue.nl, a fan-run site with discographies and band history to keep the psychedelic flame burning. So, crank up Venus, and let’s keep the groove alive, Zoo Crew style!