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Songfacts:  You can leave comments about the song at the bottom of the page.

The distinctive guitar riff was taken from The Who's "Pinball Wizard."

The female vocal trio Bananarama recorded this in 1986. It was one of the first songs they started performing when they formed the band.

Lead singer Robbie Van Leeuwen wrote this. The group is from The Netherlands.

This was produced by Jerry Ross, who also produced another Dutch group, Tee Set, who performed "Ma Belle Amie". Ross also produced an album of orchestral arrangements of his (primarily) Dutch stable of hits, under the name Jerry Ross Symposium. (thanks, Jeff - Scottsdale, AZ)

In the US, both this and the Bananarama cover version reached #1, making it one of the few songs to do so. Strangely, in the UK both Shocking Blue and Bananarama reached #8 with "Venus" and both spent 13 weeks on the chart with the song. (thanks, Adam - Dewsbury, England)

On an episode of the MTV cartoon Beavis And Butthead, Butthead makes up his own lyrics to this but gets frustrated when he can't think of anything that rhymes with "Venus."

In Shocking Blue's home country, this never made it to #1. After the success in the States, the song was re-released, but climbed no further that #3 in the Dutch Pop charts. (thanks, Rick - Holland, Netherlands)

In 1959, Frankie Avalon had a US #1 hit with the same title. There were 2 other instances of different songs with identical titles reaching #1 on the Billboard charts. "My Love" was #1 for Petula Clark in 1966 and another "My Love" turned the trick for McCartney and Wings in 1973. Then "Best Of My Love" topped the charts for the Eagles in 1973 and a different song of the same title was #1 for The Emotions in 1977. (thanks, Rick - Calgary, Canada)

Comments:

This is for Rick in Ft. Wayne IN: It's most likely that the group wasn't fluent in English, and that the lead singer mispronounced goddess. It doesn't matter though. It's a way cool song!!!
- Farrah, Elon, NC

The writer, Robbie van Leeuwen, admitted in 2007 in a TV interview that he knew The Banjo Song and "was inspired by it". http://www.nicomokveld.com/audio/zolder/The%20Big%20Three%20-%20The%20Banjo%20Song.mp3
- Nico, Amstelveen, --

The song is a rip-off. It's stolen from "Oh Susanna / Banjo Song" by the Big 3 featuring Mama Cass 1963.
- caj, sthlm, Sweden

Mariska Veres died of cancer on 2 December 2006, aged 59, and was the daughter of a gypsy violinist.
- Ande, flint, MI

Jesus, that Mariska was such a babe! What a shame we have to get older and die. Far out cool song and with that stunning face fronting it, well, your imagination does the rest, doesn't it? RIP Mariska.
- Guy, Wellington, New Zealand

Sitting on danish cargo-ship "Sargodha" in january 1970 on the way from the Panama Canal to Los Angeles this catchy tune was played a lot on all the different radiostations we listend to. Another big hit on the stations was Mark Lindsays "Arizona", so those two songs has stucked with me ever since
- Lars, Copenhagen, Denmark

This is the main theme song/jingle for Gilette's Venus, 3-blade disposable razors (the equivalent to the men's "Mach III") Nice ads with a nice song, showing long-legged gals stretching their smooth silky legs up and out for our viewing pleasure. . .
- Cyberpope, Richmond, Canada

may you LIVE in peace? This may be a little too much to ask when you're dead
- Eric, Maastricht

I remember "Never marry a railroad man", a very good song too but the other I don't know. They also had a succes with a song called "Inkpot" or something like that. Mariska Veres had a very good voice and I'll always remember the succes the group had with "Venus", it's so good.
- Teresa, Mechelen, Belgium

The Shocking Blue also had two smaller hits 'Never marry a railroad man' and 'Send me a postcard darling.'
- Reuben, Amsterdam, Netherlands

I am of the understanding that when this song was recorded, the group, or at least the lead singer was non-English speaking. Any validity to this? I thought that would explain 'godness' instead of 'goddess'.
- Brad, Topeka, KS

Saturday december the 2nd. Mariska Veres died at the age of 59. Mariska, may you live in peace and happiness.
- Teresa, Mechelen, Belgium

Why "god-ness" instead of "goddess?"
- rick, fort wayne, IN

Remarkable: The intro, the guitar riff, is also used in the Stars On 45 Medley in 1981. Most of this medley contents Beatles songs. So this 'Venus' riff topped the USA Charts three times!
- bevaart, pijnacker, Netherlands

This song has been a great succes in the Netherlands and Belgium, but also in the United States and in the UK, a very good song, it doesn't happen very often that a Dutch group has such a succes. Bravo, The Shocking Blue!
- Teresa, Mechelen, Belgium

Cool pop tune reminds me of my youth, 70's AM radio!!
- PHIL, San Jose, CA

Not only did both Shocking Blue and Bananarama's versions of "Venus" get to #1 in the States...so did Frankie Avalon's earlier, unrelated song of the same title. I can find only one other instance of two different songs with the same title both reaching #1: "I'm Sorry" by Brenda Lee, and "I'm Sorry" by John Denver.
- Mike, Youngstown, OH

The biggest version of this song in the UK in terms of chart positions was by a short-lived dance outfit called Don Pablo's Animals, who's instrumental cover (featuring James Brown booming "We're Gonna Do A Song You've Never Heard Before!" at the beginning) went to No. 3 in the UK in July 1990
- Dave, Cardiff, Wales

the lead singer ,said she would only join the band as long as the other guys wouldn't hit on her
- pete, nowra, Australia