Tag Archives: Venus

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Song of the Day #5,208: ‘Venus’ – Bananarama

Here’s the tune that started me down the path of songs that have reached #1 by more than one artist. When recently writing about “songs I didn’t know were covers,” I featured the original recording of ‘Venus’ by psychedelic rock band Shocking Blue in 1969.

I am very familiar with the 1986 Bananarama hit and was surprised to learn that not only was the recording a cover, but that the original was a big hit in its own right.

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Song of the Day #5,185: ‘Venus’ – Shocking Blue

Here’s a song I might have known was a cover if I were a little older, or a little more up on the 1960s Dutch rock scene.

In 1969, psychedelic rock band Shocking Blue released ‘Venus’ in the Netherlands and saw it reach #1 in nine countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States. Lead singer Mariska Veres, often compared to Cher, delivers the track with an alluringly sultry nonchalance.

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