Shocking Blue – Venus (Live at Jazz Bilzen Festival)

When Venus hit the airwaves in late 1969, it carried a sound unlike anything else in pop at the time. Dutch band Shocking Blue, led by guitarist and songwriter Robbie van Leeuwen, had just brought in 21-year-old singer Mariska Veres. With her smoky voice, striking looks, and commanding presence, she became the face of the group — and “Venus” was the song that launched them worldwide.

Built on a driving guitar riff and a touch of psychedelia, the track merged rock swagger with a melodic hook that cut across language barriers. Veres delivered the mythic lyrics with both mystique and force, singing of the goddess of love as if channeling her directly.

Released in late 1969 and climbing into 1970, “Venus” became an international smash. In February 1970 it reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, making Shocking Blue the first Dutch band to top the American charts. It also went #1 in several other countries and quickly became one of the defining songs of the era.

The live performance from the Jazz Bilzen Festival in Belgium in August 1969 captures the band just as the song was breaking through. Veres commands the stage with her presence, the band drives the momentum behind her, and the crowd responds to a track that was on its way to becoming a global phenomenon.

Though Shocking Blue would release more singles, nothing eclipsed the reach of “Venus.” The song lived on through countless covers, most famously Bananarama’s 1986 #1 hit, but the original remains timeless — raw, hypnotic, and forever linked to Mariska Veres’ unforgettable delivery.

Quick Facts & Trivia

• Song: Venus
• Artist: Shocking Blue
• Live Video: Jazz Bilzen Festival, Bilzen, Belgium
• Festival Date: August 21–24, 1969
• Release: Late 1969 (global hit in early 1970)
• Album: At Home (1970)
• Writer: Robbie van Leeuwen
• Producer: Robbie van Leeuwen
• Genre: Psychedelic rock / pop
• Length: 3:08 (studio version)
• Chart Peaks:
• U.S. Billboard Hot 100: #1 (1970)
• Canada: #1
• Australia: #1
• Germany: Top 5
• U.K.: #6
• Sales / Certifications: Million-selling single globally
• Trivia:
• First Dutch band to reach #1 in the U.S. with “Venus.”
• Bananarama’s 1986 cover also went #1 in the U.S.
• Mariska Veres’ striking image became inseparable from the song’s identity.